Electric motors are absolutely essential to automating innumerable applications around the world. In most cases, the driving of motors — the supplying of electric power to them — requires some engineered system that must also be compatible with the motor’s winding arrangement. Because these motor-powering systems are often found employing or accompanying the other electrical […]
Choosing between (or combining) relays and PLCs
Top design objectives for control installations include capability, reliability, and cost effectiveness. Many new and retrofitted control panels employ components such as PLCs and even industrial PCs (IPCs) and programmable automation controllers (PACs) for advanced connectivity and control. It’s often appropriate to use these more complicated (and capable) options and remove or forgo electromechanical relays […]
DIN rail: Basic construction and versions
The ubiquitous nature of components for DIN-rail mounting makes this standard particularly helpful … especially when panel redesigns are in order. Here, a technician need only to unclamp components, slide them to their new locations, and reclamp them to the DIN rail. In addition, DIN rail prevents upside-down and other incorrect installation. A typical DIN […]
Programming variable frequency drives for variable-torque applications
Variable frequency drives have an incredible amount of functionality. Due to advancements in technology over the years, HMIs in the form of VFD keypads have become more user friendly with easier navigation, higher resolution displays, and more detailed setup wizards. By Jonathan Kopczyk | Technical support engineer • Yaskawa America Inc. Looking back at the […]
Bodine now offers 60 new hypoid PMDC gearmotors
Bodine Electric Co. has just announced sixty (60) new 33A7-25H2 and 33A7-30H3 hollow-shaft right-angle hypoid PMDC gearmotors. These integral geared motors combine Bodine’s high-performance type 33A7 permanent magnet dc motor with two new hypoid gearheads. They are a suitable drive solution for applications needing compact size, quiet operation, high torque density, and low energy consumption. […]
Three-phase rectifier boards from Koford Engineering for brushless generators
Brushless generators from Koford Engineering components are now possible. The motion-component supplier now sells regulated three-phase rectifier boards (for up to 5 V and 20 A) that combine with any three phase sensorless brushless motor to serve as brushless generators. Product information can be found at koford.com/Generators.pdf. Recall that when driven by a power […]
Power over Ethernet (PoE) and M12 connectors in motion designs
Though the internet of things is most visible to laymen in consumer devices, the IIoT is massive. The majority of applications are in business, factory, and healthcare settings … and more than a third of the nearly $6 trillion IoT market is in manufacturing. Connectivity is the basis of all this IIoT — providing the […]
Balancing power, weight, and efficiency objectives with low-power braking
Engineers who want the smallest, lightest, lowest power brake available should talk to their brake supplier in the earliest stages of the design project. Waiting until later in the process will trigger a compromise on one or all three of these important design considerations. By Brian Mather | Industrial product manager • Ogura Industrial Corp. […]
WITTENSTEIN releases new NPL-W corrosion-resistant gearbox
WITTENSTEIN alpha, a provider of high-precision servo gearboxes and drive systems, has launched a new corrosion resistant gearbox to support the increasing market demand for components that can withstand processing, overspray and cleaning environments. Ideal for food processing, bottling and packaging machines, NPL-W features a painted, corrosion resistant housing with no gaps, depressions, undercuts, dead […]
Common IoT and connectivity terminology related to ctrlX AUTOMATION
In a recent online event, Bosch Rexroth engineers explained their new ctrlX AUTOMATION scalable platform … which among other things, allows flexible creation of topologies. Read more about this new offering at motioncontroltips.com/bosch-rexroth-now-sells-new-line-of-automation-ctrlx-automation. Its Linux real-time operating system, support of open standards, and comprehensive IoT connections dramatically reduce engineering time. Following are videos from the […]