Motion Control Tips

POSITAL has upgraded the performance of the PROFINET communications interface for their IXARC series of absolute encoders. The speed of the interface has been increased, reducing cycle time by a factor of eight. In addition, new capabilities have been added, including acceleration monitoring and over-temperature warnings. Output from the encoders can be scaled (amplified or […]

Supporting up to 64 interpolated axes, the softMC 703 compact controller from Servotronix Motion Control delivers high-performance motion control capabilities to robots, drives, and motors via any major OEM programmable logic controller (PLC). When integrated with the stepIM integrated closed loop stepper, CDHD2 servo drive, and PRHD2 servo motor, the softMC 703 controller creates a […]

Encoders and resolvers are used to track the angular or linear position of an object, such as a motor shaft (angular measurement) or a linear actuator (linear measurement). And with the addition of a clock signal, encoders and resolvers can also be used to measure the speed of the object. A resolver uses a rotor with […]

A new enclosed drive system from Siemens, the SINAMICS G120XE, is designed specifically for the demands of industrial pump, fan and compressor applications in a wide variety of markets. Built around the company’s SINAMICS G120X infrastructure drive, this new enclosed system is ideal for fast design and commissioning in industries such as oil-and-gas/petrochemical, water/wastewater, power […]

By Travis Lake • Motor and Gear Motor Solutions | Power Electric Machine builders have a lot to consider when designing solutions for a specific application. One key consideration is to determine whether it is better to design around a standard, off-the-shelf motor, or to design a custom motor that precisely matches the application requirements. […]

AutomationDirect has added PS-AMC motion controllers designed to work seamlessly with select Productivity PLCs to provide accurate, coordinated, plug-and-play motion control. These controllers are capable of up to four coordinated axes of motion per controller (PS-AMC4) with differential encoder feedback for each axis and a maximum switching frequency of 1 MHz. Up to 24 general-purpose […]

A traditional rotary encoder measures the position or speed of a rotating shaft, with mounting via a coupling or a hollow bore that allows the encoder to fit over the shaft. But not all rotating components have a shaft to which the encoder can mount. For example, direct-drive rotary motors — also known as torque motors, […]

Originally named for Bruce Sawyer, who patented the design in 1968, Sawyer motors are a type of planar motor, and are sometimes referred to as “dual-axis linear stepper motors” since they use stepper motor technology and the moving part can travel in both the X and Y directions. Like other planar motor designs, Sawyer motors […]

KHK USA Inc. has launched an extensive line of metric spur gears. A large selection of off-the-shelf KHK spur gears are available in many materials, configurations, modules and numbers of teeth, and KHK quick customized products can be ready within 5 business days. Spur gears are cylindrical disks that have involute shaped teeth cut into […]

In 2011, the EU implemented minimum efficiency performance standards (MEPS) for electric motors used in residential, commercial, and industrial applications with Commission Regulation (EC) 640/2009, which was implemented in three stages through 2017, and its amendment Regulation (EU) 4/2014. In October 2019, Regulation (EC) 640/2009 was replaced with Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1781, which outlines updated efficiency […]

Rotational capacity requirements for modern applications are higher than ever, especially in electric motors, gearboxes, and automotive transmissions. As the market leader for innovative retaining ring solutions, Smalley’s latest retaining ring innovation, the revolutionary Revolox Self-Locking Ring, features a ‘dimple and slot’ design that safely and efficiently secures your application at high speeds.   The […]

PI’s line of lens positioners, designed to scan and position objectives with sub-nanometer resolution at high bandwidth, is expanding with a new generation of piezo Z-focus stages – the P-725 PIFOC piezo flexure stage product family. Available in 3 travel ranges of 100, 400, and 800µm, high performance fast focusing with nanometer precision is achieved […]

The Orbex Group has introduced a new line of flat brushless dc motors. These compact motors, available with or without encoders, are useful for applications that require high torque density and have space limitations — including robotics, packaging, security, medical and more. These high-performance motors feature a range of sizes, voltages and speeds, giving the […]

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 […]