Can industry growth in the automation market continue its upward trend? According to a recent report by the ARC Advisory Group, its analysts anticipate a $7B motion control market by 2010. Globalization in the general motion control market (GMC) is kicking the growth with a compounded annual growth rate of 6.1% over the next four years. Seamless integration, new mechatronic solutions, software, and Ethernet systems are all contributing to the desire of manufacturers worldwide to operate in flexible and economical ways while maintaining agility to adapt to the ever-changing marketplace. The drive for ever better manufacturing productivity, flexibility, and agility is addresses in a Manufacturing.Net article.

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Kaydon manufactures standard and custom precision bearings for a broad range of motion control applications. Bore sizes are from less than 1 in. to over 180 in., and more than 370 configurations are available from stock. Download design/application information, software, and 3D CAD drawings at www.kaydonbearings.com. Go here for detailed bearing information.

Pfannenberg Inc. is pleased to announce an expansion to our Air Conditioning Line of Products for Thermal Management. Listening to our customers and responding to their needs is of paramount importance. We are therefore proud to announce the introduction of our DTS 3000 Series Line of Air Conditioners. (more products)

Custom Precision and Rolled Ball Screws
• Carburized and Induction Hardened in lengths 200 to 2000mm.
• Ball screw supports, mounts, and brackets also available.
• Check out our full line of linear components including Linear Shafts, Bushings, Linear Guides. Thousands of Inch and Metric Components available. Order catalogs today.

Whether a solution is required for new applications, redesigns of existing apparatus, or retrofit and replacement, AST's high-quality bearings remain unsurpassed. Our products are used in numerous aerospace applications, medical and dental equipment, power tools, X-Y plotters, motion control systems, scientific miniature, and micro-miniature instrumentation, and many other industrial applications. More information.

Spectrum analyzers have been used to determine bearing runout in precision bearing and spindle assemblies used by devices like centrifuges and computer disk drives. Now they can be replaced by a dynamic signal analyzer (joining spectral analysis with time domain NRR measurements), especially on precision machinery, according an Agilent Technologies application note.

This overview from Pump School.com offers insights into determining the various pump parts and mechanical components necessary for high-temperature applications, and includes a helpful table on bushing materials. External metal parts like rotor bearing sleeves are in contact with the liquid on the inside and exposed to ambient conditions on the outside.

Seal selection in pump design shouldn't be left to chance. Proper selection depends on operating conditions such as pressure, temperature, and seal environment among others. This guide offers valuable suggestions in seal selection.

Machine Design's Basics of Design Engineering offers this guide in mechanical face seals and their advantages and disadvantages in a design. Helical springs, wave springs, bellows, and rubber elements are used to apply a loading force to the seal face.

From Thomson, the pioneer in industrial actuators, comes technology that's reliable, durable, and environmentally friendly even with the most demanding applications. Delivery is fast and customizing your industrial actuator is easy. Tell us about your application challenge and we'll develop your solution. We'll also send a complimentary keychain flashlight.

Torque Transmission right angle gear drives are available in two model groups; RAB, the standard right angle drive, and RA, the miniature angle drives for light duty applications — both for light duty applications. Both models feature a choice of one or two output shafts and 1:1 or 2:1 gear ratios, right or left hand configuration.

For over 30 years, Walsh Precision Products has been machining close tolerance metal components. The company is TS16949 registered and manufactures a wide variety of precision machined fittings, tube nuts, connectors, rivets, pins, weld nuts, insert molding grommets, and contacts for the Automotive, HVAC, Transportation, and Furniture markets.

Our range of oil-impregnated sintered bronze bearings is intended for use in maintenance-free operations, under moderately high speeds and low loads. Learn More...

When an engineer's fancy turns to springs, Engineering Fundamentals offers a menu of knowledge on and design considerations for spring design, including terminology, compression force, stress, torsion, and extension spring (and k value) calculators, properties, Belleville spring washer design, leaf springs, and materials references.

From the simplest spring — a tension bar — to a Belleville washer, this tutorial offers definitions, ratios of mean coil diameter to wire diameter to spring characteristics, including stiffness, stress factors, and fatigue applications. Author Douglas Wright provides model simulations and methods to conduct static analysis.

Pigs, or pipeline inspection gauges, have been used for years to clean out oil pipelines, and smart piggies can reduce oil line spills like the recent BP Alaska pipeline leak. All it takes is turning them loose. BP had not used pigs in its Alaska line since 1992, relying instead on ultrasound and other external techniques.

Mechanical load design guidelines for servos have changed. Most mechanical load problems are really backlash and/or compliance problems. They can be overcome by adding in a speed reducer such as a timing belt. This motion control application note from Ormec offers suggestions for solving backlash and compliance issues to keep inertia mismatch low.

Energy Chain® cable carriers withstand high push-pull forces and travel up to 2,600 feet. Rol-E-Chain reduces friction when upper portion of E-Chain glides on lower portion. Developed for heavy-duty applications: cranes, material handling, plasma cutters. Get free samples.

However, being made from specially compounded thermoplastic materials, Sarnatech BNL bearings minimise water absorption, are chemical resistant, and give exceptionally good wear properties. With innovative patent-pending cage and race design, Sarnatech BNL's revolutionary bearing technology allows water and debris to flow freely through the system, yielding a greater flow path compared to conventional bearing technology.

DiceEngineering.com offers thousands of quality engineering jobs at top technology and engineering companies. Find jobs in your area of expertise. Search now.

The Research & Development Department of Clinical Technologies and Services of Cardinal Health is looking for a Senior Mechanical Engineer in San Diego, CA, to work on the design and qualification of new products as well as modifications or extensions of existing products in the medication and medical supply management field.

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) has planned the first conference to bring aerospace, automotive, and defense manufacturers together. It is scheduled for October 10-12 at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, AL. The cross-industry event will share technology advancements in all three areas. Topics will include: lean manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, lifecycle management, quality, and advanced materials.

If you are into puzzles, paradoxes, and probabilities than perplexus dot info is the place to go for a few minutes of diversion. Categories include logic, math, science, algorithms, and riddles. Many puzzles, such as one on circular logic, have no posted solutions, so you can be the first.

From time to time, we all can use help with mechanical design basics. For some refresher information on standard mechanical component design, including couplings, welded and riveted joints, springs, flywheels, washers, gears, and relief grooves among others, bookmark this easy-to-use reference from the University of Massachusetts (UMASS).

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