Motion System Design articles from January 2005

Motion System Design archives from January 2005

Web contents.
January 1, 2005... Click on Current Issue for in-depth information on motors, bearings, linear motion, controllers, and sensors. Subscribe online Don't miss an issue of Motion System Design! Online renewal is free and fast. E-newsletter You can...

New vision for a new year.
January 1, 2005... The holidays are over and it's back to work. I hope you re beginning the new year with a renewed sense of purpose. We certainly are at Motion System Design as you will discover reading through this issue. This year, our goal is to provide you...

Thanks.(In Response)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I just had the pleasure of reading the excerpt from Sen. Zell Miller's speech at the Republican National Convention (In the Loop, November 2004). Mr. Miller has clearly articulated my thoughts and probably those of a majority of Americans....

... and no thanks.(In Response)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I received my November issue of Motion System Design and was very disappointed to see that you believe the readers of MSD are interested in your political point of view. Stick with the subjects of MSD. We'll ask for your opinion on other...

Plastics processing trends.(Industry focus: plastic injection molding)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Though price remains an important part of the purchasing decision, selecting equipment with enhanced productivity and efficiency has become the focal point for plastics processors, according to Plastics Processing--Global Cutting Edge...

Packaging shipments on the rise.(What's New)
January 1, 2005... U.S. packaging machinery shipments reached $4.89 billion, an $82 million increase over 2002, says the Tenth Annual Shipments and Outlook Study conducted by the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (PMMI). According to PMMI, exports...

Mectrol Corp. announces the sale of its polyurethane timing belt business to Gates Corp., a subsidiary of Tomkins plc.(Company news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... * Mectrol Corp. announces the sale of its polyurethane timing belt business to Gates Corp., a subsidiary of Tomkins plc. The sale allows Mectrol to concentrate on its rapidly growing motion control and automotive business units. It will...

Rockwell Automation.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... * Rockwell Automation announces the Dodge and Reliance Electric brands marked their 125th and 100th anniversaries, respectively. Dodge started in 1878 and took off in 1881, when Wallace Dodge constructed his revolutionary Wood Split Pulley with...

Sercos shines at Pack Expo.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... At Pack Expo 2004 in Chicago, an exhibit demonstrated how controllers and servodrives of five different manufacturers could interface seamlessly to exchange data on the same network. The products all conformed to the Sercos interface Pack...

U.S. Tsubaki Inc.(Company news)(Appointment)
January 1, 2005... * Kevin Powers has been named president, Industrial Business Div. of U.S. Tsubaki Inc. In his new position, Powers will manage sales, marketing, operations, and customer service.

AC Technology.(Company news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... * AC Technology plans to add 94,000 sq ft to its existing 33,000-sq-ft Uxbridge, Mass., headquarters by next spring. The added space will provide the needed room to accommodate an increased range of products and improve the efficiency of...

Wago Corp.(Company news)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... * Wago Corp. has appointed Tom Artmann president of its North American operations. Artmann has been with the company since 1982, holding numerous roles, including his previous role as V.P. of sales and marketing.

Teach pendant controls and browses.(Fanuc R-J3iB )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... A teach pendant for industrial robots features a built-in Web browser. But the i Pendant color graphic user-interlace isn't for checking your Yahoo email. The idea is to let robot operators access corporate Web sites, electronic documentation,...

Motor squiggles its way into vacuum applications.(What's New)
January 1, 2005... The Squiggle ultrasonic linear motor from New Scale Technologies Inc., Victor, N.Y., is a tiny tool for making miniaturized products and nanotechnology research. While electromagnetic actuators have dominated the motion control industry, the...

Artifact probing unlocks higher machining accuracies.(What's New)
January 1, 2005... Accepting parts off the machine tool is a rapidly growing trend in manufacturing as companies strive to make 100% accurate parts in the lowest possible cycle time. In order for the machining center to serve as an inspection instrument, it must...

Load cells speed bottle filling.
January 1, 2005... Digital load cells with high-speed dynamic weighing capabilities make it possible to fill baby bottles with formula at a rate of 10,000/hr, about three per second. The baby bottler is manufactured by Krones AG, Moline, Ill. It incorporates...

Motor, drive conference.
January 1, 2005... Motor & Drives Systems 2005, a two-day conference running Feb. 8 to 9 at the Hyatt Regency in Tampa, Fla., focuses on the latest advancements and economics in electric motor and drive technology. Topics include new motors and drives, system...

Encouraging girls to be engineers.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The fifth annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day is scheduled for February 2005. Organizations worldwide will mobilize tens of thousands of engineers to reach one million girls that day and throughout the year through mentoring activities....

Standards office established in China.(China Standard and Conformity Assessment)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The U.S. Commerce Dept. has awarded U.S. standards organizations $399,500 to establish an office in Beijing for China Standard and Conformity Assessment. The CSCA office is an initiative by a four-member consortium--The American Society of...

Ethernet heats up in autoclaves.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... More and more PC-based Ethernet controls are being used to power industrial ovens and autoclaves. Some of the latest implementations of this approach can be found on autoclaves from ASC Process Systems, Sylmar, Calif. ASC is currently embedding...

Nanotubes used in artificial joints.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Artificial joints may someday use tiny carbon tubes and filaments aligned to mimic collagen fibers and natural ceramic crystals in real bones. Researchers at Purdue University found that bone cells attach better to materials possessing...

Project: platen die-cutter.(Motion in packaging: web processing)
January 1, 2005... CASE SUMMARY: Electronic line shafting boosts speed and flexibility of die-cutting machines. OEM: Zerand Div. of the North American Cerruti Corp., New Berlin, Wis. ENGINEERING ACTIVITY: Designs and builds packaging...

Belt and chain tensioners.(MSD 101)
January 1, 2005... Warren Palmer Fenner Drives Manheim, Pa. Frictional belt drives reliably transmit power from source to load without asking much in the way of upkeep. Their modest needs stem from the fact that belts elongate through normal use and wear. The...

L'Hospital's rule.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... In mathematical jargon, a limit describes a function's behavior as its argument approaches some value. There are rules for finding every limit, even if it's for a quotient, and even if that quotient has one term that goes to zero or infinity....

A nod to teachers.(Marquis de L'Hospital)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The Marquis de L'Hospital wrote the first known book on differential calculus, L'Analyse des Infiniment Petits pour l'Intelligence des Lignes Courbes, in 1696. Through mention of lectures on the % indeterminate form, he revealed that his tutor...

Ratio race.(L'Hospital's rule)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Named after the 17th-century mathemetician Marquis de L'Hospital Guillaume Francois Antoine, L'Hospital's rule can return the limit of such quotients by making them determinate. Whether it's % or [sup.[infinite]]/[sub.[infinite]], L'Hospital's...

Going nowhere fast.(L'Hospital's rule use)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Although L'Hospital's rule is a powerful tool for computing otherwise elusive limits, it's not always the easiest to use. In fact, some limits are best derived leveraging other special cases of the Mean Value Theorem--the Taylor series, for...

Prove you mean it.(graphical proofs)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Supporting graphical proofs, the most thorough proof uses Cauchy's Mean Value Theorem: On any section of a smooth curve, there is a point at which the slope equals the section's average gradient.

Not missing a beat: here we take a look at why open-loop steppers lose steps, as well as some solutions to the problem.(motor control)
January 1, 2005... In a perfect motion system, a motor turns a certain predetermined amount for every unit of electricity it is given. But if the load on the motor becomes too big, it doesn't matter how much power you try to feed it. Beyond a certain...

Optical angle encoder.(High Speed)
January 1, 2005... The RESM optical angle encoder, the first in the Signum line of intelligent encoders, delivers speeds to more than 3,600 rev/min. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Accuracy to [+ or -]0.5 arc-sec with resolution and repeatability to 0.02 arc-sec...

Chip-level communication.(High Speed)
January 1, 2005... The Motionnet System is a chip-level communication system that supplies 20-Mbps serial commutation. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Consists of a center device (69001) and three local devices: I/0 (69002), PCL motion controller (69003), and CPU...

Vision inspection system.(High Speed)
January 1, 2005... The F270 vision system delivers an optimum inspection speed of 5,000 parts/min. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Uses two CPUs with up to four high-speed cameras, two independent triggers, and dual real-time position compensation ASICs *...

Roller pinion system.(High Speed)
January 1, 2005... The Precision Roller Pinion System maintains accurate positioning at speeds as high as 13.7 ft/sec. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Pinion consists of bearing-supported rollers that move smoothly along the face of each tooth * Quiet...

Top stop.(Better By Design)
January 1, 2005... "Keep it simple" is good advice for any designer, and the idea behind a new motor brake that incorporates its own encoder. With the UL-approved Smart Brake, designers can add feedback to any system without having to select, qualify, and install...

Light reading.(Better By Design)
January 1, 2005... Electrical signals carry power and information with ease, but they sometimes have a problem with electromagnetic "interference. Arcing is another concern, especially in flammable or explosive environments. For or one encoder, the solution is...

Electro-pneumatic servo systems.(Pneumatic Solutions)
January 1, 2005... The AirNC electro-pneumatic servo system incorporates position, speed, and force control, making it suitable for demanding applications. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Integrates into main control system through digital, analog, or serial...

Short-stroke linear actuators.(Pneumatic Solutions)
January 1, 2005... The L130 Series of four short-stroke pneumatic linear actuators offers easy gripper mounting. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Anti-rotation guide rod for precise positioning * 15, 30, 60, and 90-mm strokes * 54-lbf extending force;...

Rotary actuators.(Pneumatic Solutions)
January 1, 2005... Series RCC rotary actuators support high axial thrust loads. FEATURES & BENEFITS * 8, 12,16-mm bores with 90 [degrees] and 180 [degrees] rotations * Standard angle adjustment of [+ or -] 5 [degrees] in each direction *...

Rodless air cylinders.(Pneumatic Solutions)
January 1, 2005... P1Z Series magnetically coupled rodless air cylinders feature a mobile piston fitted with annular magnets. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Mobile carriage is equipped with magnets to provide magnetic coupling between piston and carriage *...

Rod-cylinder slides.(Pneumatic Solutions)
January 1, 2005... RCS Series rod-cylinder slides include a choice of linear-ball and composite-bearing models in five bore sizes from 20 to 50 mm. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Strokes to 12 in. in 1-in. increments * ISO-style repairable cylinders with...

Linear actuators.(Pneumatic Solutions)
January 1, 2005... PFA Series pneumatic linear actuators feature internal linear-resistive transducers for accurate piston-position sensing. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Bores from 11/18 to 3 in. * Strokes to 18 in. * Designed for piston speeds to 50...

Mini air cylinders.(Pneumatic Solutions)
January 1, 2005... A wide range of miniature cylinders operates on plant air using standard valve circuits with a variety of mounts and ports. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Basic design meets U.S. specifications, but all products available in metric versions ...

Rack-and-pinion actuators.(Pneumatic Solutions)
January 1, 2005... The 100 Series of pneumatically driven rack-and-pinion actuators comes in double-acting and spring-return designs, both providing a 90 [degrees] rotation. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Eight models output torques al 80 psi from 300 to 29,000...

Precision gantry with flexible design.(Systems & Subsystems)
January 1, 2005... The High Precision Gantry (HPG) brings design flexibility to gantry applications. Its X and Y axes can be built with either LC-50 iron-core or LEB ironless (zero-cogging) linear servomotors, in 200 or 300-mm coil lengths. And the Y axis is...

Rigid positioning tables.(Systems & Subsystems)
January 1, 2005... IDC URS-Series ballscrew positioning tables use a special U-shaped steel guide rail and a recirculating bearing module that serves as both a guide block and ballscrew nut. The bearing module contains four preloaded ball circuits for high load...

Fast linear positioning.(Systems & Subsystems)
January 1, 2005... The Linear Sigma Trac Series of fully integrated linear positioning slides offers peak forces of 86 to l,200 N and strokes from 100 mm to 2 m. They also provide accelerations to 5 gs and velocities to 5 m/sec. Because the series was...

Complex, single-motor conveying.(Systems & Subsystems)
January 1, 2005... Heavy-duty industrial Modular Plastic Belt (MPB) curve conveyors move products around corners while maintaining product orientation. The conveyors can have multiple turn sections, with incline or decline sections, while using a single drive...

Mini precision stages.(Systems & Subsystems)
January 1, 2005... LC-9.5 positioning stages, complete with motor, fit into a 10 x 40 x 10-mm envelope and provide straight-line accuracy to 0.0005 in./in. or 0.01 mm/25 mm of travel. Repeatability is 0.0001 in. or 0.0025 mm. A lightweight aluminum base and...

Scara robots for entry-level tasks.(Systems & Subsystems)
January 1, 2005... On Cobra i-Series self-contained robots, the controller is built into the arm. This makes the robot easier to install and operate and gives it a small footprint for basic automation tasks such as mechanical assembly, part transfer, material...

Electric actuators.(Systems & Subsystems)
January 1, 2005... EMY2 electric-guided, slide-table actuators combine the smooth operation, flexibility, and high positioning accuracy of a stepper-motor actuator with the quick setup and simple actuation of pneumatic equivalents. The EMY2 uses a simple control...

Tiny translation stage.(Systems & Subsystems)
January 1, 2005... The M-663, touted as the world's smallest translation stage, incorporates an integrated high-speed linear piezo motor drive and linear encoder. The compact unit provides a 20-mm travel range, 0.1-mm resolution with optical encoder feedback,...

Pin-and-sleeve connectors.(Product spotlight: cables & accessories)
January 1, 2005... Non-metallic pin and sleeve expo connectors accept both flat and round cable. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Quick assembly * Recessed pins and contacts resist abrasions * Brass alloy pins and sockets maximize conductivity *...

Quiet cable carriers.(Product spotlight: cables & accessories)
January 1, 2005... QT-Series Nylatrac cable and hose carriers feature molded elastomer torsion bearings at link pivot points to reduce noise. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Smooth, reliable operation * Available in standard Nylatrac Series sizes A&A MFG....

Encoder cable.(Product spotlight: cables & accessories)
January 1, 2005... MR121 ZapFree encoder cable replaces copper encoder cables without any design changes. FEATURES & BENEFITS * 500-kHz frequency each channel * TTL, open collector, line driver, and SSI interface options * 1,000-m maximum length...

Flexible control cables.(Product spotlight: cables & accessories)
January 1, 2005... A comprehensive catalog of flexible control and automation cables is available oil CD. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Contains descriptions, specifications, and color photos * Additional sections feature guidelines for installation, color...

Round VFD cables.(Product spotlight: cables & accessories)
January 1, 2005... Series V variable frequency drive cables have a round, symmetrical geometry for easy and secure installation. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Meet IP67 and NEMA-6 installation standards * Cross-linked polyethylene insulation * Tightly...

Ethernet connectivity.(Product spotlight: cables & accessories)
January 1, 2005... A range of connectors, cable assemblies, hubs, and switches is specially designed for the factory floor. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FEATURES & BENEFITS * Han-Max RJ45 is a metal bayonet-style R J-45 connector * Field-terminable...

Continuous-flex cables.(Product spotlight: cables & accessories)
January 1, 2005... Chainflex continuous-flex cables deliver long life and high performance. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Conductors are bundled, rather than layered * Available in more than 600 sizes and styles * Includes power and control cables, air...

Open wiring cables.(Product spotlight: cables & accessories)
January 1, 2005... Foundation fieldbus cables are rated for open wiring, so no conduit is needed. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Can be installed as open wiring up to 50 ft * Meet UL-2250 crush and impact resistance requirements TURCK INC. ...

Bearings.(peak productivity)(Cover Story)
January 1, 2005... Productivity is a shared goal in industrial applications, involving designers, component makers, and end users. Everyone plays a role. In this report, the editors of Motion System Design polled bearing experts for their advice on optimizing...

Powerful but efficient motors.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... DS 28 Series of motors with extreme field weakening combines the advantages of high efficiency, high overload capacity, and constant power range of 1:10. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Maximum torque output to 2,150 N-m * Low moment of...

Rack-and pinion to go.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... Off-the-shelf, rack-and-pinion drives include helical and straight tooth versions in multiple sizes, materials, and quality levels. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Metric pitches from module 1.0 to 10.0 * Force capacities to 31,000 lb *...

Couplings and connection brochure.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... A new brochure details the variety of materials, coil configurations, bore diameters, and attachment methods available for flexible couplings. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Couplings compensate for misaligned shafts and work at high speed,...

Precision ballscrews.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... Ballscrews with elastic spacers separating recirculating balls consistently achieve slow, fine motion down to 1 [micro]m/sec. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Elastic spacers under slight compression eliminate inter-ball friction and associated...

Space-saving encoder.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... Hollow-shaft encoders mount directly to machine shafts without couplings, saving time and space. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Industry standard 58-mm diameter housing with a mounting profile less than 2 in. * Torque rest prevents...

Tiny motor with integrated encoder.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... Micromotors for demanding applications generate 10 mNm of constant torque with an output power of 9W. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Compact design (22 x 32 mm) uses NdFeB magnets * Precious metal commutation accommodates low starting...

Electromechanical actuators.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... TA Series electromechanical actuators handle 500 and 1,000-lb loads. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Aluminum housing and outer tube; stainless-steel translating tube with urethane wiper * Travels to 52 ipm * Operating temperature: -20...

Rotary encoders.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... The ERO 1470 is available without integral bearing and with integrated electronics, making it well suited for the electronics industry. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Displays up to 25-fold interpolation of the scanning signals *...

Torque flange sensors.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... TF Series torque flange sensors' robust construction lets them work in harsh environments. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Antenna doesn't need to loop around sensor * Protective cover can mount close to sensor without affecting signal...

Brushed-type dc motors.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... Arrow motors offer long life at a competitive cost. FEATURES & BENEFITS * 60, 90, and 110-mm diameters for NEMA 23, 34, and 42 frames * 12, 24, 36, and 48-V windings for compatibility with most standard motor drives * Torque...

Dc motor controllers.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... On-Motor controllers can be custom designed completely within Pittman brushless dc motor frames. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Eliminates boxes, wires, and bulk * Enables multi-wire brushless dc motors to be converted into simple two-wire...

Special linear motion components.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... A line of special linear motion components consists of guideways for special machines, modified standard guideways, replacement guideways, and custom products. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Components include V guides, double V guides, guide...

Dc gearmotor.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... Model MMP.PDSG35-12V.400.1 miniature 12-Vdc motor accepts power even from batteries. FEATURES & BENEFITS * 037 x 61 mm, mounting with six threaded holes * 400:1 ratio, rated for 94 oz-in. continuous torque, 0.5 A, 12 rpm under...

Triple-axis controllers.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... The TMCM-303 and TMCM-310 three-axis controllers provide a complete motion control system in a small size. FEATURES & BENEFITS * 1.5-A/phase output; supports 16x microstepping * Remote controlled by a hose via CAN, RS232 or RS485...

Inverter duty gearmotors.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... New gearmotor line designed specifically for adjustable-speed control. FEATURES & BENEFITS * TEFC motor (3/8 hp, 230 V, 60 Hz) * Right-angle and parallel-shaft gear configurations * Gear ratios: 5:1 to 75:1 (right angle); 5:1...

Upgrade control card.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... Kollmorgen SAC card transforms servoamplifiers into fully programmable motion control drives. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Provides machine-control functionality to eliminate simple PLCs * Wizards, MC BASIC, full math capability,...

Roller cam followers.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... Rugged roller cam followers solve some of the toughest machine and product control guidance challenges. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Double row of cylindrical rollers doubles dynamic load rating * Five times longer operating life than...

High-precision rack and pinion.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... A precision rack and pinion system provides smooth running and low noise. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Produced to Quality 2 (AGMA-14) per DIN standard 3961 * Wear-resistant surface treatment and high-accuracy teeth * Linear accuracy...

NServo digital controller.(New Products)
January 1, 2005... New control module retrofits analog motion control systems with digital controls. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Supports two standard or four closed-loop servo axes * Each control axis has a three-phase [+ or -]10 V output allowing it to...

Bishop-Wisecarver expands their DualVee[R] guide wheel family.(Media Mart)
January 1, 2005... Expanding their originally patented four sizes of guide wheels, Bishop-Wisecarver has added two new sizes of DualVee wheels, 0 and 4XXL. Bishop-Wisecarver continues to be the industry leader in innovative guide wheel solutions. Available in...

Spiral retaining rings.(Media Mart)
January 1, 2005... The new Smalley Steel Ring Company Retaining Ring Catalog is now available. Smalley has over 4500 rings in stock, sizes from 1/4" to 16". Special designs are available with No-Tooling-Charges[TM] with sizes from .200" to 84"; available in...

Nylatrac Automation Line.(Media Mart)
January 1, 2005... The Nylatrac Automation Line carriers offer key features that lend themselves to applications requiring high speeds and accelerations, quiet and smooth operation, convenient accessibility, quick installation and reliable performance. Although...

Super-E Motors.(Media Mart)
January 1, 2005... 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...

Ready-to-assemble DualVee[R] wheels are waiting for your special request.(Media Mart)
January 1, 2005... DualVee, the original Vee guide wheel, is now readily available to meet your specific industry needs. Let Bishop-Wisecarver's Application Engineers help customize your guide wheel selection. Stainless steel wheels; Available in sizes 1 4; Clean...