Fortive Corp. — a 2016 spinoff of Danaher — has agreed to combine four operating companies from its Automation & Specialty platform (A&S platform) with Altra Industrial Motion Corp. to form a global leader in the power transmission and motion control market. The A&S business includes the market-leading brands of Kollmorgen, Thomson, Portescap, and Jacobs […]
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What are the signs of gearbox misalignment?
Gearbox misalignment is widely recognized as the underlying cause for the majority of gearbox repairs and failures. It can degrade machine performance, reduce mean time between repair (MTBR), and decrease the operating life of the gearbox, motor, and driven equipment. Types and causes of gearbox misalignment Proper alignment between the shaft of a gearbox and […]
Five conveyor trends — including new materials, drives, and pallet-carrying variations
By Kate Nadeau | mk North America With all of the recent talk about automation and the factory of the future, it’s easy to forget the workhorse of nearly every processing or manufacturing plant — the conveyor. As technologies develop and factories get leaner and smarter, so does the conveyor. Big, bulky conveyors with oversized […]
New connectivity from cables and connectors for motion designs
Easy connections to sensors, field devices, and other automation solutions are becoming the norm in motion control — that’s according to Brian O’Connor, director of product and market development at Aerotech. In fact, increasing affordability of electronics (and subsequent rise of IIoT) have spurred all branches of industrial automation to more networking. But even basic […]
Connectivity and IoT expand control design functionality (a Motion Trends report)
A recent survey of industry experts had many underscore that connectivity in manufacturing is nothing new … bu there are significant new developments in IIoT. MEET THE CONNECTIVITY and IoT EXPERTS … O’Connor • Aerotech: Connectivity in manufacturing is not a new idea — it’s been around for decades — but what is new in […]
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% […]
Gears for electric motors: New customization for helical, planetary, and other gearing options
Power transmission through gearsets is a mainstay of motion control, as gears allow full use of electric-motor capabilities. Recent years have brought gear innovations with new materials; custom gear variations; and all-new applications for helical, planetary, and strain-wave gearing. We asked several industry experts to share their thoughts these trends and the proliferation of OEM […]
Distributor insight: Conversation with Warren Osak on motion-control trends
In a recent phone interview, we got to chat with Warren Osak, CEO of Toronto-based Electromate Inc. — a distributor founded in 1986 that focuses on electromechanical motion control. More specifically, Osak’s company sells primarily servo systems and stepper systems — often for demanding or challenging applications requiring high precision, accuracy, and bi-directional repeatability. Electromate […]
Electric motors: Trends in stepper, battery-powered, and integrated motion designs
Updated November 2019 ⚙️ From induction motors in electric vehicles to tiny coreless dc motors in drug-delivery equipment, electric motors continue to proliferate. Last year we saw consumer products, implantable medical devices, and automation of previously manual tasks spur the most innovation in motor design and use. This year those trends continue — and now […]
Three gearbox selection tools available online
Selecting a gearbox goes beyond just determining the required speed and torque output. Duty cycle, radial and axial loads, inertia, and environment all play a factor. Not to mention the gearbox type (inline, right angle), precision level, and service factor. Properly sizing and selecting a gearbox requires consideration of all these criteria, but with numerous […]