Linear motor Lowdown
To fully appreciate the chief advantages of linear motors, it is helpful to compare them to ballscrews, another high-precision rotary-to-linear transmission...
Cylinders with Air Bearings
Engineering StaffAirpot Corp.Norwalk Conn. Air bearings are motion components that are commonly integrated into linear actuation systems to reduce friction....
Linear drive systems enabling precision parts production
From aerospace to machine tooling, glass cutting, medical and more, manufacturing processes depend on reliable motion control. Delivering the speed and...
Testing tiny wafers demands miniature moves
In recent years, semiconductor labs have become billion-dollar enterprises. Accuracy in the automated testing of the wafers they produce is particularly...
Going rugged for slides
Many motion designs include straight sections that are traversed by linear components. One common element here is the slide or linear guide an unpowered...
Demystifying linear motor integration
Linear motion is central to many moving machines, and the direct-drive nature of linear motors can simplify overall machine design in these applications....
Linear actuators support weapons elevator
Among the most vital material handling systems in use today are those that handle weaponry for the armed forces. Case in point: In Cincinnati, Ohio, Federal...
Bag grippers for palletizing use linear slides
With years of experience in the declining automotive marketplace, SAS Automation in Xenia, Ohio, recently ventured into the consumer-products palletizing...
Hydrostatic linear guiding for standard design spaces
Throughout the machine tool industry, hydrostatic linear guides are considered the best technical solution for vibration damping at the point of system...
The sliding alternative
Steel ball bearings are quite common, but plastic linear bearings and guides are increasingly tough so their use is on the rise. Instead of riding on...
Straight talk on linear motion
Accuracy Accuracy has two aspects. First is the accuracy of the actuator itself, determined by the moving element and its ability to travel in an ideal...
Bearing breakdown
Disaster story Where loss of machine function may cause serious injury or even death, failure is simply not an option. Such is the case with high payload...
Better by Design: Linear position reporters
Getting accurate moves out of a hydraulic positioning system requires reliable feedback. This mission-critical position data is generated by electrical...
Choosing a crossed-roller bearing
Most linear bearings incorporate ball bearings (usually of metal) to reduce friction between moving parts. Of these designs, most bushings, ball splines,...
Linear motors: Leading a new industrial revolution
Linear motors are very quick and precise for positioning, but are also capable of slow, constant-traverse speed for machine heads and slides, as well...
Go long: Rack and pinion systems
Linear motion is indispensable to moving machines; it transports tools and products efficiently and controllably. The mechanisms that generate linear...
Great Guides
Much time and attention is focused on choosing the best bearings for linear motion tasks. But what about the components that guide the application and...
Selection and Application of Lubricants for Linear Motion
What IS the number one lubrication mistake? What is the difference between weight and viscosity? Which lubricants best extend product life? Which are best for food grade or submerged applications? What is the best way to remove grease? This webinar will answer those questions and more. Proper lubricant selection can significantly improve performance and extend product life. This webinar will cover lubrication for Plain Bearings, Ball Screws, Ball Splines, Linear Bearings and Profile Rail....
Sturdy actuator strengthens pool lift
Many people who have difficulty with weight-bearing activities due to arthritis, injury, or being overweight enjoy the benefits of aquatic physical therapy...
Straight move lowdown
Because these traversing systems are so widespread, every aspect of linear electromechanical design is continually being improved from guidance and load...
Telescopic rails for heavyweight transfer
These days, some new upscale homes and buildings are adorned with formed concrete facades to give the stylish appearance of stonemasonry, but in a more...
Guides in complete actuators
In the simplest terms, a linear actuator is a mechanical device that develops force in a linear motion, either by hand or with a motor. In industrial...
Servopneumatic control
More refined than simple on/off regulation of motion, proportional control of pneumatics is a cost-effective way to impart flexibility....
Progress continues on China’s Great Wheel
In Beijing, construction continues on the Great Wheel of China, a giant Ferris wheel that will soon hold the record as the world’s highest observation wheel, with views reaching the famous Great Wall...
Robot handles parts with ease
Creating a robot for small parts handling calls for a machine design that is both highly dynamic and extremely precise. With the Galileo Sphere, the Italian Mechatronic System Company has built a robot that combines the advantages of linear and direct drives in one system...
Linear motor shaft sizing: Software in Excel for download
One of the most straightforward tasks in linear motion system design is to specify a motor and drive combination that provides the force, speed, and acceleration required by the mechanical design...
Patent advances maglev technology
MagneMotion Inc., Acton, Mass., a developer and manufacturer of linear synchronous motor (LSM) products and systems, was awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,448,327...
Better by design: Think matter
When it comes to putting sensors in a fluid-power cylinder, the most common approach is to gun-bore the piston rod and mechanically fasten positioning...
Linear rail systems position with precise control
A new Linear Rail System uses a precision leadscrew assembly to provide controlled positioning along the axis of a robust linear slide...
New sensor design resonates with linear motion
A new type of linear position transducer combines inductive coupling with resonant circuit principles to resolve micron-level movements over a sensing...
Belt proves it’s no drag
Each quarter-mile run, National Hot Rod Association drag racing teams gamble on engine setups...
Timing belts in linear positioning
Reinforced urethane timing belts work well in high-accuracy linear motion and conveying applications because they stretch very little, do not creep or slip, and are much stiffer than neoprene...
Lost motion
The first article in this series examined a pseudo-ideal gear reducer to demonstrate that free play between adjacent parts becomes lost motion...
Smooth lube for small gears
Synthetics boost performance in small gearboxes...
Keeping step motors from stalling
A big reason step motors stall is that they don’t have enough additional torque to overcome resonant motor shaft vibration. Find out what causes resonance and the most effective ways to damp it...
Latest developments in voice coil actuators
Need smooth motion, high speed and acceleration, or tight servo control? Voice coil actuators, providing rotary or linear motion, may be the solution you need. Here is a look at choosing the right one for your application...
Electric linear actuators: make or buy?
Engineering an electric linear actuator (electric cylinder) system in-house is often the most cost and time-efficient route to an automated motion solution. Sometimes you are better off buying....
Extending machine life with insulated couplings
Motor shaft current can cause arcing that damages both bearings and couplings. One way to prevent this arc-induced damage is to use insulated couplings...
Protecting linear motion devices
To maintain the high performance levels required from precision linear devices, users need to protect them from the contaminants that occur throughout the production processes. One solution is the use of bellows, boots, and covers...
Driving linear motors
Are the drives that run rotary motors capable of driving linear motors? Depends on the application. Some requirements for motor speed and accuracy make demands that the average drive can't meet. But that's about to change with the latest advances in drive electronics...
Going linear
Looking for a linear actuator? Here's a quick review that will help you sort the many options...
Easy glider
With the aid of new polymers, linear slides are born to glide...
The rundown on linear ball bearings
Linear ball bearings are suitable for many precision applications, but also demand delicate design considerations...
Rotary-to-linear step motors take stage lights to new heights
When Garth Brooks stepped onto the concert stage in Dallas last September, 500 luminaires were already there to brighten the show...
The importance of ballscrew end fixity
Fixed-end, supported-end, free-end are ball-screw support conditions you need to understand in order to design the best actuator system for your equipment. One type of support or another can make a big difference...
What you should know about ball splines
Where linear and rotational motion in combination are needed, the age-old solution has been a straight sliding spline. A better solution could be a ball spline, with less friction and less tendency to bind...
Better shafts for better linear motion performance
Recent developments in materials and finishing techniques for linear-motion shafts offer new opportunities for improving performance. Here is a look at what you need to know to make the best selection for your applications...
Hot polymer expands actuator technology
A new technology combines the small size of solenoids, the forces of hydraulic cylinders, and the proportional control of electric motors...
Sewing up smooth linear motion without threads
Turn a smooth shaft. Butt a roller against it with axis skewed relative to the shaft. The roller wants to translate, and you have the essentials of a threadless mechanical linear actuator....
Handling the curves
Sometimes a linear application will throw you a curve. To get back on track, try slides and races that provide linear motion in the round and that can link linear applications to curved applications...
Lessons from an engineering fiasco
Don’t let the Denver International Airport’s experience turn you off to the use of linear motors in material handling or other linear applications. Instead, learn from the mistakes...
Selecting and applying cam follower bearings
Whether you use cam follower bearings for cam followers, or for track, guide, or support rollers, their performance depends largely on the type you select. Important factors include loads, speeds, misalignment, installation, and lubrication...
Why materials and manufacturing impact bearing performance
Bearing reliability depends on its material and manufacturing process as well as design. Controlling these elements ensures that bearings perform reliably and achieve long life in demanding applications...
Linear motors step out
Engineers can choose from several types of linear motors. When the application calls for quick, precise linear motion, a linear step motor may be the choice...
In, out, and roundabout
Plain bearings offer a simple way to combine linear and rotary motions in a single device...
Straight talk on linear motion
The path to complex linear systems is rarely straight...
High rollers
Ball screws, a mainstay of linear motion, advance to meet the demanding dynamics of today’s applications...
Form, fit, function and force
Linear servo motors are helping motion system designers keep pace with industry demands...
Motorized drive gives linear motion with resolution better than 0.1 mm
A new piezoelectric device that turns a screw promises linear positioning with unheard-of precision and range. Now in screw travel you can get what you call for ... no more, no less...
Composite sketch
Self lubricating, thermoset resin-backed bearings with continuous-fiber reinforcement aren’t your stereotypical non-metallic bearings...
Tips for choosing high-accuracy linear positioning systems: Part 3
Electronic, optic, computer, inspection, automation, and similar industries have diverse positioning-system specifications. No one system is right for all...
Turning the tables on cam indexer gremlins
To successfully apply cam indexing drives, consider more than just the indexing torque and bearing life. Watch out for these potential pitfalls and know what to do about them...
Shot peening increases gear life
The shot-peening process has long been known to improve the fatigue life of bearings and shafts, and the bending strength of gear teeth. Now it’s used to increase the pitting fatigue life of gear tooth contact surfaces as well...
Tips for choosing high-accuracy linear positioning systems: Part 2
Electronic, optic, computer, inspection, automation, and similar industries have diverse positioning-system specifications. No one system is right for all...
Better motion control: New linear motors
The number of choices for converting electrical energy into linear motion recently increased. Welcome the linear motor...
A moment in positioning
In a motion system, magnetostriction can sense other parameters besides torque. One linear sensor, for example, uses them to find position...
Ball bushing bearing withstands misalignment
The latest child in a ball-bushing family of fruitful ancestry is being introduced to European markets right now. This baby and its shaft can be out of line with respect to each other without adding stress. The reason, say the proud parents: It is smart. And it will be here soon...
Selecting lubricants for ballscrews
Ball screw assemblies generally operate at about 93% efficiency. Your selection of the most appropriate lubrication method is important in gaining and keeping such performance...
Moving heavy, unguided loads — vertically
You might not think of a rodless cylinder for vertical linear motion applications, especially if those applications involve heavy loads. Here’s one, however, that can handle the load...
