Motion and Controls Reference Materials
Reference Articles 1101 - 1200 of 2136
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What Causes Synchronous Belt Noise and How Can It Be Reduced?
Description: Synchronous belts are common in motion systems, providing smoother operation and better high-speed performance than chains and lacking the problems of slipping and stretching that can plague V-belts ...
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What is Racking in Gantry Systems?
Description: Gantries differ from other types of multi-axis systems (such as Cartesian robots and XY tables) by using two base (X) axes in parallel, with a perpendicular (Y) axis connecting them. While this dual ...
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What Makes a Linear Guide Suitable for High Temperature Use?
Description: For most recirculating ball and roller linear guides, the allowable operating temperature range is -10° to 80° C, with some configurations rated up to 100° C for brief periods. But not all ...
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What Options are There for Integrated Motor and Screw Designs?
Description: Ball and lead screw assemblies are often driven by a motor connected in-line with the screw shaft via a coupling. While this mounting arrangement is simple and easy to service, the addition of a ...
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What Types of Motion Can You Create with Multi-Axis Linear Systems?
Description: For many tasks, multi-axis linear systems - Cartesian robots, X-Y tables, and gantry systems - travel in straight lines to achieve quick point-to-point movements. But some applications, such as ...
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What You Need to Know About Corrosion-resistant Linear Guides
Description: Recirculating ball and roller guides are the backbone of many automation processes and machines, thanks to their high running accuracy, good rigidity, and excellent load capacities - characteristics ...
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What's the Difference Between Serial Kinematics and Parallel Kinematics in Multi-Axis Motion Design?
Description: Today's positioning tables and stages include hardware and software that's more customized than ever to satisfy specific output requirements. That's made for motion designs that move accurately ...
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Why Use Linear Guides and Ball Screws with Ball Chains?
Description: One of the differences between radial ball bearings and recirculating ball linear guides has historically been that radial bearings typically use a cage to separate the balls and control their ...
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5 Keys to "Mechatronics Made Easy"
Description: Bringing together mechanical, electrical, programming, and control engineering is not effortless. But integrating technology advances, and focusing on these five areas, can simplify the process and ...
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Actuator Basics: Five Different Technologies Integrated into One Package
Description: Another area of Mechatronics that is very confusing is the area of actuators. The problem is that you can buy actuators that are assemblies of several components, or you can buy the components, and ...
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Can a Linear Actuator Provide the Rigidity and Accuracy of a Linear Stage?
Description: Although there are no industry standards that define linear actuators and linear stages, generally accepted terminology indicates that a linear actuator is typically constructed with an aluminum ...
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Does My System Need High Accuracy or Repeatability (or Both)?
Description: In linear motion, there are two generally categories of accuracy - positioning accuracy and travel accuracy. Positioning accuracy specifies the difference between the system's target position and the ...
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FAQ: What Types of Linear Encoders are There and How Do I Choose?
Description: Linear encoders monitor linear movement and provide position feedback in the form of electrical signals. In servo driven systems, linear encoders supply the precise position of the load, typically in ...
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High Speed Linear Actuators: What Qualifies Them as High Speed?
Description: Like many terms used in the linear motion industry - "heavy duty," "miniature," and "corrosion-resistant," to name a few - there is no industry standard that specifies what constitutes a "high speed" ...
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How to Estimate Your Linear Actuator Needs with Minimal Application Data
Description: Choosing linear motion components during the development phase of a project has been a source of frustration for designers and application engineers for decades-especially when it comes to complex ...
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Linear Actuators: the Make vs. Buy Decision
Description: With the range of linear actuators on the market, it's becoming easier for machine builders and end users to find a standard or "customized standard" product that meets even the most unique ...
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Linear Systems for Nanopositioning
Description: When we talk about linear motion, we typically discuss applications where the travel distance is at least a few hundred millimeters, and the required positioning is in the range of a few tenths of a ...
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Positioning Stages and Gantries - New Trends in Integration Approaches
Description: There's demand for motion designs offering simplicity or turnkey operation, so component suppliers are now doing much more integration for OEMs and plant engineers. Nowhere is this more evident than ...
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Simple Support Structure Improves Warehouse Packaging Efficiency
Description: Automation is changing how traditional distribution centers operate as companies search for new ways to maximize their efficiency, increase order accuracy and fulfill customer demand. When it comes to ...
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What are Some Considerations for Linear Actuators in Contaminated Environments?
Description: Reliable motion is often difficult to obtain when the operating environment is heavily contaminated with debris, or contains extreme conditions such as a wide temperature range or other environmental ...
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What are the Differences Between Plain and Rolling Linear Guides?
Description: A linear guide (or linear bearing) is a mechanical element that allows relative motion between two surfaces, with one surface supporting the other, and minimum friction between the two. There are two ...
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What is Ratcheting in Synchronous Belt Drives?
Description: Proper tension of synchronous belts is the tension at which the belt will transmit the required power without ratcheting when the drive system experiences full load. Synchronous belts (also referred ...
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What is Sub-Divisional Error (SDE) in Linear Encoders?
Description: To determine the position of a linear axis, an encoder read head travels along a scale and "reads" changes in light (for optical encoders) or magnetic field (for magnetic types). As the read head ...
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What To Do When Your Motion System Throws You a Curve
Description: Guide-wheel based ring and track systems are more compact and offer better positioning accuracy and more options for cargo carrying positions than alternative conveyor systems for curvilinear ...
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Which Type of Linear Actuator is Best for Thrust Forces?
Description: When an application requires pure thrust forces, the best type of linear actuator is often a rod-style actuator. Also referred to as "thrust actuators" and (when a motor is integrated) "electric ...
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How to Specify, Install and Maintain Linear Guide Rail Systems for Factory Automation
From: Rockford Ball ScrewDescription: In automation cells, precise, repeatable and long-lasting linear motion is critical. The Rockford Linear Motion (RLM) product line from Rockford Ball Screw (RBS) offers linear guide rail systems that ...
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Brush DC and Stepper Technologies for Security and Locking Devices
From: PortescapDescription: Security systems are an important part of any commercial buildings whether it's an office or a warehouse. Biometrics is one of the most deployed systems in a wide variety of industries, from ...
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Considerations for Selecting a Mini Motor Technology Solution to Solve Your Surgical Device Design Challenges
From: PortescapDescription: Regardless of the nature of the device, surgeons need sterile tools they can depend on. They require devices that reliably and consistently function despite demanding field use and repeated steam ...
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Driving DC Brushed Motors
From: PortescapDescription: To control a DC motor, a variable, and controlled power supply is needed. There are three types of methods that can be used: Voltage-controlled linear supply Current linear supply PWM (Pulse Width ...
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How to Optimize Your Product or Device Output
From: PortescapDescription: Early engagement with an Application Engineers (AE) can be a valuable first step when working on your application design and looking for the optimal motion solution. ...
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Motion Considerations for Motorized Multi-function Surgical Power Tools
From: PortescapDescription: Orthopedic trauma and implant procedures involve many areas of the body and several types of operations. But despite the diversity of applications, Orthopedic surgeons need to perform three primary ...
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Motor Sterility Management: Protecting vs. Autoclaving
From: PortescapDescription: Surgeries must be performed using sterile equipment to prevent infection. While some simple surgical tools can be manufactured inexpensive enough to be economically thrown away after each use, more ...
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Portescap's Innovative Dual Motion Can Stack Actuator Solution
From: PortescapDescription: Some applications require rotary motion, such as ventilators. Others require linear motion, such as medical pipettes or syringes. When it comes to combining a rotary and a linear motion in the same ...
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Precision Motors for Medical Infusion Systems
From: PortescapDescription: This blog series will cover the range of applications in Infusion systems, reviewing the needs of the patient translated into the requirements of the device, and how the motor technologies align to ...
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Seeing Beyond What's In the Catalogue
From: PortescapDescription: Finding the right motor can be a challenge. Often a product catalog only lists a selection of available motors and coils, so the ideal solution can't be found by browsing through available standard ...
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15 Kinds of Industrial Robots for Automated Linear Guide
Description: Linear module is also called the linear motion guide, its application in industry is very broad, many people may not have heard of linear axis, but when it comes to its purpose, may to the precision ...
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4 Key Factors to Select Palletizer with Linear Positioning System
Description: Palletizers are very powerful and they can have many different functions in different environments. For example, a feed palletizer, which can collect, sort and arrange work products. However, due to ...
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4 Primary Application Parameters-Stroke, Load, Speed and Precision
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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Ball Screw Linear Positioning Stage Sorting System
Description: Traditional way of manual sorting has high cost, low efficiency, higher pain points, breakage and ball module with intelligent sorting system with the following advantages won the praise of the ...
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Ballscrews Provide Fast, Accurate Linear Motion
Description: Because of their ability to provide high thrust and accurate positioning, ballscrews can be found in many automated assembly applications that require linear motion. Ballscrews drive positioning ...
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Cartesian Handling System: 2D Motion & 3D Motion
Description: Cartesian handling systems as serial kinematics have main axes for straight-line motion and auxiliary axes for rotation. The system acts simultaneously as guide, support and drive and must be ...
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Designing with Motion Control in Mind
Description: Whether designers are improving a motion-centric machine or building a new one, it is essential they begin with motion control in mind. Then they can develop the design around the best way to get ...
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Innovative Servo Drive Suppresses Vibrations
Description: In a high-speed pick-and-place operation, settling time is the enemy of productivity. Speed is essential for high-volume assembly. However, speed also creates problems. In a pick-and-place operation, ...
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Seven Key Parameters to Design an Optimal, Cost-Effective Linear Motion System
Description: Careful analysis of the application, including orientation, moment and acceleration, will reveal the load that must be supported. Sometimes, the actual load will vary from the calculated load, so ...
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Synchronous Belt Failures: Six Ways They Can Occur
Description: Synchronous belts can transmit high torque without the potential for slip, due to positive engagement between the teeth of the belt and the grooves of the pulley. But the performance of synchronous ...
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The Application of Linear Modules in The Automotive Industry
Description: In today's many production companies are taking the automation route, so many companies are paying more and more attention to linear modules. In many industries, the automotive manufacturing industry ...
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The Difference Between Model Predictive Control and Vibration Suppression
Description: Today's ac servo systems are much different than those built even 10 years ago. Faster processors and higher resolution encoders are enabling manufacturers to implement amazing advances in tuning ...
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Three Efficient Ways to Reduce Maintenance Costs for Linear Systems
Description: Inadequate lubrication can cause bearing failure. But while lubrication is the most important maintenance factor in linear bearing life, there are other things that users can do to reduce maintenance ...
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What are Accuracy and Repeatability in Industrial Robots?
Description: There are numerous ways to classify the performance of linear positioning devices such as ball screws, belts, and rack and pinion systems, but the terminology can be confusing. The two most common ...
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What are the Characteristics and Advantages of Linear Motors?
Description: With the rapid development of automatic control technology and microcomputers, higher requirements are placed on the positioning accuracy of various types of automatic control systems. In this case, ...
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What Questions Should You Ask During the Product Lifecycle?
Description: When you're in the business of manufacturing, it's important to know exactly why you're doing what you're doing and to leave nothing to chance. There are too many resources invested across the entire ...
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What the World Would Be Like if Palletizer Machines Didn't Exist?
Description: Palletizer machines have become an essential part of automation, replacing human error and injury in manufacturing with efficiency and speed. In addition to such benefits, palletizers can handle ...
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What's Difference Between Pneumatic, Hydraulic and Electrical Actuator
Description: A linear actuator moves a load, which can be an assembly, components, or a finished product, in a straight line. It converts energy into a motion or force and can be powered by pressurized fluid or ...
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Where Linear Motors Improve Designs: Application Example in Multi-Axis Stage
Description: Machine-tool applications and the manufacture and assembly of semiconductor components account for more than half of all linear-motor use. That's because linear motors are precise (albeit costly ...
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Whether to Make or Buy a Linear System?
Description: When considering whether to make or buy a linear system, think about the engineering time and expertise you'll need to design the system from scratch. You'll need to calculate linear and ...
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Actuator Tips
From: ElectroCraftDescription: Stepper motors are commonly used to translate motion from rotary to linear. Selecting the right combination of electrical and mechanical components is complicated by the various options for precision ...
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EC Drives Easy Setup
From: ElectroCraftDescription: DC motor drives are widely used across multiple sectors, including medical and life sciences, industrial automation, robotics, agriculture, military and defense, energy and transportation. The ...
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Integrated Wheel Drives Lower the Total Cost of Mobile Robot Ownership
From: ElectroCraftDescription: ElectroCraft's MobilePower MPW series integrated wheel drives benefit from the company's decades of mobile power design expertise. The product offers OEMs a compact, high-torque density electric wheel ...
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Controlling Speed can be Crucial
Description: Precise speed control is crucial for reliable results in a variety of motion control applications. Knowing the speed is set and regulated, within a tolerance of +/- 0.1 RPM for extended periods of ...
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Five Axis Veneer Slicing Machine
Description: Servo controls are enabling a veneer-slicing machine to cut sheets as thin as 0.005 in. with a 0.001-in. tolerance. The five-axis servo control system that makes this possible comes from Industrial ...
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Material Handling, Smart Conveyor Control
Description: A leading packaging machinery OEM is using servo motion control for high velocity material handling, smart conveyors and registration control on printed materials. ...
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Motion Systems and Automation Controllers Help Improve PCB Stencil Manufacturing
Description: Advanced software modules integrate gantry control and laser control. ...
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OEM Packaging Machines Feature Quick Axis Indexing, the Ability to Handle Large Inertial Loads and HMIs Offering Built-in Communication Protocols.
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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Analysis: Metal Laser Cutting Machine Linear Motion Guide
Description: What is the Linear Guide of a metal laser cutting machine? Many people are concerned about this issue. What is the purpose of the linear guide of a metal laser cutting machine? What does it play in ...
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Application of Cartesian Coordinate Robot on Industrial Robotics
Description: Cartesian coordinate robot concept: In industrial applications, it can realize automatic control, reprogrammable, multi-functional, multi-degree of freedom, right-angle space between movement freedom, ...
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Application Program of Palletizing Robot in Industrial Automation
Description: China's economy has developed rapidly in recent years, China's robot automated production line equipment market, although the start time is not long, is in the transition from traditional equipment to ...
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Ball Screw Nut Installation Method Note the Following Points
Description: Ball screw nut pair is only used to bear the axial load, radial force, bending moment will make the ball screw nut auxiliary surface contact stress and other loads, which may cause permanent damage to ...
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Best Heavy-Duty Gantry Alternatives
Description: Automated motion guidance systems with heavy-duty load capacities are experiencing a significant increase in demand. One reason for this revolves around the installation of flexible multi-axis robots ...
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Classification and Core Components of Cartesian Coordinate Robot
Description: The rectangular coordinates of the robot's classification(Positioning, Drive, Control and Terminal System of Linear Robot Motion System). ...
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How to Choose Linear Guide Accuracy?
Description: When choosing a recirculating linear guide, there are several criteria that need to be specified, including size, preload and accuracy. And although the term "accuracy" is often used in a generic ...
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How to Choose the Right Linear Module? 6 Core Technical Elements to Consider.
Description: The linear module is widely used in the automation industry. It is relatively different in the development of different automation industries. Then when choosing a linear module, consider various ...
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Repeatability in Motion Control
Description: Understanding repeatability, its causes, and its influence on the performance of a linear-motion system is essential in determining the capability needed in a given application, as well as specifying ...
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What's the Difference Between Servo and Stepper Motors?
Description: Which one is right for your application? Let's explore key decision criteria including speed, acceleration, and price targets. ...
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XY Tables: How Do They Differ from Cartesian and Gantry Systems?
Description: There are many ways to build linear systems for motion in the X, Y, and/or Z directions - also known as Cartesian coordinates. The terms we generally use to refer to these systems depend on how the ...
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How Intelligent Motion Controls Use Automated Processes to Make HVAC Processes Greener and More Efficient
Description: When businesses install IMCs, they will make their facilities greener and more efficient. Read on to learn about all the different benefits IMCs can bring. ...
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Developing Needs of the EV Market - Challenges and Opportunities in EV Testing
From: Unico, Inc.Description: Testing of Electric and Plug-in Hybrid Electric vehicles has new challenges with respect to the ever-increasing demands of the EV market, the test cases, and the testing procedures. Main questions ...
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Kinetix VPC Servo Motor Energy Performance Comparison White Paper
Description: Induction motor technology is used in a wide range of industrial applications. Traditionally, converting, print, and web handling (CPW) applications have relied on induction motors to solve a range of ...
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How to Select Your Brushless DC Motor
From: PortescapDescription: This product line is offered with various options: S (high-speed optimization), T (high-torque optimization,) and H (medium torque and speed), directly linked to the needs of your applications. ...
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Why a Brushless DC Motor
From: PortescapDescription: How does a brushless motor work, and what is the difference between brushless and brushed motors? What advantages can be achieved via BLDC motor design, what are the advantages of brushless motors in ...
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Pushing the Limits of Linear Accuracy
Description: Straight, accurate movement is far from easy, and linear positioning devices prove it by erring in not one, but three dimensions ...
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5 Creative Flipper and Pocket Door Applications with Accuride Slides
Description: we want to highlight some actual use cases from our inventive customers, who have employed flipper and pocket door slides in their unique space-saving solutions. ...
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Accuride in Action: Inflating Excitement with Ballooony
Description: Accuride engineers worked with Ballooony's designers to determine the requirements in size, load capacity, and type of movement needed to make Ballooony's machines work perfectly. ...
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Easy-Close vs. Self-Close Drawer Slides: What's the Difference?
Description: A telescopic slide's primary function is movement. But some applications need an extra feature. ...
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Using Movement to Build Better Healthcare Facilities for Patients
Description: How can architects, contractors, and designers cultivate a healthcare environment that's safe, convenient, and versatile? ...
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Motor (Rotor and Stator)
From: Essen Magnetics Pty LtdDescription: The rotor is a moving component of an electromagnetic system in the electric motor, electric generator, or alternator. Its rotation is due to the interaction between the windings and magnetic fields ...
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Affordable Prosthetics Empower Amputees
From: maxonDescription: When Easton LaChappelle of Unlimited Tomorrow started working to build his first prosthetic hand, he was still in his teens. Six years later he's gone from early prototypes to refined product and has ...
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How to Design an Exoskeleton
From: maxonDescription: An exoskeleton must be lightweight, compact, powerful, reliable, and easy to use - what could be easier? Many developers around the world dabble in this discipline with different degrees of success. ...
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Walking with a Big Smile
From: maxonDescription: Little Luz's eyes light up as she walks for the first time in her life - made possible by Trexo, a walking robot developed especially for children by a Canadian company Trexo Robotics. It is the work ...
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Efficiency For Life: Advanced Miniature Motor Design for Medical Ventilation
From: PortescapDescription: The roots of positive airways mechanical ventilation can be traced to WWII with the needs for pilots to breath at higher altitudes. Ventilation therapy then made accelerated progresses during the ...
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Innovative Dual Motion Can Stack Actuator Solution
From: PortescapDescription: Some applications require rotary motion, such as ventilators. Others require linear motion, such as medical pipettes or syringes. When it comes to combining a rotary and a linear motion in the same ...
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Better Gears Through Space Projects
From: maxonDescription: The demanding design challenges from the Space and Aerospace industries pushed maxon to develop viable solutions. One of the results is the GPX UP series planetary gearbox. ...
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Cybathlon: A Success for the maxon Teams
From: maxonDescription: The CYBATHLON 2020 Global Edition is history. Due to the Covid-?19 pandemic, the teams had to compete in different time zones and locations. And out of the 50 teams participating, one in four teams ...
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Planning for Obsolescence
From: maxonDescription: Sound Leisure is a name synonymous with high quality and innovative digital and retro jukeboxes. Their team has some of the finest craftsmen and technical minds in the leisure industry. Development ...
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Precision Drives for Precision Driving
From: maxonDescription: The team NTHU Racing wants to participate successfully in the formula student competition - with the help of maxon technology. ...
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Saw Machine - Horizontal Panel Beam Saw
From: TecnotionDescription: Horizontal panel beam saws are used in the woodworking industry to cut large sheets, strips, or panels of wood or wood-based materials, such as oriented strand board (OSB), into various sizes. The ...
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The People Behind the Mars Drives
From: maxonDescription: Years of collaboration between maxon and the space experts at JPL led to the development of the BLDC motors which handle the valuable soil samples on Mars during the Perseverance mission. Meet maxon's ...
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5 Challenges an Electric Motor has to Overcome on Mars
From: maxonDescription: Outer space is unforgiving. This is why precision drives embarking on a trip to other planets need to meet extremely high-quality standards. Every Mars drive from maxon is based on a catalog product ...
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Beam Pen Lithography (BPL) - Desktop Nanoprinting Enabled by Compact 3D Nanopositioning Stage
Description: Desktop nanoprinter based on a novel, highly scalable, and versatile photolithographic technology and XYZ piezo-driven nanopositioning stage finds applications in photonics, meta-materials, ...
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Hexapods Enable Precise 6-Axis Patient Positioning Couches for Radiotherapy
Description: Hexapods (derived from Greek for 6 legs) are motion platforms controlled by six actuators (struts). They all act together on one platform and enable movements in six degrees of freedom. ...
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Why Constant Velocity and Synchronized Motion Performance across Multiple Axes Matters for Ultrafast Laser Machining, Imaging, and Metrology
Description: Modern laser processing, machine vision, and metrology systems rely on precision motion and automation mechanisms - and the ability to provide synchronized multi-axis dynamic motion performance with ...