Many industrial applications require linear motion during their operating sequence. One of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to accomplish this is with a pneumatic actuator, often referred to as an air cylinder. Actuators are typically mechanical devices that take energy and convert it into some kind of motion. That motion can be in any […]
Brakes and clutches: Top trends in IoT — and uses on ac-motor conveyors and servodesigns
Clutches and brakes work in motion systems to stop or hold or index axes — but must do so to application specifications. No wonder then that the trend in this technology is away strictly stock parts. According to Lesli Riehemann, president at Mach III Clutch Inc., customized brakes and clutches are now 75 to 80% […]
Lubrication for industrial design: A tutorial
In any system with moving parts, lubrication is essential. Lubrication functions to reduce friction, which dissipates heat and protects components from corrosion and wear. Lubricants are typically classified as either one of two kinds; oils or greases. Oil-based lubricants can be made from petroleum sources or newer synthetic oils. Greases have an oil base to […]
Networking for motion: Update on five realtime Ethernet-based protocols
Industrial communication protocols — including traditional fieldbuses and permutations based on Industrial Ethernet — are systems of rules for messaging between automation components. Variations abound, and there’s no dominant setup with which all devices work. What is clear is that communications offering more connectivity than current-loop (4-to-20-mA) analog communications continue proliferation into even once-simple motion […]
What limits wave-spring working height and axial force?
Wave springs are core to myriad gear, actuator, clutch, and consumer-grade motion assemblies. They are load bearing — included in designs to address play or compensate for dimensional variations. Wave springs apply load in axially — so are specified by working height (and other parameters). All springs are either for applying load in tension, compression, […]
Current state of programmable automation controllers (PACs) for motion
Programmable automation controllers (PACs) excel in commanding complex automation setups that involve PC-based and HMI functions as well as process control (largely because of the way they handle I/O). PACs are also increasingly common in motion applications for machining or handling discrete product thanks to the flexibility and interoperability they offer machine designs. Today’s PACs […]
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 […]
Roller chain: Basics and sizing for power-transmission and conveying
Updated February 2018. || Engineers have used chains in motion systems for more than a century. They are versatile and reliable components to drive machinery and convey products. Now, advances in precision and technology let designers use chains in more applications than ever. Remote installations benefit from long-life chain that requires no lubrication, for example. […]
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? […]
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