Motion System Design articles from December 2006

Motion System Design archives from December 2006

Smooth operators: friction and wear make themselves most apparent in mechanical systems. Here we review modes of potential trouble and some unexpected solutions.(Design by objective)
December 1, 2006... Friction is present in all motion systems--even in bearings and linear motors that have layers or air to separate moving parts. However, friction becomes a cause for consideration in systems with contacting solid surfaces. The difference...

Getting with the program: programmable limit switches are microprocessor-based controls that convert motion into signals for machine control.(Programmable switches)
December 1, 2006... Limit switches turn outputs on or off at setpoints. Traditional limit switches are all mechanical, most often consisting of cams that run into electromechanical bumper switches to generate output. They exhibit mechanical wear, complicated...

Ready, set, read.(In the loop)(Editorial)
December 1, 2006... Start your timers. We're going to discuss what for many people is their favorite subject. Yes, I'm going to talk about you, or more precisely what you recently said about Motion System Design. Most of you, I'm happy to report, say that the...

Forces of attraction: magnetic fields levitate cables in a new cable carrier to eliminate noise, vibration, and contamination.(Mechanisms and machines)
December 1, 2006... In longer travel automation projects--such as the production of high definition and plasma TVs--rolling or gliding contact between carbon and copper in cable carriers often leads to debris, abrasion, and noise. To eliminate such problems...

Taking the heat: proper lubrication and sealing systems are critical in maintaining the right temperature levels in high-speed applications.(Need for speed)
December 1, 2006... High speeds generate heat in motion systems. Choosing the right lubricants--oils, grease, and other fluids--and installing proper sealing systems helps a system achieve optimal temperature operation. Read on to learn more from our experts. ...

Smooth sailing with magnetic sensors.(What's new: Industry focus: Marine and shipboard)
December 1, 2006... Determining speed is easy on land, where drivers can look outside their cars (or at their speedometer) and estimate their speed by how quickly the scenery is passing by. Oceangoing vessels don't have this easy visual gauge, however, as the flat...

Baldor acquires reliance, Dodge brands.(What's new: Industry focus: Marine and shipboard)
December 1, 2006... Baldor Electric Co., Fort Smith, Ark., announced it will acquire the Reliance Electric Co. and affiliated companies (the Power Systems business) from Rockwell Automation Inc. Baldor will purchase the Power Systems business for $1.8 billion. The...

New motion control association launched.(What's new: Industry focus: Marine and shipboard)
December 1, 2006... A trade new association has been established to serve the interests of motor, drive, and control companies. Developed by industry leaders as well as the Automation Technologies Council (ATC), the Motion Control Association (MCA), based in Ann...

PTDA holds summit, announces leadership.(What's new: Industry focus: Marine and shipboard)
December 1, 2006... More than 800 people attended the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) Industry Summit in October where the association elected its 2007 Board of Directors and Manufacturer Council. Jeffrey H. Pickelman, Northern Industrial...

Renold Jeffrey appoints VP.(What's new: Industry focus: Marine and shipboard)
December 1, 2006... Renold Jeffrey, Morristown, Tenn., manufacturer of industrial chain products, appointed Tommy Robinson vice president of sales and marketing. He will report to president George Graham. Robinson has many years experience in industrial...

Bearing demand picks up worldwide.(What's new: Industry focus: Marine and shipboard)
December 1, 2006... Global demand for bearings is projected to rise 5.5% annually to $42 billion in 2010, accelerating from the 2000-2005 period. The World Bearings report from The Freedonia Group Inc., Cleveland, says the pickup comes on the heels of world...

Hollow actuator precision.(MSD 101)
December 1, 2006... Many precision applications are moving away from actuators with multistage gearsets and belts toward integrated motor mechanisms. These are especially useful for rotating large tables or swiveling robot arms--typical movements in semiconductor...

Hysteresis brakes.(Spotlight: Brakes & clutches)
December 1, 2006... PHT-D hysteresis brakes operate by double permanent magnets and have no wear, making them suitable for constant tension applications as well as torque limiting applications. Features & benefits * Torque ranges from 0 to 62 lb-in. in 9...

Lift truck brake.(Spotlight: Brakes & clutches)
December 1, 2006... LWB hydraulic-actuated, full-circle disc brake uses center hub of wheel rim as a friction surface to eliminate need for bolt-on friction rotors. Features & benefits * High-strength ductile iron and asbestos-free friction material for...

Electromagnetic power-off brakes.(Spotlight: Brakes & clutches)
December 1, 2006... Thomson-Deltran AKB spring-set, electromagnetic power-off brakes feature a built-in quiet feature. Features & benefits * Available in 1.83 to 5 in. diameters * Static engagement with torque from 12.5 to 470 lb-in. * Fixed...

Capping clutch.(Spotlight: Brakes & clutches)
December 1, 2006... Magnetic capping clutch features smooth torque magnetic technology to eliminate pounding of traditional synchronous headsets. Features & benefits * Reduces variation of removal torque; improves process capability * Eliminates...

Hollow-shaft clutch.(Spotlight: Brakes & clutches)
December 1, 2006... Clutch uses magnetic particles for variable, smooth slip torque, torque limiting, and soft starts. Features & benefits * Torque ranges from 1 to 38 lb-ft * Horizontally shaft-mounted * Torque transmitted with keyed shaft;...

Lightweight brake.(Spotlight: Brakes & clutches)
December 1, 2006... Arc brake is spring-applied and electrically released and functions well on imagers mounted on rotating arms with travels less than 360[degrees]. Features & benefits * Moves [+ or -] 15[degrees] from null position * 5 in. long,...

Multi-plate clutch.(Spotlight: Brakes & clutches)
December 1, 2006... Marine-style clutch features reduced size and weight for higher torque and heat capacities. Features & benefits * Torques from 75 to more than 1.2 million lb-ft * Speeds over 5,000 rpm * Small OD; large allowable bores *...

Digital ac servo drive.(Products)
December 1, 2006... ACS300 low voltage, all-digital brushless ac servo amplifiers use DSP-based architecture for software selectable torque, velocity, or position mode operation. Features & benefits * Ac servo (flux vector) control algorithm provides high...

Linear slides.(Products)
December 1, 2006... MDrivePlus linear slide systems offer current control and, along with screw-driven slides, high linear speed and accurate positioning with smooth motion and low noise. Features & benefits * Speeds of more than 60 in./sec with slide...

Vision sensor.(Products)
December 1, 2006... DVT 515 and 535 vision sensor handles inspection, measurement, counting, and finding and comparing patterns. Features & Benefits * Easy-to-use Intellect software for setup, integration, and maintenance * Backward compatible with...

End bearings.(Products)
December 1, 2006... Axially locating flanged-bearing units (FLBU), fixed plummer bearing units (PLBU), and axially free plummer bearing units (BUF) support ball screws and promote precision and accuracy. Features & benefits * Lubricated for life; mount...

High-speed linear encoders.(Products)
December 1, 2006... LN inductive linear encoders provide fast, accurate, and repeatable position feedback. Features & benefits * Not subject to speed limits like optical encoders * 0.5 to 10 [micro]m measuring resolution; 2 in. to 36 ft scale...

Flexible cable.(Products)
December 1, 2006... Solar cable is a flexible, single conductor cable with different color code combinations for primary and secondary jacket material. Features & benefits * Rated for temperatures to 125[degrees] C * Halogen-free, SABIX 285 material...

Compact dc motors.(Products)
December 1, 2006... Series 1224 SR motors are 12 x 24 mm with a high power to volume ratio. Features & benefits * Ironless rotor and Neodymium rare earth magnets achieve stall torque of 5.43 mNm and speeds to 13,800 rpm * Low contact resistance...

Worm gears.(Products)
December 1, 2006... Power-Core composite worm gears replace industry-standard bronze gears to increase transmission efficiency with quieter, longer-wearing performance. Features & benefits * 6-dB noise reduction, 8% increase in gear transmission...

Multi-axis motion card.(Products)
December 1, 2006... Prodigy PC/104 motion card for multi-motor control provides trajectory generation, servo loop closure, quadrature signal input, motor output signal generation, performance trace, on-the-fly changes, and commutation. Features & benefits ...

Brushless dc motors.(Products)
December 1, 2006... DurA-Tek 12/24 V brushless dc motors feature integrated drive electronics for motor controllability in a small, light package. Features & benefits * 3-in. O.D., standard 2-wire electrical hookup allow easy interchangeability *...

EtherCat-enabled controllers.(Products)
December 1, 2006... B maXX 4000 servo controllers are equipped with EtherCat Master to allow implementation of modular and networked machine architectures. Features & benefits * Can be operated with b maXX drivePLC as option card * Integrates...

Three-phase motor control.(Products)
December 1, 2006... BL20 xStart motor starter modules allow 3-phase motor control to be connected to the same rack as standard I/O. Features & benefits * Mount next to other modules; controlled by same gateway * Motor control via DeviceNet,...

Environmental imaging lenses.(Products)
December 1, 2006... Micro video HEO imaging lenses incorporate precision optical components inside a sealed optical assembly for washdown environments. Features & benefits * Designed for 1/4 and 1/3 sensor formats * Four focal lengths; standard M12 x...

High-torque timing pulleys.(Products)
December 1, 2006... Metric and inch high-torque timing pulleys come in aluminum, carbon, and stainless steel. Features & benefits * 14-72 teeth for easy positioning, no backlash, improved transmission, and reduced noise * For use with 14 belt styles...

Cable carrier systems.(Products)
December 1, 2006... Protum miniature cable carrier system is fast, lightweight, and quiet with a flexible carrier profile and lightweight side bands for optimum balance of stability and weight. Features & benefits * Extruded hinge offers quiet and...

Digital servo drives.(Products)
December 1, 2006... HNC 100 series 2X digital servo drives are freely programmable, bus-capable NC controls for electromechanical and electrohydraulic drives. Features & benefits * Sequence programming by PC with WIN-PED Software * Local CAN-bus...

Single-stage reducers.(Products)
December 1, 2006... LeCentric industrial-duty, aluminum inline reducers come in three new sizes--713, 714, and 715 to allow greater flexibility for high-speed gear reducer selections. Features & benefits * Single-stage ratios from 1.3:1 to 10.8:1 with...

Efficiency motors.(Media MART)
December 1, 2006... Baldor Electric Company offers Super-E[R] NEMA Premium[TM] efficiency motors from 1 through 1500 HP in low and medium voltages. TEFC, ODP, WPI and WPII enclosures are available with choice of environmental protection such as severe duty, IEEE...

Self-lubricating gear solutions calculated for life.(Media MART)
December 1, 2006... The Intech Power-Core [TM] gears are precision machined and offer solutions to applications in which lubrication, wear, noise, vibration, inertia, shock load, moisture and chemicals present a problem for nylon, Delrin or metal gears. Metal Core...

Magtrol In-Line Torque Transducers.(Media MART)
December 1, 2006... Magtrol's In-Line Torque Transducers provide precise torque and speed measurement with high noise immunity. Features include Circle 38 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Industrial lubricant keeps equipment running.(Media MART)
December 1, 2006... Tri-Flow industrial lubricant deposits lubrication and displaces contaminants in inaccessible areas. It is used on metal, wood, plastic, and rubber for preventative and corrective maintenance and contains oils, micron-sized synthetic particles,...

Precision mechanical components.(Media MART)
December 1, 2006... Comprehensive, easy-to-use format for over 50,000 components: bearings, belts & pulleys, shafts, couplers, gears, hardware, slides, lead screws & nuts, positioning tables, linear motion systems and more. Call for application engineering...

Spiral retaining rings & wave springs.(Media MART)
December 1, 2006... Smalley's complete product line is now available in one easy to navigate catalog. The new catalog includes over 7,000 standard wave springs, spiral retaining rings and snap rings. Smalley's new catalog offers simplified part selection, special...

New Pneumatic Gripper catalog.(Media MART)
December 1, 2006... SCHUNK Inc. has a new Pneumatic Gripper catalog available, which includes all 2005 New Product releases. The catalog gives all technical details and drawings of the complete product range of pneumatic grippers and rotary acutators. All...

Motion control solutions.(Media MART)
December 1, 2006... SEPAC's catalogue of motion control solutions includes spring-set and large spring-set power-off brakes, permanent magnet power-off brakes, multiple disc clutches and brakes, tooth clutches and brakes, and spring engaged clutches and brakes...

DualVee Motion Technology[R].(Media MART)
December 1, 2006... Bishop-Wisecarver's complete range of patented DualVee[R] wheels, bushings, and track is ideal for applications that demand low maintenance, high accuracy and repeatability in critical and extreme environments. Wheels offered in 52100 steel,...

MHD for heavy lifting and transportation.(Media MART)
December 1, 2006... The HepcoMotion[R] MHD Max Heavy Duty system is an accurate and strong linear guide that supports high loads and heavy duty applications. Comprised of bearing blocks containing three sealed-for-life crown rollers, precision ground hardened flat...

Catalog CD.(Media MART)
December 1, 2006... AutomationDirect's complimentary catalog CD offers over 5500 industrial automation products for a wide range of applications. Also available in print, the 1750-page catalog and addendum feature product descriptions, technical data, and photos...

Motors, gearmotors and drives.(Media MART)
December 1, 2006... LEESON's 1050 Stock Catalog now includes the Lincoln Electric brand of motors. Together LEESON and Lincoln offer over 4,000 stock motors, gearmotors, gear reducers and drives. All are built for industrial use and have numerous design features...

Extensive clutch/brake catalog.(Media MART)
December 1, 2006... Our comprehensive clutch and brake catalog combines all individual product guides in one convenient 80-page publication. It includes complete technical data on Electromagnetic Friction Clutches and Brakes, Spring Applied Brakes, Wrap Spring...

Hybrid linear actuator catalog.(Media MART)
December 1, 2006... The HSI hybrid actuators come in six sizes, from 21 mm square to 87 mm square. Each size has three designs available--captive, non-captive and an external linear version. There are over twenty five different travels per step available, from...

This ship is a'sailing.(Problem 294)
December 1, 2006... After 25 years sailing the high seas, Captain Smartypants has moored his pirate ship 560 m outside Safe Harbor. He has decided the pirate life is no longer for him and wants to retire on land. He orders his shipmates to remove the pirate flag...