Motors produce torque and rotation through the interaction of magnetic fields in the rotor and the stator. In an ideal motor — with mechanical components that are perfectly machined and assembled and electrical fields that build and decay instantaneously — torque output would be perfectly smooth, with no variations. But in the real world, there […]
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New LMHB linear ball bushing can press fit into assemblies
THK America Inc. now offers a type LMHB linear bushing for linear-motion applications. This linear bushing is press-fit into moving elements of linear motion axes to allow smooth traversal of round shaft. The THK LMHB linear bushing achieves smooth and silent motion thanks to the spring effect provided by curved metal plates within the assembly […]
What does bandwidth refer to in the context of servo systems?
Most people are familiar with bandwidth as it relates to networking and WiFi service — for example, the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands on which WiFi signals are transmitted. But bandwidth also plays an important role in servo control and tuning. The bandwidth of a servo control system indicates how quickly the system […]
Troubleshooting V-belt wear and failure
Although there are more than a dozen symptoms of premature wear and impending failure for V-belts — ranging from visible damage to audible noise — there are a few key ways that these friction-based belts can fail during operation. To help users determine the root cause of a failure or signs of potential failure, V-belt […]
Linear rails from Rollon simplify design of high-performance automated systems
Rollon has upgraded its Telerace family of linear rails to help designers simplify projects and enhance the efficiency of automated systems. Two Telerace families of cold-drawn steel rails now feature induction hardened and ground raceways along with double-row ball bearings for greater load handling capability, longer life and reduced maintenance requirements. The newly enhanced rail […]
When are stepper motors paired with ball screws (rather than lead screws)?
Stepper motors are widely used in industrial and consumer applications ranging from packaging equipment and medical devices to 3D printers and vending machines. They have excellent torque production at (relatively) low speeds — especially for a given motor size — and offer high-resolution positioning in a simple-to-use format. These benefits make them well-suited to drive lead […]
What do the belt section designations H, J, K, L, and M mean for ribbed V-belts?
V-belts rely on friction caused by the “wedging” of the belt between pulley flanges — together with internal fiber cords — to transmit power in a wide range of industrial and consumer-goods applications. One variation of the traditional V-belt is the ribbed V-belt — also referred to as a V-ribbed, poly V, or serpentine belt. Ribbed V-belts take […]
The top 10 linear motion articles of 2021
In our 2020 recap of the most-read linear motion articles, we noted how our readers went “back to basics,” with articles about fundamental engineering topics dominating the list. That theme continued in 2021, but this year, the dominant articles dealt not only with engineering basics, but more specifically with “how to calculate” topics. And although […]
What is a split bridge system and how does it differ from a gantry?
Multi-axis linear systems come in a variety of designs, with Cartesian, gantry, and XY tables being some of the most common types. While these designs simplify construction and can provide space savings, they also introduce “stacking” errors — the compounding of errors from each axis, which manifests at the work piece or tool point. Mounting axes […]
Rack and pinion drives: A new look at an old technology
Comparing rack and pinion drives with other linear drives such as belts and ball screws shows that sometimes simplicity can be the ultimate sophistication. YYC North America These days engineers have quite a few options for actuation in a linear motion system. From various screw drives to linear motors to hydraulic systems, each comes with […]