Orbex Group, a U.S.-based supplier of slip rings and electric motors, has introduced a new family of compact wheel drives (CWD), increasing its offering of precision motion solutions. The CWD-500 and CWD-1000 are integrated motor, gearbox, encoder and wheel combination units, designed to facilitate easy application in compact robotic applications like autonomous mobile robots (AMR)…
ABB optimizes Baldor-Reliance Food Safe stainless-steel motors with three-lead design
ABB has elevated its Baldor-Reliance Food Safe stainless-steel motor product portfolio with a streamlined three-lead electrical connection design, delivering a superior experience for food and beverage processing operations. This new motor solution is engineered to simplify installation, enhance reliability and improve workplace safety – all while seamlessly integrating with existing 460-V systems. “This new configuration…
Meet the winners in the 2024 LEAP Awards Industrial Automation category
The winners of the 2024 LEAP (Leadership in Engineering Achievement Program) Awards were announced earlier this week in a digital ceremony, with products across 10 categories, including Industrial Automation. Critical to LEAP’s success is the involvement of the engineering community. The Design World editorial team assembled a top-notch independent judging panel, comprised of a cross-section…
Pushing back against tech overreach
Back in the early days of the Internet, as the world wide web was beginning to take shape and before it was as ubiquitous as it is today, there was an optimism that pervaded tech circles. The general mood was that this rising tech wave would make us all freer, smarter, and happier. There were…
Optimizing manufacturing production through HMI/controller integration
In modern manufacturing, the adoption of digital transformation and automation has generated heightened demand for the smooth integration of HMI software and controllers. Susan Burtch Lead Commercial Portfolio Manager, Visualization Software Rockwell Automation Manufacturers are continuously aiming to streamline operations, boost efficiency, lower production costs, and optimize resource use and capacity. Technological advancements have facilitated […]
Restoring trust in engineering culture
By now, Boeing’s recent engineering issues are familiar to most people. There were the two deadly crashes of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in 2018 and 2019 that killed more than 350 people. Plus, we’ve seen the recent incident of an aircraft door plug falling off in midair and allegations of structural defects in the 787…
Bison debuts new RAM reverse air movement blower motor
Bison announces the issuance of a patent for its revolutionary RAM Reverse Air Movement Blower Motor. This cutting-edge invention, spearheaded by Senior Director of Technology, David Finkenbinder, overcomes the performance shortcomings of traditional thru-flow air blower motors through its novel design. RAM technology is poised to transform various air moving applications, catering to industries that…
Reshoring and supply-chain security
Discrete automation with motion systems and complementary forms of warehousing technologies remain core to reshoring and making supply chains more robust in the years since COVID-19. We recently asked several industry experts about trends they’re seeing in this space. Here’s what they had to say. Meet the Experts Brian Burke | Product manager III •…
Remote robotic-assisted surgery system tested aboard International Space Station
Components from maxon are integral to the spaceMIRA surgical robot, which recently completed its first demo test surgeries in zero gravity on the International Space Station (ISS). The spaceMIRA, developed by Virtual Incision and researchers at the University of Nebraska, is a compact, lightweight surgical robot sent to the ISS on a SpaceX Falcon 9…
Cybertruck — not Tesla’s best design
When the first deliveries of Tesla’s long-awaited Cybertruck began last November (and frankly even well before that point), it was widely panned across social media. People called it ugly, expensive or overpriced, even useless. Some of the funniest observations were that it looked like something a grade schooler would draw when assigned to design a…
New Renishaw TEMPUS technology achieves up to 50 percent reduction in additive manufacturing build times
Renishaw’s new TEMPUS technology enables users of RenAM 500 series metal additive manufacturing (AM) systems to reduce build times by up to 50 percent. The technology uses advanced scanning algorithms that sequence the layer data in a way that maximizes productivity while maintaining part quality. The optimization suits some part geometries more than others, but…
New generation of kit encoders feature higher resolution
POSITAL has upgraded its family of 36-mm kit encoders for motion control applications. For these new devices, introduced as part of the company’s NEXTGEN initiative, upgrades include higher resolution and refined packaging that provides more compact form factors, better protection from solid particles, and simpler installation procedures. Kit (or modular) encoders are designed to be […]
Celera Motion adds 130-mm motor to direct-drive frameless motor kit platform
Celera Motion has added a new version of its innovative direct drive motor platform, the Omni+TM Series. The Omni+ 130 mm motor becomes the largest of the series of direct drive frameless motor kits. All offer the highest torque density and ultra-low cogging in a low profile and large aperture design. “The Omni+ Series is […]
The latest technologies for agriculture and off-highway automation
With the rise of smart farming in agriculture, equipment manufacturers face the challenge of maximizing machine uptime in harsh and extreme environments. Companies are leveraging different types of motion systems to improve reliability in their designs, with technology evolving alongside farming practices. Such systems take advantage of advancements across automation more generally, which includes robotics,…
Automation’s evolving uses for motors and drives
As automation continues to expand in existing as well as newer applications, the enabling automation technology is evolving to keep pace with these changes. Motors and drives are no exception. In particular, motors have gotten smaller to accommodate space and size restrictions in new, unique applications. There have also been changes to how motors are…
Watch the webinar YouTube archive: Stepper motor and encoder selection
Event date was October 5, 2010. Register here to download the PDF presentation slides or watch the recorded video. Overview: Lin Engineering and US Digital present stepper motor and encoder feedback selection considerations for motion control applications. We’ll share a case book example highlighting a medical application that required a high torque step motor utilizing an…