Motion Control/​Automation

Articles: Motion Control

Motion Control and System Engineering Considerations

Motion control choices are best made in light of the whole system architecture, as the selection of system architecture will drive not only the implementation and integration stages of the...

Application Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control

Optimized Machine Capability Through Mechatronics: Packaging for the Future

Mechatronics can be defined as the science to optimize the performance and capabilities of machines using a multi-domain synergistic design approach. It is also...

Products: Motion Control

Rodless Actuators

Parker’s Electromechanical Automation Division (Irwin, PA) announced the Light Capacity Rodless (LCR) actuator series that offers the ability to purchase a complete engineered motion solution with an optional onboard...

Products: Robotics, Automation & Control

Clutches

Industrial Clutch (Waukesha, WI) has introduced the Model HC/CH clutch designed for use in marine applications including drawworks, winches, and propulsion. The clutches feature a key seal that allows the use of standard O-rings and...

Products: Motion Control

Brushless Motor

Maxon Motor (Fall River, MA) offers a 70- Watt flat brushless motor that delivers a maximum continuous torque of 130 mNm at an efficiency of up to 85%. The motor measures 45 mm in diameter and is available with Hall sensors....

Products: Robotics, Automation & Control

Three-Phase Motor

Lenze Americas (Uxbridge, MA) has released the L-Force Three-Phase MF Motor design for operation with a frequency inverter. The motor can be up to two sizes smaller than conventional asynchronous motors with the same rated...

Products: Robotics, Automation & Control

Soft Starter

ABB (New Berlin, WI) has released the PSE soft starter family with two-phase torque control. Additional features include built-in class-selectable electronic overload, built-in bypass, and an LCD display. The PSE features a...

Products: Motion Control

Linear Rail Platform

Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions (Waterbury, CT) offers the Kerk® RGS/RGW linear rail platform that includes a 180° folded- over motorized design for motion applications where space is at a premium. The rail contains all...

Products: Robotics, Automation & Control

Machine Automation Controller

Omron Industrial Automation (Schaumburg, IL) has released the NJ-Series Machine Automation Controller (MAC) that integrates multiple, specialized controllers (motion, logic, sequence, vision, operator safety,...

Products: Motion Control

Torque Wrench

Advanced Torque Products (Berlin, CT) offers the ATP 40000 mechanical torque multiplier, a digitally controlled wrench that produces up to 40,000 ft/lbs. The device employs all-mechanical operation, which eliminates the need...

Products: Robotics, Automation & Control

Direct Drive Motor Systems

Applimotion (Loomis, CA) has introduced custom direct drive motor systems with precision encoders and bearings. The systems incorporate frameless motor kits into application-specific direct drive motors for special...

Products: Motion Control

Voice Coil Motor

Equipment Solutions (Sunnyvale, CA) has introduced the RVC-5 rotational voice coil motor that creates rotational translation using a flexure bearing. The rotational translation is achieved by tilting a precision mirror,...

Products: Motion Control

Metal Gear Motors

Nidec Copal U.S.A. Corp. (Torrance, CA) offers the MG16B brush and LB16MG brushless metal planetary gear motors. The metal planetary gear train allows for higher torque and protection against shock and vibration loads....

Products: Robotics, Automation & Control

Servo Drive

Portescap (West Chester, PA) offers the LVD low-voltage servo drive designed to support small and large brushed DC or brushless motors. Packed in a high-power-density package, it is powered from a supply voltage of 12-48 VDC, and...

Products: Robotics, Automation & Control

Motion System Design Software

MOTIONEERING® Application Engine 6.2.0 motion system sizing and selection software from Kollmorgen (Radford, VA) utilizes a mechanism project concept to collect and save load information for multiple axes,...

Articles: Robotics, Automation & Control

Solar Cell Manufacturing and Robot Automation: Right Fit, Right Robot

The United States has set 2015 as a goal to reach grid parity (that point where solar electricity is equal to grid electricity). No matter your thoughts on regulatory...

Application Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control

Springs and Couplings Keep Mars Science Laboratory Rover on Track

NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory Rover “Curiosity” is the biggest rover to roam the Red Planet, measuring almost the size of a standard car. The rover is expected to land...

Application Briefs: Robotics, Automation & Control

Air Conditioning Cools Lunar Test Vehicles

NASA tests robotics for lunar electric rovers (LERs) and space exploration in remote locations, such as the Arizona desert, that closely simulate the terrain of the Moon or planets. The LER tests...

Articles: Motion Control

Reducing Design Time for Linear Motion Systems

Reducing design time is critical in engineering because the result is lower costs and faster time to market. Design time often includes a number of non-value-added activities such as re-design,...

Application Briefs: Motion Control

Robots Play Role in Future Aircraft Wing Production

KUKA Systems (Sterling Heights, MI), in conjunction with Bombardier Aerospace, has devised an innovative robotic cell for laying up dry carbon fiber material as a result of a national...

Products: Motion Control

DC Servo Motors

The Series 3400, 4400, and 5400 Pittman® slotless, brushless DC servo motors from AMETEK Technical and Industrial Products (Kent, OH) are available in three frame sizes: NEMA 14, 17, and 23. They incorporate 3-phase slotless...

Products: Robotics, Automation & Control

Tilt Sensor

The MS9001.D from Colibrys (Neuchatel, Switzerland) is a MEMS-based tilt sensor for platform stabilization applications, including satellite communication and scanning radar antennas, remote surveillance cameras, and...

Products: Robotics, Automation & Control

Vertical Carousel

The Megamat RS vertical carousel from Kardex Remstar (Westbrook, ME) features an intelligent drive design made of a drive track, carrier arms, transportation chain, drive motor, drive chain, and hand crank. The components...

Products: Robotics, Automation & Control

Duplex Pumps

The STH and STQ Ratio:Matic® duplex pumps from Fluid Metering (Syosset, NY) consist of two valveless pump heads direct-coupled to a single variable-speed drive (typically a 23-frame stepper motor). Displacement of each pump...

Products: Robotics, Automation & Control

Linear Motor Stages

Newport Corp. (Irvine, CA) offers the IMS-LM-SA Series of long-travel linear motor stages. Based on a stiff-body design, the self-supporting stages are available in 800-, 1000-, and 1200-mm travel, and do not require...

Products: Robotics, Automation & Control

Electric Actuators

Hayward Flow Control (Clemmons, NC) offers the EPM-4 and EPM-6 models of quarter-turn reversing electric actuators. They are designed to eliminate wiring errors and can be factory- or field-mounted on ball or butterfly...

Products: Robotics, Automation & Control

Motor Driver ICs

Allegro MicroSystems (Worcester, MA) offers the A4952 and A4953 single, full-bridge motor driver ICs for use in brush DC motor drive applications. They are rated for peak output currents to ±2A, and operating voltages to...

Products: Robotics, Automation & Control

Workholding Products

Enerpac (Menomonee Falls, WI) offers a 70- bar line of products for low-pressure workholding applications, including link clamps, swing clamps, and remote mount system valves. The products are designed for applications...

Products: Robotics, Automation & Control

Parallel Grippers

Techno-Omil (New Hyde Park, NY) has introduced the OPP2 Series of two-finger parallel grippers that feature a heavy-duty T-slot design. The nine models feature a stroke range from 12 to 72 mm, and a gripping force from...