Selecting the right roller chains for an application is an involved process. The information given here is meant to serve as a starting point, an orientation to the main points of emphasis in the selection process. There are two basic ways to select a roller chain, starting from two different pieces of information. One method […]
Mechanical PT
How to size and select belts and pulleys: An Engineer’s Guide
Updated May 2016 || Industrial belt drives consist of rubber belts that wrap around drive pulleys, in turn driven by electric motors. In a typical setup, the belt also wraps around one or more idler pulleys that keep the belt taut and on track. More after the jump. The main reasons that engineers pick drives […]
How to Select a Gearmotor in Four Simple Steps
Updated May 2015. || Consider key design parameters when selecting a gearmotor for a motion control application. Step One: As the motor or gearmotor selection process begins, first gather the relevant technical and commercial requirements. This first step is often overlooked, but it’s a critical component in the design process. The gathered information will then be used […]
What are Wave Springs for Motion Designs? Technical Summary
Updated November 2018 by Lisa Eitel || A wave spring is a compression spring made of coiled flat wire with waves added along the coils to give it a spring effect. They can be used in place of conventional round-wire springs in applications that need tight load deflection. Summary of wave-spring types There are almost as […]
How to size and select bellows couplings for motion applications
Electrodeposited bellows couplings are commonly used in motion-control applications requiring precision but also having shaft misalignment. If your application fits this description, it’s key to understand the parameters that dictate the optimum bellows coupling for a given axis. Here are a few of the key considerations for selecting a bellows coupling. 1. Torque Determine the […]
How to select rotary bearings: A design engineering guide
Rolling bearings in rotating machinery support shaft loads, reduce friction with rolling elements, and provide shaft location and system rigidity. Whether a bearing will be suitable for an application will hinge, in part, on the particular application requirements for the bearing and the bearing’s design features and associated capabilities. When specifying bearings, designers must consider […]
SKF Solution Factory Opens in Cleveland, OH
SKF opened the SKF Solution Factory in the Cleveland, OH area, designed to equip customers with value-added solutions and industry knowledge. The SKF Solution Factory is a way to provide customers with the resources they need to meet machinery performance and operating efficiency goals. The SKF Solution Factory in Cleveland provides access to SKF’s […]
Kaydon’s Reali-Slim Bearings on a mission to Mars
The one-ton Curiosity rover that landed on Mars on August 6 is equipped with five pairs of Reali-Slim thin section bearings from Kaydon Bearings (www.kaydonbearings.com). The duplexed bearings help the rover save weight and space in two areas — supporting the steering actuators in its wheels and preparing rock samples for analysis. Designed, developed and […]
TURCK rotary single axis inclinometer offers extended application flexibility
TURCK (www.turck.com) has expanded its portfolio of dual axis CANopen inclinometers for angular tilt detection with the addition of the latest rotary single axis inclinometer. Featuring up to 360 degrees of monitoring range, the single axis inclinometer’s extended application flexibility enables operators to conveniently monitor mechanical arms, including tensioners or moving components. CANopen communication makes […]
PITTMAN and Haydon Kerk Express Website for Quick Delivery Prototypes
PITTMAN Motors and Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions, product divisions of AMETEK Precision Motion Control, announce the launch of a new website that allows a visitor to evaluate and order a wide variety of precision motion components for 24 hour shipment anywhere in the world. The PITTMAN Express and Haydon Kerk Express website makes available a […]