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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 researchers improve next-generation aircraft engines by delving deep into combustion

Eric Wood (left) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Eric Mayhew (right) from the CCDC Army Research Laboratory prepare for high-speed X-ray phase contrast imaging experiments of reacting fuel spray breakup. [Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo]

 

 

 

 

The Army's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program is one of the modernization priorities for Army leadership. With the use of advanced X-ray diagnostics, scientists have a better understanding of gas turbine combustor inlet conditions, which is critical for the design and development of engines for the next generation of Army aircraft.

The FVL concept is to create a new rotorcraft that uses new technology, materials, and designs that are quicker, have further range, better payload, are more reliable, easier to maintain and operate, have lower operating costs, and can reduce logistical footprints.

That is the focus of a team of Army and university researchers. Through an essential research program known as Versatile Tactical Power and Propulsion, they developed a single-sector gas turbine combustor experimental capability to study the variation in the breakup and atomization of fuel sprays while combusting using high-speed X-ray phase contrast imaging.

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's (CCDC) Army Research Laboratory researchers along with University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign professor Tonghun Lee and graduate students from his research group designed and built out the combustor and associated experimental apparatus. The team conducted their experiments at Argonne National Laboratory's (ANL) Advanced Photon Source, assisted by Dr. Alan Kastengren, beamline scientist at ANL.

"Accurate computation fluid dynamics, or CFD, models for fuel sprays at realistic conditions are essential for predicting engine performance. Where the injected fuel is distributed in the combustor or cylinder determines how the combustion occurs," said Eric Mayhew, CCDC ARL researcher.

To develop these kinds of models, scientists said they employ carefully designed experiments that simulation experts can use to inform and validate their codes.

"Traditionally, sprays have been studied experimentally using a range of optical and laser diagnostics, which have been used to study droplet distributions, velocities, and dynamics," Mayhew said. "However, researchers have had difficulty using these traditional diagnostics to examine the spray as it is just leaving the tip of the nozzle or injector due to the optical density of the spray."

Researchers said this spray breakup and atomization process is especially challenging with the addition of ongoing combustion, because the flame naturally emits light at wavelengths used for traditional optical and laser diagnostics on top of the numerous additional safety issues.

"X-rays are able to pass entirely through the flame and penetrate these dense regions of the spray while maintaining sufficient image contrast at the liquid boundaries," Mayhew said. "As a result, flame-coupled spray behavior near the nozzle or injector tip remains an under-developed piece of these spray models. The experiments conducted at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory aim to fill this gap."

To study the effects of different kinds of fuels on atomization and ignition processes, ARL and a team of industry and academic scientists designed the ARL research combustor-midsize 1 (ARC-M1) and ARL research combustor-large 1 (ARC-L1). Both combustors simulate a single combustor cup of a gas turbine engine; in a real gas turbine engine, several identical combustors would be located in a ring around the engine's central axis, operating in tandem.

High-speed X-ray phase contrast imaging experiments were performed on combusting fuel spray breakup in the Army Research Combustor-M1. These unique measurements provide an understanding of the fundamental processes of spray breakup that will help in the development of multi-fuel-capable engines. [Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo]

 

 

 

 

"The ARC-M1 and L1 systems are interrogated using the most advanced diagnostics possible -- the measurements at the Argonne APS are part of this effort," Lee said. "As a consequence, we anticipate gaining critical insight into the physicochemical dynamics of advanced gas turbine propulsion systems for future Army vehicles."

Researchers are encouraged by the results.

"While the first experiments explored the simplified system of the interaction of a water spray with the turbulent swirl of the ARC-M1, the second phase of experiments in April 2018 were the first spray combustion experiments ever conducted at APS," Mayhew said. "Additional improvements and modifications were made to the experimental setup to enable the most recent experiments conducted in August 2019, with combustor pressures up to three times atmospheric pressure, which closely simulate inlet conditions in current Army vehicles."

The researchers are advancing the experimental setup and designs to get to relevant conditions to the Army systems, said the lab's Dr. Mike Kweon, program manager. He said they are adding a capability to simulate altitude conditions at ANL.

"In any engine combustion process, everything starts from fuel spray, atomization, mixing with air, and ignition," Kweon said. "Understanding and knowledge of these processes are crucial in analysis for engine development -- however, accurate spray and atomization measurements have been challenged, as most of light sources could not penetrate the dense liquid regions and the other advanced optical diagnostics could not accurately measure the atomization process in combustion as liquid droplets are highly dependent on flames.

"The new discovery and understanding of atomization process in combustion of gas turbine engines can lead to innovation in spray and evaporation models that can be used in commercial CFD tools."

This research supports the U.S. Army's Future Vertical Lift modernization priority, Kweon said.

"Understanding of atomization and ignition for a wide range of military fuels is extremely critical for the Army to develop new future capabilities," Kweon said. "For example, future air-launched effect -- an unmanned aircraft system launched from Army's FVL aircrafts needs to be powered, in part, by an engine."

Source: U.S. Army CCDC Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland

Published December 2019

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