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Compact servo drives for harsh environs

Built on Copley's proven NanoPlus platform, the compact, 1.2-oz R-Series Nano servo drives withstand extreme temperatures, vibration, shock, and humidity. Available in R47 (CANopen) and R48 (EtherCAT) models, they suit space-constrained, harsh environments such as mil/aero robotics and gimbals. This commercial off-the-shelf series provides a hardened option without defense-specific development lead times.
Learn more from Copley Controls.

Hybrid actuator with force up to 14,726 lb

Kyntronics' new all-electric HyCore hybrid actuator is a compact, low-cost alternative to traditional hydraulic, pneumatic, and electro-mechanical systems. Engineered for OEMs, it delivers up to 14,726 lb of force. The self-contained design eliminates leaks and wear, providing precise control, shock-load tolerance, and high efficiency. It simplifies integration and lowers operating costs for mobile equipment, packaging, assembly automation, and more.
Learn more.

SDP/SI motion products: Best sellers

SDP/SI's best sellers aren't just popular -- they're proven. These are the motion components their customers return to time and again for precision, reliability, and unbeatable value. From belts and pulleys to gears, bearings, and couplings, each product has earned its place through consistent performance in real-world applications.
Learn more and see the full products list.

Automated part grinding and finishing in one unit!

Grinding large fabrications is a classic dull, dirty, and dangerous task perfectly suited for automation, yet traditional setups require multiple costly robots. At Automate 2026, Güdel debuted a single-robot solution that utilizes two extra degrees of freedom to finish massive surfaces without complex part repositioning.
Read the full article.

Rockford RBS ball screws and nuts now available

Automation-Direct now offers US-manufactured RBS ball screws and nuts for precise linear motion in OEM and maintenance applications. Achieving over 90% efficiency, they feature low friction, high accuracy, and minimal wear. Available in various diameters, lengths, and leads, these precision-matched components handle axial loads with minimal backlash, providing a dependable solution that reduces maintenance and extends operational life. Great prices too.
Learn more.

Next-gen conveyor transports 3,000-kg payloads

Building on its established portfolio of twin-strand conveyors that are currently used in a variety of industry verticals, Bosch Rexroth is introducing the TS 7plus transfer system, which is the world's first freely configurable, fully electric conveyance solution to workpieces weighing up to 3,000 kg. TS 7plus transports material via conveyor rollers on freely configurable modular sections with lift/transverse, rotary, and positioning units, as well as stop gates. Great for automotive, battery, aerospace/defense, and more.
Learn more.

Next-generation air bearing linear slide

The A-123 noncontact nanoposi-tioning stage integrates a brushless motor, air bearings, and a 1-nm encoder, supporting 40-kg payloads over 750-mm travel. Its pressurized air film eliminates the friction, wear, and vibration of mechanical stages, ensuring zero particle generation. Customizable with options such as granite bases and isolation systems, it is ideal for semiconductor metrology, inspection, photonics, and more.
Learn more.

How to implement redundancy in stepper motors

Some of the recent research activities in the area of electric motor drives for safety-critical applications (such as aerospace and nuclear power plants) are focused on looking at various fault-tolerant motor and drive topologies. After discussing different solutions, this article focuses on a miniature permanent magnet (PM) stepper motor design that provides increased redundancy.
Read this informative FAULHABER article.

Teradyne Robotics unveils a multitude of deployable AI applications at Automate 2026

Teradyne Robotics, the company behind Universal Robots (UR) and Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR), will demonstrate how physical AI is transforming industrial automation at Automate 2026 in Chicago, June 22-25 at booth #1250. The demos presented are real, deployable, and ready for purchase. They include assembly, pick-and-place, palletizing, mobile robots, and more. A lot of good new offerings here. Check it out.
Read the full article.

Affordable nanometer-level precision focus stage

Zaber Technologies has launched the DMA Objective Focus Stage, a compact, linear motor solution for microscope OEMs. Starting at $4,500 with an integrated controller, it offers 50-nm repeatability and sub-15-ms settling times -- matching piezo precision at one-third the cost. Featuring plug-and-play architecture, a developer-friendly API, and a tiny footprint, it accelerates high-throughput workflows like spatial biology and digital pathology.
Learn more.

How Ford automated a moving EV assembly line with vision-guided robots: Inbolt case study

Automating moving assembly lines is highly challenging. At Ford's Cologne Electric Vehicle Center in Germany, applying pressure to water shields on vehicle bodies required following a precise path on unsynchronized, continuously moving vehicle carriers. To automate this, Ford deployed two Universal Robots cobots equipped with Inbolt 3D cameras. Using real-time vision guidance, the robots track vehicle positions and adapt on the fly. The result? Near-zero repairs, reliable moving-line automation, and new possibilities for tasks like tightening operations.
View the video.

Inbolt launches vision-enabled Robot Programming, closing the loop from CAD to factory floor

Inbolt is launching two new capabilities that complete the company's AI Vision Model for robot guidance at Automate 2026 in Chicago, June 22-25. With Robot Programming and Robot Control, Inbolt covers the full path from virtual commissioning to adaptive robot motion control, for stationary and moving-line applications. It's one platform from perception to motion -- on the robots manufacturers already own.
Read the full article.

Top Tech Tip: How to specify electric rod-style actuators for optimal performance, reliability, and efficiency

The engineers at Tolomatic provide their Top 10 Tips for specifying electric rod-style actuators, which have a higher initial cost, more advanced design, and more predictable performance compared to fluid power cylinders. This is a really thorough presentation filled with useful information.
Read the full article.

High-precision multi-axis motion platforms

Motion Solutions delivers high-speed, high-accuracy XY scanning solutions optimized for OEM integration. These rigid, modular platforms provide stable, repeatable multi-axis motion control, ensuring faster throughput and precise positioning for advanced workflows. Ideal for automated microscopy, digital pathology, and spatial biology, the scalable design supports flexible travel lengths and custom configurations to seamlessly optimize your system.
Learn more.

What is the best palletizing option for your operation?

Is your business looking to install or upgrade a palletizing system, but you don't know where to start? Marc Giguère from Robotiq does a comprehensive run-through of options including a fully engineered system, a cobot, or a plug-and-play setup. A lot depends on your production volume, budget, available space, and need for flexibility. Systems are compared and contrasted. Fastest ROI? The best lean system? What works for high throughput? Find out these answers and more, complete with an available buyer's guide chart.
Read the Robotiq article.

Breakthrough magnet tech will support more powerful next-gen motors

The Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) recently announced that a research team led by Su-Min Kim and Jung-Goo Lee has developed the world's first next-generation magnet manufacturing technology that uniformly enhances magnetic performance throughout thick magnets while reducing heat generation. This technology is expected to significantly improve the efficiency and stability of magnets used in high-power applications such as electric vehicle traction motors. It is also anticipated to enable new applications, including electric ships that require large, high-performance magnets, thereby serving as a key enabling technology for emerging high-value markets.

Neodymium-iron-boron (Nd-Fe-B) magnets, widely used in electric vehicles and wind turbines, are known for their strong magnetic properties. However, as higher power output requires larger and thicker magnets, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain high coercivity -- the ability to retain magnetization under external influences -- throughout the entire magnet. In addition, high-speed operation induces eddy currents within the magnet, generating heat that leads to performance degradation and reduced motor efficiency.

Conventionally, heavy rare earth elements have been added to maintain magnetic performance at elevated temperatures. In particular, grain boundary diffusion processes, which involve coating heavy rare earth elements on the magnet surface and allowing them to diffuse inward, have been widely used. However, this approach is limited by its surface-centered diffusion mechanism, making it difficult to achieve sufficient performance improvement in the interior of thick magnets. Moreover, heavy rare earth elements are expensive and subject to supply chain constraints, posing significant industrial challenges.

To address these issues, the research team developed a sandwich-structured grain boundary diffusion and bonding process, in which multiple magnet layers are stacked and then integrated. By applying a low-melting-point, light rare earth alloy -- specifically praseodymium (Pr) -- not only on the surface but also at the interlayer interfaces, the design enables diffusion to initiate from within the magnet as well. As a result, the technology achieves stable coercivity even in thick magnets while ensuring uniform performance throughout the entire structure. In addition, it demonstrates the potential to reduce reliance on expensive heavy rare earth elements through the efficient use of light rare earth materials.

Schematic illustration of the sandwich-structured grain boundary diffusion process developed by Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS). [Credit: Korea Institute of Materials Science]

 

 

 

 

Notably, the technology also addresses heat generation by forming a high-resistivity structure within the magnet, which suppresses eddy current formation. Unlike conventional approaches that require separate processes for magnet segmentation, grain boundary diffusion, and insulating bonding, this method simultaneously enhances coercivity and electrical resistivity through a single grain boundary diffusion process. This integrated approach simplifies manufacturing while improving magnetic, electrical, and structural properties.

The developed technology is expected to be applicable to a wide range of systems, including electric vehicle traction motors, high-efficiency industrial motors, and wind power generators. It is also anticipated to contribute to the domestic production of high-performance magnets and reduce reliance on imports. In particular, reducing heat generation and improving efficiency at the magnet level are expected to enhance overall motor performance and energy efficiency.

"This study demonstrates a breakthrough in simultaneously achieving high coercivity and reduced heat generation in thick magnets," said Su-Min Kim, senior researcher at Korea Institute of Materials Science. "What differentiates this technology is that it integrates coercivity enhancement, resistivity improvement, and structural bonding into a single process."

"This technology has strong potential not only for electric vehicle motors but also for applications requiring large, high-performance magnets, such as electric ships, and is expected to evolve into a key materials technology for next-generation motors," Kim added.

The results were published online on March 18, 2026, in the international journal Scripta Materialia. The research team is currently conducting follow-up studies for practical motor applications.

Source: Korea Institute of Materials Science

Published May 2026

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