Articles
Electrification of Linear Actuators Bring New Productivity and Flexibility to Material Handling
Electric linear actuators are raising material handling to new heights. As digital transformation extends the scope of automation to more axes and electric linear actuators handle increasingly heavier loads, more material handling system designers are converting hydraulic and pneumatic motion control to electric, especially in new projects. Linear actuators...
Compact, Efficient Motion Powers a Submersible Robot for In-Service Inspection of Fuel Storage Tanks
Founded in 2016, Square Robot innovates in robotic inspection of above-ground tanks that store diesel, gasoline, kerosene, oils, and other products. By continuously developing robotic, data acquisition, and data-processing technologies, Square Robot enables in-service inspections to ensure tank integrity and safety. Challenge The submersible robot needs eight...
Virtual Design Collaboration Lends Key Support to Self-Standing Crutch Prototype
More than eight million Americans and Canadians rely on canes or crutches, and most share one challenge: placing it conveniently out of the way when not in use. With the help of Thomson Industries, Inc., a team of engineering students from the University of Waterloo (located in Ontario, Canada) has prototyped a potential solution, using an electric linear actuator...
The new X-PLUS RS4 Stepping Motor Drive
Precision, Power, Safety We are introducing the X-Plus RS4 from RTA, a high power 110-230 VAC Step Direction Stepping Motor Drive Introduction X-Plus RS4 is a new model of RTA flagship high-power stepping motor drive with Step & Direction interface. The embedded Auto-Sync function with encoder enhances the drive features and optimizes the motor performances. It...
Kollmorgen Helps Salvagnini Build More Energy-Efficient Metal-Bending Machines
Innovation, competency, service. Through 60 years in business, these three commitments have helped the Salvagnini Group achieve global leadership in the field of sheet-metal processing equipment. As the #1 worldwide supplier of panel benders, and one of the top five for all sheet-metal tools, Salvagnini has five manufacturing plants, 25 branches, more than 2,000...
Electric Actuators Continue Gaining Traction in MOH Applications
Electric linear actuators are steadily gaining ground in MOH machine design applications. Where they could once efficiently replace single hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders in simple, end-to-end motion applications using up to 100 watts of power, today, they can perform complex motion profiles drawing power up to 400 watts. Part of this new functionality stems from...
Accelerating the Development of Next-Generation Prostheses and Exoskeletons
Humotech was founded in 2015 on one simple question: Instead of building prototype after prototype, what if engineers could evaluate the design of prostheses, orthotics, exoskeletons and other wearable machine concepts by programming a robot to emulate them in real time while a user walked? ChallengeThe Humotech Caplex™ testbed platform is a modular system used...
Calculating the Total Value of Hygienic Machine Design
Washdown is a principal cause of motor failure. OEMs and producers spend a lot of money to protect motors, and lose a lot on downtime. But there’s a better way. Eliminating the need for protective covers, AKMH motors are easier to build into the machine. Designed for direct washdown, they are easier to clean on the production floor. And with a seamless 316L...
The new CSD ET S4 Stepping Motor Drive
The CSD stepper drive series is one of RTA's worldwide best-sellers since its first release in 2009. Following a wide redesign process, RTA now presents the new CSD ET S4 model, a stepping motor drive with rather unique features for a 24-48 voltage range drive. CSD ET S4 communicates with a wide range of stepping motors and it can be easily integrated into...