Mechanical Power Transmission News

The International Federation of Robotics projects a total of 93,800 "professional service robots" will be installed from last year until 2015 — most of which will see service in the military (UAVs and autonomous ground vehicles) and agriculture. The organization expects high percentage growth for logistical systems, including factory vehicles, and medical robots for surgical applications — the latter of which can cost an average of $1.5 million. Interestingly, and perhaps ominously, rapid growth is also predicted for home security, surveillance, and personal transport robots.

If you find this subject interesting, subscribe to the IHS GlobalSpec e-Newsletter Robotic Systems.

The GHP20-60 provides an extra 60:1 reduction in a compact 14 lb unit. The resulting 60 x 60 (3600/1) will allow the motor the extra reduction and will allow it to run at half to full speed. It now produces a half to one degree per second rotation of the suspended sonar array.

The C3 is a 24 V unit with 200 Arms and 250 Arms models, and controls all traction and hydraulic functions, as well as providing the necessary functionality for: line contactor and electro-magnetic brake, safe power-up and drive sequencing, belly-button, low battery management, and a suite of diagnostic and service features.

Despite developments in automatic transmissions for fuel efficiency, manual models are a growing market. Manual gearboxes have different roles in different markets: low-cost, lower-torque five-speeds are favored in emerging areas. In mature markets, refinements such as shift quality are important, leading to use of six- and seven-speeds on higher torque units.

A team of Texas A&M University researchers are looking to give robots true human walking characteristics — to have dynamic movement, so that if stopped halfway during a step, they would fall over! One key technology is voltage-based controllers for incorporating feedback in the control loop. Another is non-cogging drives (motors and gearheads) in each hip, knee, and ankle joint.

University of Illinois mechanical engineering students designed a "pulley" that ancient Egyptians could have developed to haul stone in building the pyramids. Using technology available at the time, the Egyptian Pulley is a cylindrical stone, grooved around its central circumference. Resting in an olive oil-lubricated cradle, a rope in the groove turns the cylinder, moving a stone block.

The 2013 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition switched from chain drives to belts for powering wheels in the high-school student robot design contest. Gates supplies the belts and sprockets in the drive-chassis kit for each team. Belts are lighter than chain and reduce assembly time because there is no need to break chain or assemble master links.

Accurate Bushing provides a complete range of cam followers in both inch and metric and stainless steel. Idler roller Smith-Trax bearings are produced with tapered roller bearings and ball bearings for high-thrust load applications. Custom bearings are manufactured to meet your special needs. See more bearings.

Equipment Solutions, Inc. (ESI) is a recognized leader in the field of voice coil motors and actuators and have innovated many important improvements that have advanced usability, reliability, and cost/performance. Any application that includes limited linear or tilting motions and requires high accelerations or positioning resolution carefully review our benefits. Read more.

Correct coupling selection, installation, and maintenance are essential to avoid coupling failure. The device must match its intended purpose within the application parameters — including performance, misalignment, and environment. A manufacturer's specs are important, as are the conditions under which the specification measurements were taken.

The latest torque limiter series from Mach III Clutch mitigates upstream driveline damage when a jam prevents driven component rotation. The torque output of the limiter varies directly with compression of a disc spring (purple in image) — which is set via an adjustment nut (light green). The device has five different mounting options.

After testing a flywheel KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) in an S60 sedan, Volvo says the energy-storage technology could bring about a 25% reduction in fuel consumption. The device is integrated with the rear axle and regeneratively brakes the car to capture energy, which can be used to propel the car after a stop or add acceleration power to the petrol engine output.

SheerWind says its Invelox wind turbine averages more than 3x the efficiency of conventional, pylon-mounted, pivoting wind turbines. A fixed cluster of horizontal-facing "horns" scoops wind flow from any direction and ducts it downward into a turbine/gearbox combination to drive an electric generator. The Bernoulli Effect speeds up the flow as the duct cross-section narrows, allowing power to be extracted from the slightest breeze.

For more on this subject, subscribe to IHS GlobalSpec's e-Newsletter Wind Turbine Technology.

Go to the experts for long lasting, lightweight, and cost-effective plastic power transmission components. At their molding facilities SDP/SI manufactures AGMA 6 and better quality products that are ISO 9001, RoHS and REACH compliant. A full service organization with 40 years of experience, large capacity and delivery when you need it.

Portescap is pleased to introduce the 12GS motor to our Athlonix Series of high power density brush DC motors. The efficiency and compact size of the 12GS make it a perfect fit for demanding applications for life science, medical, and safety/detection applications. Learn more about the new 12GS!

This ISO standard, available now from IHS, specifies the principal characteristics of synchronous pulleys for use in synchronous endless belt drives for mechanical power transmission and where positive indexing or synchronization is required. Characteristics covered include tooth dimensions and tolerances, pulley dimensions and tolerances, and quality specification.

For more information on IHS standards, visit us here.

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