A new overhead XY gantry from IntelLiDrives is built with precision ball screw actuators. The gantry features travel lengths from 100 to 600 mm, with speeds to 100 mm/sec and resolution to 5 microns. The gantries can be motorized with stepper motors, brushless servo motor/encoders or integrated SMART motors. Contact-less end-of-travel limit sensors are also […]
How does shaft hardness affect the life of a linear ball bushing?
A linear ball bushing riding on a round shaft is often compared to a radial ball bearing, with the bushing acting as the outer race of the bearing and the shaft acting as the inner race. But in linear bushing assemblies, the surfaces of both the ball and the shaft are spherical, so contact between […]
What are stroke ball splines and how do they differ from standard ball splines?
Standard ball splines use balls that recirculate within a nut, or housing, similar to that of a recirculating ball linear bushing. But the mechanisms and geometry required for ball recirculation result in a spline nut that is relatively large in diameter compared to the diameter of the spline shaft. For a more compact assembly, several […]
THK debuts fast LM guide with speeds to 15 m/sec
With speeds reaching 15m/sec, THK’s Type FHS is said to be the fastest LM guide available on the market today. The performance of the Type FHS makes it suitable for applications requiring the fastest motion, including robot transfer devices and laser cutters. The Type FHS can be installed in horizontal, vertical, inverted, and wall-mounted orientations. […]
High precision triple-axis stage from OES
The XAB-050-XX-01 from Optimal Engineering Systems, Inc. (OES) is a low-cost solution for the precise measurement of compound angles or the rotation of an object to precise angular positions. It integrates a two-axis Alpha-Beta goniometer on top of a single-axis linear actuator. The Beta-axis has a travel range of +/- 15° with a rotation height […]
What’s the difference between a ball screw spline and a traditional ball screw?
A ball screw spline is a combination of two components — a ball screw and a rotary ball spline. By combining a driving element (the ball screw) and a guiding element (the rotary ball spline), a ball screw spline can provide both linear and rotary motion, as well as spiral motion, in a highly rigid, […]
Direct drive high force linear actuator features 5-micron resolution, zero cogging
A new 5-micron resolution linear actuator, also known as an electric cylinder, has been released by Moticont. This high resolution, high speed, zero cogging, zero backlash linear actuator also features 7.6 lbs (33.9 N) of continuous force and 24.1 lbs (107.2 N) peak force. Providing users with high acceleration, and long life, this compact actuator […]
Haydon Kerk Pittman launches the MiniSlide MSA series of linear actuators
As a world leader in compact linear motion systems, Haydon Kerk Pittman, a business unit of AMETEK Advanced Motion Solutions division, is pleased to announce the release of our new MiniSlide MSA series. Today more than ever, lab equipment and automation designers must fit sophisticated motion control solutions into compact spaces. These device makers need […]
Successful transformation: from individual components to smart mechatronic solutions
Over the past three decades, Bosch Rexroth’s portfolio of ready-to-install linear axes has been further developed on an ongoing basis. In response to customer requirements, it now focuses on electrification and connectivity. With today’s linear motion technology components in combination with sensors, electronics and software, the company now offers mechatronic solutions for the Factory of […]
How to make sure you get the right linear bushing interchange
Linear ball bushings are one of the few interchangeable product types in linear motion, with industry-standard sizes and styles, so that a product from one manufacturer can often be substituted with a product from another manufacturer that has very similar dimensions and technical specifications. And most linear bushing manufacturers offer several product lines that are […]
7th axis extends range for robots
igus now offers a ready-to-connect 7th axis that allows a robot to move over a distance of several meters and includes a maintenance-free drylin ZLW toothed belt axis with a corresponding adapter plate, switch cabinet, cables, and software integration. For easy integration of the axis and the robot, igus has developed two adapter kits for […]
Automated farm equipment uses rugged linear components
Precision agriculture is the discretization of farming — defined as the analysis of highly variable (and often unpredictable) landscapes to: • Break larger agricultural fields into smaller discrete sections • Quantify the characteristics (such as soil composition, light, and seed spacing) of each section • Adapt to the variations between sections with automated farm equipment […]
THK OMNIedge System provides predictive failure detection of linear motion components
THK’s innovative OMNIedge System enables predictive failure detection of linear motion components for improved productivity and reduced maintenance costs. The OMNIedge network sets up automatically and sensors are simply installed on existing components for convenient and easy remote monitoring of operating conditions. Data is securely collected through a dedicated closed IoT network for analysis and […]
New linear, rotary stages for high-precision positioning in vacuum applications
PI’s family of miniature micro and nanopositioning stages is expanding with the new RS-40 rotary stage and M-111 linear stages as engineers gave specific consideration to material selection, use of lubricants and coatings, and outbaking temperatures for high and ultra-high vacuum conditions. With 360-degree rotation range and 20-N load capacity, the RS-40 V7 stage boasts […]
Large variety of precise xyz axis stages now available
OES (Optimal Engineering Systems) has introduced a series of high precision, low cost XYZ positioning stages that can be easily integrated into new and existing applications. They are offered in 5 travel lengths for each axis, 50 mm (1.969 in.), 100 mm (3.937 in.), 150 mm (5.906 in.), 200 mm (7.874 in.), and 300 mm […]
5-axis stage with closed-loop motors for precision and alignment
PI (Physik Instrumente) LP offers a compact 5-axis stage for precision alignment and positioning required in fields such as fiber-optics and photonics. The modular, 5DOF motorized stage consists of a 3-axis linear module and two goniometers. A multi-axis controller and software with automated alignment functionality is also available. Sub-micron precision is guaranteed by highly accurate […]
Tips for mounting linear ball bearings: Pillow block housings
Linear ball bearings and round shafts are often used in applications that call for ease of use and simple mounting requirements. For example, where profiled rail guides require full support along their length, linear ball bearings, or bushings, can be used in many applications with shafts that are supported only at their ends. However, unlike […]
Just for fun (and safety): Pandemic-inspired inventions
Necessity is the mother of invention, as the saying goes. And so has been the case since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although much of the focus on product development and innovation since the pandemic began has been centered around treatment and critical care technologies such as ventilators, some of these pandemic-inspired inventions are […]
How to pick the right drive screw
Choosing the correct drive screw type is critical to getting the best actuator performance, accuracy, and repeatability Chris Maupin Program Manager and Engineer Hunt Valve Actuator Division Screw drivetrains are the most common types of electromechanical linear actuators. A screw drivetrain acts as a linear force generation system, converting a rotary torque input from a […]
THK develops smoothest moving miniature LM Guide, the Type RSX
New from THK, the Type RSX Miniature LM Guide offers the smoothest movement in its class. Featuring, an optimized circulation structure, it achieves smoother movement than existing miniature LM Guides. The compact outer dimensions of the Type RSX enable the realization of space-saving designs. It is available in a standard Type RSX-M and a Type […]
How to protect ball screws in harsh environments
Harsh environments can wreak havoc on motion system components — especially rolling element systems such as linear guides and ball screws. And while protective devices such as rail covers, wipers, and scrapers are widely available for linear guides, protecting ball screws in harsh environments is a bit more tricky. But despite being more difficult to […]
PM develops ultra-low-profile rotary table bearings
Lower costs by using the rotary table bearing FMB. The compact designed FMB table bearing has been developed for high precision rotary motion. It reduces the cost compared to other rotary bearings since fewer components with less tolerance are used necessary for installation offering easy installation of the bearings and reducing the overall costs. The […]
Azimuth and elevation two-axis gimbal mount features high resolution, continuous rotation of axes
OES (Optimal Engineering Systems, Inc.) has added the AU300-AE-01 and AU300-AE-02, high resolution, high stability Azimuth and Elevation (Yaw and Pitch) Two-axis Gimbal Mounts to its product line. The Azimuth and Elevation Gimbal Mounts are ideal for mounting cameras, antennas, projectors, lasers and instrumentation for scanning, tracking, positioning optics, and other applications. Each axis of […]
Thomson adds CANopen networking protocol option for Electrak HD actuators
Thomson Industries, Inc., a leading manufacturer of linear motion control solutions, has announced the availability of the CANopen industrial networking protocol as an option for its line of heavy duty Electrak HD electric actuators. Designers of linear motion systems requiring up to 16 kN load handling can now enjoy the cost savings and flexibility of […]
What is a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT)?
In previous articles, we’ve covered a variety of technologies for measuring linear position: magnetic and optical encoders, magnetostrictive sensors, and even measuring systems integrated into linear guide systems. Another technology for measuring absolute linear position is the linear variable differential transformer (LVDT). A linear variable differential transformer is an induction-based measuring system that consists of […]