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Overhung load adaptors provide load support and contamination protection

Overhung load adaptors (OHLA) provide both overhung radial and axial load support to protect electrified mobile equipment motors from heavy application loads, extending the lifetime of the motor and alleviating the cost of downtime both from maintenance costs and loss of production. They seal out dirt, grime, and other contaminants too. Zero-Max OHLAs are available in an extensive offering of standard models (including Extra-Duty options) for typical applications or customized designs.
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Why choose electric for linear actuators?

Tolomatic has been delivering a new type of linear motion technology that is giving hydraulics a run for its money. Learn the benefits of electric linear motion systems, the iceberg principle showing total cost of ownership, critical parameters of sizing, and conversion tips.
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New AC hypoid inverter-duty gearmotors

Bodine Electric Company introduces 12 new AC inverter-duty hypoid hollow shaft gearmotors. These type 42R-25H2 and 42R-30H3 drives combine an all-new AC inverter-duty, 230/460-VAC motor with two hypoid gearheads. When used with an AC inverter (VFD) control, these units deliver maintenance-free and reliable high-torque output. They are ideal for conveyors, gates, packaging, and other industrial automation equipment that demands both high torque and low power consumption from the driving gearmotor.
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Next-gen warehouse automation: Siemens, Universal Robots, and Zivid partner up

Universal Robots, Siemens, and Zivid have created a new solution combining UR's cobot arms with Siemens' SIMATIC Robot Pick AI software and Zivid's 3D sensors to create a deep-learning picking solution for warehouse automation and intra-logistics fulfillment. It works regardless of object shape, size, opacity, or transparency and is a significant leap in solving the complex challenges faced by the logistics and e-commerce sectors.
Read the full article.

Innovative DuoDrive gear and motor unit is UL/CSA certified

The DuoDrive integrated gear unit and motor from NORD DRIVE-SYSTEMS is a compact, high-efficiency solution engineered for users in the fields of intralogistics, pharmaceutical, and the food and beverage industries. This drive combines a IE5+ synchronous motor and single-stage helical gear unit into one compact housing with a smooth, easy-to-clean surface. It has a system efficiency up to 92% and is available in two case sizes with a power range of 0.5 to 4.0 hp.
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BLDC flat motor with high output torque and speed reduction

Portescap's 60ECF brushless DC slotted flat motor is the newest frame size to join its flat motor portfolio. This 60-mm BLDC motor features a 38.2-mm body length and an outer-rotor slotted configuration with an open-body design, allowing it to deliver improved heat management in a compact package. Combined with Portescap gearheads, it delivers extremely high output torque and speed reduction. Available in both sensored and sensorless options. A great choice for applications such as electric grippers and exoskeletons, eVTOLs, and surgical robots.
Learn more and view all the specs.

Application story: Complete gearbox and coupling assembly for actuator system

Learn how GAM engineers not only sized and selected the appropriate gear reducers and couplings required to drive two ball screws in unison using a single motor, but how they also designed the mounting adapters necessary to complete the system. One-stop shopping eliminated unnecessary components and resulted in a 15% reduction in system cost.
Read this informative GAM blog.

Next-gen motor for pump and fan applications

The next evolution of the award-winning Aircore EC motor from Infinitum is a high-efficiency system designed to power commercial and industrial applications such as HVAC fans, pumps, and data centers with less energy consumption, reduced emissions, and reduced waste. It features an integrated variable frequency drive and delivers upward of 93% system efficiency, as well as class-leading power and torque density in a low-footprint package that is 20% lighter than the previous version. Four sizes available.
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Telescoping linear actuators for space-constrained applications

Rollon's new TLS telescoping linear actuators enable long stroke lengths with minimal closed lengths, which is especially good for applications with minimal vertical clearance. These actuators integrate seamlessly into multi-axis systems and are available in two- or three-stage versions. Equipped with a built-in automated lubrication system, the TLS Series features a synchronized drive system, requiring only a single motor to achieve motion. Four sizes (100, 230, 280, and 360) with up to 3,000-mm stroke length.
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Competitively priced long-stroke parallel gripper

The DHPL from Festo is a new generation of pneumatic long-stroke grippers that offers a host of advantages for high-load and high-torque applications. It is interchangeable with competitive long-stroke grippers and provides the added benefits of lighter weight, higher precision, and no maintenance. It is ideal for gripping larger items, including stacking boxes, gripping shaped parts, and keeping bags open. It has high repetition accuracy due to three rugged guide rods and a rack-and-pinion design.
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Extend your range of motion: Controllers for mini motors

FAULHABER has added another extremely compact Motion Controller without housing to its product range. The new MC3603 controller is ideal for integration in equipment manufacturing and medical tech applications. With 36 V and 3 A (peak current 9 A), it covers the power range up to 100 W and is suitable for DC motors with encoder, brushless drives, or linear motors.
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When is a frameless brushless DC motor the right choice?

Frameless BLDC motors fit easily into small, compact machines that require high precision, high torque, and high efficiency, such as robotic applications where a mix of low weight and inertia is critical. Learn from the experts at SDP/SI how these motors can replace heavier, less efficient hydraulic components by decreasing operating and maintenance costs. These motors are also more environmentally friendly than others.
View the video.

Tiny and smart: Step motor with closed-loop control

Nanotec's new PD1-C step motor features an integrated controller and absolute encoder with closed-loop control. With a flange size of merely 28 mm (NEMA 11), this compact motor reaches a max holding torque of 18 Ncm and a peak current of 3 A. Three motor versions are available: IP20 protection, IP65 protection, and a motor with open housing that can be modified with custom connectors. Ideal for applications with space constraints, effectively reducing both wiring complexity and installation costs.
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Closed loop steppers drive new motion control applications

According to the motion experts at Performance Motion Devices, when it comes to step motors, the drive technique called closed loop stepper is making everything old new again and driving a burst of interest in the use of two-phase step motors. It's "winning back machine designers who may have relegated step motors to the category of low cost but low performance."
Read this informative Performance Motion Devices article.

Intelligent compact drives with extended fieldbus options

The intelligent PD6 compact drives from Nanotec are now available with Profinet and EtherNet/IP. They combine motor, controller, and encoder in a space-saving package. With its 80-mm flange and a rated power of 942 W, the PD6-EB is the most powerful brushless DC motor of this product family. The stepper motor version has an 86-mm flange (NEMA 34) and a holding torque up to 10 Nm. Features include acceleration feed forward and jerk-limited ramps. Reduced installation time and wiring make the PD6 series a highly profitable choice for machine tools, packaging machines, or conveyor belts.
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Army puts four throwable robots through their paces at Fort Benning

By Vince Little, Fort Benning Public Affairs

Infantrymen and engineers steered four small robots around the buildings and terrain at the McKenna Urban Operations Complex for a week in February to get a better idea of how they might help Soldiers in recon missions and the detection of improvised explosive devices.

It was part of the Ultra Light Reconnaissance Robot limited objective experiment sponsored by the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization. Fort Benning's Maneuver Battle Lab conducted the assessment, which began Feb. 13 and ended Feb. 19.

Soldiers at Fort Benning, GA, tested four small robots in February to get a better idea how they might help Soldiers in recon missions and the detection of improvised explosive devices. Two Soldiers prepare a robot for a mission as part of the experiment.

 

 

 

 

Key players also included the Robotic Systems Joint Products Office; Maneuver Support Center of Excellence from Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Maneuver Center of Excellence Counter Improvised Explosive Device training team and Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory.

Project officials said robot weight, size, and power requirements must be measured against its capabilities and limitations in defeating IED threats. Finding the right balance was a major focus area in the experiment.

Army and Marine small units engaged in maneuver, movement, and protection operations don't have the responsive capability to detect, identify, and monitor IED and other threats in confined spaces such as culverts at standoff distances, officials said. If a possible IED threat is detected but can't be confirmed because of its camouflaged location, small units must call on limited engineer and explosive ordnance disposal resources, or a Soldier has to get close enough to visually confirm the threat – a time-consuming and dangerous process.

"The point is to keep Soldiers out of harm's way and danger – and put a robot there instead," said Maj. Joseph Pruitt of the Maneuver Support Battle Lab from Fort Leonard Wood. "Ideally, we want a robot that weighs nothing and does everything."

The candidate robots – Dragon Runner 10, Armadillo, 110 First Look, and Recon Scout – range from 11 to 1.2 lb. All are designed to be thrown.

Each was put through its paces in a series of different missions carried out by eight Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, out of Fort Stewart, GA, and eight more from the 428th Engineer Company, 397th Engineer Battalion, a Reserve unit based in Wisconsin.

Product managers and evaluators said they examined various robotic capabilities, including durability, ease of use, weight, range, and camera clarity. It supports the MCoE's "Squad: Foundation of the Decisive Force" initiative by advancing possible lightweight robotic technology solutions.

"It's too early to tell how effective they'll be," said Maj. James Collins, the Maneuver Battle Lab's unmanned systems chief. "Soldier survivability is the main thing we want to accomplish. If they will save lives, it'll be very important to field them.

"It's all about the squad right now trying to overpower or overmatch the enemy," Collins said. "Robots have the potential to fill some of these capability gaps at that level."

The lightweight recon robots can be strapped to a Soldier's back. Once deployed on the ground, "anybody who's played Game Boy can pick this up and operate it," said Spc. Jonathon Near of 3-7 Inf.

He said the robots could mitigate casualties by acting as surrogates for U.S. personnel on the battlefield.

"Normally, it would take a fire team to go into a room to see if it or another one is booby-trapped. If you can send a robot instead, it could save lives," Near said. "It lowers the risk of me running out there or sending other guys in to find out what's behind that door or in that culvert."

The Soldiers learned how to put the robots together, employ, and disassemble them.

Staff Sgt. Rodolfo Miranda, another Fort Stewart Infantryman, said a couple of robots need minor improvements to better handle the rugged terrain of Afghanistan. But he sees how the systems could be useful downrange.

"Having robots to send out there and do recon for us will definitely save lives on the battlefield," he said.

Collins said the Maneuver Battle Lab will crunch data and assess Soldier feedback as part of a thorough post-experiment analysis. Meanwhile, JIEDDO plans to send the robots into Afghanistan soon for a forward assessment, he said.

Published April 2012

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