Misumi Sponsors Student Robot Competitions

Schaumburg, IL- Misumi has been a major force in the mechanical and factory automation markets for over 45 years.  Through its product innovations, combined with its unmatched CAD Configurator and online ordering system technologies, Misumi has changed the landscape for machine and assembly system design engineers worldwide.  You’ll find Misumi products onboard a growing number of machines and systems in myriad industries, owing to the upsides of this unique company’s business model.  Not surprisingly, the company’s annual sales topped the $1 billion dollar mark, several years ago.

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PO2300 Encoder Kit

Neuchatel, Switzerland - POSIC  announced the introduction of a new incremental encoder kit, the PO2300, consisting of a microcoil sensor and a linear or rotational target.

The microcoil inductive sensor works like linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) or a resolver and has the same advantages: high resolution, high accuracy and high immunity against magnetic fields and electromagnetic perturbations.

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Got Brushes?

So, on the theme of the old “Got Milk?” ad campaign, and at the risk of sounding absurd, Got Brushes?  No?  That’s okay.  But don’t be surprised if a lot of the toys you have around you do!

From my narrow slice of the world in industrial motion control, we have long since abandoned the brush motor, or brush servo, to the boneyard of antiquity.  Like the single phase SCR drive, or dare I say the old GE vacuum tube (yes you read that right) motor drive of yesteryear, gone and almost completely forgotten. Read more

Globalization and Emerging Economies Drives GMC Market Growth

Robust investments in manufacturing industries pushed General Motion Control (GMC) market growth worldwide in 2007.  While economic expansion is expected to continue, future growth will be at a slower pace.  The worldwide market for GMCs is expected to grow at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.7% over the next five years.  The GMC market reached nearly $6.0 billion in 2007 and is forecasted to grow to over $8.2 billion in 2012, according to a new ARC Advisory Group study.

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The Cutting Edge of Haptic Research

Using tools such as graphical system design, reserachers are developing new, safer ways of interacting with machines that also permit more efficient operation

By Gerardo Garcia, Product Manager
Ben Black, Systems Engineer
National Instruments

Have you ever played a car racing video game that shakes when you go off-road? If so, you have interacted with a haptic interface. The word haptic comes from the Greek haptikos, which means to touch, grasp, or perceive.

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Motion and Easy-to-Use

I get a little crabby about some of the things I have seen over the years in the motion control and especially the American marketing mentality.  In particular, the words “motion control” and “easy to use” should not appear in the same sentence without great care and thought about the statements being made.  If there is any lesson in the last two blogs on simulations and analytical tools for system design, it is that the motion control field is complex.

It is certain that computers and ever more powerful software programs automate tasks so that we can work more quickly.  The tools are evolving to make design faster and more thorough.  Many programs embed software oscilloscopes to display important parameters of operation while we tune or test our work.  And I love anything that makes my job easier, as I’m sure you do. Read more

Simulations and Priorities

Some recent responses to the last post on tradeoff analysis made me think about the complex math behind the design of electric motors.  Its way more complex than you would think.  Not because I know anything about it, but a good friend of mine Dr. Hao Huang, did an incredible job of building an inclusive model of the electric motor and an optimization program as his doctoral thesis.  Its an incredible piece of programming, dare I say art?, that took an entire case of paper to print out.

In the electric motor, its not just torque and speed.  Its all the other things that have to be addressed simultaneously in order to produce the torque and speed. Read more

Mechatronic Tidal Simulation Assists Scientists

Scientists from London’s Imperial College are using the new RT3 version of the Reliance Cool Muscle NEMA 23 integrated servo system to reproduce the sub-surface pressure changes created by lunar tides in laboratory research experiments directed at improving oil recovery.

The unique abilities of the RT3 version along with the support provided by Reliance allow the scientists to concentrate on the research without having to spend time controlling and verifying the test system. Read more

The Future of Feedback

Feedback technology isn’t as simple as it seems.  Over the years, the technology has improved and costs have decreased dramatically.  HP’s scribed disc encoder used to be the standard at around $50/unit in small quantities.  Now through beam LED based encoder kits are available for $25 and less.  Accuracy is good, and products are available from a variety of suppliers off the shelf. Read more

Electric Linear Actuators–The Mechatronic Choice

If you’ve not looked at electric linear actuators lately, you may be missing out.  Today’s electric linear actuators exemplify mechatronic principles as well as offer more power than earlier versions, with advances in other features including force and load capabilities, and control.

By Randy Bowman, Market Manager –
TECHLINE™ Div., Linak
Crystal McGrew, Marketing Communications

Rapid technological advances and changes in environmental, safety and ergonomic requirements have increased the options and capabilities available in motion control systems.  Despite these
advances, though, the temptation to stay with previous choices can be strong.  In some industries, there are biases toward certain motion systems, either because of limited knowledge about alternatives or because of precedent.  For example, hydraulic powered motion is traditionally the standard in the agriculture industry, pneumatics in certain process industries, and highprecision stepper motors and linear guides in automation. However, motion industry advances have made it necessary for companies and engineers to re-evaluate current choices and biases, and make an educated decision as to what may be the best overall option for the application.

The LINAK® LA36 actuator suits industrial, agricultural and marine environments. It offers a maximum force of 2200 lbs and maximum speeds of 6.3 ips.  It operates with either a 12 V, 24 V, or 36 Vdc motor with protection class IP66/IP69K, mechanical overload protection, integrated brake with high self-lock ability, and built in end stop switches.
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