Dynamic brakes in electric motor drives divert rising DC bus voltage seen during load deceleration. Here we explain how to size the resistors that process that voltage. By Lawrence Kren | Contributing writer Dynamic brakes divert rising DC bus voltage to an appropriately sized resistor where that voltage is then dissipated as heat. This process […]
Pertinent operating conditions for ac gearmotors and motors
Nameplate values stipulate the limits at which a motor or gearmotor can safely operate. To operate the motor either over or under the nameplate rated limit can degrade motor performance and safety. Let’s now review some of these restrictions and the consequences of ignoring them. Tim Oliver, V.P. of Engineering • Bodine Electric Co. Operating […]
Railway relies on advanced backstopping clutch technology
The famous Mount Washington Cog Railway in New Hampshire has been transporting visitors to the highest peak in the Northeastern US since 1869. At the summit, 6,288 ft above sea level, the mountain experiences some of the most extreme weather conditions in the world with wind chill temperatures down to -102°F. A directly measured surface […]
Renishaw’s Advanced Manufacturing Roadshow makes November stop in Michigan
Renishaw’s Roadshow rolls into Auburn Hills, Michigan next month with the aim of delivering solutions to advanced manufacturing challenges faced by the automotive, aerospace, medical and electronics industries, as well as precision manufacturers and scientific and research analysis operations. The two-day event features morning and afternoon presentations with metrology experts answering questions on the significant […]
Bronze, Silver, and Gold 2022 LEAP winners in motion control announced
The fifth annual LEAP Awards — celebrating leading engineering achievements in product design — was the largest yet. 2022 LEAP categories were divided across the four WTWH Media brands of Design World, Fluid Power World, Fastener Engineering, and EE World. The 14 categories include Additive Manufacturing • Advanced Materials • Connectivity • Embedded Computing • […]
Copia Automation’s DeviceLink simplifies backup and change detection for industrial automation devices
Industrial automation software developer Copia Automation announced the release of its newest product DeviceLink , delivering automated backup and change detection for industrial control devices. DeviceLink extends the value of Copia’s source control platform. Cloud-hosted and Git-based, Copia empowers controls engineers to unlock the advantages of DevOps workflows in driving greater team efficiency, code quality, […]
Top 12 design considerations for power-off brakes
The proliferation of new applications for power-off brakes demands fresh design approaches leveraging leading brake manufacturers’ accumulated design experience. Key to optimizing designs for life, cost, and performance is early collaboration with the brake manufacturer. By Brian Mather • Ogura Industrial Corp. Machine designers in the motion-control industry recognize power-off brakes by the following terms: […]
Leading motion-control and actuation options for robotics
Advanced robotics for industrial and consumer applications demand sophisticated power-dense motion components for joints and linkages that must run smoothly, often at high torque and relatively low speed. The challenge is compounded when the robotic application must also make precise moves. At the core of most leading robotic-actuator options are electric motors. That’s because motor-driven designs […]
Basics of wave and cycloidal gearing for robotics and servo designs
Many of today’s precision applications necessitate gears capable of dramatic speed reductions, power densities, and transmission accuracies. Leading choices in these designs include trochoidal and cycloidal gearing as well as gearsets relying on wave-inducing subcomponents having an elliptical or Reuleaux or other polygonal shape. Trochoidal and cycloidal gearing includes elements that rotate and trace curves around […]
Mitsubishi Electric Automation at Automate 2022
Mitsubishi Electric Automation will exhibit at Automate 2022 in Detroit to highlight solutions for a wide variety of applications and industries. The theme of the exhibit is “better together”, which shows creative solutions developed by a number of companies based on Mitsubishi Electric automation products. The “better together” approach includes an in-booth experience centered on […]