Thomson Industries, Inc., a leading manufacturer of mechanical motion control solutions, has released a new video to demonstrate how design engineers can synchronize multiple Thomson Lifting Columns quickly and easily. The compact design of Thomson Lifting Columns provides a favorable ratio between stroke and retracted length to improve operator ergonomics. Models are designed to handle moment loads […]
Happy Earth Day! How designers and engineers can make a difference
According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the Industrial sector was responsible for 51 percent of global energy consumption in 2011 (the latest year for which figures are available). Of the Industry sector’s energy use, 25 percent was in the form of losses. This represents a huge opportunity, not only for cost savings to manufacturers, […]
Nook Industries offers caged ball profiled rails for linear guidance
Nook Industries, a leading innovator of linear motion components and systems, introduces caged ball profile rails for linear guidance. Caged ball chains provide reduced friction and lower noise levels and prevent the bearings from making incidental contact. An industry leader for more than 40 years, Nook’s new line improves on more traditional designs with lubrication advantages, […]
What happens when you combine a planetary gear with a ball screw?
Answer: You get a planetary roller screw. Replacing the recirculating balls of a ball screw with grooved rollers results in a precision drive mechanism with extremely high load capacity, acceleration, and speed capabilities, all in a small footprint. Planetary roller screws fit well in applications at the upper end of ball screw capabilities, but that require […]
Miniature linear ball rails from Nook Industries for high-speed running capacity
Nook Industries, a leading innovator of linear motion components and systems, has launched a new miniature linear ball rail ideally suited for high-speed, belt-driven mechanisms and carrier designs as well as automation linkage between stations. Offered in three accuracy grades, Precision (P), High (H) and Normal (N), these miniature linear ball rails provide significant maintenance […]
Three factors critical to servo motor sizing for linear motion systems
Selecting the right servo motor for a linear motion system is a complex task, beginning with initial assumptions and component selections, which must be checked through a series of calculations and, in most cases, repeated over several iterations until a suitable combination of motor and mechanics is found. Most motor manufacturers offer online sizing tools that make […]
Glide-Line introduces IMPACT interactive configuration system
Glide-Line, manufacturer of the most versatile multi-strand panel and pallet-handling conveyor solution available for the industry, introduces the IMPACT Interactive Configuration System. IMPACT (Interactive Modeling Program and Application Configuration Tools), goes far beyond a typical 3D CAD conveyor configurator. The Excel version of IMPACT uses your system configuration data to recommend the best-fit options, so […]
Ball Chains: Two things you might not know
Radial bearings have used ball cages for nearly a century, but this technology was only introduced to profiled rail guides within the last two decades. THK pioneered the way, launching its Caged Ball® LM Guide in 1996, and other profiled rail manufacturers soon followed suit with ball chain and ball spacer designs. Now, virtually every style […]
How to reduce energy use of conveyor systems
Conveyors make up a significant part of most assembly and automation systems, not only in size, but also in terms of energy consumption. Think about it – they often run continuously and operate with motors, gearboxes, and pneumatic cylinders, all of which can be energy hogs. But there are ways to reduce the amount of energy […]
Low cost, high precision linear voice coil stages from MOtiCOnt
MOtiCOnt’s VCDS-051-089-01 series linear motion voice coil stages feature a voice coil motor, a ball bearing linear slide, home switch, and an integral optical quadrature encoder with differential outputs. Measuring 13.5 in (342.9 mm) long x 4.00 in. (101.6) wide x 3.755 in. (95.4 mm) high, the VCDS-051-089-01 series stages have a linear travel of […]
