A new generation of electromechanical actuators is replacing hydraulic cylinders in demanding applications. Increasingly, that choice is being driven as much by cost advantages as by performance. Tarek Bugaighis Ewellix Traditionally, when engineers wanted to produce large forces or move heavy loads their first choice would be hydraulic actuation. Today, however, hydraulic systems have a […]
Linear motion in medical: Lead screw driven syringe pumps
When we think of syringes, we typically think about the single-use type that doctors and nurses use to administer vaccines or individual doses of medication. But some conditions necessitate frequent or constant doses of critical medication, making it undesirable or even unfeasible to administer via single-use syringes. And in other cases, medications that would normally […]
High load capacity actuator from NB Corporation
This compact single axis actuator from NB Corporation features a unique “U” shaped integrated slide guide and ball screw. The BG actuator’s highly rigid structure may be one-end supported. The 4 ball circuits contained in its slide block deliver high load capacity, accuracy and rigidity. The product catalog supplies all dimensions, drawings and ratings necessary […]
FDA-compliant, off-the-shelf linear motion components for urgently needed medical products
In dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic many companies have volunteered or been requested to produce urgently needed medical products such as masks, gowns, and ventilators. Tooling up quickly to produce medical grade products for some companies can bring challenges. In addition to needing FDA-compliant materials that will be used in the actual masks, gowns, and […]
Linear motion in medical applications: Voice coil actuators in ventilators
More and more, medical device manufacturers are replacing traditional components with smaller, lighter-weight options that have sufficient life and reliability for “life-critical” applications. One such example comes from manufacturers of ventilators, who are using voice coil actuators to control the valves that deliver air to a patient who’s unable to breathe on their own. Ventilators are […]
New DR Series compact electric cylinders from Oriental Motor
Oriental Motor now sells DR Series compact electric cylinders based on 28-mm AZ Series or PKP Series stepper motors. The DR Series is available with an AZ Series or 2-phase PKP Series base motor. The DR Series is a linear motion actuator that incorporates a precision ball screw into a stepper motor … saving space, […]
What are rail brakes and when should you use them?
The servo and stepper motors that drive linear motion systems often include a braking function, or, in the case of stepper motors, detent torque that helps prevent the motor (and, therefore, the load) from moving when powered off. But in some applications, a secondary brake is required — either to provide redundancy and meet safety requirements […]
New tools and services aid ball screw selection and design
Ball screw performance continues to improve, thanks to advancements in manufacturing methods and materials. Newer generations of ball screws have higher load capacities, which means they’re increasingly being used for applications with higher loads as well as more challenging environmental conditions. Hence, the rise in ball-screw-driven actuators replacing traditional fluid power actuation methods in some […]
Linear shaft motors see increased force capabilities thanks to advances in magnets
By Paul Denman • Applications engineer and business development Nippon Pulse America Today most linear-motion designs execute their strokes with actuators based on stepper motors or brushless dc (BLDC) servo motors. Such designs have an inherent complexity due to the fact that the motors and its gearing and encoder must essentially hang off the machine […]
Linear guides, power transmission, actuators see unexpected applications
Our 2020 survey of the industry indicates an unabated trend towards more automation of previously static or manually tended systems. Key to these new offerings is installation simplicity for OEMs and end users of linear components for linear axes … as well as positioning stages and Cartesian robots. In fact, Cartesian robots (also called linear […]
Balluff’s new magnetic encoders easily integrate with Siemens motion control systems
Balluff’s new absolute magnetic linear encoders with Siemens Drive-Cliq interface are designed to integrate perfectly into Siemens motion controller environments. Plug-and-play installation makes incorporating them into the drive system easy. The controller automatically detects the sensor and its basic settings. Its automatic status monitoring continuously checks the measurement quality, detecting any mechanical position shift during […]
How to reduce the effects of stiction (stick-slip) in linear guides
Unless you’re playing the violin, stiction, or stick-slip, is an unwanted condition caused by the difference between static and dynamic friction between the two surfaces. When stiction occurs in linear guides, it can lead to chattering (“jerky” motion), seized motion, fluctuating torque requirements, or a loss of accuracy in the form of overshooting. What causes stiction? […]
What are some alternatives to L10 bearing life?
If you work with linear ball or roller bearings, you’re familiar with the L10 bearing life equation, which states that bearing life is equal to the bearing’s rated dynamic load capacity, divided by the applied load, raised to a power of 3 (for ball elements) or 10/3 (for roller elements). Introduced in 1947 by Gustaf […]
XY2Z-theta motion system improves wafer inspection for the semiconductor industry
For more than fifty years, the Dutch linear-motion company PM has developed and produced precision linear and rotating bearings and slides. It focuses on applications requiring smoothness and stiffness from their linear bearings … and continues to expand its standard range of linear components. But customization is becoming the norm — and now, catalog products […]
What are differential roller screws and how do they differ from planetary designs?
Traditional roller screws — sometimes referred to as planetary roller screws — can produce axial forces comparable to hydraulic cylinders, with the speed and precision capabilities of ball screws, at a price point that falls between the two. A variation of the planetary roller screw — referred to as a differential roller screw — reduces some […]
Synchronous belt materials: What’s the difference between urethane and neoprene?
Synchronous belts for linear motion applications — such as general transport conveyors or high-speed gantry positioning — are available in a wide range of materials suitable for virtually any application. The most common synchronous belt materials are neoprene and polyurethane, but specialty materials and backing surfaces are also available to address requirements such as temperature extremes, […]
New linear measurement solution offers programmable option
Encoder Products Company’s (EPC) new addition to their line of linear measurement solutions offers users a spring-loaded mounting bracket combined with a choice of measuring wheel. They then select the encoder to meet their exact application requirements. With up to 10 lb of adjustable spring tension, this spring-loaded mounting bracket fits 2.5-in. shafted encoders with […]
What makes a linear guide suitable for high temperature use?
For most recirculating ball and roller linear guides, the allowable operating temperature range is -10° to 80° C, with some configurations rated up to 100° C for brief periods. But not all applications fall within this temperature range, and each component in the linear bearing assembly (housing, rail, balls, seals, etc.) has a different maximum […]
What options are there for integrated motor and screw designs?
Ball and lead screw assemblies are often driven by a motor connected in-line with the screw shaft via a coupling. While this mounting arrangement is simple and easy to service, the addition of a non-rigid mechanical component (the coupling) can introduce windup, backlash, and hysteresis — all of which affect positioning accuracy and repeatability. The […]
Motorized yaw-pitch-roll stages from OES
Three new high accuracy yaw-pitch-roll stages have been introduced by OES (Optimal Engineering Systems, Inc.) – the YPR100-10-15-01 (stepper-motor driven, pictured below), the YPR100-10-15-02 (brushless servo-motor driven) and the YPR100-10-15-03 (dc servo motor driven). These stages are suitable for the precise measurement of compound angles or the curvature of an object. The yaw axis (bottom […]
Acme or trapezoidal? What’s the difference between lead screw designs?
In power transmission applications, there are two primary types of screw drives: those that use recirculating balls or rollers, for applications that require high rigidity, excellent positioning accuracy, and high duty cycles, and those that rely on sliding contact, for applications that require corrosion-resistance, self-locking operation, and customizable nut designs. The second category — screw […]
Electric actuators help reconfigure rooms in futuristic flexible residential construction
Traditional residential construction is fraught with inherent inefficiencies. For example, bedrooms are infrequently used during the day, while living rooms are unoccupied overnight. At a time when real estate prices are climbing (especially in urban areas) the desire for single-purpose rooms inflates prices. Plus energy consumption is rising in many parts of the world … […]
New Compact Linear Bushing (CLB) from Samick
The new Compact Linear Bushing (CLB) by SAMICK, a specialist in linear bearings, is gaining popularity in the market as the company expands its product offering for customers. SAMICK’s CLB is a linear ball bearing that conforms to the ISO 10285 standard, providing customers with a low-cost, compact design for easy integration into new or […]
Electromagnetism basics for mechanical engineers
Electromagnetism — the relationship between electricity and magnetism — is the underlying principle for the operation of electric motors, as well as generators and transformers. And even though most of us aren’t designing motors (or generators or transformers) from scratch, it’s helpful to have a basic understanding of the concepts and laws that drive their operation. […]
New two-axis X-theta positioning system from H2W Technologies
The SRT-030/360-026-01 is a two-axis X-theta positioning system ideal for precision motion control applications that require coordinated linear and rotary positioning. The two-axis system consists of a rotary dc servo motor with encoder mounted to a moving brushless linear-motor-driven positioning stage. The linear axis uses an H2W brushless linear motor, the BLDM-C08, to generate a […]