Drives News

For a nuclear test facility (low vacuum, non-magnetic environment) using neutron beam scattering for non-destructive testing, this Jaw package uses a set of motorized blades that modify the face area of the neutron beam. It was created from standard motion control components. Each of the four blades uses two nonmagnetic ceramic servomotors.

Precise motion control is critical for the safe operation of this fully automated rear loading electro-hydraulic garbage collection machine. The system is capable of handling containers from 21 to 290 gallons (80 to 1100 liters). Key control elements are the embedded magnetostrictive sensors used to monitor the lifting cycle.

A recently introduced line of adjustable speed controls promises to provide users with all the advantages of brushless technology — including quieter operation, less maintenance, tight speed regulation, and efficient design. Potential applications include door openers, mixers, conveyors, and pumps. Power ranges from ¼ HP up to 3 HP (2.2 kW).

Part of a wind turbine drive family, this drive has totally enclosed cabinet construction (no air inlet or outlet openings) for harsh environments. The drive transfers AC power from the turbine generator to the utility or transmission switchgear. Active and passive power converting components and control electronics are liquid cooled.

Engineers at R&B Plastics Machinery adapted a standard PLC to control positioning motions on a 9 axes, hydraulically actuated blow molding machine by using function block software. Integrated motion and parison controls eliminated the need for a dedicated motion controller, usually necessary for high precision, multi-axis applications.

These compact inverters have enough I/O, serial ports, encoder inputs, Fieldbus ports, etc. and program memory so that they can be used for motion control applications. The cost saving units can store up to four programs which allow the drives to be quickly reconfigured for different control functions or production routines.

Multiaxis machines in the plastics, packaging, print, and textile industries need drives that do not allow any power loss inside the switching cabinet. The motion control drive system was designed with a feed-through cooler for releasing heat outside the cabinet. Alternatively, it can connect with a cooling circulation system.

New versions of the AX5000 EtherCAT servodrive range extend the rated currents to 18 and 25A. Manufacturer Beckhoff says a 75A version will soon follow. New safety features include an option card that offers a safe restart lock, in accordance with new machinery safety standards. It can be interfaced with PC-based controls.

Mechatronic product design is catching on in many industries, but the deficiency of cross-functional knowledge among design engineers and the lack of design tools to integrate the design data of all the elements have become the major challenge. Simulation software comes to the rescue, providing a virtual advantage. Control Design Editor-in-Chief Joe Feely discusses the findings of a recent Aberdeen Group study on the blending of design and mechatronics.

World's Oldest Encryption Device

This may be the oldest existing cipher disk: by aligning code rings users have various encryption keys they can use to write their messages. The only one who could decipher the message was someone who knew the coordinates to arrange similar wheels on his own machine. This relic was found in a home in Virginia, near the Monticello estate of Thomas Jefferson and was used with the French language.

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