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Conveying: Drive system enables two synchronous movements with max performance

The new FAULHABER DualGear drive system optimizes automated warehouse logistics, enabling two synchronous, powerful movements in one compact unit. Combining a BX4 motor with two GPT planetary gearheads, it is ideal for storage/retrieval machines and autonomous logistics. Hall sensors ensure exact positioning for compact, efficient, and reliable performance in demanding, small-space environments.
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Decentralized drives offer seamless integration

NORD DRIVE-SYSTEMS' NORDAC LINK motor starters, plus NORDAC LINK and NORDAC FLEX variable frequency drives, feature a plug-and-play design for rapid commissioning and high system availability. With onboard AS-Interface (ASi) functionality, these modular products integrate seamlessly into existing or new systems, supporting ASi standards V2.0 and V3.0 with integrated follower profiles for connectivity.
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Non-Magnetic ball slides made in the USA

Del-Tron's USA-made, non-magnetic ball slides prevent magnetic interference in medical, semiconductor, military, and laser applications. Featuring silicon nitride ceramic bearings, titanium shafts, aluminum components, and brass fasteners, these lightweight slides come in seven sizes with travels from .5 to 12 in., providing an ideal solution for sensitive environments.
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What's new in robotic efficiency and advanced gauging systems?

Renishaw will highlight its latest solutions for maximizing robot performance and manufacturing efficiency at Automate 2026, taking place June 22-25 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Highlights will be demonstrations of its Robot Calibration System for cell recovery and in-field robot calibration, the Equator-X dual-method gauging system for high-throughput production environments, and position and motion control encoders.
Read the full article.

New Titanium servo-drive line for harsh environs

The Elmo advanced Titanium line of harsh-environment servo drives offers optimal performance with advanced power density, providing exceptional intelligent and compact servo drives that are operational within minutes. These single-axis and multi-axis servo drives, featuring top-performance multi-core processors, deliver superior productivity, Functional Safety, advanced networking, and local intelligence in a compact package for operation in extreme conditions.
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Top Tech Tip: Automating winding, unwinding applications

From paper mills and textiles to sheet metal and plastics manufacturing, winding and unwinding mechanisms play critical parts in many industries. Jonathan Bullick from KEB America examines the automation architecture behind industrial winding applications, with particular emphasis on motor selection, variable frequency drive (VFD) configuration, and control system design. Tension, winding loads, torque speed, regen energy, bus load sharing, and more are all addressed in this excellent technical overview.
Read the KEB America article.

3D printing and 5-axis milling get highly portable

Powered by Siemens' SINUMERIK ONE CNC platform and Ingersoll's MasterPrint^® industrial 3D printer, a new generation of deployable machines is bringing additive and subtractive manufacturing directly to the point of use for defense, disaster relief, and infrastructure and industry.
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Double the force capacity: New RSX50 linear actuators

Tolomatic's RSX50 is the newest, most powerful addition to the RSX Extreme Force electric actuator family. Delivering 50 tons of force within the compact footprint of its 25-ton predecessor, it offers industry-leading power density. Built with high-precision planetary roller screws, the RSX50 provides high-force reliability and environmental compliance, eliminating the mess and maintenance complexity of traditional hydraulic systems.
Get all the specs from Tolomatic.

Integrated drive system for next-gen robotics and human-like motions

Engineered for modern robotics, the BXI is FAULHABER's most powerful integrated drive. Delivering up to 20 Nm of torque, it ensures dynamic, precise control. This compact unit combines a motor, stepped planetary gearhead, and high-res encoder into one functional system. Its strength lies in systematic integration, offering maximum performance in minimal space -- ideal for humanoid robot joints and demanding applications.
Get all the specs from FAULHABER.

Important Qs about linear motor actuators that design engineers should ask

Many design engineers overestimate how accurate traditional motors and actuators stay over long travel runs, mistakenly believing that if the solution works well for short runs, it will work equally well on long ones. Do you know what type of actuator you should use for your application? Patrick Lehr, Product Manager, Precision Mechanics at Parker Hannifin, has some really good tips for you.
Read the full article.

Cobots get 4 m tall with the 8th-Axis Vertical Robot Transfer Unit

Designed to optimize industrial processes across various sectors, the 8th-Axis Vertical Robot Transfer Unit (RTU-V) from Bishop-Wisecarver features a vertical travel length of up to 4 m, enabling a single small robot or cobot to cover large areas traditionally requiring multiple robots. This innovation not only boosts productivity but also offers considerable cost savings, making it an ideal solution for industries such as logistics, manufacturing, agriculture, packaging, and more. Extended reach allows robots to perform tasks on oversized workpieces, such as rocket tubes, boat hulls, and aerospace structures, with ease.
View the video.

UR AI Trainer for robotics: First lab-to-factory AI model trainer

Universal Robots unveiled the UR AI Trainer last week. Developed in collaboration with Scale AI, the AI Trainer marks a tectonic shift as robots move from pre-programmed applications to fully AI-driven tasks. These systems are powered by robust data generated in AI training cells where robots imitate humans.
Read the full article.

BLDC motors with advanced safety features built in

Dunker-motoren has built advanced safety functions directly into its BG75 and BG95 BLDC motors, so you no longer need a separate safety controller or complex wiring. This means faster installation, lower costs, and simpler designs. With features such as safe stop and speed control, plus secure digital communication, dSafe motors are ready for automation, robotics, and mobile systems worldwide. It's safety that scales with your future.
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Mobile robotic platform with contactless charging

MAXOLU-TION, an SEW-EURODRIVE company, has introduced the modular Mobile Robot Platform 1600 (MR P1600). It is designed to move heavy loads such as pallets through factories and warehouses, with less manual handling and more consistent material flow. The platform supports configurable load-handling options, including conveyor transfer, lift, drive-under, and precise docking, using standardized material transfer attachments or custom-engineered load handling. Max load is 1,600 kg.
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Configurable modular precision linear stages

PI's Modular Precision Linear (MPL) stage family is a configurable platform that simplifies specifying and integrating high-precision linear positioning systems. Engineers can select mechanical, drive, and feedback options online, creating application-specific stages without the cost of fixed designs. The MPL series offers 50- to 300-mm travel ranges and servo or stepper motor options -- with linear motors planned for future release -- while maintaining high precision, stiffness, and reliability.
Learn more.

Boom Supersonic selects North Carolina for its aircraft superfactory

Boom Supersonic's Overture plane (artist's rendition).

 

 

Boom Supersonic, a Denver-based company that aims to build the world's fastest and most sustainable supersonic airliner, recently announced plans to build its Overture Superfactory that will serve as its primary manufacturing and production site in Greensboro, NC.

The new facility, which will be located at Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTI), should add to the state's storied legacy of aerospace innovation, starting with the Wright Brothers' first successful flight in Kitty Hawk, Honda Aircraft Company's world headquarters and HondaJet manufacturing operation in Greensboro, and Pratt & Whitney's advanced casting foundry and airfoil production facility in Asheville.

The project is expected to bring an investment of more than $500 million through 2030 to the new site.

The company's Overture plane is a Mach 1.7, 68-to-88-passenger, single-aisle supersonic transport plane with an estimated 4,500-nautical-mile range. It will fly at subsonic speeds over land and near coasts to avoid exposing people on the ground to sonic booms. Over the ocean, Overture will cruise at supersonic speeds (twice as fast as today's fastest airliners), cutting many flight times in half while offering a tranquil travel experience for passengers. The plane is designed to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuels

The Overture Superfactory site was carefully chosen with air and ground space ready for development in mind along with its proximity to the coast, as well as North Carolina's plentiful and skilled workforce and world-class infrastructure. The PTI location includes 65 acres for the company's manufacturing needs. In addition to the size requirements, the PTI site offers easy connectivity to Interstates 85 and 40, and a short drive to over 400 aerospace suppliers spread across the state.

Boom plans to break ground on its facility later this year and begin production in 2024. The Overture Superfactory is projected to create more than 1,750 new jobs by 2030, expanding to a total of more than 2,400 jobs by 2032.

Universities in the state are spearheading new research into unmanned aerial vehicles, while industry groups and resources, including the NC Advanced Manufacturing Alliance and NextGen Air Transportation Center, are further bolstering the state's reputation and readiness in the aerospace industry. To develop the next generation of supersonic professionals, Boom says it will also create 200 internships through 2032 for students who attend publicly funded North Carolina universities, community colleges, or technical schools.

Presently, the company is working on its 1:3-scale XB-1 prototype test aircraft, history's first independently developed civil supersonic aircraft. The design, build, and test phases of XB-1 are intended to inform the design of Overture, Boom's supersonic commercial airliner, and lessons from XB-1 have already helped optimize Overture's development. The XB-1 uses three GE J85-15 engines. Both the XB-1 and Overture will feature advanced, thermally stable carbon composite airframes.

In January 2022, Boom announced it has entered into a three-year strategic partnership with the U.S. Air Force valued at up to $60 million. The Air Force awarded this contract to Boom through its innovation arm, AFWERX, and its AFVentures division, which is designed to accelerate commercial technologies. The STRATFI contract will accelerate research and development on Overture.

In June 2020, United Airlines announced it will purchase 15 of Boom's Overture airliners, once the plane meets United's demanding safety, operating, and sustainability requirements, with an option for an additional 35 aircraft.

Source: Boom Superonic

Published February 2022

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