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Stepper motors made to handle harsh environments

The new, high-torque AW stepper motors from Applied Motion Products are an ideal choice for exposure to splash, moisture, and dust in Food Processing, Medical, and Industrial Manufacturing applications. These NEMA 23/24/34 motors feature IP65-level protection, and their M8 and M12 connectors ensure a secure connection in high-vibration dynamic systems. Variants equipped with brake and 1,000-line optical encoder are available.
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Compact gantry system for high dynamics

Rollon's new compact and highly versatile H-Bot gantry system meets the needs of applications requiring a small footprint and a high level of efficiency. It boasts two fixed motors on the X-axis with a single belt, motorized via pulleys and easily tensioned. The option of mounting the motors on either the front or rear heads, upwards or downwards, gives H-Bot extreme versatility. The absence of a motor on the Y-axis significantly reduces moving masses, decreasing vibrations and allowing high dynamics to be achieved. Designed to handle light loads that require a high level of precision.
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Cobot 7th axis with collision detection turbocharges multitasking

Do you need to move a cobot assembly from one task location to another? Thomson Industries' new Movotrak CTU 7th axis features collision detection settings for expanded programming and control benefits. Also known as a range extender, the Movotrak CTU 7th axis features a servo motor and linear-unit-driven guide rails that move a cobot assembly. An industrial robot transfer unit has also launched.
Read the full article.

How do you drive multiple motors with a single VFD?

According to KEB Automation, lots of automation systems use multiple motors to distribute loads, execute different tasks, or to optimize overall efficiency. One control strategy is to use a single variable frequency drive (VFD) for each motor, or you can drive several motors with only one VFD. But when do you use which tactic, and what are the pros and cons of each? Matt Sherman from KEB has got you covered with all the details.
Read the full article.

Frameless BLDC motors for maximum system integration

Nanotec introduces the DKA series of high-performance, frameless BLDC motors designed for compact, efficient drive systems. Featuring a modular design with separate stator and rotor, these motors allow for a maximum level of system integration. Motor diameters from 25 to 115 mm are available with up to 7.8 Nm of torque and speeds to 10,000 rpm. By eliminating the need for couplings or additional mounting components, these frameless motors reduce material usage and assembly costs. Ideal for applications with limited space, including robotics, medical technology, and more.
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Servo controllers: From basic fans to advanced robots

Implement your most innovative ideas by combining maxon's ESCON2 servo controllers and the user-friendly Motion Studio software. ESCON2 controllers use the latest technology in semiconductor and PCB manufacturing to achieve unprecedented power density and control performance in terms of torque and speed. ESCON2 controllers can be used in a wide variety of applications -- from simple analog/digitally commanded standalone applications such as fans, scanners, and pumps to sophisticated CANopen-based systems in AGVs, hand tools, or logistics and transport applications. Three ESCON2 Modules available.
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Safety Wheel Drive simplifies payload mobility

IDEC has expanded its ez-Wheel product family with the new SWD Safety Wheel Drive for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). This system combines wheels, gearboxes, motors, encoders, controllers, and power systems into singular, extremely compact, and maintenance-free solutions, reducing component count up to 50%. Available in light/medium (SWD 125) or heavy-duty (SWD 150) models. When integrated with other safety devices, such as IDEC SE2L laser scanners or bumper/edge switches, the SWD can provide Safe Brake Control, Safely Limited Speed, and Safe Direction with a SIL2/PLd rating. A SIL3/PLe safe motor disconnection is also integrated.
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Vertical lift stage features sub-micron resolution

Optimal Engineering Systems has released the AT20-30 series of Motorized Vertical Lift Stages featuring sub-micron resolution, very high parallelism, and a vertical lift of 30 mm. The AT20-30-01 is driven by an ultra-precise two-phase stepper motor with a full step resolution of 0.2 microns! This stage also has a knob on the motor for manual adjustment. Features a large 500 mm x 300 mm stage table and high load capacity. Also available as a complete plug-and-play system with a motion controller, drivers, keypad, and joystick.
Learn more and get all the specs.

Tech Tip: Using a step motor as a generator

Engineers at Applied Motion Products run through their lab testing procedures and results when a client requested guidance on connecting a step motor to a small gas engine for use in recharging a 12-V battery. An interesting technical walkthrough on the project and its results.
Read the full Applied Motion Products article.

Rugged high-accuracy hexapod for industrial 6-axis alignment applications

The H-815 6-Axis Hexapod from PI is a low-profile, ruggedized, highly accurate positioning and alignment system designed for continuous 24/7 operation in demanding industrial motion applications such as camera lens alignment (automotive, cell phones etc.), micro-assembly, aerospace test and assembly, micro-LED production, fiber optic alignment, aerospace test and assembly, and more. It provides 6-DOF -- X, Y, Z, pitch, roll, and yaw -- to deliver exceptional flexibility. Load capacity is 22 lb.
Learn more and get all the specs.

Long-life electric actuators: Improved controllability, performance

Thomson Electrak LL Linear Actuators now offer your machine designs a higher speed option, more electronic control options (including CANopen), and a 48-V option to meet the power requirements in battery-powered applications. Thomson says the new Electrak LL choices are for those who want to gain more control over the position, load, and speed of their applications, such as smart railway pantographs and couplers, AGVs, automated farming robots, movable steps, and access lifts for trains and buses.
Learn more and get the specs.

New high-payload vacuum gripper automatically adjusts to box size

The powerful and robust new VGP30 vacuum gripper from OnRobot is capable of handling up to 30 kg (66 lb) and is designed to excel at palletizing boxes and handling irregular shapes and porous surfaces -- even those constructed from cost-saving, thinner cardboard. It automatically adjusts to any box size or interlayer, optimizing air consumption and reducing energy costs. This unit is ready for immediate deployment out of the box and includes all the hardware and software needed for all leading robot brands. Lots more features.
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Go inside the revolutionary GAM GPL Robotic Flange Gearbox

GAM's new GPL Series Robotic Planetary Gearbox combines the lowest backlash (<0.1 arcmin) and high tilting rigidity with vibration-free motion for smooth, controlled path motion in robotics and motion control applications. Its patented design guarantees backlash will not increase over the lifetime of the gearbox, so no future adjustments required! Many more benefits.
View the video.

Revamped Step By Step tool to configure Galil motion controllers

Galil introduces its revamped Step By Step tool for Galil Design Kit. Now with enhanced functionality and a new user interface, this tool allows first-time users to configure Galil motion controllers. Along with the existing ability to configure brushed and brushless servos, users are now able to configure steppers, set up serial-type and sine-cosine encoders, and tune axes -- all within the new Step By Step tool.
Learn more and check it out.

Stepper drives detect stalls in open-loop control mode

Automation-Direct has added the new Titanio series of stepper drives from Ever Motion Solutions. These drives offer peak performance, a rich feature set, and work seamlessly with AutomationDirect SureStep^® stepper motors. Three new drives are available with two open-loop (no encoder feedback) models and one open/closed-loop version (a motor-mounted encoder provides position feedback to the drive). Unlike typical stepper drives, Titanio steppers can detect stalls in open-loop control mode by monitoring the motor's back EMF. This allows system designers to take advantage of stall detection without the hassle and expense of a closed-loop system.
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Continental pioneers tire tests with self-driving test vehicles -- although they had an electronically controlled test car 50 years ago

At its test site in Uvalde, Texas, the vehicle technology company Continental has commissioned the first driverless tire test vehicle for a wide range of road surface types. The aim is to make the test results for Continental's passenger and light-truck tires more conclusive while minimizing the impact of the test procedure on the final results. The new test vehicle is based on Continental's automated Cruising Chauffeur, which was developed for freeways.

The automated vehicle does not only improve test results but it also subjects the test track to less wear and tear. [© Continental AG]

 

 

 

 

The test vehicle is controlled using a satellite-based navigation system. Equipped with camera and radar sensors, the car will be able to react immediately to people, animals, or other unexpected objects on the track, even without a driver. The development team from Uvalde is thereby contributing to making Continental's Vision Zero strategy for accident-free driving a reality.

"In critical situations, the tires' level of technology is the deciding factor in whether a vehicle brakes in time," explains Nikolai Setzer, member of the Continental Executive Board and head of the Tire division. "With tire tests which use an automated vehicle, we achieve highly conclusive test results and thereby ensure the premium quality of our tires."

Newly developed tire models must be tested under real conditions
One of the challenging tasks in tire production is to carry out quality tests while tires are in use. Newly developed rubber compounds and tire models have to be tested under real-life conditions, showing how well they perform on gravel roads, for example. Driving the test vehicles places huge demands on the drivers, as even the smallest deviations on the test track can have a huge impact on the quality and comparability of the test results.

Thomas Sych and his team of engineers and students work on the prototype for an automated tire-testing vehicle. [© Continental AG]

 

 

 

 

Since 2016, the team led by Thomas Sych, head of Tire Testing at Continental, has been working on the tire test of the future in Uvalde. "We want to automate and thus standardize tire tests to such an extent that we can identify even the smallest differences in the tires," explains Sych. "The automated vehicle enables us to reproduce processes precisely, meaning that every tire in the test experiences exactly the same conditions. This way, we can be sure that differences in the test are actually caused by the tires and not by the test procedure."

This is not new territory for the company. Continental engineers developed an electronically controlled car to automate tire tests 50 years ago. Back then, the vehicle followed a wire that was glued to the track, which limited its use to asphalt test tracks. Today's prototype can also safely navigate along gravel roads without a driver.

Meeting of the Generations: Former Continental engineer Herbert Ulsamer (left) with one of Continental's "old-school" wire-following test cars and Continental engineer Dennis Scholl with his new test vehicle, "Cruising Chauffeur." [© Continental AG]

 

 

 

 

In addition to the significantly improved comparability of the results, the tire test using automated vehicles will also reduce the maintenance work required for the test tracks. Because the vehicle is sent on a route that varies by just a few centimeters each time, the test track is subjected to less wear and tear, thus requiring considerably less maintenance.

"Thanks to close collaboration with colleagues from many different areas of Continental, we have made a lot of progress with our prototype for the tire test. Our focus now is on further developing the necessary camera and radar systems for this special case of off-road routes, so that the vehicle can react appropriately when people, animals, or other vehicles unexpectedly appear on the route," explains Sych. "We know from our own research, such as the Continental Mobility Studies, that trust is extremely important for the mobility of the future. We are fully aware of this responsibility when developing these new technologies."

Source: Continental

Published February 2019

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