Analysis from Wanted Analytics shows that job opportunities in the field of robotics are up 29% year-over-year through May. "While many see automation as contributing to job losses," says a company representative in a recent press release, "the hiring demand for people to build, program, operate and repair robotics seems to be growing...This skill set has seen steady growth over the past three years." A Plant Engineering article summarizes the report, which details the cities with the highest number of job listings in the robotics field. Blossoming as a hot spot for robotics: Phoenix, AZ.

Do vibration pens and other screening devices leave you frustrated and confused? Fluke has an easy answer. The new Fluke 805 Vibration Meter is the most reliable tool for day-to-day machine checks. So, forget the pen. Think meter. The new Fluke 805 Vibration Meter. Learn more today.

Built for hostile environments, Vacon X4/X5 AC drives feature NEMA 4X/IP66 enclosures, rugged covers, and a double labyrinth seal to keep out dirt and dust. The full-featured drives, available from Kaman Industrial Technologies, also include color-coded buttons, advanced process control features, and USB functionality for all of your needs.

Control Engineering offers an up-close look at the advanced motion-control system used for final body assembly of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Measurement systems collect and feed data for 14 positioning-system components, and the software calculates precise movement of nose, tail, and wings to ensure an exact fit. Motion controller, HMI, Windows-based PC, and safety PLC reside on a ProfiNet network.

Learn how a 160-yr-old Italian bakery leverages a state-of-the-art servo-based motion-control system to handle with care delicate and delicious ladyfingers. Carefully orchestrated conveyors work in sync to package the baked biscuits efficiently, perfectly oriented to optimize speed and appearance. Ethernet-enabled closed-loop communication among conveyor drives, servo motors and the line controller triggers success.

Here's a Web-based distributed-control system for AC and DC drives that combines a process controller and drive-interface controller configured and integrated for use on Windows, MAC OSX, Linux, and other operating systems. Use the Ethernet-based system to control drive, temperature controller, logic controller, and other components.

Read all about this AC servo drive that features active power-factor correction and a dual-stage line filter, so that users can skip the added expense of an external line filter. Use it to drive AC induction and permanent-magnet brushless motors rated to 1 hp. A press release describes the numerous feedback types supported for position/velocity and torque control.

The DCD and ACD motor drives offer the flexibility and convenience of a digital control without the need to purchase a proprietary programmer. Using a PC with RS232 OEMs set tuning and maximum speeds for forward and reverse parameters. PCI specializes in providing reliable, energy-efficient solutions for motion control and power amplification.

This new training video demonstrates the ease of installation of our KBAC series of Hybrid drives. These AC drives have rugged Die-cast Aluminum NEMA-4X enclosures with hinged covers. They are ideal for harsh indoor or outdoor applications that may require wash-down or watertight integrity. From KB Electronics, Inc.

Design World presents a new product family of servo drives small enough to mount right next to the motor — no need for specialized moving cables. The drives are well-suited to two-axis gantry systems as well as to gantries with four-axis planar control. Included is analysis of how MIMO control law applies to gantry design and functionality.

…thanks to the use of especially quiet, precise, and efficient servo drives, according to a product manager describing the machine in a 5 minute YouTube video. The machine can cut adhesive vinyl, self-adhesive foil, and other materials — including paper and cardboard — at speeds to 960 mm/sec, with a maximum downforce of 750 g. Watch it run.

Watch as an Akribis high-performance linear BLDC motor runs at a 350 mm stroke with 4 G acceleration and a top speed of 2 m/sec. At the helm during this fast-paced 90 sec precision motion demonstration is a 400 VDC three-phase amplifier drive with a path planner rate of 50,000 setpoints/sec. Position repeatability: 1 micron.

A new set of servo drives offers a peak current rating four times their continuous-output rating. As explained on DrivesMag.com, the drives sustain the over-current for 0.5 sec. As a result, they can shorten point-to-point moves by as much as 25% when compared to drives offering the standard 2x to 2.5x over-current rating.

This motorized goniometer stage has been integrated worm and worm gears with V-rails guide device. There are two Rotation center height of 60 mm and 75 mm with its 0.01 mm of accuracy.

GMT Global Inc. is the leading manufacturer of linear motion systems in Taiwan.

Nexen Group, Inc. introduces its new Precision Ring Drive, providing precision motion control for indexing and rotary positioning systems. Offering a unique combination of design and performance capabilities, the PRD meets positioning demands for next-generation machine designs.

SIEMENS Webinar:
Improve the Energy Efficiency of Your Drive Systems — 8/29/2012

On August 29, Siemens will present a webinar titled "Improve the Energy Efficiency of Your Drive Systems". Perfect for engineers in all industries, this webinar will focus on industrial motors, drives, couplings, and gearboxes. Learn more about what you can do to lower the energy costs of your plant's most energy consuming systems. Join your peers for this free, informative webinar and Register today!

Procedures for calibration of linear displacement sensors and their corresponding power supply, signal conditioner, and data acquisition systems are covered in this document from ASTM. Available now from IHS, the standard covers any sensor used to measure displacement that gives an electrical voltage output that is linearly proportional to displacement.

The new UL 1004-6 standard covering servo and stepper motors, available now from IHS, is intended to be read together with the Standard for Rotating Electrical Machines, General Requirements, UL 1004-1. The requirements in UL 1004-6 supplement or amend the requirements in UL 1004-1.

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