December 1, 2007
Articles
Web Contents
Community contacts One of the best things about the Internet is the ability to easily jump from one site of interest to another via links, making it a...
Vene, vede da Vinci the epilogue
For the past year, we've been discussing the mind of Leonardo da Vinci and the intellectual qualities that helped make him one of the greatest innovators...
In response
Back to the salt mines In a recent Motion Monitor eNewsletter, we posed a question about whether or not we Americans work too much. Here's what some of...
Gyro suit captures motion
Originally used as an analytical tool for biomechanics, motion capture technology, a.k.a. is now used in video game development, computer animation, sports...
Producing plastic in the cleanroom
Using robotics alongside injection molding machines (IMM) is a challenging task, especially when parts must be produced under cleanroom conditions so...
PTDA announces 2008 leadership
During the 2008 PTDA 2007 Industry Summit, held during October in Palm Desert, Calif., PTDA elected its 2008 Board of Directors and Manufacturer Council....
Ocean kayak gears up for 2008
When Greg Kolodziejzyk says he wants to pedal 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, he has more than setting a new world record in mind. The journey,...
Now that's a gearbox
With a combined weight of almost 25 tons, Renold Gears, Manchester, UK, has manufactured the heaviest pair of wormwheel gearboxes in its history. Designed...
Maverick magnet design attracts attention
A breakthrough magnet design that could shed new light on nanoscience and semiconductor research, according to engineers at Florida State University's...
TB Wood's celebrates 150th anniversary
On October 27, TB Wood's Inc., Chambersburg, Pa., celebrated its 150th birthday. Founded in 1857, TB Wood's Inc. designs and manufactures electronic and...
ElectroCraft acquires e-Motion
ElectroCraft Inc., Dover, N.H., recently acquired the operating assets of e-Motion Drives and Controls, Stuttgart, Germany, a company that makes high...
Kaydon purchases Avon Bearings
Kaydon Corp., Ann Arbor. Mich., recently announced that it has acquired Avon Bearings Corp., Avon, Ohio, in a cash transaction valued at $55 million....
Rolling in style
The name of the game for machine builders nowadays is maintenance-free precision. End users are demanding it for their products, to avoid warranty hassles...
Not your father's packaging machine
At the recent PACK EXPO tradeshow held in Las Vegas, industry observers commented on the proliferation of robotics in packaging machinery compared to...
Measuring motion with light
Laser Doppler vibrometers (LDVs) measure vibrations in ways that other sensors can't. From large aircraft structures to microscopic MEMS sensors, and...
Thermosets on the rise
A journal bearing is a cylindrical component that rides on a rotating shaft, floating on a layer of oil or grease. Larger journal bearings, with diameters...
No more runaround
Round, flat, and vee urethane belts are often used in reciprocating applications. Reciprocating diverter belts pop up between conveyor rollers to sort...
Pneumatic knowledge bank
HOW DO ACTUATOR CHOICES AFFECT PRODUCTIVITY IN MOTION-CENTRIC AUTOMATION ENVIRONMENTS? Jerry Numatics: Pneumatic actuators are available in a variety...
Visual servoing tailor made for robotics
Products everywhere have gotten so small that many necessitate automated systems specifically designed to feed, align, and fasten small and complex 3D...
Stepmotor spikes: Cause and prevention
Stepmotors are widely used for accurate and precise motion. With the right electronics, they can even be forced into moving in mini-steps that they normally...
Smart seals
Conventional shaft seals are designed to last a certain length of time perhaps 5,000 to 20,000 service hours before the effects of wear begin to emerge....
Product spotlight: Lubes and Seals
Thread sealant Permatex Gel Squeeze Threadlockers prevent fastener loosening and failure caused by shock and vibration, flow easily into threads, and...
New Products
Ac motors IronHorse general purpose ac motor line includes rolled steel and cast iron styles. Features & benefits Available to 300 hp with a base speed...
Nanofriction 101: Facing Friction and Wear
When it comes to understanding friction on the nanoscale, no comprehensive model exists. Scientists have only a general understanding of friction's atomic-level...
