The XYR-03-01 Alignment Stage from Optimal Engineering Systems Inc. (OES) is a high resolution, high repeatability XY-Theta stage for such applications as angular glass cutting and grinding, wafer alignment, semiconductor handling, laser cutting and drilling. The linear resolution of the X and Y axis is 5 µm (non-micro-step) or 0.125 µm (20 micro-steps per step […]
Applications
PV Equation: How to calculate the PV value for a lead screw application
Lead screws rely on sliding friction between the nut and the screw to convert rotary motion into axial (thrust) force to move a load. Most lead screw designs use either a carbon steel screw with a bronze nut, or a stainless steel screw with a plastic nut. In either case, there are no recirculating balls […]
Warner Linear new rugged-duty B-Track K4x actuators for demanding industrial applications
The new B-Track K4x model provides the highest load rating in its class with a ball nut screw for a 4,000-lb (17,760 N) load capability in a compact package size. The units work in demanding applications where an alternative to hydraulic or air cylinders is needed or where hydraulic power sources are unavailable. Suitable applications […]
Does my system need high accuracy or repeatability (or both)?
Question: “I’m designing a new linear motion system. Should I design it for high accuracy or repeatability? Or both?” Before we answer this question, let’s define accuracy and repeatability for linear systems… Accuracy In linear motion, there are two generally categories of accuracy – positioning accuracy and travel accuracy. Positioning accuracy specifies the difference between […]
Belt drives offer practical option for performance designs: Motion Trends report
Belt drives include belts and pulleys (as well as clutches and mechanisms for ratio variation) for power transmission between shafts. In cases where these drives function as a conveyor, the load rides on the belt. Elsewhere (as in actuators or machine-axis coupling) belt drives function as the device to convert rotary motion of an […]
Long-stroke robotic RTU applications pose new challenges for cable carriers
New applications for mechanical devices present unique requirements. Consider the exceptionally challenging application for cable management in robot-transfer units (RTUs) and linear tool-tray transfer systems. RTUs are long tracks to carry robots between workstations. As an inverse solution, linear tool-tray transfer systems move workpieces past a stationary robot for various material handling or fabricating tasks. […]
Think B2C ecommerce growth is big? Check out B2B (and design-engineering) habits
Forrester Research projects that by 2021, ecommerce will represent about 13% of all U.S. B2B sales. Other research from Statista Inc. confirms this estimate and goes a step further — projecting that B2B ecommerce represented $7.7 trillion in sales globally last year — which is slightly more than triple that of B2C sales. This trend […]
Gallery: Rack and pinion systems – designs and applications
Rack and pinion drives are commonly used in large gantry robots and material handling systems for their ability to achieve high-speed movements over long travel lengths. The most common rack and pinion systems for industrial automation consist of a linear rack (also referred to as a “linear gear”), a pinion (also referred to as a “circular […]
Robot-transfer unit (RTU) and other linear-transfer system considerations
As robotics applications proliferate, robot integrators have begun to apply more 7th-axis tracks — also called robot-transfer units or RTUs — as well as linear tool-tray transfer systems. Benedict Talan • President | LazerArc of Motion Index Drives Robots excel in repetitive assembly and process operations that include welding, trimming, routing, drilling, fastening, composite layup, […]
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. […]