Motion System Design articles from June 2006

Motion System Design archives from June 2006

Equivalent circuit models.
June 1, 2006... Designers often use mathematical models to predict how mechanical and electrical systems will behave. The details expressed by these models, like significant digits in an equation, go only as deep as the analysis requires. Determining how gears...

Get rolling with guide wheels--Part 1 of 2.(tips for manufacturing wheels)
June 1, 2006... In a typical machine environment, moving from point A to point B isn't as easy as it may sound. Common obstacles include punishing loads, long spans, heat and humidity, corrosives, abrasives, noise limitations, and unforgiving tolerances as...

Raising the bar: things to consider when you need to optimize accuracy and precision.(Design by objective)
June 1, 2006... Even if you could mathematically model systems exactly, the physical world is too messy--has too many variables--to flawlessly produce paths described by clean, exact equations. Nonlinear friction, noise, vibration, and various forms of...

Winner of problem #286.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The winner of Problem #286, "Hanging by a thread," is Matt Smith of Production Control Units, Inc., Dayton, Ohio. He claims the grand prize, Standard Handbook of Chains: Chains for Power Transmission and Material Handling by John L. Wright,...

A great man.(In Response)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... I am particularly fond of your recent regular feature about Nikola Tesla (whom I "discovered" while in college and who impressed me to no end). I read all the previous installments on your website. Bravo on those articles. Jeff Knoedler...

Looking back.(In Response)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... I have a question about the photo shown on page 51 in your April 2006 issue, which is referred to as a CNC machine in 1948. It looks like a knee and column mill, vertical universal, with a motor-driven dividing head mounted on the table. I...

Vene, vede, da Vinci--the prologue.(skilled people, an inspiration for personal development)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Albert Einstein often said that imagination is more important than knowledge. Not surprisingly, he possessed both in abundance. So, too, did Leonardo da Vinci. In fact, da Vinci, the quintessential Renaissance man, developed a scientific theory...

DualVee Motion Technology[R].(Media MART)
June 1, 2006... Bishop-Wisecarver continues to be the leader in innovative guide wheel solutions. Our complete range of patented DualVee[R] wheels, bushings, and track is ideal for applications that demand low maintenance, high accuracy and repeatability in...

QuickTrak[R] Linear Motion System.(Media MART)
June 1, 2006... 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, medical and packaging...

Precision mechanical components.(Media MART)
June 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)
June 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...

Self-lubricating gear solutions calculated for life.(Media MART)
June 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...

Miniature turntable bearings save weight and space.(Media MART)
June 1, 2006... Miniature Reali-Slim[R] TT Series turntable bearings from Kaydon save weight, reduce product envelope size and increase design flexibility for turntable applications--including robotics, radar antennae, and factory positioning and inspection...

New Pneumatic Gripper catalog.(Media MART)
June 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...

Catalog CD.(Media MART)
June 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...

Rexroth indramotion MTX.(Media MART)
June 1, 2006... Rexroth's CNC controller offers high performance and reduces cycle time for turning, cutting, boring, grinding, bending, nibbling and punching machine tools, as well as laser applications and integrated machine automation. The open architecture...

Bearing redesign adds strength to Dorner's 2200 Series conveyors.(Media MART)
June 1, 2006... Dorner Manufacturing has enhanced the durability and reliability of its popular selling 2200 Series conveyors through a re-engineering that completely protects the conveyor's bearings. Bearings on the 2200 Series conveyor are now installed into...

Mini catalog.(Media MART)
June 1, 2006... With PACAMOR KUBAR BEARINGS (PKB) miniature and instrument ball bearings installed in your products, you can be confident that your precision devices contain high quality, reliable, and domestically produced components. Miniature and instrument...

Magtrol In-Line Torque Transducers.(Media MART)
June 1, 2006... Magtrol's In-Line Torque Transducers provide precise torque and speed measurement with high noise immunity. Features include Circle 46 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Pancake motors go for an e-drive: an electric automotive wheel drive puts axial-gap motors to work in what may be the ideal application for these unusual machines.(Mechanisms and machines)
June 1, 2006... Engineers at The Timken Co., Canton, Ohio, are developing one of the key components for tomorrow's electric cars. For the past few years, they've been working on electric automotive wheel drives, or e-drives, designed to convert electrical...

A disconnect at the paper mill: unchaining screw conveyor drives improves reliability of bark-burning boilers at containerboard plant.(What's new--Industry focus: Paper and wood manufacturing)
June 1, 2006... As one of Alabama's largest paper recyclers, Weyerhauser Co. recognizes the need to minimize energy costs at its Pine Hill paper mill. The company burns bark from its operations to power its paper and forest product operations. When the chain...

Stepmotors now close the loop.(Agile Systems)
June 1, 2006... Stepmotor drive systems are known for their inherent open-loop control simplicity. But compared to servo systems, they perform poorly in applications requiring high speed, high acceleration, and smooth motion. Moreover, steppers excite...

Getting out of a sticky situation.(What's new)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and George Mason University (GMU) have found an easy way to bond thermoplastic microchannel plates together with solvent. This technology could be used for low-cost,...

Acquisition increases semiconductor and medical motion control services.(What's new)
June 1, 2006... Bosch Rexroth, Lohr, Germany, recently acquired the Dutch company Nyquist BV, a provider of industrial motion control solutions for the semiconductor and medical manufacturing industries. The acquisition gives Bosch Rexroth the full...

Engineering Research Center earns $15 million grant.(What's new)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $15 million, five-year grant to support the new Engineering Research Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power. Industry partners and seven universities will augment NSF funding with $3 million...

Motor company acquisition strengthens Ametek's core business.(What's new)
June 1, 2006... Ametek Inc., Paoli, Pa., recently acquired PennEngineering Motion Technologies (PMT), a unit of Penn Engineering & Manufacturing Corp. PMT, composed of the Pittman and M.A.E. SpA business units, designs and manufactures engineered motors...

Linear friction brakes.(MSD 101)
June 1, 2006... Linear brakes are mechanical devices on linear motion systems that hold loads stationary or are used as failsafe devices. Typically, an actuator (a linear motor, fluid-power cylinder, or ballscrew) positions the load, and then the linear brake...

How does the plane of action affect brake performance during operation?(Q&A)
June 1, 2006... Linear brakes can be installed in any plane of action. However, required holding force and stopping distance are very much affected by inclines and declines. If a brake is horizontally mounted, the stroke's gradient angle [alpha] = 0; if not,...

Sliding scale.(Problem 288)
June 1, 2006... Finagle J. Wurme is in the first week of his summer job, working for the volunteer fire department in Rattlesnake Gulch. Having passed his training on the town's three-tone warning system, he commands a mobile unit, making daily rounds and...

Tuning servomotors.(From motors to motion, Part 2)
June 1, 2006... There are two types of motion control engineers: Those who are comfortable tuning a servo loop, and those who aren't. The latter basically, have two options. The first is to use a nonservo device such as a stepmotor; the alternative, a better...

Rodless band cylinders.(Pneumatic Solutions)
June 1, 2006... BC series of rodless band cylinders use Endurance Technology to extend life in demanding applications. Features & benefits * Four lines--BC4, BC2, BC3, and BC3D--deliver peak performance and durability * Stainless-steel band,...

Cushioned air cylinders.(Pneumatic Solutions)
June 1, 2006... ISO/VDMA cylinders' adjustable cushions feature reduced cycle times, noise, and vibration, and increased cylinder life. Features & benefits * Cushioning eliminates end-of-stroke bounce * Bore sizes from 32 to 125 mm, with tie rod...

Drives line.(Products)
June 1, 2006... A new line includes SCR, PWM, SCR regenerative, and ac variable frequency versions. Features & benefits * Pairs with gearmotors, available to 3 hp, in both U.S. and EU frequencies * Suitable for food preparation equipment,...

RoHS motors.(Products)
June 1, 2006... Line of fractional-hp motors is now lead-free. Features & benefits * Solder is 96.4% Sn, 3% Ag, 0.5% Cu * Flux and cleaner processes remain the same Groschopp Inc. Sioux Center, Iowa (712) 722-4135 ...

Brushless motors.(Products)
June 1, 2006... Mdrive 42AC Plus high-torque, brushless motors include a fully integrated drive and control electronics for high performance and smoothness. Features & benefits * 20 [micro]m step resolutions up to 51,200 step/rev (degrees, metric,...

Non-contact sensors.(Products)
June 1, 2006... RSC 1300 non-contact rotary sensors use vertical Hall technology and a cross structure that affixes to a silicon chip to provide 360[degrees] measurements with 10-bit resolution. Features & benefits * Measure 13 X 20 mm * Support...

Ruling slides.(Products)
June 1, 2006... Precision glass slides let users evaluate resolution, field distortion, and parfocal stability of fluorescent vision systems. Features & benefits * Fluorescent backing lets users test system performance using application's UV light...

Gear drives.(Products)
June 1, 2006... Hub3 stainless steel helical and Poweratio 4000 inline gears are newest additions to drive line. Features & benefits * Hub3 rated to 18 hp, Poweratio 4000 to 125 hp * Hub3 is available in two models and features smooth machined...

Vision sensors.(Products)
June 1, 2006... LightPix AE20 is an integrated lighting, CCD color camera and CPU vision sensor programmed with AETool software. Features & benefits * Interchangeable inspection packages--color judgement, area, and pattern matching, measurement, and...

Putting the squeeze on: clamp-style shaft collars utilize socket-head capscrews to create compressive forces that close the collar onto the shaft, locking it in place.
June 1, 2006... They're one of the simplest components in power transmission. They're also one of the most indispensable. Among their many roles, shaft collars hold sprockets and bearings on shafts, situate components in motor and gearbox assemblies, and serve...

Hypoid gearheads.(Product spotlight: Gears & gearing)
June 1, 2006... Hypoid gearheads feature a hollow shaft to reach maximum speeds. Features & benefits * [HG.sup.2] offers low-backlash in a right-angle design as well as high torque and speed, gear ratios in single stage, low noise, and high efficiency...

Helical gears.(Product spotlight: Gears & gearing)
June 1, 2006... TorqLoc keyless hollow shaft mounting system fits larger parallel shaft helical and helical bevel gear units. Features & benefits * 19 sizes for shaft diameters from 3.25 to 3.75 in. and 80 to 125 mm * Electroless nickel or...

Inline gearmotors, speed reducers.(Product spotlight: Gears & gearing)
June 1, 2006... Browning series 7000 inline gearmotors and speed reducers feature a modular design for direct interchange with European modular drives. Features & benefits * Taper connection for easy no-drain drive replacement * 20 to 50% higher...

Integrated gear-pulley.(Product spotlight: Gears & gearing)
June 1, 2006... Power Pulley timing pulleys feature a compact linear design to provide up to 10:1 reduction. Features & benefits * Three frame sizes with almost any tooth pitch--English, metric, AT metric, and curvilinear * High bearing capacity...

Gearhead reducers.(Product spotlight: Gears & gearing)
June 1, 2006... GHP-20 gearhead reducers suit mixer drive applications and offer low noise, minimal backlash, and quiet and shock absorbent operation. Features & benefits * 3, 4, 5, 9, 12, 17, and 25:1 ratios * Simple 56 C-face motor with less...

Metric gearboxes.(Product spotlight: Gears & gearing)
June 1, 2006... Siti stainless-steel U-MU metric gearboxes suit aggressive environments by optimizing heat dissipation. Features & benefits * Power from 0.09 to 11 kW; output torque from 12 to 885 Nm * Ratios from 5 to 100:1 * Axle base...