Machine Building

Understanding how fatigue contributes to rolling bearing failure

Fatigue is one of the primary causes of rolling bearing failure. In this article, Dr Steve Lacey, Engineering Manager at Schaeffler UK, describes the various types of fatigue and what measures can be taken to correct any problems that occur.

23rd May 2014

What are the changes to IEC 61496-1 (EN 61496-1)?

The capabilities of light curtains and other optically-based ESPE (electro sensitive protective equipment or devices) have been something of a grey area in the past when assessing SIL levels to IEC 62061 or performance levels to ISO 13849. Now substantial revisions to IEC 61496 (EN 61496) at the start of 2014 are attempting to put that right. Dr Martin Kidman, a Safety Specialist at SICK (UK), answers the question 'What are the changes to IEC 61496-1?' and explains how the changes affect the selection of appropriate protective devices in relation to the required performance level of the safety function.

14th May 2014

Efficient integration of the drivetrain in any industry

Depending on the industry, environment and requirements of any given application, there are many different methods of transferring power from mains supply to machine. But no matter what the layout of the drivetrain, there will always be some approaches that offer smoother integration and better efficiency than others. Bauer supplies electro-mechanical application systems that guarantee every component is hand-picked for the application, and integrated as efficiently as possible.

12th May 2014

Selecting roller table motors for the harshest applications

Roller tables used in modern steel mills tend to use individually driven rollers rather than a single group drive such as a chain or belt. Roller tables require special motors with a high dynamic constant, plus a robust overall design to withstand the extreme heat and dirt of a steel mill. Such motors are used throughout the rolling mill on general conveying duties, but on the reversing mill and associated approach tables, the operating duties are extreme with constant stop/starts and instant reversal of directions. Ananda Majumdar of Regal reviews the key points of this critical technology.

5th May 2014

Regeneration of energy made simple with DC drives

The ability of DC drives to regenerate energy under braking without the need for complex intermediate storage or power bridges is just one of the benefits of DC technology, says Gary Keen, sales director at Sprint Electric.

29th April 2014

New hexapods achieve micron and nanometre accuracy

The latest generation of parallel kinematic positioning systems (hexapods) present a dramatic improvement in the design of robotic positional devices that require extreme high accuracy in the micron and nanometre level. By Jim McMahon.

29th April 2014

Advantages of negative-stiffness vibration isolators

Air tables are a well proven technology, but their usefulness as an efficient method for vibration isolation is now being challenged by more compact and effective negative-stiffness vibration isolators. By Jim McMahon.

29th April 2014

Mechanical Design Engineering Handbook, book review

Jon Severn, the Editor of MachineBuilding.net, reviews Mechanical Design Engineering Handbook, 1st Edition, by Peter RN Childs.

25th April 2014

How to have a customised IPC for the price of a standard IPC

Advantech has published a White Paper that discusses Industrial PC Trends, focusing on the shift from standard IPCs and customised IPCs to configured-to-order IPCs.

23rd April 2014

Why use an automation Change Management System (CMS)

Andy Thorogood, Product Manager at MAC Solutions, explains why it is vital that companies ensure proper safeguards are in place to protect and manage changes to control logic in PLCs, PC-based control systems, SCADA systems, robotic controllers and HMIs.

18th April 2014