Machine Building

How to calculate point-to-point SCARA movements

Gerard Bush at servo motion specialist INMOCO explains what machine builders need to know about motion control for SCARA robot arms.

12th December 2012

EN ISO 13849-2, validation of safety-related control systems

This article from TUV SUD Product Service explains the requirement to validate the design of the safety related parts of a machine's control system following the recent publication of EN ISO 13849-2.

11th December 2012

Explaining the different types of AC electric motor

The myriad motor technologies all have partially overlapping functionalities, so how does an engineer choose the right type of motor for a given application? Jerry Hodek, Technical & Operations Director at Regal, offers this guide for applications requiring precisely metered torque, speed or positioning.

11th December 2012

Bearings for thermal and kinetic energy recovery systems

In automotive and industrial applications, super precision bearings are playing a key role in both thermal and kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS), helping OEMs develop greener, more energy efficient systems, says Chris Mitchell, Project Manager at The Barden Corporation.

11th December 2012

Current trends and development projects for wind turbine bearing

Even higher expectations regarding service life and reliability twinned with pressure on costs: this is the picture currently emerging for bearings in the wind energy industry. With the help of examples, the following article explains how one of the world's leading suppliers develops new generations of bearings in these circumstances.

11th December 2012

Maintenance and modernisation - getting ready for better times

With evidence that the recession is now behind us, factory owners at last have the time to take stock of their plant and equipment to see if some TLC or maybe even a small investment is in order. Stuart Harvey of SoftStart UK, offers some pointers on what can be achieved without breaking the bank.

30th November 2012

PROFINET - A strong driver

PI (Profibus & Profinet International) has been a constant driver of technology in modern drive engineering. For example, PROFINET has long been established in the drives world. To support users in getting started, a new community project has been created.

27th November 2012

How to select linear actuators for positioning systems

Specifying linear motion systems is not the 'black art' many engineers think it is. Mike Hughes, an Applications Engineer at Schaeffler UK, provides some useful tips and guidance for engineers on how to select the most suitable linear actuators for single- and multi-axis positioning systems.

20th November 2012

Ecodesign directive: frequency inverters can save money

Demanding environmental targets within the EU and the rest of the world mean that the regulations concerning motor drives are being tightened up. Companies can benefit, both financially and environmentally, if they know the technical options and stay one step ahead.

20th November 2012

How to set programmable angle encoders

Variohm EuroSensor is the exclusive UK distributor for Contelec and presents the following application note on setting up programmable angle encoders.

19th November 2012