An improvement in packaging efficiency required attention to ergonomics, ease of assembly, and cost efficiency. Danielle Collins, senior editor Automation is changing how traditional distribution centers operate as companies search for new ways to maximize their efficiency, increase order accuracy and fulfill customer demand. When it comes to automated technology, most people tend to think…

L-com Global Connectivity, a manufacturer of wired and wireless connectivity products based in North Andover, Mass., has introduced new M12 products that include connectors, receptacles and a coupler. These products are designed for industrial control and factory automation, test equipment, I/O connectivity, sensors and actuators, harsh environment applications and industrial Ethernet networks. The M12 field […]

Alliance Sensors Group is pleased to announce its “SenSet™ Field Programmability” technology is now a standard feature in its LR, LRS, LV, MR-7, SS-7, MHP-7 and ME-7 linear position product lines. SenSet™ allows a user to perform a field calibration to adjust for mechanical tolerance variations with the ease of pushing a button or grounding…

Download Fabco Air’s Ebook More or Less – Compact Air Cylinders are a Big Deal! “Less is more” seems to be the trend in the pneumatic actuator market. Real estate on OEM equipment is at a premium today more than ever before! Download this Ebook to learn more…

Pack Expo in Las Vegas this year was a huge success with more than 29,500 attendees and dozens of new design solutions of display. One supplier at the show making quite a number of important announcements was Emerson Automation. Emerson’s technologies help packaging lines gain flexibility by accommodating numerous package sizes and complexities; reduce losses…

Download NB Tech Tips BECAUSE it has greater ball contact in its ground circular arches (tripling load capacity), the TOPBALL® line by NB Corporation can actually carry a load of up to one ton (2000 lbs). Having three times the conventional load capacity, TOPBALL products minimize space requirements.

Nook Industries, a linear motion manufacturer, has formally announced the separation of its former subsidiary, Helix Linear Technologies. Nook and Helix operate as independent entities. “Nook Industries continues to focus on exceeding the expectations of our customers, by offering exceptional engineering and quality products in our competitive market,” said Joseph Nook III, CEO at Nook.…

Gilman Precision is proud to announce a newly designed catalog highlighting their extensive line of slides. Compared to their last slide catalog, Gilman has reconstructed and improved the way information is displayed to offer an easier user experience. “We are excited to release this catalog because it concludes our process of updating and upgrading our…

Siemens announced the availability of wall-mounting kits for its Sinamics G120C and G120 PM240-2 modular drives. These low-cost kits allow easy, fast installation of the drives and conform to NEMA 1 and UL Type 1 standards for interior applications. These wall-mount kits are designed in accordance with UL 61800-5- 1 standards for AC drives. Available…

The VCS20-20-03-MC-01-XYZ 3-axis positioning stage from H2W Technologies uses voice coil motors, instead of 3-phase brushless linear motors, to significantly reduce the overall size, weight, and cost of the system. The VCS20-20-03-MC-01-XYZ is a closed-loop voice coil driven XYZ positioning stage and is ideal for three-axis positioning applications. It uses H2W voice coil motors NCC20-18-020-1A […]

In part 1 of this series on bearing speed, we looked at the factors that limit the speed of linear recirculating bearings. In this segment, we’ll look at the factors that limit the speed of linear plain bearings. Linear plain bearings operate with sliding contact between the two bearing surfaces, so the limitations encountered with […]

IntelLiDrives’ new BEMA Series Synchronized XY Gantries are offered in travel lengths from 300 x 300 mm to 3,000 x 3,0000 mm. With speeds up to 2 m/sec, BEMA Gantry Series are ideal for applications in high-speed positioning for light-to-medium payloads. The BEMA Series can be motorized with stepper motors, brushless servo motor/encoders or integrated […]

SGL Slide Guides from NB Corporation are high-precision, high-rigidity, high load capacity linear bearings with low friction, non-stick or slip mechanisms that provide smooth linear motion even under high loads. SGL Slide Guides are available in lengths from 160 mm to 3000 mm. Six types of blocks are available depending on the mounting space and […]

Klüber Lubrication, a worldwide manufacturer of specialty lubricants, now sells BARRIERTA K greases for electrical and precision engineering applications. These greases are based on perfluorinated polyether oil (PFPE) to provide a long component life over a wide service temperature range. They are resistant to aggressive chemicals, compatible with elastomers and plastics, and provide low running torque. […]

Motion control and piezo systems expert PI (Physik Instrumente) introduces a new robust OEM walking motor drive, the N-331, with its configuration rooted in existing patented piezo actuator technology and a patented piezo stepping motion principle design. Based on the application of historically successful technology, the new design it is suitable for use in high-end […]

Many manufacturers of adjustable applications for example farming, mobile agriculture, or industrial automation are familiar with LINAK actuators with integrated controller functions — including the LA14, LA25, and LA36. Now a new mid-range offering completes the LINAK portfolio. The new powerful actuator is the LA33 electric linear actuator. It’s a mid-range powerhouse to supply a perfect fit where small actuators […]

MKS Instruments now sells Newport DLS Series high-performance linear actuators called Delay Line Stages. The DLS series features affordable high performance linear-motor-driven stages with integrated motion controllers. Optimized for retroreflectors, repeatable femtosecond positioning and exceptionally fast traverse speeds, the compact stages are a perfect fit for spectroscopy applications that require single or multiple delay lines. With travel […]

iwis introduces Megalife-branded maintenance-free roller and conveyor chains. The special characteristics of the Megalife chains allow longer replacement intervals and reduce maintenance costs and downtimes of conveying systems. The chains are used wherever relubrication is not possible or disadvantageous, for example in dry ambient conditions and on installations with restricted maintenance access. This includes conveying […]

In a recent Technology Tuesdays podcast, Brian Scott, application engineer at Nippon Pulse America, talked to me a little bit about linear motors such as iron core, U-channel, and tubular linear motors … and the benefits and drawbacks of each. I asked him about some of the major design objectives OEMs cite when migrating axes to linear […]

PI (Physik Instrumente) now offers a new reference class XY stage in its PIMag series of high dynamic linear motor stages with the V-731, equipped with incremental linear encoders for direct position measurement and 3-phase electromagnetic linear motors. Fields of application include micro-assembly, biotechnology, precision laser machining, optics, lens testing, and photonics alignment. The proprietary […]

Thomson Industries, Inc., a leading manufacturer of mechanical motion control solutions, has published a new brochure that educates industrial automation users on the emerging role of smart actuators in meeting their demands for greater connectivity, application flexibility and cost efficiency. The brochure explores, with help from 10 pages of detailed 3D application renderings, the unique […]

Global shipments for motion control products increased by 13.6% to $858.4 million in 2016, according to new statistics released by the Motion Control & Motor Association (MCMA), the industry’s trade group. “We saw the motion control market post its fifth consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth to begin 2017,” said Alex Shikany, MCMA Director of Market […]

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 […]

“Environment” is a difficult parameter to quantify when selecting recirculating linear bearings or ball screws. Unlike load, stroke, or speed, there are no programs or calculations that help you choose the right bearing based on environmental factors. But environmental conditions can have a big impact on the performance of linear bearings and ball screws. Because these components operate […]

Bimba, an industry-leading innovator of pneumatic, hydraulic and electric motion solutions, now offers a cutting-edge compact air cylinder – the Blue and Improved Flat-1®. Blue (as in New) and Improved designates Bimba products that have been redesigned to offer enhancements applying the most recent advances in design technology. The Blue and Improved Flat-1® features 19 new…