POSITAL has announced the full implementation of 2- and 4-wire versions of the single-cable BiSS Line interface for its family of motor feedback kit encoders. The combination of single-cable connectivity and POSITAL’s cost-efficient kit encoders provides motor manufacturers, machine builders and system integrators an economical way of building accurate, reliable absolute position feedback into devices […]
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 […]
CC-Link IE TSN and motion-control applications: Technical update for engineers
Time-sensitive networking (TSN) is not a protocol but an update to improve the IEEE Ethernet standard … and let engineers use general-purpose Ethernet for increasingly fast and sophisticated control and automation. It includes IEEE802.1AS defining its time-synchronization scheme and IEEE802.1Qbv defining its timesharing scheme. These make for punctual and reliable data and signal transmission to […]
mk North America introduces CAD360! conveyor modeling tool
Leading conveyor system designer and manufacturer mk North America has announced the official release of a new online conveyor modeling tool — CAD360! — that makes it faster and easier than ever to design and share custom designed conveyor systems. The latest release (which replaces QuickDesigner) adds industry-leading speed to the modeling process. Users can […]
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 […]
ATI hosting Automation Expo at expanded HQ in North Carolina
ATI Industrial Automation will host an Automation Expo on May 9, 2019 at its recently expanded and renovated headquarters in Apex, N.C. For the first time ever, current and prospective customers, industry partners and special guests will get a glimpse into the heart of ATI’s main operation and tour the new facility. The one-day event […]
Applied Motion to exhibit integrated servo motors, servo drives, stepper drives at Automate
Applied Motion Products will demonstrate a selection of new integrated motors and drives for both servo and stepper motors in Booth #8147 at the Automate Show to be held at McCormick Place, Chicago, from April 8-11, 2019 Products on display will include the following: • MDX Integrated Servo Motors that combine high torque density, low […]
Variable frequency drive with integrated functions for roll-to-roll applications
Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. has released the FR- A800-R2R Series of variable frequency drives (VFD), ideal for end users and machine designers looking for an optimized control solution for continuous roll-to-roll processing. The drive builds on the performance and functionality of the standard FR-A800 Series VFD, with enhanced firmware engineered for unwinding and rewinding processes […]
New four-quadrant PWM regenerative drive from American Control Electronics
American Control Electronics (ACE) has introduced its next generation of PWM controls. Using a 115 or 230 Vac power source, the PMB Series is designed to run brushed dc motors, up to 180 Vdc. Compared to older SCR circuitry, PWM technology creates a cleaner output voltage, which allows the motor to run at a cooler […]
High-torque synchronous belt for industrial applications
Gates has introduced the PowerGrip GT4 belt, a newly designed ethylene elastomer (EE) high-torque synchronous belt for industrial markets. The PowerGrip GT4 reflects Gates’ dedication to innovation in materials science and process engineering.Many of the elastomer synchronous belts in the market today are made using chloroprene, a material that has performance limitations. The new Gates PowerGrip […]
Integrated servo motor offers design benefits for mobile robotic applications
Applied Motion Products’ new series of integrated servo motors combine a high torque density, low inertia servo motor with an on-board drive and controller to save on space, wiring, and cost over conventional servo systems with separate motor and drive components. The MDX Integrated Servo Motors provide greater design modularity and simplicity for a wide […]
PTDA Foundation accepting nominations for 2019 Wendy B. McDonald Award
The PTDA Foundation’s Wendy B. McDonald Award recognizes a woman who has established herself as an integral contributor to her company’s success and brought positive change to the power transmission/motion control industry. The PTDA Foundation established the award in 2014 to honor the memory of Wendy B. McDonald, one of the power transmission/motion control industry’s […]
PTDA forecasting slowing growth trend for 2019
The fourth quarter 2018 Sales History & Outlook Report (SHOR) released by the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) indicates the average PTDA distributors’ index for total sales during 4Q18 was 5.4 percent higher compared to 2017. PTDA manufacturers’ index annual average was also strong, up 7.3 percent year over year in December. Leading indicators suggest the Index […]
What are capacitive proximity sensors?
A basic proximity sensor is used to sense the presence of objects or materials. What differentiates them from other sensors is that they don’t make physical contact with the object being sensed, and hence they’re also known as non-contact sensors. One of the most common sensor types is the capacitive proximity sensor. As the name […]
Keeping the elements at bay
Keep these five key factors in mind when selecting mechanical components for harsh environments. Chad Carlberg Product Line Manager for Industrial Actuators Thomson Linear As electromechanical actuators and other mechanical motion components expand in capability for heavy duty applications, so does their capability to resist harsh conditions. Extreme temperatures, high particulate levels, chemical exposure, high-pressure […]
PTDA Foundation vanguard campaign propels PT WORK Force Initiative
In 2018, the PTDA Foundation launched PT WORK Force — an initiative to specifically support the power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) industry with Work force Outreach, Research and Knowledge. The initiative’s work is resonating strongly with contributors who are increasing their financial support in 2019 to develop tools needed by PT/MC employers to compete in today’s […]
Beckhoff to premier new EtherCAT solutions, compact embedded controllers at ProMat 2019
Beckhoff Automation will show multiple new technologies that bolster material handling and logistics operations at ProMat 2019 in Chicago. The North American product debuts include the ultra-compact CX7000 embedded controller and a preview of EtherCAT G gigabit industrial Ethernet technology. The 45,000 industry professionals from 115 countries expected to attend the trade show from April […]
New flexible coupling from SDP/SI features vibration damping technology
Stock Drive Products/Sterling Instrument (SDP/SI) has debuted several new series of high-gain couplings. These Antivibration Flexible Couplings are designed for use with high gain servomotors. When a servomotor drives a mechanism, as in applications such as semiconductor manufacturing equipment, blood analyzers or high-speed printers, a change in direction causes a phenomenon called hunting. Hunting is […]
New low-profile, direct-drive motor from Mitsubishi Electric
The new TM-RG2M/TM-RU2M low-profile direct- drive motors from Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. are designed to let machine designers have direct control of a load without traditional transmission components. Built with speed and precision in mind, they provide a smaller footprint and allow for more compact, efficient, and precise machines than those typically built using rotary […]
What are proximity sensors?
Proximity sensors are used across a broad range of industrial and manufacturing applications. They’re used to sense the presence of objects or materials and then either initiate some action or simply flag their presence or absence. Key to their operation is that they don’t require physical contact with the target or object being sensed. This […]
New industrial grade optical encoder for harsh environments
The new QDH20 encoder from Quantum Devices, Inc. provides an improved feedback solution in applications typically using a standard size 20 package. The QDH20 provides encoder feedback in standard industrial mounting configurations with superb mechanical and environmental protection. Outputs consist of a quadrature A & B with reference pulse Z as a standard feature. The […]
Yaskawa America debuts new high-performance drive
The Drives & Motion division of Yaskawa America, Inc. has released the new GA800 Variable Speed Drive for sale and shipment immediately. The Yaskawa GA800 drive provides the ultimate combination of power, ease of use, flexibility, and performance. Designed to control traditional and emerging motor technologies through 600 hp, the GA800 handles applications ranging from […]
Don’t forget these two things when selecting an amplifier for a servo-motion application
Using software to size motion designs is rewarding because engineers can efficiently predict which products are suitable for the application at hand. But key considerations (sometimes missed) when selecting a servo amplifier are those of dynamic braking and regenerative resistor braking. By Sixto Moralez • Regional Motion Engineer Phil Drexler • Regional Motion Engineer | […]
Design and selection of induction and permanent magnet ac electric motors for efficiency
A few tips for design and selection of induction and permanent magnet ac electric motor systems will make them more energy efficient. Gabriel Venzin ABM Drives Inc., ABM Greiffenberger U.S. Subsidiary Efficiency in motor designs is a more relevant concern than ever. With electric motors providing over 60% of all industrial power, efficiency is a […]
New RH-N gearbox kits from Nabtesco Motion Control are pre-engineered offering
Nabtesco Motion Control now offers pre-engineered RH-N gearbox kits. RH-N Kits use the manufacturer’s newest RV-N series of gearboxes … to 20% smaller and 30% lighter than the original RV-E series. RH-N gearbox kits make for a turnkey motion solution that trims on lead, engineering, and installation times. The RH-N directly bolts onto servomotors without […]