Slip rings excel in myriad designs that include a rotating base or platform — including industrial equipment such as index tables, winders, and automated welders. Wind turbines are another key application — as are medical applications for MRI and CT imaging. Slip rings also work at the pivot point of closed-circuit security cameras. Slip rings […]
FAQs + basics
What’s the difference between electric and fiber-optic slip rings?
Design engineers identify the need for a slip ring in the very first stages of the design process — as usually there are no viable alternative solutions. Of course, while engineers know near the beginning of the design process whether they need a slip ring, the slip-ring design details are usually developed and finalized with […]
Can mechatronics engineering help alleviate the shortage of skilled manufacturing workers?
If you went to college in the 1990’s or earlier and were interested in engineering, you generally had eight or ten fields of study to choose from: — Mechanical Engineering — Aerospace Engineering — Electrical Engineering — Computer Science (often included in the Engineering department) — Civil Engineering — Industrial Engineering — Chemical Engineering — […]
Gearbox service factor and service class explained
Sizing a gearbox (or gearmotor) for an industrial application typically begins with determining the appropriate service factor. In simple terms, the service factor is the ratio of the gearbox rated horsepower (or torque) to the application’s required horsepower (or torque). Service factors are defined by the American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA), based on the type […]
Final considerations for optimal gear reducer selection
This is the last in a multi-part series on gear reducers. In this last part we look at some additional considerations for selecting the optimal gear reducer. (Click for Part 1 and Part 2.) The information here is supplied by Bodine Electric Company. Aside from having the required technical specifications for selecting the right gear […]
Software tools streamline cable design, management
A critical but sometimes overlooked component, cables come in a variety of customized versions to meet specific application requirements. Cable properties such as the number of solid conductors or wire strands for transmitting power to motors as well as feedback to and from controllers and sensors are an example of what designers must consider when […]
Sensors at heart of bionic robots from Festo
The Festo Bionic Learning Network has released it latest biomimicry innovations to support ongoing research in engineering, manufacturing, and materials science drawn from natural systems. Here are the 2018 additions to the Festo Bionic Learning Network: A transforming spider that rolls or creeps A robotic fish that autonomously maneuvers through acrylic water-filled tubing A semi-autonomous flying bat-like robot […]
The truth about VFDs and power factor
Power factor is essentially a measure of how effectively a piece of equipment (or an entire facility) uses electricity to produce useful work, such as heating, lighting, or motion. Electricity companies monitor power factor and often charge customers a penalty if their power factor falls below a specified threshold — typically 0.90 or higher. Fortunately, […]
Hygienic, stainless gearmotor designs improve fish-processing plant
Processing fresh fish necessitates a hygienic environment with regular washdowns, followed by frigid temperatures for freezing final products. That’s why machinery in such settings must be extremely rugged — and why one fish supplier has used motors from Bauer Gear Motor for the last few years. Van Der Lee Seafish processes approximately 200 tons of […]
Medical applications benefit from precision encoders
Encoders are essential to accurate positioning in most motion systems, particularly where high precision is most needed. For instance, applications like semiconductor manufacturing with nanometer precision, or medical applications where there is virtually no room for error, because that could mean the difference between life and death. Designers of medical equipment are able to use […]