Motion System Design articles from July 2008

Motion System Design archives from July 2008

Job hunters: gather here.(Web Contents)
July 1, 2008... Want to search jobs to see what else is out there? Actively looking to make a career move? Then check out the Design Engineer Job Zone at designengineerjobzone.com. There, you can anonymously post your resume and set up alerts that email new...

Website helps users see clearly.(Web Contents)(Website overview)
July 1, 2008... A redesigned website at www.cognex.com illustrates how manufacturers use vision to optimize product quality and drive down manufacturing costs. More than 80 application case studies, selectable by industry and application, show how customers of...

Magazine home bas.(Web Contents)
July 1, 2008... Visit the new streamlined motionsystemdesign.com for fresh information on the power transmission and motion control.

Belt it best: urethane belts find use in a myriad of applications. Chemistry, profiles, and size can be customized to match requirements and maximize life.
July 1, 2008... Polyurethane belts, with greater elastic memory than rubber, and higher abrasion resistance, are widely used for power transmission and load conveyance. They can be particularly long lasting: Consider a large postal distribution center, where...

Going green.(Design by Objective)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Sustainability. Carbon footprint. Corporate social responsibility. Are you wondering how today's green jargon applies to engineering? Companies that have signed on to the green revolution--optimizing manufacturing processes and using resources...

Drive brings efficiency to material handling.(Design by Objective)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The EC110 is a 24 Vdc RollerDrive that features a new, high performance motor and gearbox which, combined with new elastic decoupling, provides quiet and smooth operation for energy efficient conveying applications....

Extreme motor meets EPACT mandates.(Design by Objective)
July 1, 2008... A new line of Extreme Duck motors is available to meet the demanding sanitation requirements of the food processing, pharmaceutical, packaging, and beverage industries. These stainless steel washdown motors meet EPACT mandates for efficiency...

Composite material takes it easy on environment.(Design by Objective)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Self-lubricating Power-Core composite materials exhibit a tension-free crystalline structure that provides exceptional stability, quiet performance, and high tensile and flexural strength. The material--an...

Earth friendly cylinders save energy.(Design by Objective)
July 1, 2008... A new series of electromechanical cylinders (EMCs) offers high thrust, high speed capabilities with greater flexibility and control to applications traditionally using hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders. EMCs contain a precision-rolled ballscrew...

Green building incorporates high-tech engineering.(Solution snapshot)
July 1, 2008... When the California Academy of Sciences opens its new state-of-the-art facility on September 27 in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, the construction will be the largest public LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) platinum...

Baldor hugs trees, plants them too.(Solution snaphot)
July 1, 2008... In January, Baldor Electric Co., Fort Smith, Ark., announced plans to reduce its environmental footprint, an effort aimed at both significantly reducing operating expenses and benefiting the environment. As part of its efforts, the company...

Shaft collars sport RoHS-compliant plating.(Design by Objective)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lead-free carbon steel shaft collars with RoHS-compliant yellow zinc plating are now available. The zinc plating offers high quality anticorrosive properties, yet these shaft collars are less costly than stainless...

China syndrome.(In response)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... Having been involved with moving a portion of our manufacturing operations to China, I offer the following thoughts regarding why U.S. manufacturing has moved to Asia: Business leaders have made this decision based on the tenets of...

Time is money.(In response)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... When you can propose your project, get government approval, and build and open your doors in China in considerably less time than it takes to get approval in the U.S., of course you go to China. Yes, it's about money. It's also about time, and...

Made in the U.S.A.(In response)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2008... Today, China manufactures what is presented to them. There is no innovation. They can copy well, like Japan did in the early 1950s and 60s. They take a product and make it cheaper. Everyone wants to have it built cheaper, but at what cost in...

Capacitive sensing.(MSD 101)
July 1, 2008... Inherently noncontacting capacitive sensors hold a charge differential and register when passing objects alter it. Either one metal plate generates and detects the capacitance between it and an electrically conductive target, or a pair of metal...

Safety is a continuum.(Safety dance)
July 1, 2008... Safety in the context of a factory or piece of equipment requires that several considerations be addressed: How often are workers at risk for injury from a piece of machinery? How easily could a person avoid injury in such a situation, and how...

The standing tower of Babel.(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... An industry movement is afoot to consolidate local standards as well as to base them, at least in part, on global standards, such as IEC and ISO. For example, China may soon adopt or reference IEC standards, and Japan already is using those....

Control software opens up new possibilities: the open IEC 61131-3 programming language is the first vendor-independent standardized language for industrial automation. It's making controls easier to develop and maintain.
July 1, 2008... IEC 61131-3, already well established in Europe, is rapidly spreading in North America and Asia as the programming standard for industrial and process control. Why? These days, control and automation systems are increasingly complex. IEC...

Cutting down on traffic.
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Using a free, open source, designers can now program Banner SureCross wireless gateways to manipulate data like a PLC. Real Time Automation recently created the solution for Banner Engineering Corp., Minneapolis,...

A day in the life: Brandon Kunicki, Manager, C-17 Nacelle Design Group The Boeing Company Long Beach, California.(Reader PROFILE)
July 1, 2008... So what's your story? I have a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering Technology from California State Polytechnic University, which I earned in 1985. Fresh out of college, I started at McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) in the Structures...

Servo coupling savvy: choosing the right coupling is no small feat. Backlash, misalignment, torsional stiffness, and the variety of coupling types to choose from all enter into the selection equation. See what the experts have to say about servo coupling technology in this forum on maximizing productivity.(Productivity Forum)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Making sense of servo couplings How does coupling selection affect productivity in today's automation environment? Bill * Rexnord: Selecting couplings for servo systems can be a daunting task. Some systems...

Save time with simulation software: each month, our Time Saving Technology department introduces new products and ideas to help you work more efficiently and become a more effective problem solver. This month, we take a look at some of the newest simulation tools.(TIME SAVING TECHNOLOGY)
July 1, 2008... Simulation software performs virtual testing of mechanisms [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEi Motion and Kinematics software by Fedem Technology simulates dynamic mechanisms, determining the forces, stress, deformation, fatigue, and life of...

MEMS sensor/actuator growth forecast to double.(Industry Focus: Semiconductor Manufacturing)
July 1, 2008... Innovative motion-control user interfaces on consumer electronics and drop detection/protection features in portable systems are helping accelerate the growth of semiconductor devices built with microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology,...

New chip material could replace silicon transistor.(Industry Focus: Semiconductor Manufacturing)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Weixiao Huang, a 2008 graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y., has invented an alternative to the silicon chip--a transistor that uses a material called gallium nitride (GaN), which is said to have...

Schunk, Joe Gibbs Racing form partnership.(Biz bits)
July 1, 2008... Schunk Inc., Morrisville, N.C., is partnering with Joe Gibbs Racing, one of NASCAR's premier Sprint Cup Racing teams. Schunk will serve as the official workholding solutions provider of the racing team, including the #20 Home Depot Toyota...

Yaskawa--Over ten million served.(Biz bits)
July 1, 2008... We're not talking hamburgers; we're talking ac drives. Yaskawa Electric America Inc., Waukegan, Ill., recently became the world's first company to ship 10 million variable frequency drives, according to company sources. Yaskawa claims to have...

Alpha gear drives changes name to Wittenstein.(Biz bits)
July 1, 2008... Blue gearboxes from alpha gear drives inc., Bartlett, Ill., have become a recognizable entity in the servo gear world, much like Tiffany's blue boxes are familiar to jewelry fans. While the blue gearboxes aren't going away, alpha gear drives...

Festo-USA announces new CEO/President.(Biz bits)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Festo Corp., Hauppauge, N.Y., welcomes Mike Cybulski as its new U.S. president and CEO. Cybulski joins Festo with an educational background in mechanical engineering, as well as operations and sales experience. His...

Misumi USA celebrates 20th anniversary.(Biz bits)(Brief article)
July 1, 2008... Misumi USA Inc., Schaumburg, Ill., a subsidiary of Japan-based Misumi Corp., recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. In 1988, Misumi USA was established to supply mechanical components for factory automation, as well as press die and plastic...

Correction.(Correction notice)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Above is a corrected graphic for the article titled "Gearing up your bearings," published in our March issue. Note that gear teeth can be cut into a number of slewing ring bearing surfaces, to accommodate different...

Crime and punishment.(In the loop)(Column)
July 1, 2008... Back in January, after Cleveland came out of a particularly extreme cold snap, a pipe burst in our townhouse. Seeing the event as a blessing in disguise, we took the opportunity to renovate the kitchen, which along with the garage below, was...

Ladder interface software.(New Products)
July 1, 2008... Software simplifies programming and converts relay ladder-logic programs into optimized, deterministic code for compact RIO-471x0 PLC. Features & benefits * Accommodates common ladder logic for easy visual I/O determination; graphical...

Fatigue-rated pancake load cell.(New Products)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New LCF701 pancake load cells, primarily used in inline applications, on actuators, and on threaded assembles, offer 2.0 mV/V output option, with a tension base. Features & benefits * Replacing 1.0 mV/V...

External linear actuator.(New Products)
July 1, 2008... New 28000 series (Size 11) double-stack external hybrid linear actuator incorporates rotating acme stainless steel lead screw into motor rotor. Features & benefits * Shaft-to-leadscrew couplers unnecessary; replaces motor, coupler,...

Shaft and rail systems.(New Products)
July 1, 2008... Shaft and rail assemblies offer time and cost-saving alternative to purchasing and assembling individual components. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Features & benefits * System 1 includes 60 Plus precision case-hardened and ground shaft,...

Servo drives and speed controls.(New Products)
July 1, 2008... CompletePower line of motion control products power all brushless, PMdc, BLdc, and stepper motors available from ElectroCraft. Features & benefits * Compact drives built with the same form factor and accessories for easy OEM...

Cushion, solid, finned, drive rollers.(New Products)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Newly expanded line of rollers includes more sizes, varieties, and materials of construction suitable for a myriad of industrial applications. Features & benefits * Finned rollers provide softer grip for...

Couplings for encoders.(New Products)
July 1, 2008... Control-Flex couplings eliminate vibration and loosening issues, to deliver precision for feedback requirements of encoder applications. Features & benefits * Center-disc design, parallel linkage system minimizes reaction forces due to...

Overload relays, IEC contactors.(New Products)
July 1, 2008... XT line of IEC contactors and overload relays, including XTCE and XTOB, are easy to install, featuring a modular design and compact frame. Features & benefits * Suits applications up to 32 A (AC-3), 40 A (AC-1), and 3 PH motor...

Clutch brakes.(New Products)
July 1, 2008... The 3590 Clutch Brake Positioning Control (CBPC) for closed-loop control operation in baggage handling applications works with packaged clutch brakes commonly used in luggage pusher equipment. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Features & benefits...

Grid couplings.(New Products)
July 1, 2008... G-Flex grid couplings are based on state-of-the-art Bibby Transmissions design and accommodate for shaft misalignment and prevent vibration and damage to connected equipment. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Features & benefits * Spring...

Magnetic clutches, couplings.(New Products)
July 1, 2008... S90MCC-MTL series of magnetic clutches and couplings features no friction or wearing parts, uses no electricity, and has no magnetic particles to leak. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Features & benefits * Bores: 0.250, 0.375, 0.500,...

Single-axis stage.(New Products)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SCR100 stage is an ultrahigh precision, compact, single-axis stage that integrates a slide guide, encoder, and linear shaft motor. Features & benefits * Linear shaft motor is a coreless direct drive linear...

Limit switches.(New Products)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mechanical limit switches are constructed of durable thermoplastic or rugged zinc alloy metal to withstand demanding environments. Features & benefits * Six different body sizes, including popular industrial...

Servo couplings.(New Products)
July 1, 2008... Series BK8 couplings mount to flange output servo gearheads, providing a compact flexible interface between gearheads and driven components. Features & benefits * Stainless steel bellows allow for a high level of torsional stiffness...

Temperature probe handles harsh conditions.(Product Spotlight: Temperature Sensors)
July 1, 2008... The Beta THERM overmoulded thermistor probe is suitable in demanding HVAC and refrigeration applications, such as evaporator coil and industrial case refrigeration, climate control systems, and sauna and oceanographic equipment. ...

Temperature sensors--free guide.(Product Spotlight: Temperature Sensors)
July 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This 163-page guide explains how to define temperature-sensing requirements and choose the best sensor for the application. Features & benefits * Determine which sensing technology is best * Compare...

Thermocouple probes.(Product Spotlight: Temperature Sensors)
July 1, 2008... TJ-USB series thermocouple probes connect directly to a computer's USB port. All models feature rugged transition joint construction and integral 6-ft. shielded output cable. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Features & benefits * Free...

Thermal imaging camera.(Product Spotlight: Temperature Sensors)
July 1, 2008... The Extech i5 compact IR camera monitors and detects the thermal condition of electrical system components to address problems before failures occur and inspects areas that can't be reached with contact-based instruments. [ILLUSTRATION...