Happy New Year!
Welcome to the first 2008 edition of Motion Monitor. We're looking forward to another year of sharing some of the industry's most interesting and helpful stories and hope you learn from and enjoy them!
There are three days left to try your hand at our December Pop Quiz. See how much you know about some of our nation's most popular holiday icons. Also, don't miss our new sister website, www.mechatronic-design.com. This interdisciplinary site is the offspring of Machine Design, Motion System Design, and Electronic Design magazines, and highlights the interrelationship between mechanical and electrical engineering with online-exclusive articles, design-oriented engineering exercises, problem solving steps, Q&A, and blogs for interdisciplinary engineers. Visit now and see what's new!

Miniature belt holds up for medical use
To meet demand for miniaturized precision medical devices and robotics, Fenner Precision, Manheim, Pa., has developed a process to produce a 60-mm circumference belt with a 1-mm pitch. The FHT-1 is the smallest belt ever produced by Fenner Precision, a maker of belts, tires, and pulleys. The high-torque, curvilinear belt is made of extremely durable polyurethane - a clean running, non-dusting, chemical resistant material that can withstand temperatures of -40° to 80° C, says Tony Watts, global marketing manager.
Read the rest here

Sensor helps crop farmers reap more efficiency
The Timken Co., Canton, Ohio, teamed up with Intelligent Motion Systems Inc. (IMS) to create hands-free operation of tractors designed for planting and spraying row crops. The Timken-developed feedback sensor is embedded into an integrated circuit board. IMS employs the sensor in its design of a motor used in the tractor's steering mechanism. The sensors provide feedback on the motor shaft position, and, when integrated with other steering system components, can directly impact the tractor's ability to operate in a hands-free environment. This tractor-guidance system can improve productivity and lower operating costs by reducing operator fatigue, fuel consumption, and row overlap while planting or spraying.
Read the rest here

Polymer coatings wear down the competition
To increase wear and abrasion resistance, Needle Roller Bearings Co. Ltd (NRB) decided to eliminate use of traditional copper and silver plating on its needle roller bearings in motorcycle engines, outboard motors, and other high rotational speed engines. Instead, the company is using Vicote Coating from Victrex plc, West Conshohocken, Pa., because it reduces the wear on the outer surface of the roller bearing, and thus can enable longer life of the actual cage.
Read the rest here

Parallel bridge connectors
UtiliTrak bridge connections from Bishop-Wisecarver Corp., Pittsburg, Calif., are suitable for running two systems in parallel. Its design compensates for mounting errors, and does not require absolute parallelism for accurate operation. The vee side serves as the motion guide, while the roller side allows for parallel misalignment. Available in steel and aluminum configurations, the bridge connection simplifies assembly, and completes the system by joining the two slides and providing a stable mounting surface. Steel version is available in many widths, and features mounting holes according to specification. Aluminum version features industry standard profile extrusions with T-slots for ease of mounting.

Visit Bishop-Wisecarver for more information.

Soloist™ Single-Axis Digital Servo Controller Series Aerotech's Soloist™ (excluding the MP) is a single-axis servo controller that combines a power supply, amplifier, and position controller in a single package. The Soloist™ can control up to four tasks simultaneously, as well as handle variables and manage I/O, which allows it to perform demanding production applications. The Soloist™ also has high-speed position latch inputs and advanced data logging capabilities, making it ideal for laboratory and test instrument applications. www.aerotech.com

Sizing software
MotionMatch sizing software for servo drives and motors is a powerful and simple solution to motion control management. It takes all the guesswork out of pairing a servo drive and motor and allows the user to configure the drive with ease. It helps eliminate failures and frustrations with mismatched components. Users simply need to enter their application requirements and the program will return the compatible servo drive-motor combinations.

Visit Lenze-AC Tech for more information.

Experience National Instruments Technologies From the Comfort of Your Own Computer!
With more than 200 on-demand webcasts, videos, interactive tutorials and demos available for users of any experience level, it is easier than ever to learn about the newest products and features available from National Instruments.
Begin your search here with a collection of webcasts specifically chosen for design and automation engineers.

Subscribe to our RSS feeds Machine Design headlines Motion System Design headlines Hydraulics & Pneumatics headlines Medical Design headlines

Sponsored by:

UPCOMING WEBCASTS

Introduction to Direct Gear Design
Sponsored by AKGears
DATE: January 16th, 2008
TIME: 2:00pm ET

Invention of the gear hobbing process about 150 years ago revolutionized not only gear fabrication, but also gear design. The cutting edge of the hob presents the generating gear rack. The standard universal gear design approach provides gear interchangeability and reduces tooling inventory, however, it also constrains performance for particular gear applications.

This webcast presents the Direct Gear Design method — an alternative approach to traditional analysis and design of involute gears, which separates gear geometry definition from the generating rack and tool selection to maximize gear transmission performance for a particular product and application.

Power Transmission Technologies:
The Advantages and Applications of Belt Drive Solutions
Sponsored by Gates Corporation
DATE: February 19th, 2008
TIME: 2:00pm ET

Today's designers choose from a variety of technologies for transmitting power in mechanical systems. With increasing demands to optimize systems for efficiency, noise, package size and low maintenance, choosing the right power transmission technology for the job is a challenge. Brent Oman with Gates Corporation will share his knowledge about selecting power transmission solutions. The presentation will review the pros and cons of different technologies and demonstrate the various capabilities of belt drive systems in particular.

ARCHIVED WEBCASTS AVAILABLE FOR FREE VIEWING

Tolomatic
Tolomatic expands its robust MX rodless platform to include MXE (electric) and MXP (pneumatic) actuators, developed with Tolomatic's exclusive ENDURANCE TECHNOLOGY^SM features for maximum durability.
www.tolomaticmx.com/29E

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