October 1, 2009
Features
Plastic bearings have their place
BNL USA Inc.Foxboro, Mass. Versatile thermoplastic bearings can be molded to any shape to meet both design and budget targets. Materials can also be chosen...
Stepper-based linear actuators
Rotary motor motion is usually converted to linear through rack and pinion sets, belts and pulleys, and other mechanical linkages. These are effective...
Editorial
American manufacturing needs good karma
A few days ago, the Department of Energy approved a $528 million low-interest loan for Fisker Automotive, one of four automakers selected by the DOE to...
What's New
Packaging industry withstands economic downturn
Packaging is down for the first time in seven years, but the news isn't all bad. According to a new report from packaging association PMMI, Arlington,...
Cable carrier quick facts
Capabilities: Carriers guide and protect cable and hoses from abrasion, snagging, and overbending during machine movement. In many applications, design...
Optimize mechatronic systems with simulation
If you're encountering integration errors in mechatronic systems late in development during hardware prototyping, you may want to spend a few valuable...
Virtual job fair targets engineers
A virtual job fair specifically for engineers is available now through November 30. The fair is the second phase of the No Engineer Left Behind program...
Biz bits | Oct 2009
Automation Service Engineering opens doors Automation Service Engineering (ASE), Troy, Mich., provides industry-standard support for control system breakdown...
Color sorting quick facts
Sensing color: Many products (from automotive parts to food packaging) either have color requirements or are color-coded. Industrial color sensors are...
Special day celebrates standards
October isn't just for Halloween and homecoming. It's also time to celebrate World Standards Day, held each year on Oct. 14 to pay tribute to experts...
Motion Programming
Embedded control
Noun: Application-specific software and custom-integrated circuits specifically designed and implanted to generate commands that bring forth the best...
Design by Objective
Surviving shock and vibration
Sudden shock loads and excessive vibration may not be pleasant, but they are typical of many industrial settings. To help your designs stand up to the...
Articles
Web Contents | Oct 2009
Downloadable CAD files The company igus offers fully downloadable 2D and 3D CAD files at the click of a button for its cable carriers, plastic plain bearings,...
In Response | Oct 2009
The following letters are in response to a Motion System Design column asking whether or not the Cash for Clunkers program was a good idea. To protect...
Save time with seals and lubes
Free online seal configurator speeds time to market The Sealing Solutions Configurator is a free online tool that helps engineers identify the right sealing...
New Products | Oct 2009
General-purpose motors The IronHorse general-purpose ac motor line has been expanded to include three-phase, 1,200-rpm/six-pole, and 3,600-rpm/two-pole...
Mercury clutch mystery: Partially solved
In the August issue of Motion System Design, we presented the mystery of the centrifugal mercury clutch. The design was patented in 1950 by Automatic...
