
Today on Design World
Differentiating belt-drive types
Synchronous belt drives dominate motion control designs for positioning and other precision functions. Here we detail V belts and other belt types used in industrial, robotic, and consumer designs for both linear and rotary axes. Modern flat belts are either endless (welded or otherwise closed into a hoop by the manufacturer) or open. Common on […]
Update on today’s belt drives
Belt drives have continued to evolve with new applications. Industrial belt drives in motion designs consist of rubber, engineered plastic, metal, or (most common) multi-material belts that wrap around drive pulleys — grooved or otherwise profiled wheels mounted on a shaft — in turn driven by electric motors. Powered by various motor types, belt drives run […]
Four-axis positioning stages with four motor options
OES (Optimal Engineering Systems Inc.) has added to their line of purpose-built stages. The new XYZR Series of Four-axes Stages are the integration of a: 15 mm, 30 mm, 50 mm, 75 mm, or 100 mm linear stages (in any combination) for the X, Y, and Z axes, and a 60 mm or 100 mm […]
Gigabit Ethernet switches simplify configuration and boost security
Red Lion now offers N-Tron Series NT5000 Gigabit Managed Layer 2 Ethernet switches. As industries around the world digitally transform and optimize their operations, reliable and secure network access is absolutely critical. NT5000 switches and their gigabit speed are designed to improve network security and reliability for industrial organizations of all sizes and environments. The…Wiegand energy harvester enables new IoT technologies
UBITO, a member of the FRABA family of technology companies, has announced a development of Wiegand technology as an energy source for smart sensors. After more than two years of effort at FRABA’s R&D center in Aachen (Germany), a research team has demonstrated a prototype of a wireless sensor powered by Wiegand technology that could […]
How do you accurately measure skin color? Pt. 2
Measuring instruments for determining skin color have a variety of classifications. Telespectroradiometers (TSRs) and spectrophotometers (SPs) are two classifications for instruments that are widely used for measuring skin color. For example, in the cosmetic industry, TSRs are used for measuring color appearance for developing skin color charts and evaluating skin products. In contrast, SPs are […]
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Rotary Ball Spline Technologies and the Effective Differences of Two Rotational Nut Technologies
Before you specify a rotary ball spline, ask the question, “Should the rotary spline nut be riding on angular contact ball bearings or crossed roller bearings?” After ascertaining your application’s requirements – stroke length; velocity; applied load; mounting space; duty cycle; required life; dimensions; installation direction; environment and accuracy – you’re ready to factor in…
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Predicting future changes in water quality
As the impact of climate change and land use continue to harm aquatic environments, it is becoming increasingly important to measure and monitor changes in water quality. When Dublin City University (DCU) Water Institute was developing its new mobile lab technology to help predict future changes in water quality, it turned to precision drive and…
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Monitor machine health with precise power data
Product Announcement: New groov RIO EMU (energy monitoring unit) Introducing the latest offering in the groov RIO product line: groov RIO EMU (energy monitoring unit), GRV-R7-I1VAPM-3. Edge I/O for Power The groov RIO series brings you a new kind of I/O product—edge I/O. It doesn’t require a PLC, PAC, or IPC to communicate data to other systems. Instead, this intelligent, distributed…
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Fresh water for Bursa
The Turkish megacity of Bursa has clean drinking water. There, Festo has completely modernized the Dobruca water treatment plant, from the operating and control level right up to the process valves in the field. It was possible to create an automation system from a single source, thanks to the perfectly matched components from Festo. This…
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IIoT solutions bring machine data to life to streamline and secure performance
IIoT solutions bring machine data to life to streamline and secure performance If you’re a machine builder trying to differentiate your company from the competition, you may be considering investing in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solutions. Today, there are numerous cloud-based manufacturing technologies that can dramatically improve production efficiency, reduce downtime, and streamline maintenance.…
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Unique Stromag combination coupling/clutch assemblies reduce cost, footprint and weight
Equipment and machinery OEMs worldwide are continually challenged to design cost-effective drivetrains that fit in ever-shrinking spaces. In the case of marine propulsion designers, reducing overall system weight is also a critically important consideration. Sourcing individual drivetrain couplings and clutches can be time consuming as marine engineers hold interface clarification meetings with elastic coupling and…
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WORKHORSE® Chain Offers Dependable Strength and Reliability for Bucket Elevators
In cement, mining, fertilizer and industrial aggregate applications, chain bucket elevators are used to transport bulk materials vertically. Demanding environments like these often challenge system reliability and require unique, innovative chain solutions. Balancing adequate strength with features that effectively defend against corrosion and abrasion can often be a challenge but is certainly feasible and should…
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Emerson’s new display differentiates OEM systems, improves user operations
Machine builders in any industrial application can now use Emerson’s PACSystems RXi HMI, a next-generation machine visualization solution designed to help set their systems apart for customers. The new system easily helps users overcome the limitations of lower budgets, fewer people, and higher productivity demands. This highly intuitive human-machine interface (HMI) addresses the needs of…
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December 2022 Issue: How the concept cars of tomorrow are made with 3D printing
STEM, diversity, and today’s manufacturer At the recent Danfoss Distributor Meeting in Orlando, I caught up with Eric Alström, the company’s President. The company is a year removed from the purchase of Eaton’s hydraulic business, and I asked him about some current issues facing manufacturers. One area discussed at the meeting was the importance of…
Motion Control See More >

Wiegand energy harvester enables new IoT technologies
UBITO, a member of the FRABA family of technology companies, has announced a development of Wiegand technology as an energy source for smart sensors. After more than two years of effort at FRABA’s R&D center in Aachen (Germany), a research team has demonstrated a prototype of a wireless sensor powered by Wiegand technology that could […]