Lisa Eitel

The fourth annual LEAP Awards — celebrating leading engineering achievements in product design — was the largest yet. 2021 LEAP categories were divided across four the WTWH Media brands of Design World, Fluid Power World, Fastener Engineering, and EE World. These 12 categories include Additive Manufacturing • Connectivity • Embedded Computing • Hydraulics • Industrial […]

Industrial power supplies are electrical devices that convert a particular type and level of power (typically ac) to another — typically dc. These devices receive ac power through their input terminals and (through output terminals) supply dc power to connected electrical loads. Power supplies execute this task efficiently and reliably. However, they can’t independently guarantee…

Industrial power supplies are components that convert electrical power to other magnitudes and types. Many industrial power supplies convert this utility-mains ac power to an appropriate form of dc power. However, other industrial power supply modules execute dc to dc-power conversion — also written as dc/dc and dc-dc conversion. Called dc/dc or dc-to-dc converters, these…

The industrial internet of things (IIoT or Industry 4.0) has spurring the inclusion of data-network connectivity on nearly all industrial components — including industrial power supplies. After all, precise monitoring, diagnostics, automation, and control have become critical requirements in industrial automation. Many of these capabilities rely on component compatibility with today’s most common forms of…

Electrical components and equipment are subject to various regulations and standards that specify the manufacturing process, characteristics, and usage with which components must comply to ensure proper installation and safe operation. Ultimately these regulations ensure the safety of personnel and nearby equipment. In fact, standards are formal documents that concisely stipulate requirements and guidelines for…

Backup power systems provide crucial emergency power to critical components whenever there’s a failure in a facility’s main power supply. These backup systems are indispensable at facilities involved in essential life-saving services, automated manufacturing of expensive product, and other critical operations where they help protect vital equipment and prevent expensive downtime, data loss, and time-consuming…

Current transformers or CTs are indispensable anywhere high currents are measured and processed. These instrument transformers effectively diminish high-voltage current flows for a convenient way to securely evaluate and monitor real electrical current through an ac transmission wire relying on a conventional ammeter. CTs perform this task by generating alternating current in a secondary winding…

Automated facilities commanded by industrial control cabinets rely on the components in those cabinets to work reliably even in the face of power variations. These components include local power supplies, PLCs, data loggers, networking and other communication equipment, and IO — which are all vulnerable to the detrimental effects of voltage surge. Also known as…

Industrial electronics operate in electrically noisy and mechanically challenging environments. The problem is that automation, control, and instrumentation components rely on accurate signals sans electrical interference or distortion to properly operate. So optocoupler modules are often employed by engineers as signal-protecting intermediaries between signal sources as well as power sources and industrial controls and other…

A top challenge in industrial electronics is the integration of sensing and feedback — in part because their disparate outputs require clean and safe transmission to the installation’s PLC or other primary controller. For these connections, system integrators rely on signal conditioners and isolation amplifiers. While both devices serve as an intermediary point in power…

An uninterruptible power supply or UPS is an electrical device that provides supplementary emergency power to the connected load when there’s a loss in the main power supply. It supplies power via a backup battery until the main power is restored. UPSs install between that regular power source and the load, with the supplied power…

DIN rail-mounted industrial power supplies feed dc power to industrial components for industrial control, assembly, testing, and monitoring tasks — as well as other automation equipment that uses dc power. These power supplies are usually found in electrical cabinets and control panels connected to elaborate power and communication networks involving myriad components. Outside control cabinets,…

Industrial power supplies, power converters, and complementary power components for automated operations include electrical as well as electronic components that … • Accept electrical power from utility-company mains or intermediate power components • Employ transformers to change the electricity’s voltage — as well as rectifiers for dc output if applicable • Condition the electricity —…

Integrated automation and motion control simulation software provides simple and quick virtual commissioning for machine builders. By Kevin Wu and Colm Gavin | Siemens Digital Industries In the development of any new machine or plant, faults are almost inevitable. Failure during commissioning is especially problematic, because it’s likely to significantly increase costs and delay the […]

Today’s manufacturing system OEMs and automation end users are constantly seeking technology advancements to help make their lives easier. Industry 4.0 innovations have spurred a new class of smart technologies that combine digital electronics and communication interfaces for more sophistication, functionality, and ease of use. By Richard Hansen • Senior automation engineer | Bosch Rexroth […]

Rack and pinion systems are excellent electromechanical devices uniquely suited for achieving a linear or rotary motion solution mostly unattainable with other technologies. The typical system is made up of long straight rack (or linear gear) with teeth on one surface, a matching pinion (or circular gear), and a method for driving one or the […]

Emirates Team New Zealand has won the historical 36th America’s Cup that endured extra challenges — including COVID-19, race cancellations, and delays that caused interruptions and last-minute tactical changes. The Kiwis have retained the oldest trophy in international sporting history. Creating a boat from simulation and the use of AI technology were big risks for Emirates […]

Bosch Rexroth’s ctrlX HMI offers machine manufacturers optimum freedom when it comes to implementing the user experience with intuitive user guidance. The portfolio includes small operating panels, tablets, panel PCs, or large stationary displays with a screen diagonal of up to 24 inches. Anti-glare and chemically hardened front glass make display and operating panels ideal […]

Columbus McKinnon Corp., manufacturer and marketer of intelligent motion solutions, products, technologies and services for material handling, has agreed to acquire Dorner Mfg. Corp. “The acquisition of Dorner provides a catalyst for growth in extremely attractive markets and begins the process of reimagining the future of Columbus McKinnon. Dorner advances our strategy to broaden expertise […]

25 trillion kilowatt hours of electricity are consumed globally per year — of which 53% is consumed by electric motors. So replacing traditional electric motors with ultra-high-efficiency electric motors in all sorts of industries could significantly reduce energy wasted to noise and heat — and increase the performance and cost effectiveness of motor-driven designs in […]

The transition of mobile machinery and off-highway equipment away from fossil fuels may be a long-term goal, but electrification is already delivering real benefits in the sector. By Tarek Bugaighis • Ewellix Is the era of the internal combustion engine coming to end? Under pressure to reduce harmful emissions, the automotive industry is already gearing […]

Industry terminology used to describe linear guides and other linear components widely varies. Here we explain three linear-guide phrases and words having multiple meanings — and differentiate how they relate to track-roller linear guides and profiled-rail linear guides. Let’s start by reviewing the multiple linear-motion meanings for Gothic-arch linear bearing. Gothic arches originate from civil […]

In a recent Design World feature, we covered the basics of how functional safety is quantified … and what constitutes a servo-brake option with functional-safety certification. Here we share more details on the construction of safety brakes for linear axes and the intersection of brake safety and IIoT capabilities. Machine safety is core to nearly […]

In one recent machine redesign, Florida-based machine builder Hine Automation added precision engineered pulley-bushing assemblies to their SL-200C Vacuum Cassette-to-Cassette-Wafer Handling System for a boost in performance. This machine’s function is to transfer silicon wafers from a wafer cassette to a wafer process module under vacuum. The moves are commanded by computer controls. Hine Automation…

When building miniature linear-motion systems, design engineers can choose between ball and crossed-roller linear guides.  When applied to precision systems, most all of these linear guides have cages to prevent shifting of the anti-friction rolling elements during operation … especially when these linear guides are applied in exacting microscopy, manipulator, and image-scanner applications — for […]