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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.
Learn more.

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.
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Rolls-Royce developing 10-cylinder diesel hybrid systems for military vehicles

Rolls-Royce's Power Systems division is expanding its mtu engine program for military land vehicles to include a hybrid powerpack for special tactical requirements and a 10-cylinder, over 1,100-kW power output version of the mtu Series 199, which has been extremely successful with NATO forces. Both concepts made their debut at the Eurosatory defense trade fair in Paris, France, in June.

"Future armored military land vehicles will require more power for propulsion and on-board power supply for the electronic systems," said Knut Muller, senior vice president Global Governmental Business at Rolls-Royce Power Systems. "At the same time, they will be designed for a different tactical approach in the field. Our future mtu propulsion solutions for this application take both of these requirements into account."

The tank drive becomes hybrid: Rolls-Royce's mtu hybrid drive concept for military land vehicles sports a high-performance diesel engine combined with battery-electric propulsion to give tactical vehicles new capabilities in operations. [Credit: Rolls-Royce Power Systems]

 

 

 

 

Electrification and hybridization will give tactical vehicles new capabilities in the field. Rolls-Royce's new mtu hybrid drive combines the advantages of a high-performance diesel engine with those of a battery-electric drive. The highly integrated propulsion system requires comparatively little installation space in the vehicle in order to maximize the volume available for equipment and crew. The core of the solution is a highly mobile and extremely compact drive solution, taking into account increasing cost pressure, tight budgets, and the need for significantly larger vehicle fleets.

For quiet operation, for example in a concealed position, the high-performance batteries previously charged in diesel mode supply the vehicle's electrical and electronic systems. This is done without the noise and thermal footprint of the diesel engine -- and over a longer period of time. This makes the vehicle more difficult to locate for enemy reconnaissance. The so-called "anti-idling" mode not only ensures better camouflage of the vehicle, but also significantly reduces fuel consumption when the vehicle is on standby. The range of the vehicles and the downstream logistics chain for refueling the vehicles are optimized.

The advantages of the mild hybridization are also demonstrated by the combined drive on slow journeys, when the vehicle tracks generate little noise. The noise generated by the drive is reduced to a minimum, making it considerably more difficult to detect the vehicle. Rolls-Royce uses a specially developed and customized silencer in combination with the hybrid main propulsion.

In combined operation, the electric propulsion also serves as a booster for highly dynamic acceleration, noise-reduced low-speed driving, or even high-speed driving. "This allows us to utilize the advantages of hybridization in all operating modes," said Muller.

"This propulsion concept will expand the operational possibilities of future tracked armored vehicles in a way that was previously hardly imaginable," said Christian Wolf, head of Development for Military Engines and Systems at Rolls-Royce Power Systems. "For the first time, vehicle manufacturers will be able to realize completely new vehicle concepts, whereby the hybrid concept can, in principle, be implemented with any engine series from the mtu military propulsion program."

The future 10-cylinder version of the mtu Series 199 for military land vehicles will have an output of over 1,100 kW. The concept will be the top model in the series, which will be able to power armored vehicles weighing up to 70 tons. [Credit: Rolls-Royce Power Systems]

 

 

 

 

An engine series that has proven itself in the field is getting a new generation. The mtu Series 199 with outputs from 260 to 800 kW is well known in many military land defense programs and has proven itself in all extreme climatic conditions in more than 15 countries. With the future 10-cylinder variant, the 199 series concept will cover a power range up to 1,100 kW and will also be able to power vehicles weighing 50 to 70 tons. The logistical uniformity, with identical components within this engine family from the 6-cylinder to the 10-cylinder variants, will help the armed forces to significantly reduce their logistics costs.

Wolf said an output increase to 1,200 kW is on the horizon.

Thanks to the modular design principle of the mtu Series 199 and its compact dimensions, the 10-cylinder engine can be used not only for new vehicles but also for the repowering of existing vehicles. The 10-cylinder version will set new standards in terms of power density, compact design, and, above all, already available add-on parts such as hydraulic units, air compressors, and generators for power generation. This will significantly simplify vehicle integration into a Powerpack.

The 10-cylinder engine has numerous product features in common with the 6- and 8-cylinder models of the mtu Series 199, which have made the Series 199 the best-selling engine series for military vehicles in its class: high power density with a small design volume; fast response; configurable to vehicle requirements (for example, with a generator or other add-ons); a wide range of options for power takeoffs; and low lifecycle costs due to long maintenance intervals.

The mtu Series 199 has a history of success behind it, with around 4,000 units produced since 2000. The 6- and 8-cylinder variants are used, for example, in the Boxer 8x8 wheeled vehicle, the tracked vehicles based on the ASCOD platform; the Ajax family vehicles; the next generation of U.S. combat vehicles such as the M10 Booker; and the Borsuk infantry fighting vehicle.

Source: Rolls-Royce Power Systems

Published June 2024

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