Automated mobile equipment, which transports items in warehouses and freight centers as well as assembly operations, continues to boost demand for power-transmission and motion control systems. In fact, the worldwide mobile-robot market will reach nearly $15 billion by 2026, according to researchandmarkets.com. Almost all run off electric-motor drivetrains that are relatively expensive upfront but with […]
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What are negative-stiffness vibration isolators?
Protecting sensitive equipment from harmful vibrations can be done with either passive or active isolation systems, with the choice often being made on price, simplicity, and the level of protection required. Although passive systems are typically simpler and lower cost, most passive designs can’t protect against the low-frequency vibrations caused by structural resonances. And active […]
Three trends changing motion control
By Megan Ray Nichols • STEM Writer | schooledbyscience.com Motion control is a vital part of equipment operation — and it plays a direct role in automation. Industrial users of assembly and material handling equipment have ever-longer lists of demands, ranging from application-specific equipment designs to smaller and lighter components. Below are three trends in […]
Selecting servomotors with integrated drives
Although new distributed servo drive systems promise incredible performance, engineers should consider cabling, form factor, and safety integration before standardizing on a platform. Servomotors with integrated drives were groundbreaking technology when they hit the market, but their full potential has rarely been reached. These servomotors are supposed to reduce footprint and commissioning time while increasing […]
Vibration damping: What’s the difference between passive and active methods?
Unlike typical static or dynamic loads, forces due to vibrations are difficult to predict, model, and account for when designing motion control systems. Some manufacturers recommend adding a safety factor to account for vibrations when sizing and selecting components — especially those that involve rolling or sliding motion, such as linear guides and screws. Of […]
Servo motor offers increased torque, speed and efficiency in compact footprint
Kollmorgen’s AKM2G synchronous servo motors are the next generation of its AKM motor product family, and provide increased capabilities for demanding applications. The higher torque density of the AKM2G allows OEMs to substantially increase machine performance without increasing motor size. Greater flexibility and wider speed range enables machines to run faster, move heavier loads, and […]
Drives and controls for robotics: See them at the 2019 Robotics Summit
In a couple weeks, the 2019 Robotics Summit (focused on the design, development, manufacture, and delivery of commercial robotics) will take place in Boston. It will be co-located with the DeviceTalks event at the Seaport World Trade Center. One display will be an array of precision processing and powering technologies for robotics. Elmo Motion Control […]
Using mechanical torque limiters to protect servo-driven machinery
Servomotor-driven machinery abounds in today’s automated applications. These designs typically require high speeds for top throughput, dynamic operation for nimble positioning, and (in many cases) quick reversals for indexing. So it’s key to have some means to: Protect the servomotor from damage by sudden load changes, over-torque conditions, or shock due to machine issues. The […]
When to use gears to change the inertia ratio of a motor-driven system
In any system where a motor drives a load to achieve precise positioning, velocity, or torque, the ratio of the load inertia to the motor inertia plays a significant role in determining the motor’s ability to effectively and efficiently control the load, especially during acceleration and deceleration portions of the motion profile. In this context, the […]
What is disturbance rejection in motion control?
One of the key functions of a motion controller is to create the trajectories the motor follows in order to reach the target position (or velocity or torque). As the motor turns, the controller processes feedback from the encoder and compares the actual position of the motor with the desired position. If there are any […]