As mentioned in a previous blog posting summarizing the news from the recent Pack Expo, there is an ongoing and renewed interest in energy consumption in manufacturing plants. Plant managers and engineers are looking beyond some of the more obvious starting points such as lighting to the machinery in plants, specifically the motors and systems packed […]
maxon motor launches configurable DC drives
The new maxon DCX program offers high power and can be configured and ordered completely online. On maxon’s microsite, you can find brushed DC motors, planetary gearheads and sensors and now in addition maxon has rolled out all new configuration software: DCX motors, GPX gearheads and ENX encoders can be configured and ordered online. “We […]
NEMA 23 Dampers from Lin Engineering
Are you in need of an effective yet simple way to reduce resonance and vibration in your system? Rear mounting dampers from Lin Engineering were designed to be a low cost and hassle free method to make this happen. These dampers are durable, long lasting, and can easily be mounted onto standard NEMA 23 step […]
Pack Expo 2012 Show Summary
Despite Hurricane Sandy’s best efforts, Pack Expo in Chicago carried on with healthy attendance the two days I was there (one of which was an extra unexpected day due to a cancelled flight.) The show draws thousands from all over the world and is the premiere event for packaging equipment and processing with over 1,800 […]
Siemens Acquires Kineo CAM, Motion and Path Planning Software Company
Continuing the trend of integrating the many aspects of design and manufacturing into one comprehensive solution, Siemens has recently acquired the French firm Kineo CAM, specializing in computer-aided motion software. This acquisition expands the company’s PLM software line by adding motion system design capabilities. Already, Kineo CAM provides some key components for Siemens’ PLM core […]
An IMTS 2012 Wrap Up
It’s hard to know where to even begin. Last week’s IMTS (International Manufacturing Technology Show) at Chicago’s McCormick Place had over 100,000 registrants and thousands of exhibitors, big and small, filling up each of McCormick Place’s four massive exhibition halls. Political rhetoric from a presidential election campaign season notwithstanding, all of the people I spoke with […]
igus High-flex Control Cables with 600V UL AWM Compliance
East Providence, R.I. – igus has significantly upgraded two of its top-selling cables designed for flexing applications on automated machinery. Chainflex® CF5 control cables and shielded CF6 cables now comply with 600-volt AWM styles. The new, improved cables are available immediately from stock and at the same price as before. By increasing the operating voltage […]
Expanded Line of DC Motors from Baldor
Fort Smith, Ark. – Baldor Electric Company now offers the widest variety of permanent magnet and wound field industrial DC motors in the world. Both IEC and NEMA frame motors are available from stock from 1/50 to 500 hp, and Baldor meets specific application needs with custom-designed motors up to 3000 hp. ABB and Baldor […]
How to select an ac drive: An engineer’s guide
A drive (or amplifier) provides electrical power to a motor by regulating the motor speed and torque in response to commands from the motion controller. Some drives (amplifiers) have the capability to perform individual positioning moves, commonly termed point-to-point or indexing commands. There are several key factors to consider when selecting an ac drive. For […]
How to Size and Select Cable for Motion Applications
Updated February 2020. || Selecting the right cable for an application starts with a few fundamental parameters. First, determine the application type. In industrial machinery, will the cable be stationary or will it be moving? Is the motion mainly flexing or is there torsional motion involved? Does the application call for both flexing and torsion? […]