Updated August 2017 || Linear actuators come in myriad configurations to suit almost any application, environment or industry. They’re primarily categorized by their drive mechanism; then manufacturers use other features such as the type of guide and housing to further differentiate them. Below is an explanation of the most common linear actuator categories. Belt-driven and […]
How to calculate hole spacing for joined linear guide rails
There are several reasons that a linear guide rail may be supplied in multiple sections rather than in one piece: the overall length is longer than the maximum offered by the manufacturer, the machine design or other space constraints don’t allow installation of a single piece in the length needed, or the risk of damage […]
How to calculate hole spacing for linear guide rails
Profiled linear guides—whether profiled rails, cam roller guides, shaft support rails, or plain bearing guides—are typically manufactured with evenly spaced mounting holes that allow them to be secured to a machine base or work surface. For rigidity and integrity of the rail, there’s often a minimum distance, specified by the manufacturer, that must be maintained […]
How to calculate combined static load
Static load capacity is an important factor in linear bearing selection. While dynamic load capacity is used to calculate bearing life, static load capacity indicates how much load the bearing can withstand before permanent damage occurs to the balls and/or the raceways. Even when they’re not moving, linear guides often experience a combination of both […]
Moog Animatics expands actuator line
Moog Animatics, a division of Moog Inc., has announced the release of three new high-performance models to its actuator product line. These fully integrated actuators bring SmartMotor™ capabilities (ease of use, compactness and speed to market) to today’s actuator applications. They are designed for precise motion, long life and minimal maintenance. Typical applications include material […]
How to calculate mean equivalent dynamic load
It’s rare in linear motion for a guide or ball screw to carry the same load throughout its move cycle. Even in simple pick-and-place applications, the load will be higher in one direction (the pick and carry phase) than in the other direction (the place and return phase). But even more common is for a […]
New Thomson Electrak HD Linear Actuators
Thomson Industries, Inc., a leading manufacturer of mechanical motion control solutions, has developed an entirely new platform of electric linear actuators which enable design engineers to convert a wider range of hydraulic applications to electric and substantially improve application control. The new Electrak HD™ electric linear actuator offers a new level of electronic functionality with […]
Things are moving at ATX West 2016: Rollon in Cartesian robots
There are plenty of robot exhibitors at the ATX West tradeshow in Anaheim, Calif., this week, showing off everything from 6-axis robots that nearly reach the exhibit hall ceiling to SCARA robots assembling miniature medical devices. But there’s a new entrant into the robot space this year, and their aim seems to be to make robots—Cartesian robots, specifically—more […]
7.5 resources every design engineer should have
A design engineer often has to be a jack-of-all-trades, with good working knowledge of statics, dynamics, materials, and manufacturing, in addition to their “real” area of expertise (packaging, dispensing, etc.). And while most of us long ago forgot the bulk of what we learned in engineering or technical school, design engineers use those concepts and […]
What are iron core linear motors?
Linear motors are often classified as either ironless or iron core, referring to how their primary parts are constructed. Ironless linear motors have a primary made of windings that are embedded in epoxy resin. In iron core linear motors, the windings are mounted in an iron lamination stack. Like the rotor and stator of a […]