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. […]
Industry News
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. […]
Intelligent amplifier works as a servo-drive/controller
Parker’s Electromechanical Automation Division now sells Intelligent Parker Amplifiers or IPAs—1.5-axis servo-drive/controller combinations based on the ACR control platform. Available in two power levels—400W and 1,500W—the IPA can drive myriad rotary and linear motors and accepts feedback from industry-standard protocols. A dual-port Ethernet interface lets users connect several machine controls; Ethernet implementation is suitable for HMI, PC, and PLC-based applications. The IPA supports […]
Now get motorized linear rail at 24-hour online store
Now, engineers can buy three new sizes of BGS motorized linear rail on a 24-hour Express Store. These off-the-shelf motion-control components, from Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions of AMETEK Precision Motion Control, are suitable for prototype work. There are a total of 24 different products now in stock in myriad motor sizes, rail sizes, and stroke lengths […]
Saw it at MD&M: Functional integration in ultrasonic welding
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 […]
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 […]
