In a recent Technology Tuesdays podcast, Brian Scott, application engineer at Nippon Pulse America, talked to me a little bit about linear motors including iron core, U-channel, and tubular linear motors … and the benefits and drawbacks of each. He also shed some light on the major design objectives OEMs cite when migrating axes to linear motors. Click here […]
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Dissipating static electricity in urethane rollers and wheels
Static electricity is an invisible field of protons, neutrons, and electrons found in anything that has potential to move. Each atom has its own properties and characteristics. One of these properties is an electrical charge. Protons have what is called a “positive” (+) charge, which is the root of static electricity buildup in urethane […]
What limits linear bearing speed? (Part 1)
High-speed motion is a requirement for applications where throughput is a critical factor, such as packaging and electronic assembly. These systems typically use linear motors or steel reinforced belt drives in conjunction with recirculating linear bearing guides for good stiffness and high load capacity. But the speeds demanded by these applications can pose a challenge […]
New brochure from Thomson explores benefits of smart actuation
Thomson Industries, Inc., a leading manufacturer of mechanical motion control solutions, has published a new brochure that educates industrial automation users on the emerging role of smart actuators in meeting their demands for greater connectivity, application flexibility and cost efficiency. The brochure explores, with help from 10 pages of detailed 3D application renderings, the unique […]
Rittal’s €40 million AS/RS setup supports 24 or 48-hour delivery
Rittal, a manufacturer of modular enclosure, power management, and software products is using a massive new global distribution center in Haiger, Germany to deliver enclosures and housings twice as fast as before. The state-of-the-art logistics center has an area of more than 4,000 m2 to 32 m high in some sections to fully automate the […]
Engineering Academies in the U.S., United Kingdom, and China announce 2017 Global Grand Challenges Summit
The third Global Grand Challenges Summit (GGCS), jointly organized by the U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE), the U.K. Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE), and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), will be held July 18—20, 2017, on the campus of George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Based on the NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering, […]
Environmental challenges for linear bearings, and how to address them
“Environment” is a difficult parameter to quantify when selecting recirculating linear bearings or ball screws. Unlike load, stroke, or speed, there are no programs or calculations that help you choose the right bearing based on environmental factors. But environmental conditions can have a big impact on the performance of linear bearings and ball screws. Because these components operate […]
Automation to align with IIoT-driven industry transformation
Tectonic shifts are underway across process and discrete industries due to the need for capital efficiency, asset efficiency and resource efficiency. These trends are nurturing the growth of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Industry 4.0. The convergence of algorithms, cloud, data, devices and networks drive a creative destruction and expansion of traditional business models. A directional […]
20-in. travel and nanometer resolution with high dynamics from PI motorized linear stage
Precision positioning systems industry leader PI (Physik Instrumente) has released an elevated version of its ironless linear motor stage LMS-180, which is well-suited for precision automation applications in industry and research that require highly accurate linear motion over long travel with high load capacity. The LMS-180 linear stage family is available with five travel ranges […]
Next-generation synchronous power-transmission belt — Gates Poly Chain ADV
Gates Corp. now sells new Poly Chain ADV, its next-generation synchronous power-transmission belt, the strongest, most durable product of its kind. Poly Chain ADV is manufactured using cutting-edge carbon fiber technology and proprietary tooth jacket material. Combined with Gates’ engineering expertise and advanced manufacturing techniques, these improvements enable narrower and more durable synchronous power transmission […]