Kübler introduces the latest generation of the Sendix absolute EtherCAT encoders with the shortest bus cycle time for EtherCAT currently available, with a position update every 62.5 μs. The new EtherCAT encoders from Kübler are faster than other devices available on the market. The shorter cycle time of the new Sendix absolute EtherCAT encoders allows […]
Industry News
Bonfiglioli Riduttori gets new planetary-track product line
Comer Industries recently transferred its electric wheel drive (electric track and wheel) and planetary track and wheel-drive product lines to Bonfiglioli Riduttori. The transfer of the two product lines doesn’t affect Comer Industries’ workforce, as the agreement does not involve the transfer of resources. For Bonfiglioli, this acquisition expand a range of planetary track and wheel drives and extends Bonfiglioli […]
Motion design trend: Belt drives get stronger, cleaner, faster
Advances have improved the performance of belts over the last few years. That’s good news for the $6 billion belt industry, expected to grow 7% this year, according to industry-research company IBISWorld. The increase is mostly thanks to an uptick in automotive, industrial and mining applications, with U.S. oil and gas exploration and production expanding […]
Leadscrews lead in 3D printing, manufacturing, and medical designs
Leadscrews are a staple of motion designs, driving axes on machines big and small. They usually sport higher ratings than comparable ballscrews thanks to more contact between the nut and screw load surfaces. Now, innovations in materials and helix geometry address old issues associated with leadscrew friction, bringing it down to better than 0.10 in […]
Human-machine interfaces (HMIs) get smart software and mobile access
Recent years have brought major advances in HMI technology—increasingly affordable multitouch screens, a shift from resistive displays to projected-capacitive displays, and displacement of proprietary design platforms by web-based HTML5 platforms. That’s according to Derrick Stacey, solutions engineer at B&R Industrial Automation. The spread of capacitive displays has expanded HMI use in industries needing bezel-free designs, […]
Looking back at some origins of gear customization
Updated January 2020 ⚙️ Power-transmission devices are increasingly customized, and gearsets and gearmotors are no exception. However, today’s custom and standard gear products aren’t mutually exclusive, according to Heinz Gert Hagedorn, who leads sales and development for planetary transmissions at IMS Gear. His company makes modular planetary transmissions and other modular drives based on parts […]
Growing trend: More application-specific clutches and brakes
Clutches and brakes are a mainstay in motion designs that need to stop, hold, or index loads. Especially over the last five years, a technology trend towards application-specific designs has quickened as several industries are pushing the performance envelope of stock components. So, we recently asked six industry experts for comments on this and other […]
Easy to implement gesture control in automation
With the swipe of a finger through the program: With a new generation of control units, Bosch Rexroth now brings the advantages of gesture control, which is familiar from smartphones and tablet PCs, to automation. The robust family of devices is designed for use in harsh production conditions and is available in different display sizes. […]
SupraMotion 3.0: Automation modules for motion in suspension
Superconductors are materials which below a certain temperature can “freeze” the field of a permanent magnet at a predefined distance and can thus hold it in suspension. The resulting air gap remains stable in any spatial position. By this means, objects can be stored contact-free without any control technology and be moved with minimal expenditure […]
Interview: Van den Avont on modern gear technology
In this exclusive interview with GAM Gear, Craig Van den Avont shares his views of modern gear technology. In preparation for a Motion Trends article about changes in the gear industry, I recently spoke with Craig Van den Avont, President of GAM Gear, about general advances that have changed the design process for engineers that use gearboxes. […]