Turck’s new TBEN-PLC CODESYS 3 compact IP67 PLC is aimed at controlling small or modular machines. Thanks to its robust housing and high degree of environmental protection, the TBEN-PLC can operate directly on-machine, enabling the implementation of machine control without the need for a control cabinet. Using machine automation concepts and the use of pre-assembled […]
Real-time performance in PC-based control: Technology update
Eric Reiner, Industrial PC Product Specialist | Beckhoff Automation System performance hangs heavy on the minds of every machine builder when commissioning new projects — particularly when it comes to the control platform. That’s with good reason, as the controller is arguably the most important facet of a machine … and often the first place […]
New right-angle hypoid gear brushless dc gearmotors from Brother Gearmotors
Brother Gearmotors’ new line of brushless dc electric gearmotors (BLDC), also known as electronically commutated motors, expands the company’s portfolio of brushless dc gearmotors that are ideal for environments requiring virtually maintenance-free operation and accurate speed control as well as operation over a wide speed range. They are also desirable for settings where brush dust […]
How do brushless-motor drives eliminate motor power-supply setup?
In a recent video recorded at the Design World studios, I teamed up with my colleague Paul Heney to review the features of a brushless-motor drive from Koford Engineering in Winchester, Ohio. Consider some examples from Koford Engineering, which sells a full line of compact 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40-A brushless motor drives. […]
How are complementary signals used to mitigate encoder noise?
Electrical noise is a common problem that occurs during the transmission of an incremental encoder’s signal to the receiving electronics, especially when the cable lengths are very long. Stray electromagnetic fields or currents induce unwanted voltages into the signal. These voltages can cause the receiver to make false counts, producing errors in the position or […]
What are design considerations for integral horsepower gearmotors?
An integral horsepower gearmotor is any motor with a horsepower of 1 and above, as opposed to fractional horsepower motors that are less than 1 hp. The design considerations for integral horsepower motors are going to be fairly similar to fractional horsepower motors because the same types of parameters are important. So for instance, torque […]
Motion Industries agrees to acquire Numatic Engineering
Motion Industries, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Numatic Engineering. Execution of the transaction will occur on August 1, 2017. Founded in 1955, Numatic Engineering has over sixty years of experience selling and supporting automation components. Their vast product offerings […]
New Sure-Flex Plus coupling cost savings calculator from TB Wood’s
TB Wood’s has created a new program that allows users to quantify just how significant the savings can be when replacing a copy-cat coupling sleeve with the high performance Sure-Flex Plus EPDM or Neoprene sleeve. The program is now available at www.tbwoods.com or it can be installed as a smartphone app on any Android or […]
New direct-drive servos from Yaskawa for backlash-free automation
A new direct-drive servomotor from the Drives & Motion Division of Yaskawa America, Inc. packs a new level of performance into a more compact size. The new Yaskawa SGM7F line of direct-drive servomotors delivers from 4 to 35 Nm of torque in a device as small as 2.1-in. high and 5.3-in. in diameter (53 x […]
What is a wound rotor motor?
A wound rotor motor is a variation of the three-phase induction motor, designed to provide high starting torque for loads with high inertia, while requiring very low current. Wound rotor motors are also referred to as “slip ring motors.” The stator of a wound rotor motor is the same as a typical induction motor, but […]
What is EtherCAT?
Ethernet for Control Automation Technology (EtherCAT) was developed by Beckhoff. It’s based on the CANopen protocol and on Ethernet but differs from internet communication or network communications in being specifically optimized for industrial automation control. The standards are defined and maintained by the EtherCAT technology group. Using the OSI network model, Ethernet and EtherCAT rely […]
Festo expands custom assembly and kitting operations in North America
Festo, a leading manufacturer of pneumatic and electromechanical systems, components, and controls for process and industrial automation, will close its Appleton, WI, center and move custom assembly and kitting services to a larger facility in Mason, Ohio, near Cincinnati. The move places custom services within a few miles of the parts and logistics resources of […]
Schneider Electric launches new three-level, low-harmonic drives
The Altivar 680 and Altivar Regenerative 980 Compact Low Harmonic Drives are a packaged, high-performance solution for low-harmonic applications. These active front end (AFE) drives feature a three-level input switching stage, which reduces common mode voltage and improves performance and efficiency. These benefits are a result of the new Drives’ custom filtering and three-level design. […]
IDEC releases line of stepper motion control products
IDEC Corp. introduces a line of motion control stepper products in conjunction with Advanced Micro Controls Inc. (AMCI), an established developer of motion control systems. This AMCI by IDEC product line includes controllers, stepper motors, an integrated controller/drive, an integrated drive/stepper motor, and an integrated controller/drive/stepper motor. When combined with an IDEC FC6A PLC and […]
What is hot swapping in PLC systems?
For computer systems in general including PLCs, hot swapping refers to the process of adding or replacing components in a control system or a PLC without having to shut down power to the system. In a PLC, this typically refers to I/O modules that plug into the PLC chassis. For PLCs that don’t have hot […]
What is linear behavior for DC motors?
When the term “linear behavior” is used to describe a system, it implies that the system’s output is directly proportional to the input. Unlike their wound-field counterparts, permanent magnet DC (PMDC) motors exhibit linear behavior. The use of permanent magnets means PMDC motors don’t need separate field excitation, and therefore, don’t experience the electrical losses […]
IronHorse shaft-mount gearboxes added by AutomationDirect
New IronHorse® Shaft Mount Gearboxes (speed reducers) from AutomationDirect feature shafts and gears manufactured from the highest grade steel, case hardened and precision ground to AGMA standards for long lasting durability. The gearbox shafts have reinforced double lip seals to protect against contamination and prevent oil from escaping. Premium ball and tapered roller bearings provide […]
More Beckhoff PC-based controllers earn Microsoft Azure certification
To provide plants, factories and machine builders with even more system-integrated solutions for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Beckhoff Automation has announced Microsoft Azure™ certification for the C6015 Industrial PC (IPC) and CX5140 Embedded PC. All certified devices from Beckhoff can be found in the Microsoft “Azure Certified for IoT” device catalog, providing customers with […]
Short-length inductive proximity sensors allow detection in tight spaces
When working with applications in spindles, grippers, and robotics, space is typically very tight. Unfortunately, that fact doesn’t eliminate the need for automation. If anything, it increases it. These ever-shrinking spaces can create enormous stresses on standard proximity sensors. As a result, manufacturers and users of automated machinery are always requesting greater miniaturization and higher […]
What are auto tuning methods for servo drives?
Tuning a servo system is a complex and iterative process. It typically requires tuning multiple control loops, each with its own gains (proportional, integral, and/or derivative) to be adjusted, not to mention additional parameters such as acceleration and velocity feed-forward gains and filters to reduce oscillations. While manual tuning has been the predominant method for […]
How to get zero backlash out of gearing?
Gearmotors use gears to reduce speed, which makes more torque available. The kind of gears used in gearmotors have an impact on the available torque, but also on things like noise levels and accuracy. In fact, one of the more common sources of inaccuracy in gearmotors is due to gear backlash. So reducing the amount […]
New mini motors from Portescap offer high torque in a compact package
Portescap has added a new 22-mm diameter motor to its DCT line of Athlonix Brush DC motors. The new 22DCT motor features proven energy efficient coreless design with an optimized self-supporting coil and magnetic circuit, delivering higher performance in a compact package. The motor is capable of reaching a continuous torque up to 13.29 mNm […]
Hollow-bore absolute encoder from Encoder Products Co. (EPC) and technical help on options
The Model MA58H absolute encoder from Encoder Products Co. (EPC) is heavy duty, rugged and reliable. This multi-turn hollow-bore absolute encoder is designed for harsh factory and plant floor environments … and is especially suited to applications where you need an encoder with the capability of output even in power-off scenarios. The Model MA58H has […]
PLC called Do-more! controller leverages AutomationDirect programming software (with embedded help)
With the launch of the newest Do-more! controller, the BRX PLC, AutomationDirect released an enhanced version of the Do-more! Designer programming software. Do-more! Designer 2.0 has many new features added to improve programming efficiency. A new dashboard allows easy navigation to important features and functions … … but one of the more popular additions is […]
Precision limit switches — new line from AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect has added a new line of high precision limit/position switches from Metrol. Traditional limit switches and even electronic proximity sensors are limited in terms of accuracy and repeatability. These cost-effective, ultra-precise mechanical limit switches have repeatability down to 10, 5, 3, and even 0.5µm (µm) depending on the specific model. Along with their high […]