For rolling element bearings, the L10 life calculation is an easy way to determine the bearing’s expected travel life. But for plain bearings, determining life expectancy is not so straightforward. Plain bearing life is based on the amount of wear the bearing experiences, which depends on factors that are unique to each application, such as […]
Mounting bracket turns shaft encoders into linear measurement solution
New mounting bracket fits size 25 programmable and absolute shaft encoders Encoder Products Company (EPC) has introduced a new linear measurement solution: a bracket that fits all of EPC’s size 25 shaft encoders with 2.5 in. flange mounts, including absolute and programmable encoders. The bracket works with: The Model MA63S absolute encoder. With resolution up […]
12 sizing resources for linear guides and screws
Most linear guide and screw manufacturers offer online tools to help engineers with product sizing and selection. But these tools can sometimes be more in-depth – or alternatively, more simplified – than is needed at the current design or selection phase. In these cases, the easiest and fastest solution is to do the sizing yourself. […]
Can plain bearings be used for cantilevered loads?
There are few linear motion applications in which the load is perfectly centered over the supporting bearing. On the contrary – the majority of applications involve loads that are cantilevered, meaning they are offset from the bearing and induce a moment load. In this context, the term “bearing” can mean a single bearing or a […]
What is a hollow core linear voice coil motor?
A linear voice coil motor (also referred to as a “voice coil actuator” or “linear DC motor”) is a simple yet very precise type of electric motor, consisting of just two primary parts – a coil and a magnet. When current is applied to the coil, a force is generated. The magnitude of the force […]
How to calculate encoder resolution
Resolution is one of the most important indicators of an encoder’s performance. For incremental encoders, resolution is typically specified in pulses per revolution (PPR), or, in the case of linear encoders, pulses per inch (PPI) or pulses per millimeter (PPM). These square-wave pulses are very precisely spaced, and the encoder determines its position by counting […]
The top 5 linear motion stories of 2017
While the articles on this site cover a broad range of linear motion topics, one topic that always makes the “top posts” list is ball screws. And this year was no disappointment. Take a look at the top five LinearMotionTips.com articles of 2017 to see what else our readers were most interested in this year. 1. […]
Gearing and gearbox resources from motioncontroltips.com
Gears, and in particular, gearboxes, are common in linear motion applications, providing speed reduction and torque multiplication for systems driven by belt and pulley or chain and sprocket assemblies. The diversity of gear types and materials available for industrial applications makes it important (albeit somewhat challenging) for designers and users of linear motion systems to […]
10 resources for selecting the right profiled rail guide
Profiled rail guides – especially those that use recirculating balls or rollers – are pervasive in industrial motion applications, with high load capacities, high stiffness, and a wide variety of styles and sizes to choose from. In fact, the sheer number of options for recirculating ball or roller style profiled rails can make selecting the […]
How to manage backpressure from accumulation
Accumulation conveyors provide buffer zones in material handling systems to manage product flow, which is especially important when there is an imbalance between upstream and downstream capacity. But accumulation often results in backpressure, which can damage products or cause downstream operational problems. Common drawbacks of product accumulation Traditional conveying systems experience backpressure during product accumulation […]