In any HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system, dampers are used to regulate airflow inside the ducts. In some systems, manual dampers allow personnel to turn a handle on the outside of a duct. But if you have to regulate airflow on a constant basis, you’ll need automatic dampers with electric or pneumatic motors […]
Stepper Motors
Successful lab experiments start with the right pipette motor
For medical lab applications, motor selection is integral to an electronic pipette’s accuracy and precision. Valentin Raschke Application Engineer Portescap Laboratory automation has always been a great fit for linear motion. Within certain laboratory devices, precision is required for moving samples into position, adding reagents, and withdrawing samples. Advancements in the linear force and speed […]
What are the performance benefits of 5-phase stepper motors?
Stepper motors are often categorized by the number of phases in their construction, with 2-phase and 5-phase versions being common designs. And although 2-phase versions are more widely adopted, 5-phase stepper motors offer performance advantages that make them the preferred choice in some applications. The basic construction of a hybrid stepper motor includes two rotor […]
What are eddy currents and how do they affect motor performance?
One of the electromagnetic principles that governs the operation of an electric motor is Faraday’s law, which states that when the magnetic environment of a coil of wire is changed — whether by moving the magnet and coil relative to each other or by changing the magnetic field — a voltage, or electromotive force (EMF), will […]
What are double- and triple-stack hybrid stepper motors ?
Of the three primary stepper motor designs — permanent magnet, variable reluctance, and hybrid — hybrid stepper motors are arguably the most popular in industrial applications, combining the best performance characteristics of permanent magnet and variable reluctance types. Hybrid stepper motors are constructed with a rotor made of two sections, or cups, with a permanent […]
Triad of torque, speed and precision applications
Many applications require drive solutions that have a central opening through which, e.g., light, cables or parts of the application can be guided. Examples of this can be found in optics and photonics for laser steering systems or in automation and robotics for semiconductor handling systems. Until now, conventional systems always resulted in compromises here. […]
Comparing three types of stepper and servomotor power supplies
In a recent online article, Teknic engineers have outlined how dc-powered motion-control applications differ from most other dc-powered designs … and how the motors in these applications need specialty power supplies. The article focuses on dc power supplies, which are the most common and suitable for fractional-horsepower motors. What makes dc motion-control applications unique are their […]
Four axis stepper controller for automation applications
One of the latest products to be released by Allmotion is their EZ4Axis23WV stepper motor controller driver, which runs four fully independent stepper motors using fully intelligent stepper motor controller circuitry. This four-axis position controller with power drivers features programmable acceleration ramps and speeds using four independent 1 Amp (2 Amp peak) PWM chopper drives. […]
Motion-control systems help automate COVID-19 testing
Automated biochemical analyzers vastly accelerate the testing of patient samples in laboratories, which has become critical now that the COVID-19 pandemic has spread across the globe. Advanced automation with motor-based motion systems will help in the fight to hasten diagnosis. Just consider the cobas 6800 and 8800 machines from Roche that automate testing of nasopharyngeal […]
IP65-rated step motors for wet, dusty industrial factory environments
Applied Motion Products offers an extended line of stepper motors with IP65 ratings that are dustproof and resistant to water pressure impact, making them suitable for use in wet and dusty applications. Using advanced seal protection technology, the IP65-rated step motors feature sealed laminations, an oil shaft seal, internal corrosion-resistant film coating, gaskets for mechanical […]