With its headquarters in Waunakee, Wis., NORD Gear Corporation is celebrating its 40th anniversary in the United States this year with its sixth expansion – adding 86,000 square feet of office and manufacturing space. The company is expanding for the sixth time since it built its North American headquarters in Waunakee, Wis. in 1983. The […]
Celebrating 100 years of the spherical roller bearing
Originally developed in 1919 by an SKF engineer, Arvid Palmgren, the spherical roller bearing (SRB) has since made its mark worldwide. Created to complement the self-aligning ball bearing, due to its ability to accommodate misalignment under heavy loads, the initial SKF design has now become part of the largest family of products in the industry. […]
Motion Trends: New motor breeds are smart, connected, and compact
This year’s survey of trends in electric motors for motion control and automation revealed several trends and emerging developments in the use of synchronous ac motors; stepper motors, especially in closed-loop offerings; brushless motors of various types; and a smattering of specialty direct-drive offerings just making inroads. Proliferation of synchronous ac motors With construction and […]
Merkel visits igus booth at Hannover Messe
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfvenvisited the stand of igus, the Germany-based manufacturer of motion plastics, at Hannover Messe 2019. Merkel’s main focus during her visit with igus was to see firsthand cost-effective robotics made in Germany. igus displayed a service robot arm, which could soon be drying dishes and setting…
New high torque planetary gearboxes from Nanotec
For applications that require high torque, Nanotec offers new planetary gearboxes in two sizes and many reductions: the GP42 gearbox is designed for all motors with NEMA 17-flange as well as the DF45 external rotor motors from Nanotec. The GP56 gearbox can be combined with all brushless dc and stepper motors in sizes NEMA 23 […]
What are the differences between claw and disc couplings
In addition to gear couplings, claw and disc couplings can be used to connect the drive motor and gearbox in crane and hoist applications. Like the gear coupling, these other two options are designed to compensate for angular, radial and axial shaft misalignment: • Claw coupling—Torsionally flexible, these couplings transmit torque via elastic buffers made […]
What are gear couplings and how do they work?
Gear couplings are designed to transmit torque between two shafts that are not collinear. They typically consist of two flexible joints—one fixed to each shaft—which are connected by a spindle, or third shaft. The gear coupling connects the drive motor to the gearbox in hoist mechanisms, but it can also connect the gearbox directly to […]
Couplings in heavy-duty crane and hoist applications
Cranes and hoists are only as good as the components that make them up. One of their key components is the coupling, which is essential to maintaining uptime and enhancing the safety and reliability of your operation. Without the right coupling, your crane or hoist may not function properly, causing your manufacturing process to grind […]
Electric actuators for better robotic-vehicle steering
Steering design for advanced logistics vehicles and mobile robots starts with understanding design requirements; deciding if custom is critical; and choosing the best solution for specific application. By Will Hellinger • Engineering Manager | Allied Motion Logistics vehicles include stackers, forklifts, side loaders, pushers and tuggers, and even mobile robots. These move items from point…
Motion Trends: Customization tops gearmotor design trends
Wider industry trends towards more customized offerings from component manufacturers are also driving gearmotor designs. Manufacturers are offering designers more customized solutions via more in-house engineering resources, simplifying the design process. More custom solutions also mean greater integration with other components in a design, better connectivity and fewer compatibility issues. For example, Gabriel Venzin, President […]
New high-speed, compact brushless motors from Portescap
Portescap has expanded its Ultra ECTM range of brushless dc slotless motors with the introduction of the new 35ECS motor. This 2-pole motor offers ultra high speed and power (up to 330 W, max continuous) without compromising on the smooth operation and long life offered by Portescap’s brushless slotless motors. The new 35ECS motor is […]
MIT mini cheetah is the first four-legged robot to do a backflip
MIT’s new mini cheetah robot is springy and light on its feet, with a range of motion that rivals a champion gymnast. The four-legged power pack can bend and swing its legs wide, enabling it to walk either right-side up or upside down. The robot can also trot over uneven terrain about twice as fast…
Electric actuators displace other motion options — including manual designs: A Motion Trends report
Today, electric actuators are easier than ever to specify and install. Value-add services from component suppliers as well as application-specific actuator product lines (especially for battery-powered designs in mobile equipment and consumer use) eliminate many integration tasks for OEMs and end users. These are trends supported in part by a movement Design World has tracked […]
Gearmotors and reflected mass inertia from the load: Part 2
In an earlier article on the impact of gearmotors on the reflected mass inertia from the load, we made some assumptions about the inertia of system components which weren’t explicit and which could lead to error in the calculation and cause problems in an actual application. This came to our attention via a sharp-eyed reader’s […]
Mach III Clutch Inc. supplies mechanical friction torque limiter for fish-barrier hoist
Reclamation District 108 is a 150-year-old water district located in the Sacramento Valley that provides irrigation, drainage, and flood protection to farms and rural communities in the area. But drainage and flood-control canals in this region pose a risk to adult salmon who return from the sea through the San Francisco Bay to make their […]
A big “twist” on Ringfeder’s standard shrink disc
Given the range of applications for shrink discs, Ringfeder has always offered a wide range of sizes. But sometimes, engineers may need a larger model than they carry. In these cases, Ringfeder will customize one of its standard shrink discs to fit a customer’s needs—which is exactly what they did for an industrial gearbox company […]
Seals developed for e-mobility help electric cars compete with gas vehicles
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions has launched the HiSpin PDR RT and HiSpin HS40, two seals specifically developed for e-mobility applications. Engineered to operate at high velocity, they make a significant step in overcoming issues related to sealing at high rotary speeds that limit electric cars being able to meet the ultimate goal of traveling the same…
New linear rotary actuator features 35-mm stroke with 5-micron encoder
The LCR16 from SMAC Moving Coil Actuators provides precision Z-theta motion within one small actuator, which is suitable for pick, orient and place applications. A wide variety of LCR16 linear rotary actuators are available with either direct drive or gearbox equipped rotary units. The vacuum-built-in shaft through the rotary motor is available for some models […]
High torque gear coupling for steel mill roughing stand application
A major steel manufacturer needed a large replacement gear coupling as part of an upgrade for a roughing stand drive at one of its U.S. mills. Positioned on the low-speed, high-torque shaft between the gearbox and pinion drive, the gear coupling rotates at approximately 10 RPM. The goal was to ensure that the new coupling […]
Custom Amerigear Couplings for offshore drilling rig top drive application
A leading global manufacturer of oil and gas drilling equipment needed a robust coupling solution for use on its 1,000 ton top drive. The 2,000 HP drive uses two AC motors, suspended from the rig’s mast, to rotate the drill string of pipe sections into the well hole. These pipe strings can reach lengths of […]
Software automates the selection of interior or exterior parts in detailed CAD assemblies
CoreTechnologie (CT) presents its latest version of the “3D_Evolution Simplifier” software with new functions. The new selection tool is for digital mock-up and VR applications and helps simplify large assemblies of cars, trucks, planes and trains. Scope of data as a challenge For VR and DMU requirements in practice often only the external or internal […]
How sweet it is: Coupling assists in sugarcane processing application
By Matheus Mendes The sugarcane industry is one of the most flourishing segments of the Brazilian Economy. With a production of up to 624 million metric tonnes of sugarcane in the 2017 harvest season, the country holds the world record production for both sugar and ethanol from this raw material. Uniting technology in both agricultural […]
Virtually Reality: Future Factories Run by Digital Twins
A*STAR has built a testbed for digital twins, the virtual counterparts of real manufacturing equipment. These factory innovations could help companies save huge amounts of time and money by predicting and adjusting for their partner machine’s condition on the go. Imagine that a manufacturing giant has a machine on one of its factory floors in…
Robotics investments recap: January 2019
Robotics investments in January 2019 totaled at least $444 million worldwide, with a total of 24 robotics investments. Unverifiable robotics investments and categories described below have been excluded from this analysis. There are several robotics investments for which the amounts and rounds were not disclosed. If we verify those amounts and rounds, or come across new robotics…
5 opportunities for additive manufacturing in the Wind Energy Industry
By Inês Castro, materials scientist and engineer Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies offer a range of advantages for the wind industry. The following examples show that implementation is possible, and even recommended, for a more market-competitive energy supplier. Once the technologies are more developed, reliable and standardized, the supplier chains will be reduced and the production […]