Piezo actuators operate on the inverse piezoelectric effect: when voltage is applied, the actuator contracts or expands. But when the actuator is blocked from moving (by a load applied in the direction of travel), it generates a force. This relationship between displacement and force in piezo materials is an inverse relationship. In other words, the […]
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Zero-Max Crown right-angle drives include Class 10 spiral bevel gears lubricated for life
Lubricated for life with Beacon 325 premium grade grease, Zero-Max Crown drives feature heat treated AGMA Class 10 spiral bevel gears. This combination of bearing design and lubrication formulation ensures long-term, maintenance free operation for high performance, industrial applications. The drives feature long-life, precision hardened and ground ball bearings handling speeds up to 2000 rpm […]
Common challenges that wave springs address
Updated November 2018 || Springs are flexible mechanical components to store and release energy or apply and release forces on machine axes. Wave springs combine flat (non-coiled) bow springs (as their waves) with traditional compression-spring coil geometry. For the design’s compactness (as a high force-to-work height ratio) and other benefits, some motion systems have migrated […]
What are the benefits of an active front end (AFE) drive?
A variable frequency drive, or VFD, delivers power from the source — typically the utility — to a motor in three basic steps: A rectifier converts the AC power to DC A DC bus receives, smooths, and stores the power An inverter converts the DC power back into AC with the necessary frequency and voltage […]
What are wound field motors and where are they applied?
Brushed DC motors are generally available in two types, depending on the construction of the stator: permanent magnet or wound field. Both motor types use current and windings to produce a magnetic field in the rotor, but they differ in how the stator magnetic field is produced: via permanent magnets inside the stator or with […]
New Bodine compact planetary BLDC gearmotors for high torque
Bodine Electric Co. now sells 22B4-60P planetary gearmotors. These integral gearmotors combine Bodine’s high-performance type 22B brushless DC motor with the new 60P (60mm) planetary gearhead. It is suitable for applications that need higher torque than conventional helical/spur gearheads of a similar size can provide, and where a very low backlash gearhead isn’t required. Typical […]
Updated: Basics of compression springs for motion designs
Engineers incorporate compression springs in motion designs that need linear compressive forces and mechanical energy storage — designs such as pneumatic cylinders and push-button controls, for example. The most conventional compression spring is a round metallic wire coiled into a helical form. The most common compression spring, the straight metal coil spring, bends at the […]
Timken acquiring precision-drives maker Cone Drive
The Timken Company has reached an agreement to acquire Cone Drive, a leader in precision drives used in diverse markets including solar, automation, aerial platforms, and food and beverage. Cone Drive sales are expected to be slightly above $100 million for the full year 2018. “We are executing our strategy to profitably grow Timken’s power […]
Nippon Pulse acquires Arcus Performax motion-controller product line
Nippon Pulse America, Inc. (NPA) will now offer design engineers even more quality motion-control products with the acquisition of Arcus Technology’s Performax (PMX) motion controllers. This new box controller product line will allow NPA to better serve design engineers who prefer a more turnkey controller solution, or who choose to integrate PMX controllers into applications […]
WITTENSTEIN alpha CAD POINT smart catalog for gearbox configuration and selection
CAD POINT by WITTENSTEIN alpha helps engineers and motion control specialists access product information, data sheets, and CAD data in just a few clicks. This online smart catalog features the entire product portfolio for WITTENSTEIN gearboxes and actuators in conjunction with a database of more than 16,000 motors. CAD POINT makes it easy for users […]