Power and free conveyors are designed for manufacturing environments where products need to be transported in a non-linear fashion — that is, where materials aren’t necessarily delivered in the order they were loaded or at the same pace. Traditional “linear” conveyors, on the other hand, lack the flexibility to handle manufacturing environments where different production […]
How to specify motion components for cleanroom environments: Part 2
In this two-part article, we cover the products, materials, and features that designers and engineers should specify when choosing motion components for cleanroom environments. In part 1, we looked at how to reduce particle generation due to friction between moving components. In this second part, we’ll look at another source of contamination — outgassing — […]
How to specify motion components for cleanroom environments: Part 1
In this two-part article, we cover the products, materials, and features that designers and engineers should specify when choosing motion components for cleanroom environments. In part 1, we look at how to reduce particle generation due to friction between moving components. Designers of automation systems are tasked with many competing demands, such as balancing cost and performance, […]
What are slip rings and why do some motors use them?
Slip rings — also referred to as rotary electrical joints, electric swivels, and collector rings — are devices that can transmit power, electrical signals, or data between a stationary component and a rotating component. The design of a slip ring will depend on its application — transmitting data, for example, requires a slip ring with higher […]
How does stiffness affect piezo output force and displacement?
Piezo actuators operate on the inverse piezoelectric effect: when voltage is applied, the actuator contracts or expands. But when the actuator is blocked from moving (by a load applied in the direction of travel), it generates a force. This relationship between displacement and force in piezo materials is an inverse relationship. In other words, the […]
What are the benefits of an active front end (AFE) drive?
A variable frequency drive, or VFD, delivers power from the source — typically the utility — to a motor in three basic steps: A rectifier converts the AC power to DC A DC bus receives, smooths, and stores the power An inverter converts the DC power back into AC with the necessary frequency and voltage […]
New CVK-SC Stepper Motor Speed Control System from Oriental Motor
CVK-SC series — 0.72º, 24 VDC input stepper motor speed control Oriental Motor is pleased to introduce the new CVK-SC series stepper motor speed control system. Specifically designed for common speed control applications with constant duty, the CVK-SC series features ease of use, holding torque when stopped, and increased repeat positioning accuracy. This speed control […]
What are wound field motors and where are they applied?
Brushed DC motors are generally available in two types, depending on the construction of the stator: permanent magnet or wound field. Both motor types use current and windings to produce a magnetic field in the rotor, but they differ in how the stator magnetic field is produced: via permanent magnets inside the stator or with […]
Omron releases NX1 controller for IIoT applications with OPC UA and SQL connectivity
The newest iteration of Omron’s NX1 machine automation controller series is designed to improve productivity through integration with information utilization, quality management, and safety. The high degree of integration helps manufacturers collect and utilize data more effectively and improve overall productivity. Its compact design helps bring the control of compact machines to a whole new […]
How do rotary voice coil actuators work?
Most linear motion devices have a rotary equivalent, and voice coil actuators are no exception. While the versions depicted in most product images and videos are linear, rotary voice coil actuators fill a need for smooth, arc-shaped motion and torque production with fast response times. But unlike the design relationship between rotary and linear motors, […]