Bearing Cage Design Reduces Moving Mass
January 29, 2009 by Miles Budimir
Filed under Linear Bearings
A new line of solid brass bearing cages features less mass, reducing the rolling bearings’ energy absorption and preventing sliding friction. In bearings that operate at high speeds, the force created by the rolling elements’ moving mass causes a significant additional internal load.
Especially in cylindrical roller bearings with relatively heavy solid brass cages, the acceleration of the rolling elements requires a large amount of energy. Another issue directly associated with the mass inertia of the rollers and cage is the sliding friction that frequently occurs in rolling bearings that are insufficiently loaded or accelerated too quickly and which, in extreme cases, can destroy the bearing’s precision-finished raceway surfaces. This new cage design addresses these issues by reducing cage mass and weight without compromising roller guidance accuracy. At the same time, an optimization of the cage bar cross-sections has resulted in an improved lubricant distribution in the bearing.
NKE Austria GmbH
www.nke.at
Precise Stage
January 29, 2009 by Miles Budimir
Filed under Linear Stages / Gantries
The X-TREME™ Nano-translation Cross Roller Stage is compact and is capable of accuracies up to 0.14 nm at industry leading speeds up to 6.5 m/s.
The X-TREME™ is currently one of the smallest of its class touting a compact envelope and low profile design (27 mm H x 70 mm W) with load bearing capacities up to 1,100 lb based upon 2 mil inch travel.
The stage is also versatile. Designed with doweled holes in the base, it is primed for easy mounting and registration using exact locating and centerline reference. It can be mounted in single axis or X-Y configurations with no loss of capacity or speed.
Specialty Motions, Inc.
www.smi4motion.com
Plastic Modular Belt Conveyors
January 29, 2009 by Miles Budimir
Filed under Conveyors
Line of Modular Plastic Belt (MPB) Conveyors combine increased durability and reduced maintenance in a quiet, compact package. The conveyors are available with 0.5- or 1-in. pitch belting in widths from 2 to 24 in. and lengths to 29 ft, and they are ideal for a range of industrial, packaging, labeling, automation and processing systems.
Belt and sprocket life are increased through a 200-degree positive-contact drive sprocket belt engagement mechanism that eliminates the return link contraction. Maintenance costs are lowered through reduced component wear, self-aligning sealed-for-life bearings, and a compact quick-change direct drive. A tip-up tail section permits interior access without belt separation. Center tracking eliminates belt lateral end-drift and potential belt run-off, as well as virtually eliminating belt and guide edge-wear.
The quiet, compact drive occupies approximately one-half the space of conventional systems, and the reduced height beyond the drive end allows the conveyors to fit into shallow height applications. The drive is devoid of belts, chain, sprockets, couplings and their related maintenance, and it can be totally replaced and ready to run in under five minutes. Also, the drive does not require disengagement when removing, or installing the belt.
Conveyors are available with an entry nose bar for small part transfer and all units carry a two-year, unlimited hour warranty.
Conveyor Technologies Ltd.
www.conveyortechltd.com
New Thomson Selection Guide Now Available
January 28, 2009 by Miles Budimir
Filed under Linear Bearings, Linear Guides
Metric Super Ball Bushing bearings are precision bearings with a coefficient of friction as low as 0.001 that allows users to employ smaller and less expensive motors, belts, gears and ball screws when replacing high friction, plain bearings.
Stainless Steel MultiTrac Ball Bushing bearings are built to thrive in harsh environments with temperatures up to 180ºF (82ºC), and feature a patented multiple track design that delivers up to twice the load carrying capacity, or 8 times the operating life, of conventional linear bearings.
Stainless Steel “A” Ball Bushing bearings feature all steel construction for rust and corrosion resistance, while providing maximum system rigidity in the most challenging application environments, including vacuum, ozone and mild radiation, even in temperatures up to 600ºF (315ºC).
www.DanaherMotion.com
Download guide here.
High Power Linear Drive
January 28, 2009 by Miles Budimir
Filed under Linear Drives
San Luis Obispo, CA – The TA333 High Power Linear Drive is the newest addition to the Trust Automation line of high performance drives. The TA333 drive features a true Class-AB linear amplifier with pure analog throughput at currents up to 25A. Highly configurable, the drive can be used with a brushless motor using external sinusoidal commutation, with an internally commutated brushless motor with Hall Effect sensor feedback for smooth trapezoidal operation, a 2-phase stepper motor, or up to two voice coil motors. The drive is ideal for applications such as: “very high resolution” inspection systems, metrology instruments, and medical applications.
Linear position sensors to improve filling process
January 22, 2009 by Miles Budimir
Filed under Linear Guides
Temposonics R Series linear position sensors are designed to improve the filling process for facilities that package a wide variety of products. Where a packaging facility once required a complicated, bulky and costly combination scale to switch back and forth between various products during packaging cycles, these sensors are being used in equipment that is more compact and less expensive due to fewer moving parts, as the sensors have replaced a number of other components in the machine.
R Series sensors also increase the accuracy of fillers to improve consistency and reduce waste. R Series sensors provide linear, absolute measurement and non-contact sensing in a variety of outputs such as SSI, DeviceNet, Profibus, and EtherCAT. With non-linearity less than 0.01% and repeatability within 0.001%, these sensors suit packaging applications that require accuracy, reliability and consistency.
MTS Systems Corp, Sensors Division
www.mtssensors.com
EtherCAT Devices Receive Data and Power Over a single Ethernet Cable
January 21, 2009 by Miles Budimir
Filed under Cable Carriers
The “Power over EtherCAT” enhancement makes use of IEEE802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE) function and can be implemented with commercially available chips. Power over EtherCAT suits encoders or linear position sensors, which can now be designed to connect to EtherCAT and be powered using a single, standard Ethernet cable.
Stub lines and star topology together with line, tree and redundant ring EtherCAT topology options are enhanced with the possibility to design EtherCAT devices with just one connector each that are powered over the data line.
The Power over Ethernet standard IEEE802.3af supports up to 13 W per device. For EtherCAT slave devices, the ETG specifies mode A of the standard, which only needs four wires: standard Industrial Ethernet connectors such as the 4-pin M12 can still be used. Devices powered by a separate line can be connected to Power over EtherCAT breakouts without problems. It is also possible to enhance the spec towards the future high power IEEE802.3at standard (PoE Plus or High Power PoE) because this is downwards compatible.
The EtherCAT Technology Group
www.ethercat.org
The Largest Plastic Cable Carrier in the World
January 20, 2009 by Miles Budimir
Filed under Cable Carriers
The new Energy Chain® E4.350 is wear proof, maintenance free and resistant to seawater and mineral oil. It was developed for environmentally harsh situations such as those encountered on offshore oil-drilling platforms. E4.350 can move nearly 50 feet up and down, which guarantees any heavy hydraulic cables are protected and guided when a drilling rig is skidded on to an oil platform, or during a drilling head’s stroke.
It has an internal height of approximately 14 in. and a variable inner width of 8 in. to over 3 ft, giving a large internal capacity. Large cables and hoses with diameters up to around 12 in. are ably guided by the plastic chain, with loads possible in the region of 70 pounds per foot.
The cable carrier is made from high-performance plastics and is corrosion resistant. The chain also offers a weight saving over comparable steel alternatives. It will ultimately be available from stock.
The E4.350’s design ensures high torsional rigidity and stability. Thanks to the interlocking links and the large bolted joint between them, movement is smooth. The design also significantly increases lateral stability and prevents the cable carrier from coming apart.
Integrated sliding surfaces, larger wear surfaces and extra-strong stop-dogs guarantee a long service life. Center links increase stability further and make it possible to extend the width of the cable carrier almost without limitation. Additionally, special outer and inner links ensure a straight run and quick assembly, especially compared to steel alternatives. A comprehensive, easy-to-assemble, modular range of accessories includes internal cable separators and shelving options.
igus
www.igus.com
More Accurate Electric Screw Actuators
January 20, 2009 by Miles Budimir
Filed under Linear Actuators
When customers choose different packaging bags to keep their costs down, it can affect how packaging machines operate. Such was the case faced by Thiele Technologies, a leader in packaging technology and equipment. Its bagging systems measure, fill and seal bags containing anything from pet food to salt, sugar, dirt, seed, fertilizer or animal feed.
One of its customers recently switched to bags with irregular dimensions. But the bags slowed the production process, which requires high-speed accuracy to meet manufacturing goals. Thiele engineers needed to alter a popular modular bag filling and sealing system to compensate for the dimensional inconsistencies. Read more
MISUMI to Hold Contest at ATX West Show
January 15, 2009 by admin
Filed under Industry News
Schaumburg, IL — Misumi USA announced that it will be holding a contest titled, “Go Configure” at the upcoming ATX West show in Anaheim, CA on February 10-12, 2009 in Booth Number 4601. The contest is Co-Sponsored by Design World Magazine and contest ballots will be available in the show issue of Design World magazine as well as the Misumi and Design World show booths.
A daily 3PM drawing for a $50.00 American Express Gift Card will take place at the Misumi booth. In addition to the daily prize, a First Prize of a $200.00 American Express Gift Card, Second Prize of an iPod Nano and the Grand Prize of an iPod Touch will be awarded during the 3PM daily drawing on the last day of the show, Thursday, February 12, 2009.
Misumi is the leader in supplying fixed and configurable components for all types of motion control, assembly and related factory automation devices. Highlighted at this year’s ATX West show will be the company’s new 2009 Catalog featuring 3000 New product and 1,500 products with increased configurability and materials. New products that will be showcased at the booth single-axis actuators, linear guides, shaft supports, self lubricating bushings, left handed ball screw, compact square supports and more. Most Misumi components are configurable, with downloadable CAD files and full specs available at the company’s website.
Also, during the show, Misumi will conduct its Configurable Component Technical Seminar onsite to demonstrate the advantages of configurable components to machine, equipment and assembly system engineers attending the show. Booth personnel will be available to register engineers for the seminar, to be held onsite at the convention center during the show. In addition, the company will register attendees to receive the company’s newest catalogs, containing over 500,000 products for the machinery and equipment designer.
To enter the Go Configure! Contest today, go here for an online ballot>>
For more information on ATX West and to register for a FREE Pass to the show, please visit www.ATXwest.com today.
