Sheet-metal workcells can deliver higher-quality parts in greater quantities than traditional builds when designed with centralized PC-based control and EtherCAT connectivity. That’s especially true of deep-drawing press applications (shown below) where modular hardware and software from Beckhoff maximize throughput and minimize tolerances. To review, deep drawing is the process by which sheet metal is placed […]
FAQs + basics
How to select gear ratio for a gear reducer?
This is the first of a multi-part series on gear reducers. In this first part we look at selecting the proper gear ratio for a gear reducer. The information here is supplied by Bodine Electric Company. Gear reducers are an essential part of mechanical power transmission systems, being used for speed and torque conversion. Selecting […]
What do IP ratings really mean, and how do they differ from NEMA ratings?
Electrical enclosures, such as those for motors, sensors, and HMIs, are often given what is known as an IP rating, consisting of the two letters, “IP,” followed by two numeric digits — IP65, for example. This IP rating indicates the amount of protection the enclosure provides against the ingress of solid particles and liquids. Unlike […]
What are precision-link conveyors? Summary of one type of transfer system
Precision-link conveyors index components with high accuracy, speed, and quality to give manufacturers a way to make assemble, mark, weld, and manufacturing operations more efficient. Conveyor designs abound, and the last decade has brought more use of application-specific offerings — especially for the subcategory that industry calls transfer systems. One such conveyor is the precision-link […]
What is an LVDT (linear variable differential transformer)?
A linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) is an absolute measuring device that converts linear displacement into an electrical signal through the principle of mutual induction. Its design and operation are relatively simple, providing extremely high resolution in a device suitable for a wide range of applications and environments. The main components of an LVDT are […]
Programmable encoder saves a tradeshow demo for a robotic-gripper manufacturer
Just before the recent Pack Expo 2018 in Chicago, Soft Robotics Inc., manufacturer of soft robotic gripping and automation solutions, had a brand-new show-demonstration workcell go down. That prompted one of the company’s engineers to reach out to Encoder Products Co. exhibiting in another McCormick Place hall to get the demo working again. “We had […]
What are chain-on-edge conveyors and where are they used?
Conveyors are the backbone of many factories, moving parts and materials through assembly or processing stations via chains, rollers, belts, or pallets. Most conveyor designs hold the part stationary, in a given orientation, as it moves down the line. And in many processes, maintaining a fixed orientation is important — when a part is being […]
What is meant by the term General Motion Control?
There are numerous interpretations of what the motion control market entails in terms of products included and industries served, but there are some commonalities among the various definitions. First, a motion control system includes at least three basic components — a motor, a drive, and a controller. Second, motion control systems are primarily used in discrete […]
What are coreless DC motors?
A typical brushed DC motor consists of an outer stator, typically made of either a permanent magnet or electromagnetic windings, and an inner rotor made of iron laminations with coil windings. A segmented commutator and brushes control the sequence in which the rotor windings are energized, to produce continuous rotation. Coreless DC motors do away […]
What are leading methods for VFD control of AC motors?
AC motors are often used in equipment that runs at constant speed regardless of load, such as fans, pumps, and conveyors. But when speed control is required, an AC motor is paired with a variable frequency drive (VFD), which regulates the motor’s speed by using one of two control methods — scalar control or vector […]