Motion System Design articles from July 2005

Motion System Design archives from July 2005

Web contents.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Click on Current Issue for in-depth information on motors, bearings, linear motion, controllers, and sensors. Click on Issue Archive to browse past features; classic issues of the popular department Brushing Up ate also ware-housed to pass on...

This old bike.(In THE LOOP)
July 1, 2005... Archaeologists say one of the best ways to learn about a society and its culture is to sift through its trash. Now I'm no archaeologist, but I am a garbage picker. And I've learned a lot from the tree-lawn trophies I've collected over the...

Remote chance of success.(In RESPONSE)
July 1, 2005... I just got around to reading your article in the April issue regarding your wonderful experience at Best Buy. I am absolutely positive you have been pounded with e-mails regarding very similar experiences. I too have been tested by them...

Optional projectile solution.(In RESPONSE)
July 1, 2005... Since the "Alternative FWF solution" for problem 275 was published in the May issue, I thought that the following may also be of interest for projectile problems. If the "x" and "y" parametric equations given in the referenced article are...

DARPA Grand Challenge semifinalists announced: one step closer to autonomy.(What's NEW)(Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Grand Challenge 2005)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced that 40 teams are advancing to the semifinals of the DARPA Grand Challenge 2005 autonomous vehicle competition. Teams come from 14 states and Canada, representing universities,...

Magnet Applications.(appointments)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Magnet Applications, Horsham, Pa., announced the appointment of Chris Riley, Ph.D. to its staff as senior magnetics engineer. He received his doctorate in magnetization of bonded isotropic magnets at Sheffield University, UK. Riley will support...

Danaher Motion, Wood Dale, Ill., strengthened its motion portfolio with the acquisition of G&L Motion Control Inc.'s (GLMC) Fond Du Lac, Wis. business.(Company news)
July 1, 2005... Danaher Motion, Wood Dale, Ill., strengthened its motion portfolio with the acquisition of G&L Motion Control Inc.'s (GLMC) Fond Du Lac, Wis. business. The acquisition does not include the ThyssenKrupp Dusseldorf, Germany, company's machine...

Aromat Corp., New Providence, N.J., the U.S. subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Works Ltd., changed its name to Panasonic Electric Works Corp. of America.(Company news)
July 1, 2005... Aromat Corp., New Providence, N.J., the U.S. subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Works Ltd., changed its name to Panasonic Electric Works Corp. of America. The change results from a collaborative agreement between Matsushita Electric Works and...

Regina Chain.(appointments)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Regina Chain, an Italian manufacturer of industrial steel and engineered plastic chain, named Robert Callahan CEO of its worldwide operations. He will be based in Cernusco, Italy, and will report to the board of directors of the privately-held...

Control systems' market forecast looks bright.(What's NEW)
July 1, 2005... Chromalox, a manufacturer of industrial heat and control systems, conducted a study that showed many respondents have short-term plans for integrating digital control systems such as built-in diagnostic and predictive-maintenance functions and...

Horton Holding Inc.(appointments)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2005... Horton Holding Inc., Roseville, Minn., announced the appointment of Randall Nord as president and CEO. He replaces founder Hugh K. Schilling, who is retiring. Schilling will remain chairman of the board. Nord will oversee the company's global...

Ethernet Powerlink earns International Electrotechnical Commission approval.(What's NEW)
July 1, 2005... The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has accepted Ethernet Powerlink (EPL) as a Publicly Available Specification, putting the real-time industrial protocol on track for international standardization. The Industrial...

Bridging the gaps: coupling selection for servo systems: servocouplings make up for many system shortcomings, making the overall output more forgiving of otherwise unavoidable limitations.(Cover Story)
July 1, 2005... Choosing the proper servo coupling for an application is a critical part of total system design and greatly affects its overall performance capabilities. For this reason, considering the coupling early in the design process and aligning the...

Which PWM motor-control IC is best for your application.(Course Audit: PWM AND dc MOTORS)(pulse width modulation)
July 1, 2005... Pulse width modulation is a form of signal communication that transposes a signal from analog to digital form. Analog signals with changing amplitude and frequency pass through a comparator and are compared to a carrier signal, typically a...

The right touch: new components made of special polymers hold and dispense oil to lubricate sliding and rotating applications. These microporous materials can be cast, extruded, and even injection molded into a variety of application-specific shapes.(Microporous polymeric lubricants)
July 1, 2005... Lubrication reduces friction and fights corrosion on power-transmission components. However, keeping oil in critical areas is problematic. Microporous polymeric lubricant (MPL) components address some lubrication challenges. These solid forms...

Locking devices.(Peak PRODUCTIVITY)
July 1, 2005... Locking de devices connect, or lock, power transmission components to rotating shafts. In this report, Motion System Design editors polled locking device experts for their advice on optimizing lifetime and ease of use. Here are the responses,...

Vibration meter.(Design by objective: VIBRATION & NOISE)
July 1, 2005... The Model 200 heavy-duty vibration meter troubleshoots rotating machinery for velocity vibration measurements and cross-checks readings to diagnose the health of motors, pumps, and fans. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Measures displacement and...

Ball bearings.(Design by objective: VIBRATION & NOISE)
July 1, 2005... Explorer deep groove ball bearings achieve smooth and quiet operation, high running accuracy, increased speed capability, lower friction and operating temperatures, and longer service life. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Optimized raceways and...

Damping ball screw.(Design by objective: VIBRATION & NOISE)
July 1, 2005... Damping hall screws incorporate a vibration damper inside the hollow ball-screw shaft to improve positioning accuracy. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Low noise through reduced vibration and higher-speed capabilities * For ball-thread shaft...

Explosion-proof vibration monitors.(Design by objective: VIBRATION & NOISE)
July 1, 2005... VS-XP series vibration monitors feature a cast aluminum explosion-proof housing for hazardous locations. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Adjustable vibration alarm trip-point for machine shutdown or operator warning * 0.10 to 26 in./sec rms...

Ball rail system.(Design by objective: VIBRATION & NOISE)
July 1, 2005... High-precision hall rail system reduces rolling, pitching, and yawing deviations in linear guideways, due to hall recirculation. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Smooth motion with no deviation in X, Y, and Z directions * Reduced ball...

Minimizing slip.(MSD 101)(ac induction motors)
July 1, 2005... Ac induction motors are the workhorses of industry. They are rugged, inexpensive, and easy to maintain. Two things designers should know about ac induction motors are that they are not inherently capable of variable-speed operation, nor are...

Bit by bit.(Brushing UP)(digital logic circuits and binary system)
July 1, 2005... Take a single transistor. Add another. And anther. And another. From the combination of these relatively simple electronic devices come familiar logic circuits such as flip-flops, registers, decoders, input/output interfaces, and memory. In...

Conveyor sets the curve.(Systems & SUBSYSTEMS)
July 1, 2005... AquaPruf 7400 series of heavy duty, sanitary, and curved conveyors are constructed of a stainless steel welded unit and a plastic chain base that can be subjected to fast, effective, and easy sanitation. Frames consist of continuous TIG welded...

E-Z does it.(Systems & SUBSYSTEMS)
July 1, 2005... Easy-to-use linear motion actuators combine advanced step motor functionality and sophisticated motion control features. The EZ Limo Series ensures stable operation with built-in feedback system that performs closed-loop control before missteps...

Instant positioning.(Systems & SUBSYSTEMS)
July 1, 2005... The new Bench Top 3-Axis System (shown with covers off) incorporates speed, accuracy, and efficiency necessary to achieve high levels of productivity for quick 3-axis movement. With X-Y-Z strokes of 150 X 150 X 100 mm, and repeatability of [+...

Compact electronic pressure regulator.(Pneumatic SOLUTIONS)
July 1, 2005... Type 550X miniature electropneumatic I/P, E/P transducer is ATEX compliant and converts a variable signal (current or voltage) to a proportional pneumatic output. FEATURES & BENEFITS * NEMA-4X housing standard for safety * Input...

Magnetic cylinder sensors.(Pneumatic SOLUTIONS)
July 1, 2005... Line of miniature sensors uses Giant Magnetostrictive technology for high accuracy and repeatability, fast response times, and immunity from long-term effects of magnetic fields. FEATURES & BENEFITS * 25 mm length fits T-slot cylinders...

Lift table.(Pneumatic SOLUTIONS)
July 1, 2005... Pneumatic lift table incorporates four guide shafts for maximum rigidity and is designed for applications where non-rotating cylinders cannot handle overhung loads. FEATURES & BENEFITS * 50, 80, and 125-mm bore sizes * Produces...

Interchangeable metric cylinders.(Pneumatic SOLUTIONS)
July 1, 2005... Universal series of compact, extruded aluminum body air cylinders offers ten bore sizes--12 to 100 mm--and multiple mounting configurations. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Service to 150 psi * Hard anodized extruded aluminum tubing, hard...

Attractive springs.(Better BY DESIGN)
July 1, 2005... Instead of using electricity or pressed air, MagSpring magnetic springs use permanent magnets and iron to deliver a constant force for assisting and resisting loads. Magnets are located inside the slider, stator, or both. Beneficial in vertical...

Drive on.(Better BY DESIGN)
July 1, 2005... The H2 industrial drive combines reliability, ease of use, and high performance. In-circuit and functional testing of each circuit board improve reliability, while operator enhancements--including a graphical keyboard display, faster...

Spring-applied brakes.(Spotlight BRAKES & CLUTCHES)
July 1, 2005... Compact, lightweight, 30[degrees] arc brake is spring applied and electrically released for electromechanical applications. FEATURES & BENEFITS * 5 in. long, 1.1 lb, and 90 lb-ft torque * Four stationary inner disks with friction...

Magnetic particle brakes, clutches.(Spotlight BRAKES & CLUTCHES)
July 1, 2005... High-capacity magnetic particle brakes and clutches assist payout and rewind tension control, load simulation for testing motors and actuators, torque limiting, and soft starts and stops. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Torque to 300 lb-ft ...

Bolt-on brakes.(Spotlight BRAKES & CLUTCHES)
July 1, 2005... Bolt-on brakes create brake motors for smaller frame assemblies. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Available for 17, 23, 34, and 42 frame sizes * Spring set, clamp-collar for quick assembly * Built-in shaft accepts gearboxes, pulleys,...

Linear brakes.(Spotlight BRAKES & CLUTCHES)
July 1, 2005... Ortlinghaus brake is pneumatically released for linear drives and holds the present position securely and without backlash. FEATURES & BENEFITS * 1,100 N maximum braking force (dry running) * 5.5 bar minimum air pressure required...

Smooth start clutches, brakes.(Spotlight BRAKES & CLUTCHES)
July 1, 2005... SmoothStart Unimodules provide consistent, smooth starting and stopping through entire torque range, including 50% below their rated torque. FEATURES & BENEFITS * MENA C-faced compatible * Adjusts to wear; no maintenance required...

Cam clutch.(Spotlight BRAKES & CLUTCHES)
July 1, 2005... Morse brand KK clutches incorporate a compact clutch with built-in bearing support. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Used in backstopping, indexing, overrunning * Oil and grease lubrication * Cam clutch and metric ball bearing...

Pneumatic disconnect clutch.(Spotlight BRAKES & CLUTCHES)
July 1, 2005... PDC Series pneumatic disconnect clutch is a ball-detent air-actuated device designed for accurate and dependable torque overload protection in mechanical power transmission equipment. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Single position clutch with...

Hi-resolution encoder.(New PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2005... Optical rotary CP-850 and 950 encoders available in 35 resolutions from 25,000 to 1,250,000 pulses per rev. FEATURES & BENEFITS * 9.53 and 12.7-mm shafts, respectively * Standard A-B plus quadrature and index-pulse output from...

Metal detecting sensors.(New PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2005... Uproxy sensor line precisely detects materials such as iron steel, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, and brass at higher sensing distances without reduction in the rated sensing distance. FEATURES & BENEFITS * New multi-coil system...

Linear actuators.(New PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2005... Modular actuators solve a wide range of linear motion problems by combining standard electromechanical components. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Three configurations: low-cost acme sliding screw, high-speed acme screw, and ballscrew for high...

Brushless motors.(New PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2005... AAG series frameless motors are compact, light-weight, and free of cogging. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Integrated high-res encoder delivers precise positioning and enables wide-spread use in variable-speed and sensorless applications *...

Inverter-duty motors.(New PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2005... Pacesetter series inverter-duty motors, gearmotors, and ac variable-speed controls withstand spikes and corona damage caused by inverters. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Quintsulation insulation system meets NEMA MG 1-1993, IV, Part 31,...

Electronic cam software.(New PRODUCTS)
July 1, 2005... ServoWire Motion and Logic controller now includes Cam/Profile Designer tool. FEATURES & BENEFITS * Electronic cam and profile software included at no extra cost * Cam motions based on datatable that describes slave-axis motion ...

Bishop-Wisecarver offers a system that save time and money.(Media MART)
July 1, 2005... The HepcoMotion[R] MCS Machine Construction Systems offers a wide range of aluminum profile sections, including connecting hardware and accessories. These modular, versatile components are constructed for use in industrial machinery, assembly...

Introducing QuickTrak[R] linear guide from BishopWisecarver.(Media MART)
July 1, 2005... QuickTrak is an off-the-shelf solution that reduces design and installation costs by easily integrating into machine configurations. The belt or screw driven QuickTrak is ideal for light industrial use in laboratory, medicat and packaging...

New CMS Cartesian Motion System.(Media MART)
July 1, 2005... To help integrators, OEMs and end users reduce the time required to specify, design and install multi-axis systems, Bosch Rexroth has introduced its new Cartesian Motion System (CMS): pre-configured Cartesian Robots in 1, 2, or 3 axes. The new...

DualVee[R] guide wheels take you to a higher level of clean.(Media MART)
July 1, 2005... Clean room compatible wheels consisting of 400 series stainless steel and a synthetic PFPE grease are now available from stock. Special materials, lubricants, surface treatments, and processing are also possible. Available in sizes 0-3....

Precision encoders.(Media MART)
July 1, 2005... EPC's 104-page catalog features the full line of Accu-Coder[TM] Brand incremental encoders, as well as EPC's new absolute encoder series, to meet a wide variety of industrial positioning, counting, motion and motor control needs. Expert cross...

CGI Inc. gearheads.(Media MART)
July 1, 2005... Offering the widest range of standard gearhead ratios available in the industry. Providing custom solutions for motion control and automation applications. CGI is focused on engineering expertise and knowledgeable, customer service. CGI Inc.,...

Linear motion catalog offers components & complete systems.(Media MART)
July 1, 2005... Over 400 products and systems are showcased, including precision case-hardened and ground steel shafts, aluminum support rails, shaft support blocks and shaft rail assemblies, roller bearing pillow blocks/carriage plates, as well as complete...

Efficiency motors.(Media MART)
July 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...

Linear bearing products guide.(Media MART)
July 1, 2005... Del-Tron Precision's new 88 page guide includes ball slides, crossed roller slides, 1,2, or 3 axis micrometer driven positioning stages, motor-ready lead screw driven stages, friction-free air actuators, recirculating slide guides, crossed...

Track Roller & Cam Follower solutions.(Media MART)
July 1, 2005... Intech Power-Core[TM] Track Rollers and Cam Followers feature quiet, easy motion, high resistance to flat development, no rail wear, high load and shock capacity. Suitable for wash down and harsh environments. Proprietary thermal bearing...

Customized motor test systems.(Media MART)
July 1, 2005... Magtrol, Inc. provides complete, customized turn-key test benches for electric, hydraulic and pneumatic motors, gas engines and pumps. The test systems are comprised of motor test equipment with LabVlEW[TM ]based Motor Testing Software and...

Compact rugged I/O station.(Media MART)
July 1, 2005... With TURCK's FDN20 I/0 station, you now have a fast, easy and exceptionally flexible solution to connect every pushbutton to a DeviceNet[TM] network. This 6 page color brochure contains all the detailed dimension drawing and application...

Spiral retaining rings & wave springs.(Media MART)
July 1, 2005... 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...

Mechanical sub-assemblies.(Media MART)
July 1, 2005... AST Bearings' literature depicts photos, drawings, descriptions and typical applications for custom-designed precision bearing assemblies. Combining high quality bearings with technical design expertise, AST provides cost-saving solutions from...

Hybrid linear actuator catalog.(Media MART)
July 1, 2005... 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...

MDrive--motor + electronics.(Media MART)
July 1, 2005... Compact, Powerful, Inexpensive. MDrives, hybrid stepping motors with integrated electronics, are detailed in a new catalog with complete specifications for sizes 14, 17, 23 & 34. Versions include Microstepping, Speed Control, Motion Control and...

Problem 279 on beagle swings: don't let this problem hound you.(Fun with FUNDAMENTALS)
July 1, 2005... Carl J. Feinersteiner works for an avant-garde performance troupe in New York City, where he is in charge of constructing all their backdrops and scenery. The group's latest show is called Hounds from Heaven, a delightful play in which the...