November 1, 2009
Features
Maximizing efficiency with encoders
Permanent-magnet brushless dc servomotors (PMBDCs) provide the highest continuous torque density and efficiency of any electric motors, which is why they...
Modeling bearing life
Bearings are important in all rotating applications. First priority is to select a bearing type and size that will withstand the magnitude and direction...
Q&A
Are there any other important bearing considerations? Misalignment. Consider this: The number of rolling bearing elements subjected to loading depends...
Indexer overload protection
In engineering, indexing is the movement from an initial position to a new position, starting and ending in rest. Mechanical cam-driven indexers are motion-control...
Top 10 tips: Specifying stepper drives
Know the four most common microstepping myths. Myth 1: A high microstep count will result in evenly spaced steps at that count. Microstepping is good...
Add financial oomph to your designs
Engineers, scientists, and technical people are subject to stereotypes. Super-smart, hard worker, and problem solver stand out as positive labels, while...
Editorial
Up and away
One of the sweetest movies of 2009 features the delights of helium. Up the animated film in 3D where available is the story of a retired man that travels...
What's New
Bearing market rolls forward
Domestic demand for ball, roller, and plain bearings is projected to expand 3% per year through 2013 to $10.6 billion, according to a new Bearings report...
Motion Programming
Embedded control
As we covered last month, embedded motion control is operation-specific code targeted to microprocessors, FPGAs, and PLCs. As hardware becomes increasingly...
Design by Objective
Improving energy efficiency
Conserving energy on a system-wide basis starts at the component level. Check out some of the latest green offerings and expert tips that will help your...
Articles
In response
The following letters are in response to MSD's September editorial column, titled Choose A or B. The column compared the cost of one F22 Raptor - $350...
Get a grip on gear noise
Two new courses in March 2010 aim to teach gear designers, noise specialists, and others interested in gear issues the fundamentals of working with gear...
Biz bits
Over 100 new B&R products UL certified In addition to meeting all criteria for UL compliant construction, several new automation components from B&R Industrial...
Web Contents
Online coupling configurator Coupling selection should account for torque profiles, temperature, inertia mismatch, and rotational speed, among other things....
Temperature sensors
Fiber optic infrared transmitters The OS4000 series of industrial high-speed infrared transmitters measures temperatures from 392 to 2,912 F using three...
New Products | Nov 2009
Helical gearbox Designed for 24/7 operation, the miniature RW5 gearbox consists of a CNC-machined aluminum-block housing, dual bronze bearings for shaft...
CCDs for seeing
Machine vision begins at the sensing device, and the original and most prevalent design the CCD camera or charge-coupled device recently earned its inventors...
