High-Speed Robotics Processor
NVIDIA (Santa Clara, CA) has unveiled NVIDIA IGX Thor, an industrial-grade platform built to bring real-time physical AI directly to the edge, combining high-speed sensor processing, enterprise-grade reliability, and functional safety in a small module for the desktop. Delivering up to 8x the AI compute performance of its predecessor, NVIDIA IGX Orin, IGX Thor enables developers to build intelligent systems that perceive, reason and act faster, safer and smarter than ever. GX Thor delivers robust, reliable AI compute tailored for industrial and medical environments. It provides real-time intelligence, seamless data connectivity, and built-in safety and security. The platform features two types of NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs — an integrated GPU (iGPU) and a discrete GPU (dGPU) — delivering 5,581 FP4 teraflops of AI compute with 400 GbE connectivity. In addition, NVIDIA IGX Thor integrates elements from the NVIDIA Halos full-stack safety system to embed functional safety into robotics, medical, and industrial AI systems — tapping into onboard and infrastructure sensors to ensure both traditional and outside safety for safe human collaboration.
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Precision Planetary Gearboxes
Teknic (Victor, NY) now offers precision planetary gearboxes, with a wide selection of frame sizes, gear ratios, output flanges, and body configurations to accommodate a range of motion control requirements. Customers can choose from popular, in-stock “Fast-Ship” models or the “Built-to-Order” configurations. If users require something highly specialized, they can contact Teknic’s applications engineering team to help configure a custom solution for their specific application requirements. They can easily pair their gearbox with any NEMA 17, 23, 34, or 56/143 servo or stepper motor including Teknic’s ClearPath® integrated servos and Hudson™ BLDC servo motors. Also available for download are the 3D solid models, 2D drawings, engineering specifications, prices, and torque/speed data from Teknic’s website. Other features include in-line or right-angle body configurations, 5 mm-7/8 inches input bore diameters, square and round output flange types, as well as lead times of three days (select Models) or 4-6 weeks (built-to-order models).
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High-Resolution Linear Actuators
For applications requiring sub-micrometer precision, PI (Auburn, MI) offers L-220 series linear actuators that provide reliable, high-precision motion in a compact design. Engineered for demanding tasks in optics, photonics, semiconductor testing, metrology, and microscopy, select models are available with short lead times to support fast system integration. They are compatible with the linear unit 29105, the double-pipe linear unit with trapezoidal lead screw drive 21250, the double-tube linear unit with mounting plate 21250-01, and the new aluminum square linear unit 29104. PI’s motorized high-resolution actuators combine precision and force in a compact form factor. With travel ranges from 13 to 77 mm (½” to 3”) and feed forces up to 125 N, they support a broad range of applications. Their low backlash and non-rotating, linearly guided tips minimize tilt and eccentricity-caused errors, as common with low-cost, rotating-tip type actuators — ensuring accurate, repeatable motion. Available with closed-loop DC servo or stepper motors, L-220 actuators achieve speeds up to 3.5 mm/s and minimum incremental motion down to 0.1 μm. The actuators are self-locking and provide high holding forces for position stability without continuous power.
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AC/DC Disconnect Switches
Altech Corporation (Flemington, NJ) announced the launch of its dual-rated AC/DC disconnect switches for industrial and manufacturing applications. This product line, which includes the LSF and RT Series, offers one proven switch technology configured for different mounting needs. LSF and RT switches are rated for 600V AC and 60V DC, eliminating the need for separate AC and DC components. Designed for DIN-rail and base mounting applications, the LSF Series supports an extended handle application where a shaft extends beyond the electrical box, and an external handle interlocks with it to prevent the box from being opened while power is on. The RT Series door-mount version features a knob that attaches to the front of the panel for easy access, with rear-facing terminals for simplified installation. Installation requires only a standard 22.5-millimeter pushbutton panel hole. This model is ideal for applications requiring a local disconnect without shutting down the entire system. The spring-loaded design prevents DC current from arcing and burning the contacts after repeated use. Both LSF and RT mounting options consist of only a few parts and are available in 16A, 30A, and 40A versions and carry UL 60947-4-1 certification.
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Slewing Ring Bearing
igus® (East Providence, RI) announced the release of a new compact version of its PRT-04 slewing ring bearing, offering mechanical engineers a powerful solution for modern machine designs with limited installation space. Engineered for precise rotary movements under medium loads, this bearing is up to 50 percent flatter, 60 percent lighter, and 20 percent more cost-effective than the previous PRT-01 model. The key to its performance and longevity is the use of dry-running, high-performance plastics in the sliding elements. The bearing also includes a reduced outer ring, which creates space in the inner diameter for directly integrating cables and drives. Customers are increasingly faced with the challenge of integrating high-performance components into ever more compact machine designs. Meeting these needs, the PRT-04 offers an advantage for applications that require both high performance and space efficiency, with units available for all installation sizes in the PRT-04 series. Designers can quickly configure and order their custom slewing ring bearings using the igus online configurator.
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Precise Control of Brushed DC Motors
Compact Click dev tool from MIKROE (Belgrade, Serbia) delivers precise control of brushed DC motors in industrial and robotic applications. DC Motor 31 Click is a compact add-on board designed to drive brushed DC motors providing precise control, torque adjustment, and fault monitoring for a wide range of applications. The DC Motor 31 Click is a recent addition to the company’s 1800-strong Click board™ family. It is based on the TB67H482FNG, a BiCD constant-current single H-bridge driver IC from Toshiba Semiconductor. Supporting motor supply voltages from 8.2 V to 44 V and output currents up to 4 A, it integrates PWM constant-current drive, decay mode selection, and a trimmer for fine motor speed tuning. Devices are fully compatible with the mikroBUS™ socket and can be used on any host system supporting the mikroBUS standard. They come with the mikroSDK open-source libraries, offering excellent flexibility for evaluation and customization.
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EhterCAT Stepper Drives
AutomationDirect (Cummings, GA) has added EtherCAT-capable stepper drives from Ever Motion Solutions® that offer peak performance and a rich feature set. Five new drives are available with two open-loop (no encoder feedback) models and three open/closed-loop versions. Unlike typical stepper drives, Titanio steppers can detect stalls in open-loop control mode by monitoring the motor’s back EMF. This allows system designers to take advantage of stall detection without the hassle and expense of a closed-loop system. Among other advanced features, these Titanio series drives use sinusoidal current control to provide extremely smooth motor movement, with reduced audible noise, significant dampening of vibration and resonances, and higher system efficiency (less heat) along with increased and more consistent torque output at all speeds. EtherCAT control modes include homing modes, interpolated position mode, velocity mode, along with several cyclic and profile modes. In cyclic modes, the drives receive position, velocity, or torque updates every EtherCAT® cycle (minimum cycle time: 500μs). In profile modes, the drives receive a setpoint for each motion, with accel, decel, and speed settings to determine the complete motion profile.
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Industrial Ethernet Monitoring
HMS Networks (Halmstad, Sweden) has introduced a new industrial Ethernet monitoring solution with predictive diagnostics, multi-protocol support, and intuitive visualization — helping OT network engineers reduce downtime and improve efficiency. As industrial networks grow increasingly complex, keeping them running smoothly has never been more important. Anybus Atlas2 Plus delivers 24/7 visibility into network health, predictive diagnostics, and clear visualizations of industrial Ethernet networks that help OT teams detect and resolve issues before they cause downtime. Simplifying complex industrial networks is possible. With multi-protocol support and predictive insights, the Anybus Atlas2 Plus helps teams detect issues early, respond faster, and safeguard uptime with confidence. The Anybus Atlas2 Plus supports multiple industrial Ethernet protocols, including PROFINET and EtherNet/IP, in one device. With it, industrial networks engineers can deliver topology maps and dynamic network displays, provide predictive insights that flag vulnerabilities before they disrupt production, enjoy guided troubleshooting, and an intuitive interface, accessible to all skill levels.
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Generative AI Assistant
ABB Robotics (Auburn, MI) has enhanced its industry-leading RobotStudio® Suite with the new RobotStudio AI Assistant, harnessing the power of generative Al to make robot programming faster, easier, and more accessible. Powered by a Large Language Model (LLM) that understands and interprets human language, RobotStudio AI Assistant draws from ABB’s comprehensive library of manuals and documentation to deliver high-quality, context-rich responses to questions, enabling users to set up faster and find rapid answers to questions and technical challenges. By advancing the accessibility of RobotStudio, ABB is directly addressing the issues faced by smaller businesses and those in new sectors that have so far lacked the expertise needed to adopt robotic automation. Using the AI Assistant in RobotStudio’s cloud-hosted offline programming environment also provides an ideal training tool for developing these skills for students and early-career professionals. RobotStudio is a widely used robot programming and simulation tool, enabling teams to collaborate in real time, across locations and devices. With the addition of its AI assistant, ABB is making it even more accessible, regardless of experience in robot programming.
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