We here at motioncontroltips.com are not immune to a little bit of end-of-year reflection. It’s an opportunity to do a reckoning of sorts and find out what you, our readers, liked most. So here is a short list of the top 5 most viewed posts published in 2018, starting with Number 5 and building our […]
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What’s the difference between electric and fiber-optic slip rings?
Design engineers identify the need for a slip ring in the very first stages of the design process — as usually there are no viable alternative solutions. Of course, while engineers know near the beginning of the design process whether they need a slip ring, the slip-ring design details are usually developed and finalized with […]
Electrical power and signals through a slip ring: Where do they go?
Slip rings — also called electric swivels, collector rings, and rotary electrical joints — are electromagnetic devices of electromechanical, fiber-optic, or even non-contacting inductance and capacitance subtypes that transmit power and data signals between a rotating machine segment and a stationary segment. Of course, power transmission is associated with higher voltage and higher current than […]
Can mechatronics engineering help alleviate the shortage of skilled manufacturing workers?
If you went to college in the 1990’s or earlier and were interested in engineering, you generally had eight or ten fields of study to choose from: — Mechanical Engineering — Aerospace Engineering — Electrical Engineering — Computer Science (often included in the Engineering department) — Civil Engineering — Industrial Engineering — Chemical Engineering — […]
maxon precision motors awarded top LEAP prize in Motion Control for Exoskeleton Joint Actuator
At the recent LEAP Awards dinner gala in Costa Mesa, Calif., maxon precision motors was awarded the trophy for top design in Motion Control — for its Exoskeleton Joint Actuator. The judges commented: “Excellent product in a ground breaking application. maxon has taken a leadership role by packaging products specifically for the exoskeleton market … By providing an […]
Gearbox service factor and service class explained
Sizing a gearbox (or gearmotor) for an industrial application typically begins with determining the appropriate service factor. In simple terms, the service factor is the ratio of the gearbox rated horsepower (or torque) to the application’s required horsepower (or torque). Service factors are defined by the American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA), based on the type […]
Omnify Software’s Empower PLM software wins LEAP Award in Industrial Automation category
Earlier this week at the LEAP Awards dinner gala in Costa Mesa, Calif., 11 winners were announced for the first annual awards competition recognizing excellence in engineering design. In the Industrial Automation category, Omnify Software’s Empower PLM Software won the top prize for its use in developing 6 River’s Robot Chuck. The judges for the […]
Sensors at heart of bionic robots from Festo
The Festo Bionic Learning Network has released it latest biomimicry innovations to support ongoing research in engineering, manufacturing, and materials science drawn from natural systems. Here are the 2018 additions to the Festo Bionic Learning Network: A transforming spider that rolls or creeps A robotic fish that autonomously maneuvers through acrylic water-filled tubing A semi-autonomous flying bat-like robot […]
The truth about VFDs and power factor
Power factor is essentially a measure of how effectively a piece of equipment (or an entire facility) uses electricity to produce useful work, such as heating, lighting, or motion. Electricity companies monitor power factor and often charge customers a penalty if their power factor falls below a specified threshold — typically 0.90 or higher. Fortunately, […]
CleanMove Standard conveyors now come with inner drive option
Now, belt and plastic modular-belt varieties of CleanMove Standard conveyors from mk North America are available with an inner drive. Conveyors with these drives can deliver speeds to 250 fpm and are suitable for horizontal, incline, and Z-shaped conveying applications. Conveyor inner-drive features The conveyor inner drive takes the form of an energy-efficient permanent-magnet drum […]