Motion System Design articles from June 2009

Motion System Design archives from June 2009

Segway segue: as Motion System Design celebrates its 50th anniversary, we invite you to check out this article from the June 1959 issue of the magazine.(Celebration: MSD's big Five-O)
June 1, 2009... Check it out, Dean Kamen: Forty years before the Segway, in 1959, a young student at the Institute of Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, developed a strikingly prophetic design--a stylish, motorized scooter for lightweight...

A rip in time makes nine.(Brushing up)
June 1, 2009... From the erosion of a grain of sand off a cliff to the unbounded expansion of the Universe, Nature tends towards disorder. This tendency has a name--entropy. The phenomenon has specific scientific meaning, but in everyday popular culture, is...

May the force be with you.(Design by Objective)
June 1, 2009... If you're looking for some new tactics to pack more power into your next design, don't bother with Jedi mind tricks. Instead, take a look at some of the latest products featured here to make your next project a star.

Heavy-duty brakes fortify wind turbines.(Design by Objective)
June 1, 2009... Emergency braking requirements of today's wind turbines under maximum conditions can be compared to those of a 40-ton mining truck driving down a 25% grade at 87 miles per hour with a cliff 1/4 mile ahead. To meet these demands, ERS Series...

Step motors pack power into compact package.(Design by Objective)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 4418 series of NEMA 17 stepper motors provides up to 35% more torque compared to motors of similar dimensions. Motors are available in three different stack lengths, starting with the nimble 4418S at 1.17-in....

Gearbox tackles downtime in water treatment.(Solution snapshot)
June 1, 2009... In today's do-more-with-less economy, turning trash into fuel makes both environmental and economic sense. That's just what Lincoln Paper and Tissue is doing at its manufacturing mill in Lincoln, Maine. Every year, the company produces...

High-torque tooth clutch withstands washdown.(Design by Objective)
June 1, 2009... 5H Series tooth clutches deliver fast, no-slip engagement for washdown applications where high torque is required. Clutches offer a positive, single-position tooth interface for synchronized engagement and feature a torque range of 500 to...

Gearmotors offer high torque, Von Weise compatibility.(Design by Objective)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] VWDIR104 ac gearmotors (Von Weise drop-in replacement) are available with either 1/10 or 1/15 hp, 115/230 V, and 60/50 Hz permanent split capacitor electric motors. Compact, integral gear reducers feature hardened...

Planetary gearheads move large loads with ease.(Design by Objective)
June 1, 2009... XTRUE True Planetary Gearheads, available in 40, 60, 80, 120, and 160 mm frame sizes, are engineered to move large loads easily and quietly with planetary gearing through improved load capacity and lower backlash. They deliver precise 13...

The right distributor relationship: is it better to go steady or date around?(Dealing with distributors)
June 1, 2009... One question that motion control users have pondered for years is this: Is it better to select one strategic partner or use my business as leverage to attract several suitors, each competing for my business with a mix of price and delivery? ...

Motor rebates madden reader.(In response)(Brief article)(Column)
June 1, 2009... I was very disappointed to see you touting the NEMA grab for my tax money, with the happygram about using $350 million in subsidies to promote the sale of energy-efficient motors [What's new, May issue]. It's not like these motors are emerging...

Straight move lowdown: the shortest distance between two points is a straight line--so it's no wonder that nearly every motion system includes sections in which parts travel in straight paths.(Linear motion)
June 1, 2009... Because these traversing systems are so widespread, every aspect of linear electromechanical design is continually being improved--from guidance and load support to actuation and control. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With its origin linked...

Needed now: fabulous design ideas.(In the Loop)
June 1, 2009... Post-it notes and furniture slides aside, can you remember the last time you heard about a really great idea and wondered, "Why didn't I think of that?" Here's another obviously useful idea to ponder, which just may inspire as well. In response...

Linear-motor-driven actuator.(New Products)
June 1, 2009... The P3 linear-motor-driven actuator is designed with the linear-motor coil integrated into the top assembly plate for optimized thermal conductivity and high stiffness/low cogging for extremely smooth constant-velocity motion even at low...

Miniature drive-belt system.(New Products)
June 1, 2009... NBK's Excel-A-Belt miniature drive-belt system features an arched tooth profile with zero backlash for quiet and long-lasting operation. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Features & benefits * High-accuracy positioning and precise rotation...

Spline shafts with mated bushing.(New Products)
June 1, 2009... Lightweight aluminum spline shafts, coated with low-friction TFE, are mated with a graphite and PTFE-filled thermoplastic bushing. Features & benefits * Bushing's integral brass collar facilitates mounting without nut distortion *...

Heavy-duty pneumatic thruster.(New Products)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The T4 thruster offers the smooth actuation of original T Series thrusters. Features & benefits * Four guide shafts achieve doubled capacity and reduced deflection compared to standard designs * 2, 2.5,...

Cable carrier system.(New Products)
June 1, 2009... Marathon carrier system is suitable for applications with long travels and high accelerations where high tow forces are a problem; system can reduce tow force by 90%. Features & benefits * Rollers support carrier throughout entire...

Control system.(New Products)
June 1, 2009... The Power PMAC controller is a general purpose, full-fledged computing engine with a real-time, multitasking operating system. Features & benefits * Embedded with motion and machine control-programming environment * Uses built-in...

Linear position sensors.(New Products)
June 1, 2009... Temposonics linear-position sensors can generate up to 20 simultaneous position outputs along a given sensing element, making them a cost-effective replacement for traditional proximity sensors. Features & benefits * Magnetostrictive...

Anti-backlash leadscrew.(New Products)
June 1, 2009... Kerk 0.5-in. WDG Series leadscrew and nut assembly is compact and designed for precise positioning. Features & benefits * Permits design of more compact mechanical assemblies without sacrificing stroke length * Diameters from 3/16 to...

Tamperproof thermostats.(New Products)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Compact FTO11 and FTD011 Series tamperproof thermostats come with a fixed set point and are DIN-rail mountable. Features & benefits * Color-coded modules: Red for normally closed models (thermostat opens at...

Ribbon cables.(New Products)
June 1, 2009... Silicone-jacketed ribbon cables are suited for electronics applications requiring greater flexibility and environmental capabilities than those offered by PVC-jacketed cables. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Features & benefits * Operate...

Compact servo drives.(New Products)
June 1, 2009... Space-saving R7D-B Series reduce the complexity of applying servo drives and achieve faster startup and more reliable operation in a smaller, lower cost package. Features & benefits [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Measure just 120 ??35...

Linear guides.(New Products)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LG linear guide ball bushings offer high accuracy, smooth motion, and high load capacities. Features & benefits * Dimensionally interchangeable with linear bushings; outer tube has same OD as a linear...

Data converter.(New Products)
June 1, 2009... Hart Loop Converter (HLC) accesses digital information from Hart-enabled (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer) field devices to make it accessible to the analog side of control. Features & benefits * Converter is both a transmitter...

Cartesian gantries.(New Products)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AGS Series linear-motor Cartesian gantries are optimized for precise contouring. Features & benefits * Motion to 3 m/sec and 5 g; travels to 1.3 x 1.3 m; customizable Z and theta axes for flexible...

Precision-machined bearings.(Product Spotlight: Bearings and accessories)
June 1, 2009... Precision-machined bearings and assemblies are available with 1/4 to 6 in. ODs. Features & benefits * Available in a variety of materials, including carbon steel, stainless steel, and engineered polymers * Applications include...

Steel-housed bearings.(Product Spotlight: Bearings and accessories)
June 1, 2009... Dodge Steel-Housed Imperial HD mounted roller bearings combine Imperial bearing technology with a cast steel housing and are designed for heavy-duty applications. Features & benefits * Steel housings available in pillow block, flange,...

Needle bearing cam followers.(Product Spotlight: Bearings and accessories)
June 1, 2009... BBXCAM-CN Series needle bearing sealed cam followers feature hardened and ground outer races and low-carbon alloy steel hardened studs and inner races for reduced friction, quiet operation, and increased durability. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Bushing bearings guide.(Product Spotlight: Bearings and accessories)
June 1, 2009... A new selection guide includes product overviews and comparisons, specifications, and ordering information, as well as an engineering appendix to help users specify, install, and maintain ball-bushing bearings. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Strain gages for monitoring forces: the most universal electrical device for measuring mechanical quantities is the strain gage. Design options and considerations abound.(Sensing and feedback)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dan Press OMEGA Engineering Inc. Stamford, Conn. The engineering measurement called strain is the deformation per unit of length of a material when force is applied to it. In other words, strain is a...

Top 10 tips things to know about motion controllers: motion controllers are complex animals, no doubt about it. But with a few tips from the experts about proper specification, location, and how to avoid mishaps, choosing the right controller for the job is as easy as one, two, three.(MSD's Top 10)
June 1, 2009... 1. Carefully consider controller location. Just as in real estate, think location, location, location! Controller location in the overall motion system is the single most important factor that can simplify, or complicate, a motion design....

Website dedicated to safety.(Web Contents)
June 1, 2009... For all the latest information on how to keep employees and environments safe, visit the new Rockwell Automation Safety Solutions portal through discover.rockwellautomation.com--and click on the Safety Solutions link. This free site includes...

Literature request site.(Web Contents)
June 1, 2009... Now at www.emerson-ept.com, order Emerson Power Transmission catalogs at your convenience. This is an addition to other online tools such as EPT EDGE, which includes literature, engineered solutions, and CAD templates. [ILLUSTRATION...

New site + store.(Web Contents)
June 1, 2009... A new website is making stepper motor selection easier. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Offered at www.linengineeringstore.com are many different windings--and designers can add customizations to motors and still get them shipped in 24 hours.

Universities offer mechatronics, robotics degrees.(What's New)
June 1, 2009... As industrial technology evolves, further blurring the lines between mechanical and electrical disciplines, industry and academia are striving to keep pace. Purdue University Calumet's School of Technology recently received a $150,000 National...

SERCOS provides open source software drivers.(What's New)
June 1, 2009... SERCOS International (SI) will provide an open source software driver library for the SERCOS III real-time Ethernet communication system master implementation. According to association sources, SERCOS III is the first high performance real-time...

Motion control market trends downward.(What's New)
June 1, 2009... According to April statistics from IMS Research, Austin, Tex., the worldwide market for motion control equipment showed healthy revenue growth in 2007, increasing by 11.9% over 2006 levels. All regions and industry segments exhibited strong...

Environmental design initiative reaches Congress.(What's New)(Environmental Design for Electrical Equipment Act of 2009)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... On May 14, legislation specifying the commitment of NEMA members to eliminate or limit hazardous substances in certain electrical products was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Environmental Design for Electrical Equipment...

Tiny encoder makes waves.(What's New)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Inductive encoders operate by tracking reactionary current-flow resistance (to nearby material) in one or more coils. However, there are drawbacks to simple inductive encoders, such as the temperature dependence of...

InSights.(What's New)(Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory (RoMeLa) of the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va., has developed a robotic hand that can hold objects as heavy as a can of food or as delicate as an egg,...

Schunk hires Bob Holtz.(Biz bits)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... SCHUNK Inc., Morrisville, N.C., a manufacturer of automation, workholding, and toolholding technology, announces the addition of Bob Holtz to fill the newly formed position of business unit manager of toolholding and workholding. Holtz has been...

HaydonKerk offers new catalog.(Biz bits)
June 1, 2009... HaydonKerk Motion Solutions, a manufacturer of linear motion products, announces the availability of a new product catalog and design guide. This is the first comprehensive listing of motion products offered by HaydonKerk since the companies...

RQ&D, industrial control streamline services.(Biz bits)
June 1, 2009... Research, Quality, and Design Engineering LLC (RQ&D), Elmore, Ala., and Industrial Control Associates Inc., Pine Mountain, Ga., announce the completion of a three-year Memorandum of Understanding to streamline product development services for...

PTDA releases 2009 directory.(Biz bits)(Directory)
June 1, 2009... The new Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) 2009 Membership Directory includes more than 400 distributors and manufacturers of power transmission/motion control products. A comprehensive distributor listing includes complete...