Motion Control Tips

Schneider Electric has launched their Universal Automation Discovery Packs program in the U.S., giving innovators the opportunity to explore the benefits of universal automation. Through this program, experts from all aspects of the industry, including OEMs, system integrators, end users, distributors, academics, and others can receive a free license to explore this next-generation automation system […]

SIKO GmbH is expanding its broad portfolio of encoders with new Industrial Ethernet versions.  The new encoders offer answers to the requirements of complex machinery and Industry 4.0. The optical based WV5850 and WH5850, in either single or multi-turn versions, offer high resolution and quick response in applications requiring extreme precision and fast response times. […]

SIKO’s PURE.MOBILE series, the SG31 and SG61 wire-actuated encoders, feature a maximum measuring length of 3 to 6 m. Integrating the latest generation of inclinometers, they combine the ability to detect not only position and speed, but also the measured variable of inclination. The two wire-actuated encoders are complemented by the large SG121 and SG150 […]

The new WDGN series of incremental encoders from Wachendorff Automation enables configuration of any pulse count from 1 I/U to 16,384 I/U via NFC (near-field communication). Depending on the equipment, basic or advanced, further parameters can be set via APP using NFC. After downloading the Wachendorff WDGN app to a smartphone, the desired parameters and […]

AutomationDirect has released the new CLICK PLC programming software version 3.30, which allows any CLICK PLUS CPU to be configured as a 3-axis PTO/PWM motion controller. 100-kHz high-speed inputs and outputs are offered with any dc option slot I/O module placed in slot 0 of the CPU. With this module, CLICK PLUS PLCs can easily […]

The CM-CPB3-44 EtherCAT controller from Nanotec controls four brushless dc or stepper motors with a rated power of up to 150 W per axis. Feedback on the motor position is provided by Hall sensors or incremental or SSI encoders. Each axis is equipped with four digital inputs, two outputs, one analog input and one output […]

Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. has debuted its Bison Pull-Tight gear motor enclosure for demanding outdoor applications subjected to occasional underwater submersion. Originally designed for electric pool covers, the Pull-Tight has proven its exceptional durability in agriculture and many other environments exposed to harsh weather conditions, including flooding. This innovative solution developed by the Bison […]

Electric motors are at the heart of motion. Across the board, motor manufacturers are seeing increased demand for their products. Hastened by the pandemic, demand in areas such as robotics, autonomous vehicles and automated production and manufacturing lines across a wide swath of industries has risen, spurring new business as well as innovation. Some top […]

Encoder manufacturers are making sure that their offerings keep pace with broader technological changes and the demands of the market. For example, more powerful motion controllers and drives have spurred a rise in more sophisticated automation systems across a range of industries and applications. Robotics in particular is one area that continues to see growth, […]

HEIDENHAIN’s new PressFit rotary encoders let small-motor manufacturers easily incorporate feedback devices into their designs. The new ExI 11xx encoder series features a unique compact design that allows fast and simple mounting by press-fitting into a motor housing while still allowing surrounding space for cables and seals. HEIDENHAIN’s PressFit encoders are made for integration into […]

Kollmorgen has introduced the new TBM2G series of frameless servo motors, introducing features that simplify the design of collaborative, surgical, aerospace and defense and other robots while delivering optimal performance in a lighter, more compact package. These new motors will complement Kollmorgen’s existing TBM and KBM series of frameless motors. Resulting from several years of […]

AMETEK Haydon Kerk Pittman (HKP), a business unit of AMETEK, has released a new size in its IDEA Motor series of brushless dc motors: 57 mm. This EC057B joins the 42-mm EC042B product introduced in 2019 and enhances a line of motors with integrated, programmable drives. The IDEA Motor combines a precision brushless servo motor […]

One way to improve servo system performance is to increase the gains in the control loop, allowing the system to respond faster to commands and to settle more quickly, with less oscillation. But increasing the servo gains means that any resonances in the system — typically due to mechanical compliance — are further amplified, which can […]

igus has expanded its gear offering with bevel gears made of its iguform S270 and igutek P360 high-performance plastics. These abrasion-resistant, self-lubricating gears are a lightweight and maintenance-free alternative to traditional metallic gears. Gears are widely used as drive elements in a range of applications, from e-bikes to locking systems to actuators. However, when forces […]

According to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, technical protective measures should be used to reduce risks that cannot be avoided through safe design measures. These technical protective measures include safety devices such as door locks, covers, light curtains, and other equipment that monitors the machine movements. When the safety device controls and external device, such as […]

A new, series of Dual-axis Yaw-and-Pitch Stages have been introduced by Optimal Engineering Systems, Inc. (OES). This new series of high precision Yaw-and-Pitch stages are suitable for precise measurements of compound curves and angles of an object during inspection or reverse engineering, laser machining and drilling, scanning, tracking, mirror positioning, and for use with coordinate […]

With the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a surge in interest in automation across many industries. As demand for automation has increased, suppliers of automation components such as motors, drives, and controllers are seeing increased demand as well. Controllers and drives on offer today are more powerful and offer better performance than […]

The Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC states that when a machine manufacturer is unable to eliminate the risks of potential hazardous situations (for example, mechanical hazards such as crushing or cutting) through safe design methods, the next step is to reduce the risks through technical protective measures. These technical measures include protective devices, such as door locks […]

The new WMK 3010S rotational speed sensor from AMO is now available, and provides users of milling and turning machines a better option for operation of their main spindle. Besides providing speed data, the WMK 3010S also supports the capturing of operating status data of that spindle, thus optimizing many costs related to the operation […]

POSITAL’s explosion-proof IXARC rotary encoders have been certified to comply with ATEX/IECEx directives for Category 3 electrical products. These devices are suitable for use in Zone 2 and Zone 22 conditions (potential exposure to hazardous levels of explosive gases and flammable dust) and are ideal for oil and gas installations, chemical plants, woodworking operations, and […]

Here we compare these two linear-motion technologies — and hint at a common sizing error when converting to electric actuation. By Ryan Klemetson • Business Development Manager | Tolomatic, Inc. Hydraulics offer a long service life, but they’re not as efficient as electric systems. Electric systems also provide precise position, velocity, and speed control with […]

With the CSL3, Nanotec now offers an easy-to-configure controller for brushless dc motors with up to 72 W rated power and 3 A rated current. Apart from speed control, it also supports positioning via Hall signals. 16 different movement profiles can be set by means of bit configuration via digital inputs, meaning they can be […]

Most of us are familiar with the software as a service (SaaS) business model, in which users pay a fee to access software over the internet, without requiring an application or download to a local machine. The software as a service model made complex software, such as CRM (customer relationship management) systems, more accessible to […]

New investments in industrial and manufacturing conveying technologies could reach $65.1B by 2026. That’s according to a new report from researchandmarkets.com. Continued push to automate material handling, assembly, and distribution operations are key drivers. Another is the pressure from regulatory changes forcing adoption of conveyors sporting gearless and other energy-efficient motor designs. Still another is […]

Manufacturing even the simplest product requires expertise in materials, equipment, operations, and process flow. And the interdependencies of these elements make it extremely difficult — if not impossible — to “get it right the first time” when setting up a new manufacturing line or modifying an existing process. Every element, from the product design to the […]