The main purpose of a motor is to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. But when the motor’s synchronous speed is less than the rotor speed, the motor acts like a generator and converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. This energy is typically fed back into capacitors in the DC bus, but the bus can […]
Featured
NORD Large Industrial Gearbox Assembly now in Wisconsin
NORD Gear Corporation in now assembling our line of MAXXDRIVE large industrial gear drives in its Waunakee, WI plant. With a building expansion recently complete NORD has additional space to allow for assembly, testing and service of the large industrial gearboxes. Design and engineering staff trained specifically on the MAXXDRIVE product line work out of […]
Contactless Hall-effect feedback part of move towards small, rugged design
Recently we asked Jose Luis Macia, program manager at Piher Sensors & Controls of Meggitt, about some trends in motion engineering design. Here’s what he had to say. Eitel • Design World: What industries are spurring changes in today’s motion components? Macia • Piher: We see increased demand for contactless Hall-effect rotary sensors in industries having […]
FAQ: When are closed-loop and open-loop vector control useful?
AC drives have historically been controlled by a scalar method known as volts per hertz (V/Hz), in which the drive maintains a constant voltage-to-frequency ratio in order to maintain stable torque production. However, the V/Hz control scheme doesn’t allow tight speed regulation and is limited in its ability to produce torque at low speeds. Vector […]
Leine & Linde adds speed monitoring to encoder
The Leine & Linde 1000 series rotary encoder with speed monitoring capabilities is used in applications where secure speed feedback is critical in order to protect motors, machinery or operators from risk of failure. This is especially useful on heavy moving machinery such as hoists, lifts, cranes and mining equipment, to name a few. Leine […]
Minimizing stepper motor vibration with affordable technology
By Kazuki Into, Circuit Development Manager • Oriental Motor USA Corp. || Because stepper motors run and then stop at each step angle, they deliver high-accuracy position control. But the way they incrementally advance causes vibration and noise. Now, some drivers use advanced electronics to track and control current into motors as a way to achieve smooth […]
Select the right machine controller for your application
by Don Pham, Product Manager, IDEC Picking the right type of machine controller will minimize costs and complexity, while still providing the performance required for the application. Many different controller options are available for machine automation, giving you the opportunity to select a controller closely matched to the application. All those choices can cause confusion. […]
FAQ: What is V/Hz control mode for AC drives?
AC motors are commonly paired with variable frequency drives (VFDs), which control motor speed by regulating the frequency of the supplied voltage. Depending on the application and level of speed regulation required, VFDs can be controlled by either scalar or vector methods. The most common type of VFD control is a scalar method referred to as volts […]
Motion controllers help planes take precision aerial photos of disasters
Quick response to catastrophes such as floods and fires is critical, but disaster sites are often inaccessible and unsafe for inspectors and adjusters who come after first responders. Now Pictometry, an EagleView company, collects and supplies ultra-clear aerial photography to let insurance carriers, restoration companies, utilities, and contractors identify safe-access points, areas of total loss, […]
New electromagnetic clutch and brake troubleshooting video
Ogura has created a comprehensive troubleshooting video for electromagnetic clutches and brakes. This new video covers the most common failures that can occur with electromagnetic clutches and brakes and shows the possible causes and potential solutions. The new video covers industrial and mobile products. It is segmented into the three main issues that customers may […]