Most Popular Articles
Here are our top read articles from the past three months.
Introduction to PID control
Everyone uses control loops. Anytime you adjust how you do something based on previous results, you are forming your own control loop. For example, when...
Moving-magnet linear motors
Linear motors are becoming increasingly practical for general motion. Many are used for long strokes of a few feet or more. One new design, however, where...
The ABCs (and 1-2-3s) of variable frequency drives
Variable frequency drives (or VFDs) are widely used throughout industry to provide adjustable speed control of ac motors. Although modern versions are...
Ballscrews vs. lead screws
HOW DOES THE CHOICE OF A BALLSCREW OR LEAD SCREW AFFECT PRODUCTIVITY IN A MOTION-CENTRIC AUTOMATION ENVIRONMENT? Woody THK: Ballscrew technology allows...
Basics of motor nameplates
Ever order a motor on power, speed, and enclosure? What do all those things on an ac motor nameplate mean...
Itty-bitty motor seeks Guinness World Record
Scientists at Tufts University, Medford, Mass., have created the first single-molecule electric motor, a feat that could lead to a new class of devices...
Event-driven strategies enable adaptive control
Mechanical cams, once a mainstay of automation, have been largely replaced by servomotors. The reasons are easy to understand: Mechanical simplicity and...
Gear Quality: What it's all about
Component grades and classifications abound in engineering practice. When it comes to gear selection, American engineers often rely on the AGMA quality number. But what exactly does it cover? A deeper look at this quality number and the concept of "gear quality" in general can help optimize the designation process...
Separating rack and pinion myths from reality
Myth: Rack and pinions are old technology that only offers low precision. In fact, rack and pinions are an old technology, but that isn't a drawback....
Lubrication tips for plastic gears and more
To learn the tricks of caring for industrial drives, especially optimum lubrication methods, takes many years of field experience, or learning from others with experience...
