PI (Physik Instrumente) offers a new catalog on capabilities regarding engineered motion and automation solutions for high-tech industries such as photonics, precision optics, semiconductor and medical engineering. What sets PI’s engineered motion systems division apart is their in-house access to the broadest and deepest portfolio of precision motion technologies. Creative-thinking engineers with vast experience selecting […]
Roller pinion system in corrosion-resistant stainless steel from Nexen
Nexen Group, Inc. introduces a stainless steel version of its patented precision roller pinion system (RPS). The Nexen RPS engages two teeth simultaneously to achieve superior accuracy with zero backlash at any length. The system is also extremely quiet, and 99 % efficient. Stainless steel makes the system extremely corrosion resistant, with a long life […]
Enhanced online product tool from Thomson speeds linear motion component sizing and selection
Thomson Industries, Inc., has enhanced its Linear MOTIONEERING® product sizing and selection tool for linear motion systems, reducing the time for component selection from hours to typically less than 15 minutes. The tool retains the powerful Thomson engineering calculations that have proven so effective for design engineers and has added new product families, interactive navigation, […]
New absolute linear encoder for vacuum environments from HEIDENHAIN
HEIDENHAIN’s new LIC 4100 V linear encoder for vacuum environments is a new addition to the LIC 4100 linear absolute kit style encoder system. With several technical considerations, these new encoders can operate down to 6 x 10-7 mbar, survive a 100˚C bake out, and have low outgassing. Industries that could take advantage of this […]
High speed linear actuators: What qualifies them as high speed?
Like many terms used in the linear motion industry – “heavy duty,” “miniature,” and “corrosion-resistant,” to name a few – there is no industry standard that specifies what constitutes a “high speed” linear actuator. Nevertheless, there are some general guidelines that manufacturers follow when classifying and marketing their actuators as high speed. These guidelines are […]
Open aperture voice coil stage features 1 micron positioning resolution
The compact HCDS-025-038-02-B1-01 Voice Coil Stage from Moticont has a footprint of just 2.000 in. (54.0 mm) wide by 5.000 in. (127.0 mm) long and features a positioning resolution of 1 micron and a 0.125 in. (3.175 mm) open aperture. This precision cross roller stage has a 0.97 in. (24.6 mm) range of motion with […]
ITT Compact Automation expands motion offerings to include electric actuators
ITT Inc. and its Compact Automation brand now sell electric actuators, screw jacks, bevel gearboxes, rodless cylinders and more in addition to the manufacturer’s traditional hydraulic and pneumatic product lineup. These new product lines are available exclusively in North America through Compact’s new partnership with NIASA. Compact Automation has an extensive engineering capability with more than 50 product lines, composed […]
New mid-size, compact linear actuator from LINAK U.S.
LINAK has launched a powerful new actuator, the LA33. The electric linear actuator is a mid-range powerhouse built upon 35 years of specialized knowledge accumulated at LINAK. The LA33 shares the same advantageous features of all the actuators in the LINAK family including the LINAK Integrated Controller, Hall sensors for relative and absolute feedback, proportional […]
Force-controlled actuator from ETEL for semiconductor applications
ETEL’s new ZAO Force-Controlled Actuator adds to its broad range of advanced motion systems. Among other applications, ZAO is suited for semiconductor pick and place, die bonding and probing machines. Coupled with ETEL’s AccurET controller, the ZAO Force-Controlled Actuator is a state-of-the-art solution that reduces machine cost of ownership while taking up the next force […]
Common applications for linear rails
Linear rails are the backbone of many industrial applications, providing low-friction guidance and high stiffness for loads that can range from just a few grams to thousands of kilograms. Their range of sizes, accuracy classes, and preloads make linear rails suitable for virtually any performance requirement. The reasons for using linear rails are numerous, but […]
Oriental Motor linear actuators: Now with battery-free absolute feedback and AZ Series performance
Oriental Motor USA now offers AZ Series technology with absolute mechanical encoders across: The Oriental Motor EZS Series of electric linear slides The Oriental Motor EAC family of electric cylinders AZ Series offerings work in advanced positioning applications because of their closed-loop control. Linear-motion designs of the AZ Series also substantially reduce heat generation from […]
Synchronous belt and V belt: How to pick between them?
Power transmission in linear motion designs is often through rotary-to-linear devices, chain, or belt drives. The earliest belt iteration — and one that’s still economical today — is the friction-based V-belt design. These pair a belt with a pulley (often on an electric motor’s geared output shaft) to provide reliable operation in myriad end-user and […]
What is a chopper drive for a stepper motor?
There are two primary types of drivers for stepper motors, constant voltage drives (also referred to as L/R drives), and constant current drives (also referred to as chopper drives). One difficulty with stepper motor operation is that the time constant (L/R) of the motor windings prevents current from increasing rapidly during pulses. This means that […]
What makes miniature ball screws unique?
Ball screws are used in a wide variety of applications, but some of the most challenging are those on the extreme ends of the performance spectrum – from large diameter, large lead screws for machine tools, to screws with small diameters and very fine leads for optical and medical applications. For very small, high-precision movements, […]
Helix Linear Technologies website — new at helixlinear.com
Helix Linear Technologies now has a new and refreshed website at helixlinear.com. The updated site includes several new lead screw and linear actuator products that deliver smooth, clean and quite linear motion solutions. The manufacturer’s goal with this new website is to provide visitors an easier way to learn about Helix Linear’s products. The new […]
IKO MX series of linear roller bearings — now more standard variations
IKO Intl. now offers more variations in its standard MX series of linear roller bearings to include special features for environments that are sensitive to metal chips, dust, and other contaminants. High load capacity. The MX models utilize rows of cylindrical rollers to provide a greater contact area than slides that use steel balls. They […]
Roller screw actuators: Design and applications
Electromechanical actuators come in many varieties, with common drive mechanisms being lead screws, ball screws, and roller screws. When a designer or user wants to transition from hydraulics or pneumatics to electromechanical motion, roller screw actuators are usually the best choice. They provide comparable performance characteristics to hydraulics (high force) and pneumatics (high speed), in […]
Can-stack linear actuators: How the motor and screw components work
Can-stack linear actuators are one type of stepper-motor design that converts rotary to linear motion with a built-in leadscrew. The linear actuators incorporate can-stack motors — sometimes called claw-tooth step motors, tin-can stepper motors, or claw-pole motors — leverage low-cost construction with punched sheet-metal parts that form toothed (or clawed) cups surrounding bobbin coils. Common […]
IKO MX series linear roller bearings now include dust protection
IKO International is building on its standard MX series of linear roller bearings to include special features for environments that are sensitive to metal chips, dust, and other contaminants. Dust protection A dust protective C-Wiper can be mounted to the outside of the end seal, ensuring operation in environments where metal chips are spattering. After […]
Festo Motion Terminal has apps to replace more than 50 components
Pneumatics is intrinsically a user-friendly technology — and it is set to become even more straightforward, versatile and flexible as the brand new Festo Motion Terminal Versatile Time Domain Electro-Magnetics (VTEM) is bringing pneumatics into the era of Industry 4.0. That’s with apps that can replace more than 50 individual components thanks to developments in […]
What is a 12 volt linear actuator?
Linear actuators are typically characterized by their drive mechanism – belt drive, ball or lead screw drive, pneumatic drive, etc. But it’s not unusual for rod style electric actuators to be classified by the input voltage – commonly 12 or 24 volts – of their integrated motors. These actuators provide thrust force, much like a […]
Linear actuator designs for vertical lifts: What are pitfalls to avoid during jack-system design?
A jack system is anything from a single jack to eight to ten jacks working in tandem to move a load. Complete jack systems refer to the mechanical components of the jacks as well as their gearboxes and couplings and accessories and shafting; electrical components including motors, the system drive, and encoders; and the motion […]
What are can stack linear actuators?
Can stack linear actuators are based on can stack stepper motors, which are a form of permanent magnet steppers that consist of two stators (and therefore two coils) stacked on top of each other. The poles of each stator are “claw tooth” design and are offset from each other by one-half of the pole pitch. […]
RSF Elektronik offers new MC 15 linear encoder
RSF Elektronik now provides an upgrade path for customers using the MS 15 linear encoder or for those who would like to design in absolute linear measurement technology in price-sensitive applications. The MC 15 has exactly the same wide tolerance mounting configuration as the MS 15 and has a built-in functional reserve of signal strength. […]
Cyber dynamic linear actuators with integrated ball screw from WITTENSTEIN
Ideal for packaging, food & beverage, medical and semiconductor applications, the latest addition to the cyber® dynamic line from WITTENSTEIN cyber motor offers maintenance-free precision positioning in compact space. As part of its cyber dynamic line product series, WITTENSTEIN cyber motor has launched a new series of linear actuators designed with an integrated ball screw […]