Motion and Controls Reference Materials
Technical Articles
Reference Articles 1001 - 1100 of 2133
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Why a Can Stack Motor
From: PortescapDescription: COMPOSITION AND VARIATIONS OF CAN STACK MOTORS ...
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Why Use an Electromagnetic Brake with Your Electric DC Motor?
From: PortescapDescription: An electromagnetic brake in combination with a DC motor is a nice solution for holding a load or for safety in case of power failure. ...
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Infrequently Asked Questions About Linear Actuators
Description: Designers getting ready to choose a linear actuator for a specific device or machine should have a list of questions ready to ask suppliers and manufacturers of those devices. These lists usually ...
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Motion Control Goes Small
Description: Machine designers are increasingly asked to build systems that take up less space, operate on less power, and run with higher performance. Thankfully motion controls are answering the call with new ...
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Reduce Development Time to Build A 3-Axis Gantry Controller Board
Description: In this article we will compare and contrast building a motion controller board for a three-axis gantry using two different design approaches. The first uses PMD's MC58113 Motion Control ICs, and the ...
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Servo-Driven Plastic Bag Making and Converting Machines
Description: A plastic bag and converting machine manufacturing OEM is utilizing high performance servo controls for quick axis indexing, handling large inertial loads and simplifying its HMIs with built-in ...
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State-of-the-Art Controls Enable Flexible Pouching
Description: Several different types of flexible pouching machines include mail pouches, liquid pouches and small pouches. These all benefit from advanced automation solutions and servo controls for auxiliary ...
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Motion Control - A Shortcut to Sizing Motors
Description: Motor constant aids in selecting dc motors in motion-control applications. Brushed and brushless dc motors are a good choice in power sensitive or efficiency craving applications. A lot of times, a dc ...
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What Offers Precise Positioning and Highly Dynamic Response for Motion-Control Task?
Description: Linear motors offer precise positioning and highly dynamic response for many motion-control tasks. For machine tools, these include not only rapid traverse, but slow, constant-speed movement of ...
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How to Carry Out the Implementation of Custom Linear Positioning System?
Description: President Zhang's linear motion system is used for home engraving and requires anti-sawdust, so it is arranged in a closed screw module production line. Director Li's linear motion system is used for ...
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Sizing and Selecting Linear Motion Systems
Description: From packaging and material handling to semiconductor fabrication and automotive assembly, virtually all manufacturing processes incorporate some type of linear motion, and as manufacturers become ...
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Achieving Hazard-Free Linear Motion
Description: The safety case for electromechanical actuators over hydraulic cylinders. ...
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Nanopositioners: What Are They Good For?
From: Mad City Labs, Inc.Description: NANOPOSITIONER APPLICATIONS, UTILITY, AND FUNCTIONALITY OFTEN ARE MISUNDERSTOOD - TO THE DETRIMENT OF RESEARCHERS WHOSE EXPERIMENTS MIGHT BENEFIT FROM THE STABILITY, PRECISION, AND REPEATABILITY THESE ...
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Two Drives Yield Precise Dual-Speed Motion
Description: Highly precise linear positioning systems, such as those used to focus and scan in measuring and inspection equipment often need two different motion modes ...
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Timing Belts in Linear Positioning System
Description: This four-part series begins with belt drive geometry, which applies to any application. Later installments will delve into the various forces and deflections acting within the system, as well as ...
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Developments in Positioning Control
Description: Researchers continue to look for ways to improve the accuracy of linear positioning systems, reduce or eliminate backlash, as well as make such devices easier to use. Here is a look at recent ...
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What is the Custom Design Linear Motion System that Best Meets the Needs of Users?
Description: For Fuyu, the previously produced drawings and the standardized modules with related materials can be regarded as modular products. Conversely, new designs with relatively large design changes based ...
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Tips for Choosing High-accuracy Linear Positioning Systems: Part 3
Description: The components that make up your high-accuracy positioning system - bearings, position-measuring system, motor- and-drive system, and controller - must work together as well as possible. Part 1 ...
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Tips for Choosing High-accuracy Linear Positioning Systems: Part 1
Description: Electronic, optic, computer, inspection, automation, and laser industries require diverse positioning-system specifications. No one system is right for all. To ensure that a high-accuracy positioning ...
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Tips for Choosing High-accuracy Linear Positioning Systems: Part 2
Description: The components that make up your high-accuracy positioning system - base and bearings, position-measuring system, motor-and-drive system, and controller - must work together as well as possible. In ...
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Tips for Choosing High-Accuracy Linear Positioning Systems: Part 1
Description: Electronic, optic, computer, inspection, automation, and laser industries require diverse positioning-system specifications. ...
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When to Outsource: Plug-And-Play Motion Subsystems
Description: Building motion actuators and stages from scratch forces designers to order, inventory, and assemble hundreds of parts. It also increases time to market and requires technicians and specialized ...
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A Finer Control of Linear Motion
Description: Linear actuators essentially generate force and motion through a straight line. In a typical mechanical system, a device's output shaft would provide linear motion using a rotary motor through gears, ...
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Which Motors Are the Best: Servos or Steppers?
Description: One of the more critical decisions engineers can make when designing any type of motion control process is choosing the motor. Getting the right motor, both in terms of type and size, is imperative to ...
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Choosing Your Motor
From: parvalux by maxonDescription: With the guide below covering aspects of motor design such as torque, duty cycle, thermal limits and efficiency, we hope to provide a reference point when selecting your motor. ...
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The History of DC Motors
From: parvalux by maxonDescription: The history of DC motors extends way back into the 19th century. From initial testing and development to widespread use across global industries, DC gear motors have evolved significantly into the ...
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Why You Should Choose an Electric Patient Hoist vs Manual
From: parvalux by maxonDescription: If you are considering manufacturing hoists for the healthcare industry, you might be wondering which design would work best for both you and your customers. Patient hoists can be operated by an ...
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Why are DC Motors Used in Trains?
From: parvalux by maxonDescription: DC motors are used in a wide variety of industries, from the workplace to leisure. However, one of the main industries they serve is rail. DC motors are commonly used to power trains and their ...
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The Benefits of AC Motors
From: parvalux by maxonDescription: If you are unsure whether to choose an AC motor solution for your product, you might be interested to know the exact benefits they can bring and the applications they are most suited to. We offer a ...
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Cartesian Gantry Robots - Advantages and Applications
From: Isotech, Inc.Description: SCARA and articulating arm robots might be the most recognizable form of robot on the market today, but look to gantry robots for getting the big jobs done in the least amount of space. ...
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5 Benefits to Working with a Custom Gear Manufacturer
From: Gear Motions, Inc.Description: Why work with a custom gear manufacturer like Gear Motions? Are not all gears designed and created the same way? If these are questions you have pondered, you have come to the right place. ...
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Advantages of Helical Gears
From: Gear Motions, Inc.Description: In the world of precision gear manufacturing, there are often many opportunities to increase efficiency simply by changing one of the elements of your gear production process. Many gear manufacturers ...
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Advantages of Worm Gears
From: Gear Motions, Inc.Description: Compared to other types of gears, worm gears are unique and have very distinctive characteristics and uses. This post will focus on the advantages of worm gears. ...
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Benefits of Precision Gear Grinding
From: Gear Motions, Inc.Description: In gear manufacturing, precision gear grinding is a finishing process which uses abrasive wheels to remove small variations on gear teeth. It is widely known to be the most accurate way to finish a ...
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Custom Gears vs. Stock Gears
From: Gear Motions, Inc.Description: As a gear manufacturer, we typically receive two different types of inquiries from potential customers. The first type comes from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), usually from industries ...
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Gear Quality and Precision Gears
From: Gear Motions, Inc.Description: Precision gears are often used in industries that require extremely high accuracy themselves, including the aerospace and military, medical device, and printing and packaging industries. ...
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Helical Gears vs. Spur Gears
From: Gear Motions, Inc.Description: Spur gears and helical gears are two of the most common types of gears. They can often be used for the same types of applications; so what are the differences between helical gears vs. spur gears? ...
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How to Extend Gear Life
From: Gear Motions, Inc.Description: Gears are critical elements in the power transmission systems of many machines. As a result, gear failure could mean disastrous results and costly downtime for your equipment or products. As a buyer ...
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Powdered Metal Gears
From: Gear Motions, Inc.Description: Powdered metal gears are made through the process of powder metallurgy. There have been many advances to this process over the years, which have in turn caused an increase in the popularity of ...
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Same Gear, Different Name: A Round-up of Gear Terms
From: Gear Motions, Inc.Description: There are many terms that can be used to describe different types of gears. Some terms are very common. Some you may have never heard of. In some cases, there are several different terms for ...
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Selection of Gear Material
From: Gear Motions, Inc.Description: When it comes to large scale production, gear engineering and design is crucial. While there are many aspects to consider, one that shouldn't be overlooked is the selection of gear material. Let's ...
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The Concept of Gear Crowning
From: Gear Motions, Inc.Description: In the gear industry, gear noise and misalignment are among the most common problems manufacturers come across. A relatively easy solution that gear manufacturers can utilize to fix these problems is ...
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The Fundamentals of Planetary Gear Systems
From: Gear Motions, Inc.Description: At first glance, planetary gear systems, also known as epicyclic gear systems, appear to be quite complex. It is certainly true that it takes a skilled gear engineer to master all of the intricate ...
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The Importance of Gear Inspection
From: Gear Motions, Inc.Description: Gear inspection is an important procedure for checking not only the overall quality of the manufactured gear, but it also provides insights to the efficiency and level of control of the manufacturing ...
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The Importance of Good Gear Blanks
From: Gear Motions, Inc.Description: If you want to manufacture high quality precision gears, you should start with high quality gear blanks. You may be able to find or manufacture low cost, low quality gear blanks that seem to fit your ...
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Uses of Straight Bevel Gears
From: Gear Motions, Inc.Description: With so many different types of gears, it can be hard to keep track of the wide range of uses for each type of gear. Read on to learn more about straight bevel gears and some of the applications they ...
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Setting the Stage for Good Machine Design
Description: Motion-control systems consist of three main components: the positioning mechanism, motor drive electronics, and motion controller. Each of these components should be carefully selected but for best ...
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Rotork Provide Electric Actuation Technology at New Zealand Water Treatment Plants
From: Rotork plcDescription: Rotork IQ and IQT actuators have been ordered to be fitted on several water treatment plants in New Zealand. The Matamata (home of Hobbiton in the Lord of the Rings movies) Piako District Council, of ...
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How to Design a Linear Motion System
Description: Consider supports, guides, drives, and seals when designing a linear system. Know your precision, repeatability, loading, and environmental requirements before starting linear-system design. ...
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Direct Drive vs. Geared Rotary Servomotor: A Quantification of Design Advantage: Part 1
Description: A geared servomotor can be useful for rotary motion technology, but there are challenges and limitations users need to be aware of. ...
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Direct Drive vs. Geared Rotary Servomotor: A Quantification of Design Advantage: Part 2
Description: Testing a direct drive and geared rotary servomotor shows there are some significant differences between the two when actually put into practice. ...
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Direct Drive vs. Geared Rotary Servomotor: A Quantification of Design Advantage: Part 3
Description: Direct-drive servomotors are becoming more common as range and availability expands for use in many machine and motor applications. ...
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High Performing Robotic and Motor Control Solutions
Description: Make sure your packaging line is ready for what comes next ...
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How to Choose Between an ECM and a VFD
Description: While each has its place in HVAC applications, electronically commutated motors and variable frequency drives have important differences in simplicity, flexibility, cost and other factors ...
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How to Size an Electric-Motor-Driven Chain-and-Sprocket System
Description: Explore the process for sizing the components (using that same software) for an electric-motor-powered axis based on chain and sprocket power transmission. ...
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Motion Control Brings Flexibility to Packaging
Description: Packaging operations need to change on a dime these days. That requires coordinated motion control hardware and software. ...
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Programming Variable Frequency Drives for Variable-Torque Applications
Description: Variable frequency drives have an incredible amount of functionality. Due to advancements in technology over the years, HMIs in the form of VFD keypads have become more user friendly with easier ...
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Top 5 VFD Parameter Changes Explained
Description: Programming variable frequency drives (VFDs) to fit most industrial applications require only the most basic settings to operate the motor. Understand these 5 VFD parameter changes to optimize VFD ...
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Application Story - Anode Jacks
From: Joyce/Dayton Corp.Description: Choose from the links below to download catalogs, operation & maintenance manuals, and product brochures for Joyce/Dayton products. If you need further assistance, see our Products section, or contact ...
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Application Story - Handling Nuclear Waste
From: Joyce/Dayton Corp.Description: Choose from the links below to download catalogs, operation & maintenance manuals, and product brochures for Joyce/Dayton products. If you need further assistance, see our Products section, or contact ...
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Application Story - Handling Spent Nuclear Fuel
From: Joyce/Dayton Corp.Description: Choose from the links below to download catalogs, operation & maintenance manuals, and product brochures for Joyce/Dayton products. If you need further assistance, see our Products section, or contact ...
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Application Story - Outdoor Theater
From: Joyce/Dayton Corp.Description: Choose from the links below to download catalogs, operation & maintenance manuals, and product brochures for Joyce/Dayton products. If you need further assistance, see our Products section, or contact ...
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Application Story - Using Jacks in Log Homes
From: Joyce/Dayton Corp.Description: Choose from the links below to download catalogs, operation & maintenance manuals, and product brochures for Joyce/Dayton products. If you need further assistance, see our Products section, or contact ...
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Electric Linear Actuators: Make or Buy?
Description: Engineering an electric linear actuator system in-house is often the most cost and time-efficient route to an automated motion solution. Sometimes you are better off buying. Who could know better than ...
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Choose the Right Combination Motor Controller Type for Your Next Panel
From: ABB Inc.Description: Combination Motor Controller (CMC) provide the four essential elements of motor branch circuit protection and control. Panel builders should understand the benefits and drawbacks of the five most ...
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Could You Get Into the UL 845 Motor Control Center Panel Market?
From: ABB Inc.Description: Providing UL 845 motor control centers represents a step up the value chain for UL 508A panel shops. But that step up into a new and potentially profitable market requires a smaller step than you ...
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How Much Time and Money Can Push-In Contactors Save You?
From: ABB Inc.Description: Panel builders are always looking for ways to speed production, reduce costs, and improve panel reliability. Devices equipped with push-in connectors check all three of those boxes. Use this simple ...
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Selecting the Right Motor Starter Option
From: ABB Inc.Description: Of the various motor starter options, which is the best fit for your application? This article introduces the benefits and tradeoffs of the three main starter types: across-the-line starters, ...
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SRP™ Sucker-Rod Pump Drive
From: Unico, Inc.Description: Unico's Sucker-Rod Pump Drive (SRP™) provides superior control of conventional, air-balanced, beam-balanced, phased-crank, Mark II, Reverse Mark, and Rotaflex artificial lifts. The drive ...
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New Ventilator Prototypes Rely on Linear Actuators
Description: Bag valve masks, also called ambu bags (artificial manual breathing units) are used to deliver oxygen to patients who aren't breathing on their own. But while they have saved many lives, they are not ...
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Reduce Supply Chain Risk by Reshoring in 2020
From: Gear Motions, Inc.Description: Between increasing tariffs and a global pandemic, the supply chain has been significantly disrupted this year. If you are one of many American manufacturers that rely on international suppliers for ...
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Carbon Fiber Placement Application
From: Andantex USA, Inc.Description: In this application, a robot carries a head that unwinds carbon fiber tows and applies them to a rotating mold to make a pressure vessel. Perfect synchronization between the linear and rotary axes is ...
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What is a Rack & Pinion Dedicated Reducer?
From: Andantex USA, Inc.Description: A rack and pinion dedicated reducer has a pinion as the output, and is optimized to position within microns while moving large loads and providing smooth motion for in process operations (i.e. ...
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5 Tips to Keeping Your Surface Preparation Equipment Healthy
Description: Prior to the Second World War, machines were basic, bulky, and slow-running. Because production demands were low, machine downtime did not cause considerable problems. However, with technological ...
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6 Things Small Manufacturers Need to Know About Cartesian Robots
Description: Load, Accuracy, Stroke, Controller, Driver and Supplier. ...
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A Selection Guide for Linear Systems
Description: Gone are the days when machine designers and builders had to choose between constructing their own linear system from scratch or settling for a limited range of pre-assembled systems that, in most ...
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Automated Linear-Transfer Tool Trays
Description: Until recently, getting high precision and repeatability from production lines was difficult. But now new systems for automation are eliminating barriers associated with manual handling and assembly ...
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Crawling Robots and Flying Drones Detect Damaged Wind Blades
Description: Drones and crawling robots outfitted with special scanners could help wind blades stay in service longer, which could lower the cost of wind energy at a time when blades are getting bigger, pricier, ...
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Different Drive Concepts for Different Machine Tool Motions
Description: Main drives are predominantly closed-loop controlled, electric synchronous, and asynchronous motors. Their applications include kit or housed motors for use in turning, milling and grinding machines ...
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Doing the Heavy Lifting: When Cartesian Robots Make the Most Sense
Description: Compared to a Cartesian robot, a SCARA or six-axis system will generally deliver higher performance out of the box at a higher cost and with greater programming requirements, but with a smaller ...
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Five Steps to Linear Motor Integration
Description: Linear motion is central to many moving machines, and the direct-drive nature of linear motors can simplify overall machine design in these applications. Other benefits include improved stiffness, ...
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Five Things to Consider When Choosing a Linear Actuator
Description: You're working on an application that requires linear motion - maybe it's a pick-and-place assembly system, a packaging line, or a gantry for material transfer - but designing your own actuator from ...
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How to Estimate Your Linear Actuator Needs with Minimal Application Data?
Description: Selecting an actuator based on approximations of the performance requirements is arguably more risky than choosing a linear guide or drive with minimal application info. But still, the situation is ...
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How to Get Predictable and Reliable Linear Motion
Description: Here are some tips on how to correctly specify and size a linear-motor-driven actuator using the mnemonic ACTUATOR-short for accuracy, capacity, travel length, usage, ambient environment, timing, ...
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How to Reduce the Effects of Stiction (Stick-Slip) in Linear Guides
Description: Unless you're playing the violin, stiction, or stick-slip, is an unwanted condition caused by the difference between static and dynamic friction between the two surfaces. When stiction occurs in ...
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How to Shrink the Size of a Linear Actuator
Description: Linear actuators come in a wide range of sizes, but over the past several yeas, manufacturers have been emphasizing more and more compact footprints. But no matter how small the actuator, the addition ...
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How to Specify, Select and Apply Linear Ball Screw Drives
Description: Specifying the right ball screw for a given application will ensure machine accuracy, repeatability and life while minimizing the total cost of ownership. A ball screw drive translates rotational ...
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Increasing Step Motor Torque Without Increasing Frame Size
Description: Step motors provide accurate position control without the need for feedback, traditionally in open-loop control schemes. A stepper motor's shaft normally makes discrete angular movements of ...
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Linear Encoders Improve Accuracy
Description: Linear encoders track axis position without intermediate mechanical elements. The encoders even measure transfer errors from mechanical linkages (such as rotary-to-linear mechanical devices), which ...
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Linear Guides, Power Transmission, Actuators See Unexpected Applications
Description: Our 2020 survey of the industry indicates an unabated trend towards more automation of previously static or manually tended systems. Key to these new offerings is installation simplicity for OEMs and ...
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Linear Motion Systems: Only as Strong as Weakest Link
Description: A linear motion system is only as strong as the most compromising links in its chain of mechanical and electromechanical elements. Understanding each component and feature (and its impact on design ...
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Linear Motor vs. Ball Screw
Description: While ironless linear motors have been used in semiconductor and electronic applications for more than a decade, they are still viewed by many designers and OEMs as "niche" products. But the ...
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Linear Positioning Stages and XYZ Tables
Description: Positioning stages and tables are used in motion control systems to hold down a work piece and/or to position it for some operation. Stages or tables, whether linear or rotary, are most often complete ...
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Linear Positioning Stages/Tables
Description: Positioning stages and tables are used in motion control systems to hold down a work piece and/or to position it for some operation. Stages or tables, whether linear or rotary, are most often complete ...
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Motion Basics: How to Define Roll, Pitch, and Yaw for Linear Systems
Description: Linear guides and systems are typically subjected to both linear forces due to downward, upward, and side loads and rotational forces due to overhung loads. Rotational forces - also referred to as ...
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Motion Trends Update: Positioning Stages Lead Charge to Pragmatic Design
Description: Positioning stages today can satisfy specific and demanding output requirements. That's because customized integration and the latest in motion programming now help stages get incredible accuracy and ...
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Picking, Purchasing and Programming Your First Industrial Robot
Description: Robots don't disappoint. After a manufacturing company buys its first industrial robot installation, it goes back time and time again to buy more to further automation to their factories. Given that ...
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Pulse Control Basics for Motion Control
Description: let's take a look at controlling a stepper motor or servo with a driver or amplifier in between the controller and motor with the emphasis on the pulse signals used from the controller or indexer. ...
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Robotics or Motion Control? That is the Question.
Description: Though the lines can often be blurred, robotics and motion control are not the same thing. They are closely related in many ways, but robots lean towards more "pre-engineered" solutions while motion ...
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Rules for Actuator and Guide Alignment in Linear Motion Systems
Description: Many automated machines rely on linear guidance components, such as profiled rail, round rail or other rolling or sliding bearing structures, to guide and support the moving elements of equipment. ...