Soon, a new “motion insights and diagnostics” service from Swiss precision-drive specialist maxon called maxon MIND will help machine builders and plant engineers add condition monitoring and diagnostics capabilities to their equipment. Electric motors are often the best sensor in a machine. After all, the motor signals a controller already reads reflect the condition of […]
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Zero-Max adds ISO flange adaptor to CD Power-Series couplings
Zero-Max has added an ISO flange adaptor to its CD Power-Series flexible shaft couplings. The couplings are also available with several opposing hub configurations for use with precision gear reducers, motors, actuators and robotic equipment. Direct connection to precision gear reducers The ISO adaptor mount flange is compatible with ISO 9409-1 bolt patterns used on […]
MotionTech enters the U.S. automation and packaging market
MotionTech, a European automation company, has announced its entry into the United States market. The company will offer its automation and packaging technology to customers in North America. MotionTech has appointed Kristian Hulgard as executive sales director for the U.S. market, effective immediately. Hulgard has experience establishing and expanding commercial operations in the automation industry. […]
The rise of cabinet-free discrete automation
Taking the approaches of older distributed (decentralized) drive setups are cabinet-free drives. Joaquin Ocampo · Product manager | Bosch Rexroth Manufacturers looking to optimize operations are increasingly leveraging control technologies that can identify and address weaknesses. These emphasize digitalized connectivity for so-called digital-transformation (DX) initiatives that yield greater insights through data. But motors and drives […]
Bogen Magnetics encoder technologies at upcoming Automate Show
Updated June 15, 2026: Bogen Magnetics supplies magnetic-based encoders for industrial automation applications. At last year’s Automate Show, we chatted with engineering and sales manager Darrell Davey at the Bogen booth. He detailed how Bogen encoders are often integrated into robotics and medical applications for precise and reliable position feedback. Many of the encoder components […]
Royal Opera House gets a new cable-management system
A recent upgrade to the Royal Opera House included customized plastic cable management to support modern LED lighting. Live theater performances depend on engineering, including those at London’s Royal Ballet and Opera. For example, behind each performance is a technical ecosystem designed to move heavy overhead lighting trusses safely and silently. Following 25 years of […]
Interactive 3D catalog makes Concentric Maxi Torque bushings and pulleys easier to specify and procure
U.S. manufacturer of power transmission and motion control components Custom Machine & Tool Co. now offers design engineers an interactive 3D catalog featuring Concentric Maxi Torque keyless bushings and precision timing pulleys. The catalog was built with eCATALOG 3Dfindit by CADENAS — a digital-parts catalog platform that gives 3D CAD and engineering data to engineers, […]
Back to basics: The motion-system design process
In this back-to-basics primer, we outline the essential elements of an automated motion system … whether it’s a piece of robotics or machine design dedicated to a specific routine. All motion systems are electric-motor-driven designs built around two kinds of components: Mechanical power-transmission components — including gears and gearsets, kinematic linkages, belt and pulley sets, […]
PSA: Self-locking gearmotors aren’t brakes
Fractional-horsepower gearmotors must satisfy unique application requirements. In some cases, OEM design engineers specify gearmotors containing worm gearing to leverage the self-locking nature of this gear type. However, the locking characteristic of worm gears is often misunderstood and misapplied. Some engineers think, “If I get a self-locking gearbox, when I cut power, the axis […]
Servomotors bring realtime motion control to parallel-kinematics platform
To showcase the performance of a line of servomotors, a parallel platform was recently built to control the motion of a ping-pong ball in realtime. Complementing the synchronized servo actuation are visual feedback and realtime kinematic computation. Charan Bhamra · Mechatronics engineer | Monolithic Power Systems A new three-axis parallel platform demonstrates the performance advantages […]
