For one manufacturer of CNC grinding machines, new high-performance linear motors replaced ball-screws and improved machine performance. It’s no secret that linear motors are highly effective motion devices. Linear motors can achieve high acceleration rates and long travel lengths with good thrust forces and extremely high positioning accuracies, while other drive mechanisms, such as belts, […]
igus modular linear axis for travels of any length
igus, the Germany-based manufacturer of motion plastics, is launching the drylin Endless Gear linear module (EGW), a modular, lubrication-free linear guide with rack and pinion drive. The modular system can be extended to any travel length, costs little, and is almost as light as the guide for a toy train. Several carriages can travel on […]
New miniature voice coil motor from Moticont features 0.125 in. open aperture
Moticont has debuted its most compact miniature hollow core linear actuator; the HVCM-016-010-003-01 linear voice coil motor, featuring a 0.125 in. (3.2 mm) open aperture and high force-to-size ratio. This miniature open aperture actuator is a true dc linear servo motor. Quiet and clean, this non-commutated, miniature brushless servo motor features: Zero cogging and zero […]
New magnetic tracks for linear motors boost force with no redesign
Offering a track with stronger magnets for their linear motors than previously available, ETEL introduces the new MWD+. This magnet-track family is compatible with any existing LMG and LMS linear motor from ETEL, enabling up to 15% higher continuous and peak forces compared to the existing MWD product. With the option of more powerful magnets, […]
Miniature lead screws for compact application designs
Thomson Industries, Inc., has introduced a line of miniature lead screws and nuts. This new offering extends the Thomson lead screw product line to include 2-, 3- and 4-millimeter diameters. “OEMs are increasingly demanding components for smaller assemblies, and we are pleased to announce that Thomson high-quality lead screws and nuts are now available in […]
IKO offers AutomationWare electric actuators for optimal positioning accuracy and control
With AutomationWare’s Mech Series E-actuators, engineers can obtain accurate, controllable movement for almost any performance and size requirement. The series features an advanced ball screw transmission system to handle a wide range of dynamic loads and speeds with exceptional thrust performance. The units come with integrated brushless or high-speed stepper motors and an integrated feedback…
IKO offers AutomationWare electric actuators for optimal positioning accuracy and control
IKO International has announced the U.S. availability of the Mech Series of E-actuators as part of its distribution partnership with AutomationWare. With AutomationWare’s Mech Series E-actuators, engineers can obtain accurate, controllable movement for almost any performance and size requirement. The series features an advanced ball screw transmission system to handle a wide range of dynamic […]
Beckhoff expands XPlanar function with bumper ID, new mover variants
Beckhoff has created new possibilities in adaptive automation by expanding the functionality of the XPlanar “flying motion” system. Now, on top of XPlanar’s field-proven capabilities, the solution can handle more products with even more flexibility through new mover identification, movers for two lanes of traffic on one tile, rectangular movers and mover coupling for higher […]
New 600-mm vertical lift stage features 5-micron repeatability
The new AT20-600 series of Motorized Vertical Lift Stages from Optimal Engineering Systems, Inc. (OES) features a vertical lift of 600 mm. The AT20-600-01 is driven by a two-phase stepper motor and features a repeatability of 5 microns, positional accuracy of 20 microns and has a knob on the motor for manual adjustment. The AT20-600-02 […]
Linear actuator features integrated controller
With the PSA56, Nanotec launches its first linear actuator with integrated controller. This extremely compact drive unit combines the LSA56 hybrid linear actuator and the intelligent controllers of Nanotec’s PD4-E series. The integrated magnetic single-turn absolute encoder has a resolution of 1,024 CPR and supports field-oriented control via CANopen. The screw’s protective coating is made […]
Ametek Haydon Kerk Pittman introduces EGS low-profile precision rail
As a world leader in compact linear motion systems, Ametek Haydon Kerk Pittman (HKP), a business unit of Ametek, is pleased to announce its new EGS04 low-profile precision rail. The EGS “efficient guided system” is ideally suited for customers in lab automation and electronic assembly whose applications require high speed and highly efficient point-to-point motion. […]
Rediscovering ball splines for robust linear and rotary motion
Ball splines were once a staple for machine designers seeking an elegant way to integrate rotary and linear motion. Driven by pressures to speed their machines to market, many designers found it faster to implement prepackaged solutions in which rotary and linear motion shafts had already been integrated. By Charles Isaac • Thomson Industries Chris […]
New linear position detector series from Nidec
Nidec Machine Tool Corporation will launch the MPLS series, an inductive coupling principle-type linear position detector that determines a machine’s position and detects its feed digitally, on November 1st. Intended for compact machine tools, it uses a signal-detection method and integrates numbers of substrates to realize a simple structure that does not require scale wiring […]
Linear electric motors designed specifically for machine tools
NUM has launched a series of brushless linear servo motors designed specifically for continuous duty cycle applications in machine tools. NUM’s new LMX series linear motors incorporate a number of features to help mitigate the effect of arduous operating conditions. Their moving coil primary section is fully encapsulated in a robust stainless-steel housing, with an […]
How to choose a roller screw nut assembly
A roller screw’s application will dictate whether the shaft or nut should rotate. In either case, the type of nut selected depends on the load and how the assembly will move and actuate the system. There are three major types of roller screw nuts: single, split, and double. Single nuts are the most common configuration […]
Precision ball splines deliver robust rotary and linear motion integration
Thomson Industries, Inc., has introduced a line of precision ball splines that enable robust delivery of rotary and linear motion on a single shaft. These new components give designers more flexibility to compress an assembly, extend a stroke, distribute a load or otherwise meet modern automation demands. “Ball splines have provided an elegant, single shaft […]
AutomationDirec adds igus linear slide actuators and XYZ gantries to inventory
AutomationDirect has added linear slide actuators from igus. These lead screw-driven and belt-driven linear slide actuators can be used as single-axis slides or can provide an economical means of creating high-performance XY or XYZ gantry systems. The SAW series lead-screw driven actuators offer a low-cost linear motion solution with travel distances from 50 to 750…
Low-load polymer bushing bearings increase motion system design flexibility
Thomson Industries, Inc., has added a polymer bushing to its line of state-of-the-art Ball Bushing bearings. It expands the company’s extensive bearing portfolio, providing design engineers a new option that helps them avoid overdesigning for low-load applications. Thomson polymer bushing bearings provide a reliable solution for machines where moment load is non-critical (30 to 40 […]
JW Winco introduces new high-end precision guide rollers
JW Winco has expanded its guide roller offering to include the standard part GN 753.1. With its entirely new design, these guide rollers have a special deep groove ball bearing of hardened roller-bearing steel. They are available in six sizes, from 0.866 to 1.969 in. (22 to 50 mm) in outer diameter. The bearing features…
How to select the right roller screw size
Roller screw systems typically have smaller footprints and more compact designs than their hydraulic counterparts. One motivation to replace hydraulics with roller screws is to reduce bulky and auxiliary equipment and its associated maintenance without compromising performance. Roller screw shafts come in a variety of diameters and load capacities. Some are 3.5 mm in diameter with […]
Rugged linear position sensors with optimized accuracy
LINARIX linear positions sensors from POSITAL have been updated with extra-heavy-duty draw-wire mechanisms and with a convenient pre-scaling option for devices with analog communication interfaces. LINARIX position sensors are suitable for a wide variety of applications, including medical equipment, packaging and materials handling systems, forklifts, overhead gantries, lifts, and flow control gates in water management […]
New high-precision, three-axis gimbal mounts with four motor options
OES (Optimal Engineering Systems, Inc.) has released four all new three-axis Azimuth, Angular Elevation, and Roll Gimbal Mounts. These new high-precision and high stability AU270-AER Gimbal Mounts locate the surface of the roll stage 115 mm below the center line of rotation allowing for the positioning of cameras, optics, lasers and instrumentation for scanning, tracking, […]
Touchless linear position sensors for tight spaces
The new TFD Series of touchless linear position sensors from Novotechnik, U.S. provide wear-free operation in tight spaces, with maximum sensor dimensions of 40 x 27 x 7 mm thin. Sensing direction can be either parallel or perpendicular to mounting holes. The TFD-4000 Series uses a magnetic position marker to provide a touchless measurement range […]
Festo’s motion automation innovations provide reliability in battery assembly
In an active demonstration, as shown in this YouTube video of the demo, pneumatic and electric actuators from Festo handle and pierce battery cells. This new demonstration showcases the company’s motion automation innovations in battery and electric vehicle assembly. In battery production applications, high speeds and throughput are required, as are reliability and repeatability. In […]
A better control method for laser materials processing: Part 2 of 2
(This is the second article in a two-part series, the first of which can be found here.) Dr. Cliff Jolliffe Head of Automation Market Segment Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH Modular controllers offer an easy and straightforward way to link a laser to multi-axis positioning systems. For instance, PI’s ACS Laser Control Module (LCM) introduces a […]