Motion System Design articles from December 2007

Motion System Design archives from December 2007

Smart seals.(BETTER BY Design)
December 1, 2007... Conventional shaft seals are designed to last a certain length of time--perhaps 5,000 to 20,000 service hours--before the effects of wear begin to emerge. To avoid the possibility of an unexpected failure and subsequent leakage, however, most...

Friction-reducing surface treatment.(Design by Objective: Facing friction and wear)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Surface engineering treatment (SET) technology reduces friction between moving parts using a polymer-based machining process. The method creates an oil-retaining organic nanolayer that chemically bonds to metal...

Friction-compensating motion controllers.(Design by Objective: Facing friction and wear)
December 1, 2007... SpiiPlus CM multi-axis motion controllers employ advanced algorithms such as disturbance rejection, velocity ripple and dynamic error compensation, and dynamic straightness control to help achieve smooth motion in motor-driven systems. The...

Wear-resistant pin clamps.(Design by Objective: Facing friction and wear)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The standard pin clamp has been redesigned with a vanadium carbide coating for extra hardness and wear resistance, as well as durability. Pin diameters range from 5.5 to 59.8 mm. The clamp's "power lock" cylinder has...

Low friction pneumatic actuators.(Design by Objective: Facing friction and wear)
December 1, 2007... The MQ series of metal seal cylinders uses a precision-machined cylinder assembly to minimize sliding friction. With this design, breakaway pressure is available as low as 0.15 psi, making the series well suited to applications such as force...

Zero-wear magnetic encoders.(Design by Objective: Facing friction and wear)
December 1, 2007... Noncontact, RLS magnetic rotary encoders consist merely of a magnet and a computer chip. These tiny components impose very little inertia on host systems and, once attached, operate without friction and wear. RLS solid-state encoders are...

High friction tires.(Design by Objective: Facing friction and wear)
December 1, 2007... These tire products, which now feature a shore hardness as low as 5, are used for paper transport in devices such as photocopiers, ATMs, bill validators, and mail handling equipment. Three different manufacturing processes are used to produce...

Nanofriction 101.(Design by Objective: Facing friction and wear)
December 1, 2007... When it comes to understanding friction on the nanoscale, no comprehensive model exists. Scientists have only a general understanding of friction's atomic-level causes, which range from chemical reactions to electronic interactions to...

No more runaround: specialty belting and chains are useful for reciprocating motion.(Extreme engineering)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Round, flat, and vee urethane belts are often used in reciprocating applications. Reciprocating diverter belts pop up between conveyor rollers to sort music CDs by pushing some to the left, and some to the right....

Vene, vede da Vinci--the epilogue.(In the loop)
December 1, 2007... For the past year, we've been discussing the mind of Leonardo da Vinci and the intellectual qualities that helped make him one of the greatest innovators of all time. Here, we revisit those qualities--the seven pillars of creativity as outlined...

Producing plastic in the cleanroom.(Industry Focus: Plastic Injection Molding)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Using robotics alongside injection molding machines (IMM) is a challenging task, especially when parts must be produced under cleanroom conditions so often required in food and pharmaceutical applications. Absolute...

Is this Jason Taylor replica the world's largest animatronic human figure or a clever ploy to divert attention from the Miami Dolphins' dismal season?
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Is this Jason Taylor replica the world's largest animatronic human figure or a clever ploy to divert attention from the Miami Dolphins' dismal season? In any case, the 26-ft tall character has fast feet. When...

PTDA announces 2008 leadership.(Industry Focus: Plastic Injection Molding)
December 1, 2007... During the 2008 PTDA 2007 Industry Summit, held during October in Palm Desert, Calif., PTDA elected its 2008 Board of Directors and Manufacturer Council. John Masek will succeed Jeff Pickelman as PTDA president. Masek, vice president of Bearing...

Ocean kayak gears up for 2008.(What's New)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When Greg Kolodziejzyk says he wants to pedal 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, he has more than setting a new world record in mind. The journey, scheduled to begin in December 2008, is meant to inspire children...

Now that's a gearbox.(What's New)
December 1, 2007... With a combined weight of almost 25 tons, Renold Gears, Manchester, UK, has manufactured the heaviest pair of wormwheel gearboxes in its history. Designed for installation in an existing Asian steel mill, the gear units will be used as the main...

Maverick magnet design attracts attention.(What's New)
December 1, 2007... A breakthrough magnet design that could shed new light on nano-science and semiconductor research, according to engineers at Florida State University's National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, has been successfully tested. When the Split...

TB Wood's celebrates 150th anniversary.(What's New)
December 1, 2007... On October 27, TB Wood's Inc., Chambersburg, Pa., celebrated its 150th birthday. Founded in 1857, TB Wood's Inc. designs and manufactures electronic and mechanical power transmission equipment for industrial control. The company was launched...

Kaydon purchases Avon Bearings.(What's New)
December 1, 2007... Kaydon Corp., Ann Arbor. Mich., recently announced that it has acquired Avon Bearings Corp., Avon, Ohio, in a cash transaction valued at $55 million. Avon is a custom designer and manufacturer of high precision large diameter turntable...

ElectroCraft acquires e-Motion.(What's New)
December 1, 2007... ElectroCraft Inc., Dover, N.H., recently acquired the operating assets of e-Motion Drives and Controls, Stuttgart, Germany, a company that makes high performance speed controls and servo drives for PMDC and brushless motors. The acquisition...

Visual servoing tailor made for robotics: as products and components are miniaturized, the cost for automated systems to handle and assemble them is skyrocketing. But using machine vision to close position loops can make high-accuracy automated systems out of low-cost robots. A process called visual servoing increases their flexibility like never before.(Lessons in Vision)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Products everywhere have gotten so small that many necessitate automated systems specifically designed to feed, align, and fasten small and complex 3D parts. A key tool in these systems is vision guidance--using...

Rolling in style: roller pinions ride toothed tracks to generate linear motion like rack and pinion actuators--but with performance that approaches that of linear motors.(Linear motion)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The name of the game for machine builders nowadays is maintenance-free precision. End users are demanding it for their products, to avoid warranty hassles or plant breakdowns. Servo-controlled linear drive systems...

Stepmotor spikes: cause and prevention.(MSD 101)
December 1, 2007... Stepmotors are widely used for accurate and precise motion. With the right electronics, they can even be forced into moving in mini-steps that they normally wouldn't take. The benefit here is ultra-fine increments of rotation. The drawback is...

Ac motors.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... IronHorse general purpose ac motor line includes rolled steel and cast iron styles. Features & benefits * Available to 300 hp with a base speed of 1,800 rpm * MTR series 56C frame motors, in 1/3 to 2 hp sizes, are housed in rolled...

PCI board.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... OMG-PIO-24-LPCI low-profile PCI provides 24 channels of buffered drive digital I/O, emulating 8255 mode zero. Features & benefits * Board can be used for PC-based control and automation of equipment * Board is MD1 low profile and...

Rotary distributor.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... DVS distributor lets a robot make rotary movements and supplies tools, gripper modules, or linear units with air, fluid, or electrical signals. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Features & benefits * Media is transferred and electronics are...

Motion controller.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... Trajexia control platform offers simple motion commands so for programming complex motion tasks without compromising accuracy and performance. Features & benefits * TJ multitasking motion coordinator is powered by a 32-bit DSP to...

Vision system.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... Intelligent Compact Vision System SBOC-M/SBOI-M high-speed motion recorder aids in diagnosing, commissioning, and monitoring fast-motion sequences. Features & benefits * Offers simplified fault localization and analysis and diagnosis...

Ac motor drives.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... MotiFlex e100 3-phase ac motor drives work with Ethernet-compatible Powerlink protocol, adding three higher power versions rated for continuous outputs from 21.5 to 33.5 A. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Features & benefits * Can be used...

Brushless dc motor.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... Compact 8-pole brushless dc motor is well suited for robotic drive systems, medical equipment, and other automation applications where high torque-to-weight ratio and efficiency are important. Features & benefits * Capable of 20% more...

Ball rails.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... Miniature Ball Rail systems include sizes 7, 9, 12, 15, and 20 in the standard version and sizes 9, 12, and 15 in the wide version, and feature all steel parts for corrosion and acid resistance. Features & benefits * Single-piece...

Silicone cables.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... Miniature silicone cables for medical and other compact electronics are made of medical grade silicone, compatible with all medical connectors, and are able to withstand temperature extremes and chemical sterilization without degrading or...

Photoelectric sensors.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... Datasensor S51 18-mm tubular sensors feature through-beam, retro-reflective, polarized retro-reflective, and diffuse modes. Features & benefits * Flat cylindrical housing allows many mounting choices by using traditional 18-mm locking...

Cleanroom cable carriers.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Chainflex control and servo cables and Energy Chain cable carriers meet ISO cleanroom standard 14644-1. Features & benefits * Particulate test showed Chainflex control cables CF9 and CF34, servo cable CF27,...

Ac drive.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... X5 UltraFlex ac drive is easy to setup and maintain. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Features & benefits * Offers rugged construction, versatile programming, and power range to 200 hp * Features real-time clock and support for most...

Stepped bore couplings.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... Stepped bore rigid couplings with standard keyways in each bore feature one- and two-piece styles for easy assembly and disassembly without moving other components. Features & benefits * Hardware is opposing for balance, allowing for...

Step motors.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SilverPak 23D high-torque NEMA 23 step motors come with an integrated microstepping driver, an increased operating voltage range, and the ability to use a new configuration module. Features & benefits *...

Spline shaft.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... SS 2 miniature spline shaft series features 0.125 in. OD for light load applications where low friction and long life are critical. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Features & Benefits * Consists of solid steel or aluminum spline shaft...

Servomotors.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... AM3500 series servomotors have a high moment of inertia, making them well suited for machine tool axes with stringent synchronism requirements. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Features & benefits * Eliminate need for a gear box in high...

Dc speed controllers.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... DECS 50/5 (digital EC controller sensorless) is a new and compact controller for driving brushless dc motors without Hall sensors. Features & benefits * Input voltage range of 10 to 50 V * In continuous operation, output current of...

Analog input.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... Analog input station supports four analog inputs on the DeviceNet network. Features & benefits * Inputs may be configured for analog current (0 to 20 or 4 to 20 mA) or voltage (0 to 10 or -10 to 10 V) * Rotary switch or DeviceNet...

Linear slides.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Miniature slides deliver high carrying capacity, smooth motion, and precision guidance for linear motion applications requiring short strokes. Features & benefits * Four basic sizes (7, 9, 12, and 15) with...

Inductive rotary encoders.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... RIx 400 series inductive rotary encoders with bearings bridge the gap between resolvers and high-end rotary encoders in automated machine applications. Features & benefits * Available in single-turn and multi-turn versions ...

Servodrive controllers.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... Emerald series servodrives feature a direct 440 Vac input and are functionally equivalent to the existing line of 220 Vac drives. Features & benefits * ESD-50/CEP model delivers 50 A continuous with a dc bus voltage of 620 V and...

Ethernet cabling.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... DataTuff industrial Ethernet connectivity components--including cord sets, jacks, plug kits, tools, and accessories--complement family of DataTuff unshielded and shielded twisted pair cables with bonded-pair technology. [ILLUSTRATION...

PC automation panels.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... Panel PC and Automation Panel work together to form the Panel PC system, which provides an optimum automation environment especially when space is limited. Features & benefits * Expands Automation Panel 900, making it an embedded PC...

Industrial accelerometer.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... Model 621B40 high-frequency industrial ICP accelerometer works with online or portable monitoring systems to provide reliable, effective vibration monitoring. Features & benefits * Operates to 30 kHz, even with a magnet, and captures...

Roll adjuster.(New Products)
December 1, 2007... Roll adjuster facilitates the alignment of rollers, shafts, and web-handling systems. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Features & Benefits * Easily sets up by placing on top of a master roller, drive shaft, or idler; held in place by a pair...

Not your father's packaging machine: as Delta-related patents expire, robotics proliferate in packaging equipment.(Packaging)
December 1, 2007... At the recent PACK EXPO tradeshow held in Las Vegas, industry observers commented on the proliferation of robotics in packaging machinery compared to just a year or two ago. These new machines are no longer large, articulated arm robots...

Pneumatic knowledge bank: how do actuator choices affect productivity in motion-centric automation environments?(Productivity forum)
December 1, 2007... HOW DO ACTUATOR CHOICES AFFECT PRODUCTIVITY IN MOTION-CENTRIC AUTOMATION ENVIRONMENTS? Jerry * Numatics: Pneumatic actuators are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and types, as well as with a multitude of standard options. At first...

Thread sealant.(Product spotlight: Lubes and Seals)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Permatex Gel Squeeze Threadlockers prevent fastener loosening and failure caused by shock and vibration, flow easily into threads, and cure in the absence of air. Features & benefits * Cure at room...

Inhibitor and protectant.(Product spotlight: Lubes and Seals)
December 1, 2007... Corrosion Stop water-resistant corrosion inhibitor/protectant penetrates, resists water, displaces moisture, prevents corrosion, and simplifies maintenance. Features & benefits * Ideal for winterization * Fights salt water and...

Lubricants, degreasers.(Product spotlight: Lubes and Seals)
December 1, 2007... Liquid Wrench Industrial and Gunk Industrial line lubricants, solvents, and degreasers are available in 12 aerosols and two dropper bottles, for use in manufacturing, maintenance, distribution, and service industries. Features & benefits...

Multi-purpose lubricant.(Product spotlight: Lubes and Seals)
December 1, 2007... Molykote L-0501 multi-purpose penetrating lubricating oil loosens rusted parts, stops squeaks, and provides corrosion resistance and long-term lubrication. Features & benefits * For locks, hinges, cranks, sliding doors, tools, chains,...

Rotary seals.(Product spotlight: Lubes and Seals)
December 1, 2007... Rotaflon rotary seals reduce or eliminate shaft damage and reduce power consumption, eliminating downtime related to worn seal shafts. Features & benefits * Low breakout force and high chemical resistance * Accommodate surface...

Back to the salt mines.(In response)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2007... In a recent Motion Monitor eNewsletter, we posed a question about whether or not we Americans work too much. Here's what some of our readers had to say. Yes, we do work too much, especially in electronics where a salary accompanies an...

Engineering ethics.(In response)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2007... Holding engineers responsible for the use of their ideas is like holding General Motors responsible for pedestrians being hit by cars. Engineers have no control over how their ideas are exploited by management, government, or the end user. You...

Current events call for competent captain.(In response)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2007... In your September editorial "Trouble in Paradise," your observations are quite correct, but I don't believe there is a solution. Ultimately the Amish and their ways will have to go like the Indians did earlier. Making Holmes County (Ohio) a...

Thermosets on the rise: most journal bearings are still made of metal--but one type of plastic is outshining its metal counterparts in heavy-duty applications.(Rotary bearings)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A journal bearing is a cylindrical component that rides on a rotating shaft, floating on a layer of oil or grease. Larger journal bearings, with diameters to 16 in., are common in mills. For example, on heavy...

Measuring motion with light: laser vibrometers only need a clear path to monitor a structure's dynamics; these sensors don't need to physically contact surfaces.(Vibration sensing)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Laser Doppler vibrometers (LDVs) measure vibrations in ways that other sensors can't. From large aircraft structures to microscopic MEMS sensors, and vacuum enclosures to red-hot mills, LDVs measure both vibrational...

Community contacts.(Web Contents)
December 1, 2007... One of the best things about the Internet is the ability to easily jump from one site of interest to another via links, making it a true web instead of an archipelago of information islands. Most people don't like being held captive on a site...

Site upgrades very Web 2.0.(Web Contents)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Misumi USA Inc., Schaumburg, Ill., recently updated its automation components and web ordering functions at www.misumiusa.com. A newly enhanced search engine lets users search by either keyword or part number, with...

Gyro suit captures motion.(World in Motion)
December 1, 2007... Originally used as an analytical tool for biomechanics, motion capture technology, a.k.a. "mocap," is now used in video game development, computer animation, sports training and troubleshooting, and clinical medicine. Movement is captured by...