Gears are often used to establish a fixed speed relationship between a motor and a drive system (such as a ball screw, rack and pinion, or belt and pulley system). For example, when a belt and pulley system is connected to a motor through a 3:1 gearbox, each full rotation of the motor causes the […]
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Shock and vibration mitigation by design not by mistake
Design engineers and equipment operators often view shock absorbers and isolators as nonessential fixit elements to add to original equipment only if it shows vibration or shock problems. Here we debunk this and other common misconceptions. By Christopher Kudla, Product Manager | ITT Enidine Engineering design is always evolving. With its progress comes a need to […]
PTDA welcomes seven new members
The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA), the leading association for the industrial power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) distribution channel, recently welcomed seven new member companies. PTDA Distributor Members Central Chain & Transmission, Co. (Yakima, Wash.) is a distributor of adjustable speed drives, bearings, belt & chain drives, conveyors & material handling components, shaft couplings, hydraulic & […]
Continental introduces Synchrochain carbon belts at 2016 PTDA summit
Continental has introduced at the Power Transmission Distributor’s Association (PTDA) Summit, Conti Synchrochain Carbon power transmission belts for a variety of applications and industries. “Conti Synchrochain Carbon is the strongest synchronous belt that Continental offers,” said Brent Holstine, product specialist, power transmission products. “It uses ultra high strength polyurethane and carbon cord to deliver more […]
POSITAL precision magnetic encoders now available with CANopen communications interface
POSITAL’s IXARC high-precision magnetic absolute rotary encoders are now available with CANopen interfaces. These new interface option is in addition to the previously announced SSI, EtherNet/IP, EtherCat, Powerlink, Profbus DP and Profinet interfaces. Together, this range of interface choices makes the rugged and compact IXARC encoders one of the most versatile devices of its type […]
Opto 22 announces Node-RED on groov IIoT application development appliance at IoT Solutions World Congress @IOTSWC
Industrial automation manufacturer and Internet of Things application toolset provider Opto 22 announces immediate availability of the Node-RED development environment running on the groov Box industrial appliance, significantly decreasing IIoT application development time and complexity. Node-RED makes it easier to prototype, develop, and deploy applications for connecting physical assets to cloud applications and IT systems. […]
FAQ: Why are starters used with DC motors?
Starters are used to protect DC motors from damage that can be caused by very high current and torque during startup. They do this by providing external resistance to the motor, which is connected in series to the motor’s armature winding and restricts the current to an acceptable level. To see why DC motors experience high […]
What is PIV servo control?
What is PIV servo control? It typically involves two components: feedforward control, which adds auxiliary velocity and (in some cases) acceleration signals to the servo loop in order to improve command tracking, and either PID or PIV control, which works to maximize the system’s disturbance rejection. The distinction between PID and PIV control is that […]
KB Electronics introduces the newest members of its KBAC Hybrid Drive family
KB Electronics Inc., a manufacturer of AC and DC Drives, now offers the newest members of its popular line of Hybrid Drives — Models KBAC-217 (5 HP) KBAC-416 (10 HP). Hybrid motor drive By definition, a hybrid is the merging of two technologies. These drives combine the digital technology of the microprocessor with an easy to use analog interface. […]
Sorry, but technology won’t save us
This piece was published in Design World’s 10th Anniversary special issue for October 2016. Is technology our friend or foe? Is it here to save us or to help finish us off? The questions seem urgent given that there is growing anxiety over some recent directions in technological development, particularly the rise of automation. Automation, […]