Last week at MD&M WEST 2015, I got to visit the Herrmann Ultrasonics booth. (Thank you to my esteemed colleague Neel Gleason for the reminder.) There at the booth, Christina Van De Walker and Udo Skarke, Plastics Division vice president, showed me an automated setup for welding toy elephants … … and showcasing how their welders can […]
Industry News
DTi seals and trim meet rigorous UL50E standard
Underwriters Labs (UL) recently confirmed that Seal-Fast Door Seals and Trim-Fast Edge Trim meet the stringent UL50E standard for EPDM gasketing materials. The Recognized Component UL50E designation for the seals and trim — from Device Technologies, Inc. (DTi) — is especially important to designers that need performance materials that comply with NEMA standards to protect critical equipment such as Telco switches, data […]
Electric slide actuates Cartesian robots, designer picks motor
PHD Plus Series ESFX electric linear-actuator slides are made for fast moves under heavy loads and moments. The saddle-type slides (as with other electric and pneumatic setups) combine to create myriad systems, including Cartesian robots. The slides also let design engineers pick their own motors and controls, making this linear slide the optimal solution for demanding automation tasks. Other benefits of the electric […]
The push and pull of rare-earth magnets
Much of the world’s sophisticated high-tech electronic products would not be possible without the use of so-called rare-earth materials. In the industrial world, modern, high-power electric motors rely on powerful magnetic materials for their power density edge. Traditionally, these motors have incorporated rare-earth magnets such as neodymium iron boron (NdFeB). Recently, prices of rare-earth materials […]
New flange couplings more secure than standard press fits
Ringfeder-brand RfN 5571-series flange couplings for heavy industry. The flange couplings (from Ringfeder Power Transmission) are simpler to install and have higher torque capacity than standard press fits. Equipped with Ringfeder shrink discs, the flange couplings in this new series eliminate the need for additional components such as keyways or shims. Installers don’t need to heat and cool […]
Schaeffler Group North America expansion
A $163.8 million expansion is underway at three Schaeffler Group USA manufacturing facilities in South Carolina. The manufacturer makes precision products for machines, equipment, and vehicles for myriad industries — including direct-drive and linear systems, roller-bearings, plain bearings, and other precision components for gearboxes and automotive applications. The new investment in South Carolina will mean […]
Bell-Everman earns ISO 9001:2008 certification
Bell-Everman Inc. announced that it has received ISO 9001:2008 certification for the design, manufacture and support of its precision motion stages and customized embedded motion subsystems. Bell-Everman has long supplied customers in the biomedical, semiconductor, defense, packaging and advanced manufacturing sectors. So the company has had rigorous quality control systems in place since its inception […]
Bonfiglioli celebrates new gearbox assembly line in Kentucky
Bonfiglioli USA executives recently celebrated the company’s new assembly line for planetary gearboxes with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event was held December 4, 2014 at the North America headquarters in Hebron, Ky, where the assembly line is located. In attendance were Sonia Bonfiglioli, president and CEO of Bonfiglioli Riduttori, Fausto Carboni, general manager for the […]
Tiny voice-coil actuators stay cool in tight spaces
A compact LAH04-10-000A linear voice-coil actuator (VCA) from BEI Kimco Magnetics uses moving-magnet operation to deliver sort but powerful stroke lengths. With this new model, the line includes actuators from 0.375 to 2.4-in. (outside diameter) in myriad stroke lengths, peak force, and custom features. The 0.375-in.diameter actuators deliver force to 0.5 lb … and with a […]
EMERF recognizes Dan Jones with Lifetime Achievement Award
The Electric Motor Education and Research Foundation (EMERF), part of SMMA – The Motor & Motion Association, recently recognized Daniel B. Jones, Incremotion Associates Inc., with their Outstanding Contributions to the Electric Machines Industry award. John Calico, Senior Research Engineer, Moog Components Group, and EMERF President, presented the award at a dinner on Wednesday November […]
