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FAQs + basics

What are radial and axial runout and how do they affect rotary tables and stages?

March 8, 2021 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

rotary actuator sizing

Runout is a dimensional specification that defines error in the motion of a surface as it moves relative to a datum. The official geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) definition of runout applies to the variation of a circular feature — such as a shaft or spindle — as it rotates over 360 degrees, although the term […]

Filed Under: FAQs + basics, Featured, Rotary Tables

How to calculate required input power for a gearmotor

February 26, 2021 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

gearmotor input power

The first place to start when sizing a gearmotor is to determine the required output torque and speed. But once torque and speed are defined, you’ll also want to know the required input power for the motor — particularly if the gearmotor uses an AC induction motor, where the power rating (typically given in horsepower) […]

Filed Under: FAQs + basics, Featured, Gearmotors

What is AS-I Safety and what are its benefits for motion systems?

February 19, 2021 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

When sensors, actuators, and other lower-level components are used in a functional safety capacity, AS-Interface Safety at Work offers a simple, efficient, bus network for monitoring these safety devices — alongside standard, non-safety devices — on the AS-Interface cable. Recall that actuator-sensor interface (AS-Interface, or simply AS-I) is a master-slave bus that operates at the […]

Filed Under: FAQs + basics, Featured, Fieldbuses, Networking + IoT

How to calculate crossed roller bearing life (with various load types)

February 11, 2021 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

crossed roller bearing

A crossed roller bearing is a type of rotary bearing that uses cylindrical rollers arranged in a crisscross pattern, with each roller oriented at a 90 degree angle relative to the one adjacent to it. This arrangement allows crossed roller bearings to withstand radial, axial, and moment loads, so they can often replace dual-bearing arrangements, for […]

Filed Under: Bearings, FAQs + basics, Featured, Rotary Tables

What are the key parameters to consider when sizing and selecting a rotary actuator?

February 5, 2021 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

Rotary actuators — and their counterparts, rotary stages and rotary indexing tables — are designed to move loads radially with high positioning accuracy. Similar to linear actuators, sizing a rotary actuator requires evaluating parameters such as torque, speed, and inertia, as well as ensuring the actuator can meet the application requirements for positioning the load, such […]

Filed Under: FAQs + basics, Featured, Rotary Tables

What is field weakening and how does it affect servo motor performance?

January 28, 2021 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

Although servo systems can very precisely control motor speed, position, and torque, in some applications, the motor may not be able to reach the commanded velocity due to limits in the available bus (supply) voltage from the drive. But advanced servo drives offer a technique referred to as field weakening, which alters the motor’s torque-speed […]

Filed Under: AC Motors, FAQs + basics, Featured, Servo Drives, Servo Motors

What is friction compensation in servo control?

January 19, 2021 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

Friction, which is the resistance to relative motion between two bodies, occurs in all sliding and rolling motions. In components that use lubrication to separate rolling or sliding surfaces — such as bearings and gears — there are typically two types of friction: static friction and dynamic friction. Static friction — also referred to as “stiction” […]

Filed Under: FAQs + basics, Featured, Servo Drives, Servo Motors, Software

What is dual-loop control for servo systems and when is it used?

January 15, 2021 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

In servo-driven systems, feedback for position, velocity, and/or torque control is typically provided by a rotary encoder or resolver mounted to the motor. But mechanical components and connections in the drivetrain — such as gearboxes, ball screws, and couplings — are not perfectly rigid and introduce backlash, compliance, and windup into the system. This lack […]

Filed Under: Controls, Encoders, FAQs + basics, Featured, Servo Motors

What are rotary actuators and how do they differ from other rotary tables?

January 11, 2021 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

When we think about actuators, we typically think about linear actuators — devices that move loads in a straight line, driven by a screw, belt, or other mechanical power transmission device. But there also exists a class of actuators that provide rotary motion for positioning a load radially around a fixed axis. While these rotary […]

Filed Under: FAQs + basics, Featured, Rotary Tables

What does motor insulation class specify and why is it important?

January 4, 2021 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

Any time current flows through a wire — such as the windings in a motor — resistance in the wire, as well as other losses, cause heat to be generated. This heat will eventually transfer to other parts of the motor, causing them to degrade over time. One of the key components affected by this […]

Filed Under: AC Motors, FAQs + basics, Featured, Gearmotors, Motors

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