Oriental Motor now sells BLE2 Series brushless motor-driver sets for high performing and energy-efficient speed control. The BLE2 Series replaces the widely used Oriental Motor BLE Series motion offerings … and offers enhanced advantages of brushless-motor operation. In fact, the BLE2 Series brushless motor-driver offerings feature an all-new compact (and high-power and efficient) brushless dc […]
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Self-powered hub-wheel drive combines wheel, motor, gearbox, and brake: Now in expanded production
ABM Drives Suzhou Co. Ltd. recently doubled production in China of its self-powered hub-wheel drive. Offered as a 0.6-kW version, this powered hub wheel drive package includes the wheel with tire, ac motor, gearbox and brake. Typical applications include moving 1,000 to 5,000 pounds at speeds of 1.5 to 2.5 mph. The max wheel diameter […]
7 linear motion principles that electrical engineers should know
Electrical and controls engineers are normally tasked with selecting and integrating the electronic components that go into a motion control system, such as motors, drives, controls, feedback devices, and HMIs. In doing so, their primary concerns tend to be on making the various components communicate with each other, working through complex equations for drive tuning, […]
How notch filters and low-pass filters reduce resonance in servo systems
Servo systems experience resonance due to compliance or backlash in mechanical components such as gearboxes, screw drives, and couplings. Resonance reduces system performance, can cause audible noise, and in extreme cases can even damage hardware. Servo tuning is the process of setting controller gains to optimize servo performance, but as gains are increased, resonances typically […]
Networking for motion: Update on five realtime Ethernet-based protocols
Industrial communication protocols — including traditional fieldbuses and permutations based on Industrial Ethernet — are systems of rules for messaging between automation components. Variations abound, and there’s no dominant setup with which all devices work. What is clear is that communications offering more connectivity than current-loop (4-to-20-mA) analog communications continue proliferation into even once-simple motion […]
Human-machine interfaces (HMIs): Hardware, software, and new modes of connectivity
Gone are the days of HMIs merely consolidating switches, pushbuttons, meters, and operator warning lights. Today’s HMIs now control machines and even whole production lines with functions to analyze and optimize operations. Some serve as the processor for I/O signals providing feedback on speeds, temperatures, torque, tension, and more to optimize processes. Here, HMIs provide […]
What limits wave-spring working height and axial force?
Wave springs are core to myriad gear, actuator, clutch, and consumer-grade motion assemblies. They are load bearing — included in designs to address play or compensate for dimensional variations. Wave springs apply load in axially — so are specified by working height (and other parameters). All springs are either for applying load in tension, compression, […]
What are common modes of industrial clutch and brake engagement?
Key parameters dictate which clutches and brakes are suitable for a given application: The first parameter is the mode of motion and whether the axis needs a brake or clutch. Clutches generally bridge moving machine sections to shape relative motion, while brakes’ main job is to stop and hold rotating elements. Several design variations exist, […]
HEIDENHAIN’s magnetic spindle encoder now with functional safety
HEIDENHAIN CORPORATION has made improvements to its ERM 2200 and 2400 series of magnetic modular angle encoders with Functional Safety in mind. The ERM series has long been used by machine manufacturers around the world In keeping with the growing trend requiring “Functionally Safe” axes (an EU standard) on machines, HEIDENHAIN has improved its ERM […]
Four laws of electromagnetism that you should know
The operation of electric motors is governed by various laws of electricity and magnetism, including Faraday’s law of induction, Ampère’s circuital law, Lenz’ law, and the Lorentz force. The first two – Faraday’s law and Ampère’s circuital law – are included in Maxwell’s equations. Together with Lenz’ law and the Lorentz force, these principles form […]