igus has developed two new cost-effective and easy-to-operate control systems so that users from all areas of industry can quickly start up their motorized drylin E drive axes. The D3 dryve controls simple linear or rotations axes with DC motors without any software or a PC. For more complex travels, such as with multi-axis robots […]
FAULHABER contributes to supply of medical care
The corona pandemic has meant an increase in demand for medical equipment, in particular ventilation and laboratory technology. With its drive systems, FAULHABER makes an important contribution in ensuring the reliable operation of equipment used in these now vital applications and is doing its utmost to safeguard supply. At the same time, the health of […]
What are rotate and transfer modules for conveyors?
Pallet conveyors — conveyors that move products on individual carriers, or pallets — offer significant flexibility for assembly, automation, and inspection processes, with the ability to move products asynchronously in virtually any configuration imaginable, including curves, turns, and small elevation changes. And beyond these basic movements, special modules for pallet conveyors can transfer products horizontally […]
Specialized conveyors and intelligent transport systems are growing technologies
Conveyors and their subsystems such as in-line weigh stations and complementary inspection systems are seeing increased use. Many of these are run by motors that are more efficient than ever. The latest designs also include new forms of wiring and connectivity that satisfy the latest standards. Motor-driven roller or MDR conveying systems remain crucial in […]
Feature-rich controllers tackle new applications
Controllers are central to motion control systems. They’re often referred to as the brains of the system, evaluating feedback from the environment and responding in accordance with a control program to complete an assigned task. Today’s controllers have more built-in functions, are more powerful, and are being used in diverse applications. We asked some of […]
Beckhoff helps develop the CoroVent ventilator
Researchers at the Czech Technical University in Prague have developed a prototype of the cost-effective CoronaVent lung ventilator. The team — called the Nonconventional Ventilatory Team (NVT) — is led by Prof. Karel Roubík. Roubík is a member of the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering at the university. The CoronaVent intended to help prevent the collapse of […]
AS-Interface: What is it and when is it used?
Sensors and actuators have traditionally been connected to PLCs or other controllers via discrete wires and cable harnesses. But the introduction of actuator-sensor interface, also known as AS-Interface, or AS-I, in the 1990’s offered users and integrators a reliable, cost-effective replacement for the bulky, time-consuming method of parallel wiring. A new version of actuator-sensor interface, […]
Trends: Brakes and clutches take miniaturization to new extremes
Clutches and brakes as well as torque limiters continue to evolve as the requirements for new applications for holding, stopping, and indexing continue to multiply. The ongoing trend for these technologies towards application-specific variations continues unabated — especially as several industries have exceeded capabilities of legacy stock parts. “Mach III has experienced a strong increase […]
Trend: Drives propel robotics and IoT applications
The overall trend in drives is for more powerful, capable, and feature-rich products to handle the challenges of automation and control over a range of industries and applications. We asked some top drive manufacturers what they’re seeing and here’s what they told us. In what industries or application areas has your company seen increased activity […]
New DC Platform: Interroll brings innovative drive solution to the Americas
Conveyors have long been the workhorse of the material-handling industry. Transporting packages, improving workflows and interfacing with other automated solutions to drive real efficiency in warehouses and manufacturing environments. Today, the requirements placed on zero-pressure-accumulation conveyor systems are becoming more demanding in terms of their technical performance. They need three things: more data, higher precision, […]
Thomson electro-hydraulic linear actuators optimize force density and shock resistance
Thomson Industries, a leading manufacturer of linear motion solutions, has introduced an electro-hydraulic actuator that has the strength of hydraulic cylinders but without their complex external assemblies or extensive fluid handling requirements. Thomson Warner Linear H-Track actuators move loads of up to 4800 pounds from a compact mounting envelope. The actuators are ideal for space-constrained […]
FAULHABER extends IE3 encoder compatibility to large Disc Magnet stepper motors
The IE3 encoder is a high quality magnetic encoder that can be combined with a large variety of FAULHABER products having 22-mm diameters. This encoder is now also available on the DM40110R, DM52100N and DM52100R Series stepper motors. With an extended length of about 13 mm this new combination will offer high positioning resolution up […]
New flexCoder sensors for robotics and automation
flexCoder technology New developments in robotics, automation and many other rotative applications are aiming for ever more compact designs and often cannot be implemented using the standard components available on the market. To prevent restricting the scope of design for the customer, SIKO offers a new flexCoder technology – an encoder system comprising a sensor […]
Trends 2020: New applications drive encoder design trends
Encoders are central to motion control applications. They can provide position, speed, and direction feedback to a controller or drive to increase the accuracy and reliability of a drive system. As technology evolves, so too do encoders, incorporating the latest advancements in communications and networking and offering engineers tools to solve challenges they face across […]
Trends 2020: Sensors on the front lines of industrial networking
Sensors for motion control range across many applications and uses; from object and position detection in manufacturing processes to remote condition monitoring for predictive maintenance purposes. Overall, the sensors are the vital link between the physical systems themselves. They collect data from various machine processes and use communication links to transmit that data to the […]
AutomationDirect adds motor control relays and intrinsically safe relays
ProSense motor control relays from AutomationDirect perform specific protective functions for motors or motor components to ensure proper and more efficient operation. Intrinsically safe relays provide safe and reliable control of loads within hazardous locations. Phase monitor relays provide protection against premature equipment failure caused by faults on three-phase systems. Phase monitor relays provide protection […]
ZE Series Announcement
DieQua announces its new ZE Series from Zimm Screw JackSystems with upgraded features that take Zimm’s already state-of-the-art screw jack to the next level. ZE, short for Zimm Evolution, represents the latest design features of their screw jack platform. Zimm continues to revolutionize the classic jack design into a highly engineered product. With consistent evaluation […]
Automation putting faster in the fast-food industry
To the relief of those who are indecisive at the drive through, McDonald’s Corp. will soon be ramping up its use of voice-activated order taking. That’s according to a Wall Street Journal report last year — which also details how designs coming to the restaurant also include automatic systems to operate the deep fryers for […]
Trends 2020: Motors get more connected — and more efficient
2020 is seeing new trends in the application of stepper motors as well as permanent-magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs), brushless motors, and direct-drive motors (including torque motors) as well. Perhaps one of the most dramatic trends is increased use of PMSMs or synchronous ac motors. They began seeing more use in the early 2000s, and now […]
Motion-control systems help automate COVID-19 testing
Automated biochemical analyzers vastly accelerate the testing of patient samples in laboratories, which has become critical now that the COVID-19 pandemic has spread across the globe. Advanced automation with motor-based motion systems will help in the fight to hasten diagnosis. Just consider the cobas 6800 and 8800 machines from Roche that automate testing of nasopharyngeal […]
Types of industrial springs: compression, extension, and torsion
Typically mounted deep inside an assembly of moving parts, industrial springs often go unnoticed, despite their importance to motion control and industrial equipment. In fact, they’re found in everything from door closing mechanisms on machine tools to mechanical seals in rotary unions. While springs are readily available in custom designs and variations, there are three primary types […]
What are current and future MEPS for electric motors?
Minimum efficiency performance standards, or MEPS, specify the required efficiency levels for electric motors used in residential, commercial, and industrial applications. The goals of implementing MEPS are to increase energy efficiency, promote energy savings, and reduce operating costs for electric motors. And although work is being done to harmonize electric motor efficiency classifications, MEPS vary […]
2020 Design World Motion Trends — the full URL library
Design engineers involved in motion control and system components — check it out: The 2020 Design World Motion Trends issue has gone to press, and the digital version is now live at issuu.com in case you haven’t received a hard copy. By the way, if you’d like to subscribe to Design World, the signup is […]
What are international efficiency (IE) standards for motors and gearmotors?
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), electric motors are responsible for half the energy use in the U.S. manufacturing sector, and the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that electric motor-driven system account for more than 40 percent of global electricity consumption. To promote energy savings, increase efficiency, and reduce operating costs for manufacturing […]
What are EtherCAT G and G10 and when are they used in motion control applications?
Since its launch in 2003, the EtherCAT protocol, with “processing on the fly” and data transmission speeds up to 100 Mbit/s, has been widely adopted for automation and process control applications. In 2018, Beckhoff (the developer of EtherCAT), introduced a major performance boost to EtherCAT, in the form of EtherCAT G and EtherCAT G10 — […]