Motion and Controls Reference Materials
Technical Articles
Reference Articles 1601 - 1700 of 2129
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Playing with Water
From: maxonDescription: maxon motor is renowned for its high-quality precision drive components, but customers sometimes want more. A look at Germany, where maxon engineers work on complex complete solutions for gigantic ...
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Run, Dino, Run...
From: maxonDescription: A dinosaur on a treadmill isn't something you see every day - unless you happen to be at the Korean KAIST Institute Laboratory. Researchers there have developed a robot that can run at speeds of up to ...
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Suddenly Everyone Wants to Go to the Moon
From: maxonDescription: For decades, it seemed like the world had lost interest in Earth's smaller companion. Now, the science and business communities have rediscovered the Moon. Several landing missions are planned for the ...
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Surgical Power Tools
From: maxonDescription: When surgeons perform operations in the operating room, they reach for battery-powered tools. These tools must be precise and reliable and withstand over a thousand autoclave cycles. This places tough ...
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The Big Spring Cleaning in Space
From: maxonDescription: They are used in communications, weather forecasting, or research: Satellites improve our quality of life. However, there will soon be too many of them, and disposal is difficult. In the future they ...
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Twenty-twenty Vision
From: maxonDescription: While robotic assistance systems are available for most types of surgery today, eye surgery used to be an exception. A Dutch company has changed that. A world first in eye surgery. ...
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Under Power: Electro Cars
From: maxonDescription: From 0 to 100 km/h in 1.513 seconds - that's a new world record for electrically powered vehicles, set by AMZ's "grimsel" race car in June 2016. Their latest vehicle is named "gotthard." ...
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Watt Balance: Redefining the Kilogram
From: maxonDescription: The prototype kilogram - the standard for today's kilogram - is getting a little long in the tooth. There are plans to redefine the unit on the basis of a natural constant. At the Swiss Federal Office ...
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Ball Screw Failure Analysis: Common Issues
Description: List of common reasons why your ball screw assembly isn't working and how to solve the issue. ...
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Ball Screw Lubrication & Handling Tips
Description: What to do to prepare to receive your ball screw as well tips on storage, handling and lubrication. ...
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Common Ball Screw Terminology
Description: Acme Lead Screw: Acme lead screws have a 29 degree thread angle. An Acme lead screw is less efficient than a square thread, but is easier to machine. ...
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Troubleshooting Your Ball Screw Assembly
Description: Step by step guide to checking the ball screw assembly while it is still in the machine. ...
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What is Backlash?
Description: Information on what backlash is and how to measure it. ...
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Why You Probably Don't Need a Pancake Motor
From: Groschopp, Inc.Description: Flat motors are undeniably useful in applications with limited space and odd orientations. However, beyond the size issue, many other DC, AC, Brushless, and Universal motor types can be customized to ...
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20 Factors To Consider When You Buy an Electric Motor
From: Groschopp, Inc.Description: When searching to buy an electric motor or gear motor for your application, it is important to consider requirements beyond speed, torque, power and voltage. In this article, we will discuss 20 ...
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Aerator Input Requirements
Description: Considerations for aerator applications in the wastewater treatment industry. ...
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Gearbox for Mixer Applications
Description: Selecting the right gearbox for your mixer application is important - especially when it is also the key support between the impeller shaft and the motor. ...
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What Are The Benefits of An Aerospace Gear Feasibilty Study
From: PrecipartDescription: From the Gears and Motion Control experts, we present an article detailing the benefits of doing a feasibility study for your aerospace gearbox. ...
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IPM Solution for Low Rated Power Application
From: Infineon Technologies AGDescription: Get a head start into designing low rated power applications under 150W like fans and compressors. ...
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Technical Article: Operation of Power Silicon for Cascade Cell Based MV Motor Drives
From: Infineon Technologies AGDescription: Cascade H Bridge (CHB) topologies have increased in popularity in recent years. This article will explain the basic operating principles of the CHB drive and showcase some new power modules matched to ...
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How to Use a VFD (Variable Frequency Drive)
From: Groschopp, Inc.Description: Before learning how to use a VFD, one must first understand what it is and what purpose the control serves within an application. ...
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On the Trail of Wild Animals
From: maxonDescription: Elephants, lions or entire herds of antelopes - with a digital camera specially designed for documentaries, wild animals can be captured quickly. Motors made by maxon ensure that there are no ...
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One Wheelchair for All Situations
From: maxonDescription: Students at ETH Zurich have developed a wheelchair that can climb stairs. Is this the future for people with walking disabilities? ...
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6 Reasons Your Motor is Overheating
From: Groschopp, Inc.Description: Selecting the right motor can be a challenging task, and finding a motor that matches your speed, torque and power requirements is not enough. There are many factors that need to be taken into ...
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Gearbox Efficience Factors
From: Groschopp, Inc.Description: Load capacity, usable life, envelope size, and cost: all are very important considerations when designing a gearbox. However, accurately accounting for efficiency losses is a frequently forgotten ...
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Is Your Motor Overrated?
From: Groschopp, Inc.Description: When buying a standard, off the shelf motor, it can be difficult to find the correct motor size and performance for a given application. The natural reaction is to err on side of "bigger is better" so ...
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A Quick and Easy Way to Design Sensorless FOC Motor Controls
From: Infineon Technologies AGDescription: This article describes easy entry for designers into the complex world of sophisticated motor control systems through either of two flexible, scalable, easy-to-use and affordable platforms from ...
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Linear Induction Motor: How it Works
From: H2W TechnologiesDescription: What is all the hype about the Hyperloop? How does it move? What is the technology that makes it possible? The answer: linear induction motors. ...
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Flexible Couplings Give Power Transmission Designs an Edge
From: Renbrandt, Inc.Description: "Motor shafts and driven shafts are never perfectly aligned." That may be a pretty strong statement, but unless you have a deep budget and your equipment is destined for a space telescope or a ...
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Linear Actuators for High-Speed Low-Load Applications
From: PortescapDescription: A number of medical applications need high-speed actuation in the lower load band. Many OEMs use pneumatic actuators or electric solenoids for this purpose; however, these options do not provide ...
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Slow Speed Applications Using a Soft Starter
Description: Slow speed plays a big role for workers and machinery during startup. Alignment of moving machinery at a slow speed helps reduce the number of trials to see whether adjustments are correct without ...
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Gearmotors: Achieving the Perfect Motor and Gearbox Match
From: Groschopp, Inc.Description: Focusing on how to choose the right motor/gearbox combination for your OEM application; Engineering Manager, Seth Hulst and Design Engineer, Loren Kamstra explain cost optimization, performance and ...
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How to: Test & Evaluate Motors in Your Application
From: Groschopp, Inc.Description: A thorough comprehension of the of the task requirements in a motion application is vital to the successful launching of a product to market. When one element is overlooked it causes delays and added ...
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OEM Design Checklist and Application Data Worksheet
From: Groschopp, Inc.Description: Use this design checklist, along with the Ingress Protection (IP) and Temperature Class charts to gather data about your application. The speed vs. torque comparison graph is helpful in selecting the ...
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Finding the Best Motor for Intermittent Duty Applications
From: Groschopp, Inc.Description: It is important to understand your application and duty cycle requirements because applications running intermittently can fit into smaller motor packages than those running continuously at the same ...
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Oil Or Grease: 7 Factors to remember
From: Groschopp, Inc.Description: The oil versus grease debate is much more complicated than simply thick or thin, long lifespan versus short, easy maintenance procedures versus harder ones. There's a good possibility that you might ...
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Performance and Applications of Inertia Based Positioning Drives: Q-Motion
Description: Size matters in miniaturization and automation - smaller is usually better. Traditional electromagnetic motors have limitations when it comes to shrinking dimensions while maintaining high efficiency ...
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Understanding Continuous Speed in DC Motor Applications
From: Groschopp, Inc.Description: Brushed and Brushless DC motors have two traits that make them easy to control for several applications. The first is the relationship between voltage and speed, and the second is the relationship ...
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4 Tips for Using an Electric Motor During the Winter Months
From: Groschopp, Inc.Description: As temperatures drop well below freezing in many parts of the country and snow continues to fall, winter equipment gets more and more use. For salt spreaders, pumps and other applications using ...
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Synchronous & Induction Motors: Discovering the Difference
From: Groschopp, Inc.Description: Induction and synchronous motors, while both classified as AC, have some rather diverse constructional and operational characteristics, with the presence of slip being the most prominent factor. ...
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What to Know When Customizing a Universal Motor
From: Groschopp, Inc.Description: The golf course, the cheese factory, the printmaking shop and the carnival-these are all places (plus many more) where universal motors will be found. Similarly, just as the location of these ...
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Anodized Materials for Food Manufacturing / Preparation Equipment
From: Indelac Controls, Inc.Description: Due to the nature and physical properties of anodic coatings, anodized aluminum products and components are used in thousands of commercial and consumer food processing applications. ...
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Efficiency in Fractional HP Motors & Gearmotors
From: Groschopp, Inc.Description: Efficiency in Fractional HP Motors & Gearmotors" provides overview of efficiency as it relates to other design considerations such as power source, operating cost, temperature, purchase cost and size. ...
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The Basics of Motor Selection
From: Groschopp, Inc.Description: The Basics of Motor Selection? whitepaper is written to assist readers in the motor selection and customization process. Focusing on four electric motor types (AC Induction, PMDC, Universal and ...
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Maintenance Free Linear Guides (C-Lube)
From: IKO International, Inc.Description: Walk through any plant that uses linear motion systems, and you can often see maintenance workers, grease gun in hand, applying lubrication to linear guides. And why shouldn't they. Under-lubricated ...
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Reliable Linear Motion For Packaging Machines
From: IKO International, Inc.Description: In the productivity-driven packaging industry, there are many possible sources of downtime. You can eliminate many of them by selecting failure-resistant linear motion components. These robust guides ...
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Brushed vs. Brushless DC Motors: An Overview
From: Progressive AutomationsDescription: A brushed DC motor is one of the simplest types of motors. It consists of a few main components which in conjunction with a DC power supply create a rotating motor ...
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How To Monitor Feedback Of A Linear Actuator Part 1
From: Progressive AutomationsDescription: In today's guide we will be going over how to find out how much force a linear actuator is applying by monitoring the amount of current it is using. This will be one of our more advanced guides and ...
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How To Monitor Load Feedback Of A Linear Actuator Part 2
From: Progressive AutomationsDescription: Welcome to Part 2 of our guide on how to monitor the load feedback of a linear actuator. In Part 1 we went over the wiring process and the basic coding needed for the example. In today's guide we will ...
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Intro To Arduino Microcontrollers
From: Progressive AutomationsDescription: We've been expanding our line of control systems with the addition of microcontrollers, shields and other hardware, including becoming an official distributor of Arduino products. Arduino is one of ...
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Intro To Arduino Microcontrollers Part 2
From: Progressive AutomationsDescription: Welcome to Part 2 of our Intro to Arduino Microcontrollers. Last time we went over the basics of Arduino and some of the different board models that we carry in stock. Today we'll be going over a ...
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Linear Actuator Control: Using An External Limit Switch
From: Progressive AutomationsDescription: This article is the first part of our "Linear Actuator Control" series. We will be discussing everything from the most basic control methods that utilize limit switches to accomplishing sequential ...
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Selecting The Appropriate Linear Actuator
From: Progressive AutomationsDescription: Learn how to determine the appropriate actuator for your application with some advice from one of our engineers. ...
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Sponsorship: Nice Box Custom Designed Sneaker Box
From: Progressive AutomationsDescription: We wanted to share a very cool project that we sponsored recently. Nice Box is a company that creates special customized storage boxes, specifically custom sneaker boxes, for customers. The company ...
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WiFi Control Of High Current Linear Actuators
From: Progressive AutomationsDescription: In this post we will show you how to use the PA-35 Wi-Fi Control Box to control actuators that demand a large amount of current. Below is a video demonstration of the PA-17 Industrial Linear Actuator ...
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How To Select a Can Stack Linear Actuator
From: PortescapDescription: The motor diameter (sometimes referred to as frame size) is the diameter to the nearest mm of the motor casing. Matching the motor diameter to the available space in the application is typically the ...
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Advances in Precision Positioning Stage Design-Optimized Outgassing and Motion Performance in Ultra-High Vacuum Applications
Description: Many processes in advanced research and industrial manufacturing can only be performed in a vacuum, such as thin-film sputtering and ion milling, and technologies formerly reserved for exotic ...
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Motion Control and Precision Positioning in Vacuum Environments
Description: Vacuum applications are of growing importance due to technologies that can only be applied in vacuum or cryogenic environments. ...
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Synchronizing 2+ Motors
From: Dart Controls, Inc.Description: Many applications require synchronous or ratio speed control - this article explains a simple drive accessory that does the trick. ...
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Understanding the 3 Types of Machine Screw Jack Designs
From: Joyce/Dayton Corp.Description: Screw jacks that are properly selected and maintained will reliably lift, position, support or hold industrial loads for years. Incorporating them into mechanized applications is a fairly simple ...
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ISSI Revolutionizes the Bagged Ice Palletizing Process With EVOLUTION
Description: ISSI revolutionizes the bagged ice palletizing process with EVOLUTION - designed from the ground up using CCâ€'Link communication protocol and all Mitsubishi Electric components. BACKGROUND Founded in ...
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Mitsubishi Electric Helps Rain Bird Corporation Expand Into Profitable New Markets
Description: From the standalone sprinklers in our backyards, to sophisticated watering systems operating on farms, golf courses, corporate campuses, municipal parks, residential developments, shopping centers, ...
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From Toys to Tools: Multicopter Design Gets Serious for Important Applications
From: Infineon Technologies AGDescription: Model based electronic control allows the reduction of aerodynamic instability, which leads to increased flight performance and maneuverability. ...
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Five Ways Servos Improve Packaging Machines
Description: Upgrade your next machine design with servo motors to decrease downtime, decrease footprint, increase throughput, make equipment last longer, and provide better diagnostics. ...
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Using a Digital Motion Network
Description: Machine designers strive to increase throughput, decrease machine costs, and reduce maintenance costs. The migration from traditional analog motion networks to digital motion networks accomplishes ...
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Evaluating Servo Performance
Description: Servo system selection criteria involves more than just wattage and price. Other important servo criteria to consider include rated torque, rated speed, overload time, torque-to-inertia ratio, ...
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Project Profile: Chillers Retrofit at Office Buildings
Description: A prepackaged chiller retrofit cuts energy costs by 30%, reduces required maintenance, and extends operating life at Duke Realty Corp.'s 19-story office building in Clayton, Mo. ...
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9 Tips: How to Integrate a Servo System
Description: There are many things to consider when selecting the right servo system for a particular application. Look at these nine areas for the best results. ...
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A Brief Introduction to Common Bus and Line Regeneration
Description: Deciding which setup is right for a common bus takes research and evaluation, but selecting and implementing the right one significantly improves design performance and efficiency. ...
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Motion Systems Application Examples: Servomotors
Description: This application story by Jeff Watter of Yaskawa details increasing globalization and industrialization are spurring high-capacity manufacturing with even less tolerance for errors than ever before. ...
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VFDs Eliminate Need for New Generator
Description: An influent pump station in Washington incorporated control technology that improved system efficiency and energy savings. ...
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Horsepower Calculation
From: Joyce/Dayton Corp.Description: Operating Torque Constants and Tare Torque values can be found on specification pages. Use the following formula to calculate horsepower: ...
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Image Stabilization and Multi-Axis Patterned Motion Simulation
Description: Repeatable multi-axis motion simulation can help tweak advanced algorithms in image stabilization systems and verify the performance of opto-mechanical or electronic stabilizers. ...
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DC Linear Actuators vs DC Linear Motors
From: maxonDescription: Factory automation and robotic application engineers are often faced with the challenge of requiring fast, accurate and powerful linear actuation within a small allocated volume. The two most commonly ...
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Machine Optimization Through DC Motor Selection
From: maxonDescription: There are so many motors on the market today, from heavy-duty AC motors to tiny DC brushless and stepper motors. To use any of the motors users must have a full understanding of the application ...
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Understanding the Concept of High Efficiency Motors
From: maxonDescription: To understand the concept of high efficiency motors, you must first know how to calculate efficiency and the losses associated with the motor components themselves. ...
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Why Are Drives Easier to Apply Than Soft Starters?
Description: Consider torque requirements, speed control and power distribution when deciding between a soft starter or an AC drive for an application. ...
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Fitting Motion For Your Application
Description: Just as there is no one ideal golf swing that works for everyone-there are too many individual variations in grip, stance, backswing, downswing and follow-through for a single solution-there is no ...
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Fuji Electric Helps Make the BEAST a Reality
Description: The Bridge Evaluation and Accelerated Structural Testing (BEAST) lab, located at Rutgers University in Piscataway, NJ will provide valuable data and insight into the degradation of bridges due to ...
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Advanced Motion Control for Precision Drum Writing
From: Aerotech, Inc.Description: High precision roll-to-roll manufactured drums are used to produce everyday items sold around the world. For example, these drums are used to manufacture credit card security holograms as well as ...
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Automation Controllers that Reduce Deployment Risk in Machine Design and Improve Performance
From: Aerotech, Inc.Description: Facing new challenges through globalization, machine builders are investing in new technologies and skills to maintain competitiveness and penetrate emerging markets. In today's technologically mature ...
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Complete Engineering Reference - Linear Stages
From: Aerotech, Inc.Description: Aerotech's engineering reference guide serves as a valuable resource for all Aerotech motion and positioning control components and systems. It includes terminology, conversion tables and helpful ...
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Harmonic Cancellation Algorithms Enable Precision Motion Control
From: Aerotech, Inc.Description: The internal model principle is a 30-years-young idea that serves as the basis for a myriad of modern motion control approaches. One such algorithm - harmonic cancellation - is indispensable to ...
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High-Bandwidth Force Control
From: Aerotech, Inc.Description: Traditionally linear stages are used with encoders to position to precise points in a motion profile. These encoders are used for both positioning and, in the case of brushless servomotors, for motor ...
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Linear Motors Application Guide
From: Aerotech, Inc.Description: Let's start with mass and weight. Mass is the unchanging quality of a body, while weight is the force that mass exerts in a gravitational field. ...
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Machine Positioning Uncertainty with Laser Interferometer Feedback
From: Aerotech, Inc.Description: The purpose of this discussion is to explain the major contributors to machine positioning uncertainty in systems with laser interferometer feedback near the work point. We will use an example to ...
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Minimum Incremental Motion and Holding Stability in Beamline Positioning
From: Aerotech, Inc.Description: Many beamline applications such as X-ray microscopy and Computed Tomography (CT) require positioning of samples, detectors, and optics in order to perform measurements. Microscopy applications often ...
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Using the A3200 ROTATION Command for Five-Axis Systems
From: Aerotech, Inc.Description: The ROTATION command in the Automation 3200 (A3200) implements a rotation matrix operation. The function can be used to transform coordinates on mechanical actuators that include rotary motion. ...
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Zero-Backlash Rack & Pinion Axis Drives Insure Precise Motion of Electroimpact AFP Machines
From: Andantex USA, Inc.Description: Reducing aircraft weight is essential to boosting fuel efficiency. Not only is it very important in terms of cost, but also given the ever-increasing distances that airplanes of the future are ...
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MAKING IT EASIER TO UNWIND AT THE PAPER MILL
Description: A&F Corporation, a machinery builder for the paper industry, recently completed the start-up of a slitter/ rewinder machine at a North American paper mill. The slitter/ rewinder is used for processing ...
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Brush DC Motor Basics
From: PortescapDescription: Brushed DC ironless motors are found in a large variety of products and applications such as medical, robotics, factory automation, security and access, civil aviation and aerospace products. The ...
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Infineon System Solution for Quadcopters ORIGA is Just the Start
From: Infineon Technologies AGDescription: Cost effective system solutions for the rapidly growing market while ensuring safety and reliability of quadcopters. ...
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Overview of Different Piezo Motor Design Principles
Description: Piezoelectric motors are used in many industrial and commercial applications. Various piezoelectric motors are available in the market. All of the piezoelectric motors use the inverse piezoelectric ...
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PI Hexapod Chosen for LISA Pathfinder Space Mission
Description: On December 3, 2015, the European Space Agency (ESA) launched the LISA Pathfinder spacecraft, marking the birth of the next phase of an incredible project that will one day help scientists look at the ...
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Small Motion Steps Yield Big Effects in the Quest for Life on Mars
Description: Almost 4 years after Curiosity landed on Mars, it is still up and running - and while it has not discovered current life forms, the basic question whether Mars could have once supported an environment ...
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Ultra-Stable Mirror Mounts for LINC-NIRVANA High Resolution Imager are based on Self-clamping PiezoWalk Motors
Description: PI found a solution based on its compact, high stability PiezoWalk linear motor - a tried and proven technology used on many semiconductor and high-energy physics applications in the past. ...
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Piezo-Mechanisms in X-Ray Spectroscopy: Energy Selection in a Beam Line
Description: PiezoWalk principle shows advantages for Monochromator crystal fine adjustment. ...
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Using Spherical Air Bearings in Satellite Testing
Description: As new satellite programs become more popular, such as NASA's CubeSat program, the need for satellite test systems is becoming more urgent. ...
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Latest Trends in Integrated Motion Control Applications
Description: Motion control is one of the most relevant disciplines for most machines, particularly in the packaging sector ...
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Smarter Technology: Raising Your Control System's IQ
Description: How do your manufacturing control systems' IQs measure up? Learn how smarter technology through Integrated Architecture can help. ...