Drives News

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GlobalSpec's Motion Control Event — June 9, 2010

Join your peers and leading manufacturers for this free, informative, and interactive ONLINE conference and trade show — right from the convenience of your desktop. Participate in any or all of the educational sessions, network with peers, and meet with manufacturers eager to showcase their latest products, services, and new technology offerings. Learn more about the educational sessions offered to meet your information needs, including:

• The World of Motion Control
• Complex Linear Motion System Design, Made Easy
• Precision in Motion
• How Web Servers Cut Automation Costs
• Leveraging FPGA Flexibility for Drive/Motion Applications

The industry has seen this possibility coming for several years, and it's here now: machines will be able to send text messages to other machines (see video), or to maintenance engineers, or anybody who has a cell (mobile) phone. And isn't that just about everybody in the world? This agreement, announced jointly at Hannover Fair by Phoenix Contact and Vodafone Deutschland, puts the concept in full motion, with specific equipment and software to make it happen. The deal makers say they are convinced that PLCs and motor drives will be integrated for remote maintenance and diagnostics, mostly using telecommunication networks.

GlobalSpec is seeking proposals from industry experts interested in participating in its January 12, 2011 or July 13, 2011 Industrial Automation online conference and trade show events. Open to GlobalSpec's 5 million registered users, this event will examine trends, technologies, and applications in the field of Industrial Automation. Speaking opportunities provide an opportunity for you and your company to participate in a high-quality, engaging production that will help increase brand awareness and influence key decision-makers. Learn more or submit your proposal today. Deadline for the January 12, 2011 event is May 31, 2010.

We congratulate our long-standing partner, NEC Electronics, on the completion of its merger with Renesas. Other than our partner's new name, little has changed for CEL. We'll continue to supply our customers with the same great products, all from the same best-in-class production facilities. Here's to another 50 years of smooth sailing.

As one of the world's leaders in high speed motor drives, KEB offers true open-loop servo motor operation from 0.5 HP to 1000+ Hp with speeds up to 96,000 rpm. Stationary pole identification allows the motor to develop full torque at zero speed, even if the shaft is locked. Learn more...

The CNC motion control system in this five-axis milling machine, used to fabricate Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft engine casings, plays a double role. It first cuts and finishes metal parts. Then, referencing relevant CAD/CAM files, it turns into a Coordinate Measurement System (CMM) to perform on-machine probe inspection.

When a New Delhi, India-based training company wanted to build a training simulator for large cranes, it didn't want to fuss with all the complex networking that would be ordinarily required for a three-axis platform. The solution for this PC-based motion control system was these straightforward, Ethernet-driven servo drives.

Yaskawa found a new way to distribute application software for AC drives: on the iTunes Web site. Users download the $avings Predictor, which estimates energy savings when using variable speed drives. The more specialized iQpump $aver application estimates energy savings when using the intelligent pump controller.

It's the largest medium voltage variable frequency drive that this manufacturer has ever built, and also the most efficient, at 99%. Where do they ship such a big drive? Why, to Texas, where else! The 8,000 HP (6 mW) unit will be used in a Dallas laboratory to test massive size mud drilling pumps.

3X DC brushes DC motors are widely used in electro-medical appliances, mobility, automatic doors, liquid dispensers, pump drives, robotics, and many more varied agricultural and light industrial applications. They are suitable for use with variable speed drives and come in several varieties for your specifications. Learn more about 3X Motion Technologies Co., Ltd.

Carlo Gavazzi has just released its new range of variable frequency drives, the Variflex2 RVEF Series. These compact AC motor drives are ideal for general purpose motor applications from 0.25 to 3.0 Hp motors and offer features and options that are usually only available on larger drives.

London drivers complained of getting their cars soaked by an ornamental fountain; a safety hazard as well as an annoyance. The site contractor installed an anemometer to measure wind speed and put the pumps under variable speed control. Now when it's windy, fountain heights are proportionally lowered. Drivers have stopped grumbling.

Direct-drive linear motion applications are benefitting from a type of optical encoder called the exposed linear encoder. Using non-contact photoelectric scanning techniques, they can be up to 27 m in length (89 ft), yet have resolutions down to 1 nm. Uses include semiconductor and printed circuit board manufacturing industries.

Can servo drive systems really be as simple as "plug and play"? This video presentation does a good job of showing how today's modular systems can be quickly connected and programmed for operation. It also shows how safety functions can be added to protect operators using the system.

It's so small, it easily fits into the palm of your hand. But for motion control applications using stepper motors with relatively few I/O requirements, this might be the solution. It is an upgrade to the manufacturer's previous stepper controller that includes full motion control software to enable it to run independently.

Sure-Grip® "Quick Detachable" (QD) bushings are easy to install and remove. They are split through flange and taper to provide a true clamp on the shaft that is the equivalent of a shrink fit. Versatile bushings permit the mounting of the same mating part on shafts of different diameters. From TB Woods Incorporated.

Packaging machinery manufacturers love this little right angle gear drive used on a wide variety of machinery including capping machines. The user's application will be turning right angles in no time. Each added shaft is supported by sealed ball bearings making them suitable for high-speed operation. From Branham, W.C. Inc.

The Motion Control Association (MCA) is moving ahead with events and membership, according to Bill Allai, chairman of the nonprofit trade group for motion control technologies. Along with the Robotics Industry Forum and the Automated Imaging Association, it is scheduling business conferences and participation in the new "Automate" event next March at McCormick Place in Chicago.

The A1 Tornado steam locomotive in this video is not a refurbished engine; it is brand new — the first steam train built in England in the last 50 years. And the people who are celebrating the end of this 20-year project are serious when they say steam will live to see another day. The design may allow the steam engine to run at speeds of up to 90 MPH.

Barbie as Engineer?

There's a new version of Barbie doll coming out later this year, in time for Christmas: Barbie the Engineer. She's about 25 years too late, don't you think?.