Direct drive linear servo motors have seen a measurable increase in adoption over the past several years, thanks in part to end users’ demands for higher throughput and better precision. And although linear motors are most often recognized for their ability to provide a combination of high speeds, long strokes, and excellent positioning accuracy that […]
What are magnetoelastic sensors for torque measurement?
When a ferromagnetic material is subjected to a mechanical stress — caused by an applied force or torque — it experiences a change in magnetic flux. This phenomenon is known as the magnetoelastic effect, also referred to as the Villari effect, for the Italian physicist who discovered it in the late 1800’s. In motion control […]
Why is viscosity important for bearing lubrication?
Lubrication — or, more correctly, improper or insufficient lubrication — is one of the leading causes of equipment failures in industrial applications. Without it, sliding, rolling, or meshing surfaces experience significant friction, heat, and wear, leading to increased noise, loss of accuracy, and reduced equipment life. One of the most important characteristics of a lubricant […]
Why is static friction greater than kinetic friction?
Solid surfaces are subjected to two types of friction: static friction and kinetic friction. Static friction acts when the surfaces are stationary — think of a box on the floor. Static friction is what keeps the box from moving without being pushed, and it must be overcome with a sufficient opposing force before the box […]
What is current decay (aka recirculating current) in a stepper drive?
A common type of stepper drive is the chopper drive, so named because it rapidly switches the output voltage from the drive on and off — “chopping” it — to provide constant current to the motor. Chopper drives use one H-bridge per motor phase to drive voltage to the motor windings. A sense resistor at […]
Can mechatronics engineering help alleviate the shortage of skilled manufacturing workers?
If you went to college in the 1990’s or earlier and were interested in engineering, you generally had eight or ten fields of study to choose from: — Mechanical Engineering — Aerospace Engineering — Electrical Engineering — Computer Science (often included in the Engineering department) — Civil Engineering — Industrial Engineering — Chemical Engineering — […]
Gearbox service factor and service class explained
Sizing a gearbox (or gearmotor) for an industrial application typically begins with determining the appropriate service factor. In simple terms, the service factor is the ratio of the gearbox rated horsepower (or torque) to the application’s required horsepower (or torque). Service factors are defined by the American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA), based on the type […]
Improved tails allow better cleanings on sanitary conveyor platform
Perhaps the most important feature of a sanitary belt conveyor is the ability for it to be thoroughly cleaned. Dorner’s new AquaGard 7350 V2 Series with tip-up tails checks off that box…and then some. The AquaGard 7350 V2 with tip-up tails provides ample access to the inside of the conveyor for effective, fast cleanings and easy […]
The truth about VFDs and power factor
Power factor is essentially a measure of how effectively a piece of equipment (or an entire facility) uses electricity to produce useful work, such as heating, lighting, or motion. Electricity companies monitor power factor and often charge customers a penalty if their power factor falls below a specified threshold — typically 0.90 or higher. Fortunately, […]
When do you need a linear amplifier versus a PWM drive?
Servo drives — also referred to as servo amplifiers — can be classified by the type of output stage they use: • Pulse-width-modulated (PWM) amplifier output stage or • Linear amplifier output stage. Of the two types, PWM drives are more common in general motion control applications because they provide more power to the motor, […]