As we ring in the new year, the Design World staff would like to present our most-read articles of 2022. 1. Best free analog circuit simulators Blogs and online forums catering to engineers often mention all kinds of free packages and services aimed at circuit designers. Trouble is, a lot of these free resources are…

Maximum cleanliness is one of the essential prerequisites wherever food is produced. However, hygienic requirements also play a significant role in other industries, from medical technology and the pharmaceutical industry to the production of dispersion coatings. Almost everywhere today, the aim is to make products without preservative additives – this requires production environments with a…

A new Limit Switch Mount, the LM-1, solves the long-standing problem of mounting a snap-action switch while also providing a large amount of adjustment. The mount accommodates both miniature and standard snap-action switches. Specifically, it will fit snap-action switches with: #4 (0.112in/2.84 mm) or #6 (0.138 in/3.5 mm) mounting holes and a mounting hole spacing…

Coupling bolts used for live tooling on lathes are subject to relaxation, which occurs due to inadequate pre-loading of the bolts during installation, or to rough or inaccurately machined coupling faces — resulting in misalignment. This misalignment causes excessive vibration, which puts an unnecessary load on bearings, and curtails operation at full power. In response…

Originally built in 1898 and expanded over the next 30 years, the Twyford Waterworks continues to supply water to the city of Southhampton and surrounding areas in Southern England. In 1985, the non-profit Twyford Waterworks Trust was established to run the facility. The site is currently owned by Southern Water Services who use electric submersible…

Edited by Mike Santora A manufacturer of industrial sweepers and brooms required an economical coupling solution for a line of road construction sweepers. Dual hydraulic pumps, horizontally mounted to each other off the rear of the machine’s 74 HP Tier 4 engine, drive the propulsion of the machine and control the operation and speed of…

The new 750-330 BACnet coupler is the latest addition to the line of building automation controllers and remote I/O. The Building Automation and Control Network enabled coupler facilitates the communication between building automation devices and control systems applications. The BACnet/IP Coupler is equipped according to BACnet revision 12 and can manage up to 256 BACnet…

When designing pumps and compressors, you’ll need to use couplings that balance efficient torque transfer against the ability to withstand vibration, shock loads and misalignment between the motor and drive shaft. Ringfeder offers four coupling options that help do just that. TNR Coupling consists of an aluminum housing and steel hub, separated by cylindrical elastomer […]

With an increased demand for compact mounting solutions in the automation industry, R+W has released the CHB housing for parallel assemblies of motors and actuators. These box housings are available in 5 compact sizes and 2 ratios, allowing for an easier selection process during the design phase, in addition to downsizing of motors. Each unit […]

Installation overview: Even if a coupling is properly selected, poor installation can cause failures, staying within the recommended misalignment ratings of that coupling at installation is critical. Here, we will cover several coupling types and what to be careful of during installation. Always be sure coupling is used within the manufacturer’s ratings. Use a torque […]

The fourth quarter 2016 Sales History & Outlook Report (SHOR) released by the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) shows power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) distributor sales declined 3.6% from the 3Q16 level, a typical decline for that time period. However, leading indicators for PT/MC products suggest sales will rise through 2017 and 2018 before declining in […]

    Have you ever broken a servo coupling? If you answered yes, you are not alone. On this webinar hosted by Bobby Watkins, Ruland Manufacturing’s VP of Sales and Applications, you will learn why couplings fail, the importance of proper installation, and ways you can avoid failures in the future. Bobby will use a…

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”— an old phrase perhaps most appropriate in reference to the coupling selection of a design. With time constraints moving at the speed of commerce, designers go with what they know has worked in the past. That’s a legitimate argument. Plus, there is no reason to over-engineer the simple…

When Coupling Tips.com spoke with KTR Engineering Services Manager, Chris Scholz we asked him about some of the common misconceptions about couplings, torque limiters and the integration of the two. Here are some of the highlights from the interview. We kicked things off by asking what topics are being brought up most often when fielding…

These CPU pin-type couplings effectively dampen system vibration, especially on packaging systems. Designed using a simple pin and bushing connection that minimizes vibration, these couplings handle angular misalignment of 4° and parallel misalignment of 0.5 mm. The design maintains zero backlash for smooth system operation. Also, the couplings’ aluminum construction makes for a lightweight yet…

Ameridrives was contacted to fix the problem and ensure that it didn’t happen again. Gear couplings were initially installed on all the polymer pumps between the pumps and gearboxes in this high-torque, low-speed (50 rpm) application. However, keeping all the expensive gear couplings properly lubricated throughout their plants around the world proved to be a…

Initial coupling selection aside, the prevention of premature component failure begins with installation. Installing the right part the wrong way is bad—seems obvious. Yet, nearly all coupling manufacturers we speak with have similar tales of installation nightmares. Mike Parzych, product marketing manager at GAM, gave us the three most common installation mistakes he encounters. Tighten…

Fluid power was well-represented at Agritechnica, the world’s largest agricultural-machinery trade fair held last month in Hannover, Germany. Fluid Power World recently noted that Linde Hydraulics received the…

Mobile Hydraulic Tips

The management teams of CENTA Antriebe Kirschey GmbH and Christie & Grey Limited announce a strategic global sales cooperation between their companies. The agreement allows the two companies to join forces to engineer and strategically supply the industry’s premium “quiet drive” solutions – combining soft mounting systems, flexible couplings, and intermediate drive shaft systems. As…

T&B® Fittings Non-Metallic Expansion/Deflection Couplings from Thomas & Betts (T&B), developed for polyvinylchloride (PVC) systems, now are compatible with fiberglass raceway, also known as reinforced thermosetting resin conduit (RTRC), when bonded with methacrylate adhesive. “The use of a methacrylate adhesive has enabled the expansion of the couplings’ applications beyond PVC systems to include RTRC systems,”…

MW Industries announced the acquisition of Servometer and BellowsTech, world leading manufacturers of precision engineered bellows and electroformed components. Both companies have developed innovative technologies to service mission critical applications across a variety of markets. Located in Cedar Grove, NJ, Servometer designs and manufactures a high quality line of miniature bellows, flexible shaft couplings, contact…

Special environments and applications require couplings that handle the usual torque transmission and misalignment, but with a few extra features. Most disc couplings use a metal disc-pack. However, Zero-Max’s composite disc coupling uses a uniquely shaped disc-pack that is constructed of a composite material rather than metal. This composite material offers an alternative to metal…

Operator safety and failing hydraulic systems have led to a new decompression block coupler from Holmbury. The HDB is designed for the quick change of hydraulic attachments for…

Mobile Hydraulic Tips

RSF Elektronik offers a linear motion feedback encoder system  that is specifically designed for machines with loose mechanical motion during operation.  Called the MSA 37x series, these encoders are especially well suited for motion applications such as press brake and metal forming/bending machines, or any other type of machine that have significant flexure near the…

This webinar will place the spotlight on gear couplings with a focus on factors to consider when making a coupling selection for your application. Topics covered will include basic sizing, application criteria, coupling design features and the variety of coupling types available.