Motion Control Tips

In any HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system, dampers are used to regulate airflow inside the ducts. In some systems, manual dampers allow personnel to turn a handle on the outside of a duct. But if you have to regulate airflow on a constant basis, you’ll need automatic dampers with electric or pneumatic motors […]

Power-off brakes are commonly used in motion control applications for stopping or holding a load (or both), especially on vertical axes or for emergency stop functionality in servo applications. Power-off brakes are so named because the brake is engaged when power is removed from the system — either intentionally or accidentally. (Power-off brakes are also […]

maxon’s new IDX compact integrated servo gearmotor + drive combines a powerful, brushless EC-i motor and an EPOS4 positioning controller with field-oriented control (FOC), which can be complemented with a maxon planetary gearhead when required. This integrated motor stands out for its high torque density, high efficiency, maintenance-free components, and a high-quality industrial housing providing […]

The TMR-075-16-001-2 limited angle torque motor utilizes a toroidally wound, stationary coil assembly with a two-pole permanent magnet rotor to generate torque. The rare earth permanent magnet rotor always has an even number of poles, with two to six poles. The maximum angular excursion with a two-pole rotor is 180º, but the torque will drop […]

Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) is a technology that provides Ethernet transmission over a single pair of copper wires, while also transmitting power to connected devices via Power over Data Line (PoDL). Single Pair Ethernet was initially developed to meet the demands of the automotive industry — smaller, lighter cables and connectors for transmitting data from […]

Stock Drive Products/Sterling Instrument (SDP/SI) has launched a series of Integrated Motors to simplify motion system design. Replacing multiple components with a compact all-in-one motor and electronics package, Integrated Motors simplify motion system design while providing many advantages. “Doing speed, position and torque closed-loop control with separate brushless motor and driver/controller technologies can be challenging,” […]

One of the most important tools for sizing a servo motor is the motor’s torque-speed curve, which shows the combinations of torque and speed that the motor can produce in two operating zones — continuous operation and peak, or intermittent, operation. To prevent thermal overload of the motor — and the drive — it’s important to […]

IKO International has introduced the CR…BSE Series of imperial cam followers, offering machine designers a versatile, reliable way to convert rotary motion to linear motion. Designed to resolve the main factors that can cause bearing failure, these heavy-duty cam followers feature two IKO innovations: A ThrustDisk seal – This special seal slides into the outer […]

Gear quality standards developed and published by the American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA), have dominated gear manufacturing in the U.S. market since the 1960s. But in the 1990s, AGMA began working with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to update and harmonize gear quality standards, with several versions of both AGMA and ISO standards published […]

As automation becomes more integrated into medium- and heavy-load accumulation and assembly applications, the need for conveyors with zoning capabilities increases. Dorner’s Edge Roller Technology (ERT250) precision edge roller pallet and tray handling conveyors are engineered specifically to handle zone functionality. Creating zones along a conveyor is an important feature for applications where product accumulates […]

Bosch Rexroth’s new ctrlX DRIVE is a compact, scalable and consistent modular drive system. ctrlX DRIVE has space-saving dimensions of up to 50% and can provide tailored solutions with peak currents of 6 to 375 A. Components in the ctrlX DRIVE system can be combined freely with one another, giving designers virtually unlimited combination options. […]

In the most common motor-driven systems, the motor is coupled to the load being moved by a mechanical transmission element — a belt, chain, rack and pinion, ball or lead screw, or even simply a gearbox. But some linear and rotary motion systems do away with mechanical transmission elements and couple the load directly to […]

PRHD2 high-performance permanent magnet synchronous servo motors from Servotronix Motion Control are suitable for automated precision processes such as robotic manufacturing, machine tooling, and electronics assembly. The PRHD2 combines excellent dynamics and torque accuracy with a compact design and high-power density. The electromechanical design of the PRHD2 servo motors features low speed and torque ripple, […]

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 […]

For medical lab applications, motor selection is integral to an electronic pipette’s accuracy and precision. Valentin Raschke Application Engineer Portescap Laboratory automation has always been a great fit for linear motion. Within certain laboratory devices, precision is required for moving samples into position, adding reagents, and withdrawing samples. Advancements in the linear force and speed […]

ETEL’s new UltimET Advanced is a powerful and versatile multi-axis motion controller now available to bring fast real-time processing and a higher level of flexibility to a variety of complex manufacturing applications. This standalone controller from ETEL, a HEIDENHAIN company, is perfect for high-level machine processes in the electronics and automation industries, and of special […]

Bodine Electric Company introduces forty new Ex-Proof AC and BLDC gearmotors and four new motors, that are UL listed for use in environments where ignitable concentrations of flammable gases, vapors or liquids are likely to exist under normal operating conditions. These new CI/D1 geared motors combine Bodine’s high-performance type 34R6 (inverter-duty AC) or type 34B6 […]

Genesis Robotics & Motion Technologies announces the availability of its new LiveDrive LDD 1800 Series Direct Drive Actuators, with an extensive range of configurations and performance options. LiveDrive direct-drive actuators eliminate the need for gearing and are redefining the next generation of parallel robots and precision machinery, unlocking capabilities beyond the reach of conventional drivetrains, […]

SureServo2 servo systems, built from motor, drive, I/O breakout module, and cable set components, are now available from AutomationDirect. The SureServo2 offering includes high-powered systems (up to 15 kW), wide input power options (110 Vac or 220 Vac in single or three phase), and a host of additional hardware and software features. The built-in motion […]

Stepper motors are often categorized by the number of phases in their construction, with 2-phase and 5-phase versions being common designs. And although 2-phase versions are more widely adopted, 5-phase stepper motors offer performance advantages that make them the preferred choice in some applications. The basic construction of a hybrid stepper motor includes two rotor […]

Bodine Electric Company introduces twenty new AC gearmotors that are UL listed for use in environments where flammable gases or vapors may accidentally be spilled or leak into the operating area. These integral geared motors combine Bodine’s high-performance type 34R variable- or fixed-speed AC motors with a parallel shaft type FX gearhead. Typical applications include […]

NORD’s new MAXXDRIVE XT series features right-angle gear units with thermally optimized housings, output torques from 132,800 to 663,800 lb-in, ratios from 6.14 to 22.91:1, and 30 to 2,825 hp across seven sizes. The MAXXDRIVE portfolio offers parallel and right-angle industrial gear units with high output torques from 132,800 to 2,301,200 lb-in, ratios from 5.54 […]

Koford Engineering LLC has introduced a line of outer rotor 40mm diameter brushless motors with exceptional power to weight and size. Weighing only 203 grams they provide a peak output of 900 watts and a continuous output without external cooling or heatsinking of 499 watts. Available input voltages range from 12v to 48 volts and […]

The Baldor-Reliance Severe Duty XT motor is a true severe duty motor that bridges the gap between the ABB’s Baldor-Reliance General Purpose and XEX premium severe duty motor lines. “When it comes to performance, the Severe Duty XT is a versatile option for what the industry expects as severe duty,” said Matt Rodebush, ABB’s NEMA […]

Users of now-obsolete RENCO model turn to Quantum Devices. Since being absorbed by Heidenhain, RENCO has eliminated many of their encoder products. The most recent model discontinued is their RCML15 rotary encoder, a slim and lightweight commutating encoder popular among motor designers and used in a multitude of industries. To help fill the needs of […]