Machine Building

Machine user manuals, noise levels and the Machinery Directive

Doug Florence, a Senior Consultant at SafeMech, discusses the issue of noise emissions from machinery and introduces research that found the vast majority of manuals falling short of the Machinery Directive's requirements.

19th November 2012

Low-torque bearings bring energy, efficiency & size savings

Across the global automotive sector, NSK is known for providing bearings that achieve reduced weight and size and low torque for automobiles, via its four core technologies: tribology, materials, analysis and mechatronics. These meet all the needs of the automotive sector in reducing power consumption and emissions, and in enabling more efficient integration of the engine and electrical system, or engine and electric motors in the case of hybrid vehicles.

14th November 2012

How to choose on-off valves and flow-control valves

Michael Adkins, Senior Manager, Product Line Management at the Swagelok Company, explains how to select the right type of valve for on-off and flow-control applications.

9th November 2012

Universal Robot can be used for collaborative working

This article explains how the six-axis industrial Universal Robot can be used as a collaborative robot alongside human operatives, with no need for physical guards, light curtains or other additional safety devices.

5th November 2012

Bearings accommodate misalignment without risking early failure

A recent survey by a global bearing manufacturer concluded that around 25 per cent of all rolling element bearings fail prematurely, due to ineffective and inefficient seals.

31st October 2012

Displacement and temperature sensors get smaller and smarter

Chris Jones, Managing Director at Micro-Epsilon UK, discusses some of the latest applications and innovations in non-contact displacement measurement and infrared temperature sensors for the automotive and motorsport markets.

31st October 2012

How enclosure accessories can make or break a design

Enclosures and cabinets can be found in countless environments across almost any industry. While each unit has its own application, they all have one thing in common: they are responsible for protecting their contents from external hazards. For OEMs and designers it is important that, to avoid early failure, the components which will be used alongside the product are carefully considered. In this article Chris Putman, Sales and Marketing Director of WDS, explains the importance of specifying suitable enclosure accessories.

24th October 2012

Non-metallic enclosures: the future for trackside installation

Samuel James is a manufacturer and supplier of points heating systems for the UK rail network, helping to ensure that in cold weather Britain's travel infrastructure doesn't freeze. The company is committed to improving its technology to prolong the lifespan of its products and maximise their safety. Chris Wall, Samuel James Design Engineer, explains why he believes that a move away from metallic enclosures at track side is vital. Similar arguments are applicable to other types of equipment and machinery located in harsh outdoor environments.

24th October 2012

Faster cycle time for PROFINET

The new PROFINET cycle time of 31.25 microseconds is barely tangible, and opens up many new opportunities. No matter what the future holds in terms of development, the communication technology needed for it is already here

23rd October 2012

Medical equipment ergonomics vital in healthcare sector

Southco explains how technological advances in portable medical equipment is placing increased pressure on design engineers to meet challenging ergonomic requirements

15th October 2012