Packaging machinery uses cutting-edge automation, and it’s no wonder. Facilities that parcel products need to deliver high throughput, but modern consumers demand smart packaging in the form of no-fuss containers that protect everything from M&Ms to patio furniture. What’s more, there’s a continuous drive to customize packages and let consumer-facing companies wrap products for bulk […]
What are rack-and-pinion sets? Technical summary
Updated May 2016 || Options for linear motion abound, but today’s rack-and-pinion sets are precision mechanical devices that in some cases deliver performance rivaling that of electromechanical alternatives. First modernized 150 years ago to drive railway trains up steep passages, rack-and-pinion sets today are useful in everything from small consumer devices that move a few […]
What is a gearmotor? Technical summary for engineers
Updated May 2016 || By Miles Budimir • Senior Editor Gearmotors are a fairly well-established technology. And recently, there is renewed interest in gearmotors, following a trend in integrated systems in general. More specifically, rising energy costs are driving demand for improved process efficiencies. This presents an opening for gearmotors that can be used in […]
Brushless DC HPHT motor rugged enough for oil drilling
BEI Kimco Magnetics now sells a rugged brushless DC (BLDC) motor to withstand harsh oil-exploration applications … as well as other severe-environment applications that can’t have failures. Called the DII15-60-200A High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) brushless dc motor, it’s tested to operate under continuous duty in temperatures up to 205º C and pressures to 30,000 psi. As oil extraction reaches greater depths, […]
Wave spring sizing and selection
Although wave-spring applications abound, there are basic rules to define spring requirements and determine whether a design can use a stock or standard spring or needs a special wave spring. The first and most important consideration is the load the application will apply to the wave spring. Required load is defined as the amount of axial […]
Explosion-proof encoder is most compact, for oil and gas
A new flameproof and explosion-proof encoder that meets UL, ATEX, and IECEx standards — Model LP35 from BEI Sensors — is the first hollow-shaft encoder with a 2.01-in. profile that operates directly in Division 1, Zone 1 environments. It’s for oil and gas machinery that must withstand extreme conditions where ignitable concentrations of flammable substances can exist under normal conditions. “In […]
Yaskawa’s new motion trifecta packs automation punch
Yaskawa America’s Drives & Motion Div. now sells three new motion-control products to improve automation systems and maximize effectiveness when used in combination. The MP3300iec machine controller makes automated equipment more responsive by boosting both processing speed and memory capacity, lifting both parameters to the highest levels in the motion control industry. In addition, MP3300iec has the ability to utilize […]
Advanced functions move to cost-effective PLCs
Now a family of new controllers — the iQ-F Series compact controllers from Mitsubishi Electric Automation — gives engineers a compact and affordable design option. Based on Mitsubishi Electric’s FX Series, they deliver the same control capabilities as their predecessors … but the controllers have new functionalities for even better performance and user experience. More specifically, the controllers offer synchronized motion control, data logging, and […]
New software helps designers pick suitable enclosure cooling
Rittal now offers designers an app to calculate the right amount of cooling and fans required for electronic enclosures. The RiTherm app for Android and iPhones handles time-consuming calculations. Then it lets designers quickly and easily email results to colleagues for action or documentation. A user-friendly interface also lets users access the app from their smartphones to get […]
New for mobile motor designs: Battery-powered speed controllers
KB Electronics now sells two battery-powered speed controllers … dc/dc low-voltage motor speed controls. The KBBW Series of pulse-width-modulated (PWM) dc/dc motor speed controls respond dynamically to load variations. PWM produces an almost pure dc current to the motor for low noise and long brush life. Pulse-by-pulse current limit provides short circuit protection and prevents control […]