Mitsubishi Electric Corporation recently announced that it had been awarded a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title onMay 21, 2024, for the fastest robot to solve a puzzle cube using the TOKUI Fast Accurate Synchronized Motion Testing Robot (TOKUFASTbot). The previous record of 0.38 seconds was trumped by TOKUFASTbot’s time of 0.305 seconds. Mitsubishi Electric Corporation reports…

Applied Motion Products introduces the MDX+ series, a family of low-voltage servo systems that integrate a servo drive, motor, and encoder into one package. Solutions with 100/200/400/550W power output are available. The MDX+ product line supports pulse train-based control methods (Pulse/Direction, CW/CCW, encoder following), RS-485, CANopen, and EtherCAT. It also offers packages with electromagnetic brakes…

Components from maxon are integral to the spaceMIRA surgical robot, which recently completed its first demo test surgeries in zero gravity on the International Space Station (ISS). The spaceMIRA, developed by Virtual Incision and researchers at the University of Nebraska, is a compact, lightweight surgical robot sent to the ISS on a SpaceX Falcon 9…

NORD DRIVESYSTEMS is returning to the 96th Annual AAAE Conference with its innovative solutions for the airport industry. This year’s exhibition takes place in Nashville, April 28– May 1, 2024. Drive solutions from NORD are characterized by their long service life, high efficiency, and quiet operation to transport baggage effectively and discretely from the check-in…

KEB America, Inc., a subsidiary of KEB Automation KG and the North American provider of motion control and industrial automation solutions, today announces its DL4 series of brushless servo motors is now available to original equipment manufacturers across North America. The DL4 synchronous servo motors deliver high torque and accurate precision in a compact and…

When packaging machinery specialist Balpack Inc., Sarasota, Florida, was tasked with manufacturing a star wheel capping machine for a customer, it turned to automation vendor HPE Automation, a Diamond Partner Distributor Elite of Mitsubishi Electric Automation. HPE Automation recommended using Mitsubishi Electric components for a complete and compatible solution to develop a machine in a…

AutomationDirect has added new SureServo2 servo systems that accept 460 Vac three-phase input power. With output power from 400 W to 15 kW, these 12 new perfectly matched sets of servo motors, drives, cables, and accessories have all the features of our existing SureServo2 servo systems: on-board motion controller with registration, electronic camming, and event-based…

Kollmorgen, a maker of motion control systems, announces ATEX certification and IECEx/cETLus listing for the explosion proof Goldline EBH 480 Vac servo motor. These new explosion-proof approvals for the high-voltage Goldline EBH servo motor exemplify Kollmorgen’s commitment to advancing the state of the art in motion control and meeting the most demanding application requirements. The…

Kollmorgen, a maker of motion control systems, announces ATEX certification and IECEx/cETLus listing for the explosion-proof Goldline EBH 480 Vac servo motor. These new explosion-proof approvals for the high-voltage Goldline EBH servo motor exemplify Kollmorgen’s commitment to advancing the state of the art in motion control and meeting the most demanding application requirements. The high-voltage…

Kollmorgen has announced the launch of its AKMA servo motor built specifically for durability, cleanability, and versatility. The motor employs a hardened anodized aluminum surface to offer machine designers a cost-effective hygienic option to stainless steel in medium- to heavy-washdown applications. The lightweight design of the AKMA motor makes it easy to install and maintain,…

The test tube must go into the centrifuge, the component at its correct position, and the package onto the conveyor belt: gripping objects and placing them someplace else is a fundamental mechanical action in most work processes. In modern systems, “pick-and-place” is performed by automated grippers. They must operate both powerfully and delicately millions of…

Kollmorgen has introduced the new TBM2G series of frameless servo motors, introducing features that simplify the design of collaborative, surgical, aerospace and defense and other robots while delivering optimal performance in a lighter, more compact package. These new motors will complement Kollmorgen’s existing TBM and KBM series of frameless motors. Resulting from several years of…

The test tube needs to go into the centrifuge, the component at its correction position, and the package onto the conveyor belt: gripping objects and placing them someplace else is a fundamental mechanical action in most work processes. In modern systems, “pick-and-place” is performed by automated grippers. They must be able to operate both powerfully…

Battery-powered motor applications need careful design work to match motor performance and power-consumption profiles to the battery type. Optimal motor and battery pairing relies on the selection of an efficient motor as well as a battery with the appropriate capacity, cost, size, maintainability, and discharge duration and curve. By Scott McMillan • Senior Applications Engineer […]

Moticont has added Metric dimensioned motors to their LVCM Series of linear voice coil actuators. An example is the miniature LVCM-022-013-01M Linear Voice Coil Actuator. At 22.2 mm (0.875 in.) in diameter and at mid-stroke just 20.7 mm (0.81 in.) long, this new metric miniature voice coil actuator has a continuous force of 4.0 N…

In a previous motion-sizing articles, we reviewed how to properly specify (using software) a ballscrew-driven motion axis. Then we reviewed how engineering teams can use a similar software-based approach for sizing rack-and-pinion-based servomotor-driven axes on the same five-axis gantry. Now we’ll explore the process for sizing the components (using that same software) for an electric-motor-powered […]

Emerson has announced its new PACMotion servo motion control portfolio to offer an integrated automation solution for industrial applications. The portfolio includes a new motion controller that connects directly into the PACSystems RX3i programmable logic controller backplane for high-speed, high-precision performance with synchronized motion for up to 40 coordinated axes, enabling end-users to scale up…

Modern servo drives with advanced tuning capabilities — when paired with performance servo motors having high-resolution feedback — can eliminate load-to-motor inertia-mismatch concerns. By the Kollmorgen engineering staff The accepted principle of matching motor to load inertia is no longer pertinent with today’s faster motion-control processors and advanced control algorithms. This outdated inertia-matching method of […]

From packaging to communications, BLDC servomotors are gaining market share in a variety of industries — and for good reason. They deliver high torque and smooth rotation (with minimal torque ripple) and lend themselves well to cost-saving customization. By Ralph Adams • President | Orbex Group Design engineers typically rely on off-the-shelf brushless dc (BLDC) […]

Disposable medical hand tools are seeing increased use due to their cost and hygiene benefits. Engineers who design these tools usually specify brush DC or brushless DC motors. Here we compare these two options. By Clémence Muron • Applications engineer | Portescap An early step of surgical power tool engineering is to determine whether the […]

EtherCAT and PC-based control have been specified for automation of the Giant Magellan Telescope, including more than 3,000 motion axes and site-wide fieldbus infrastructure. Once installed at Las Campanas Observatory in the Chilean Andes, the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) will introduce many opportunities for the astrophysics and cosmology research communities. The telescope design will have…

Ogura has developed a new line of micro brakes for servo motor applications.  These small brakes and motors are primarily used in robotics and medical equipment.  Ogura micro holding brakes come in both square and round designs.  The newest round design is 10 mm in diameter.  Length is as short as 9mm.  Micro brakes can…

The Orbex Group, a manufacturer of electric motors and slip rings, now offers brushless servo motors that combine high torque, low inertia, and various customizable options to improve efficiency in dynamic servo-driven applications. In fact, customizable elements include the motor windings, holding brakes, feedback options, gear reducers, connectors, and shaft and mounting. Available in a…

Finnish company Newlcon Oy’s Mega-Fixu storage and retrieval system completely automates the identification, shelving and dispensing of medications, enabling pharmacists and medical staff to streamline their storage management. Regarding scale and cost, each NewIcon Mega-Fixu storage system is custom-tailored to fit the size and turnover of the particular pharmacy. To accomplish these tasks, Newlcon Oy…

Applied Motion Products offers a new daisy-chain board connector for its NEMA 11 frame StepSERVO integrated motors. The new optional connector separates communication terminals into two standalone power and I/O connectors, making it easier to establish daisy-chain connections on RS-485 and Modbus RTU networks. Standard configurations of Applied Motion’s TSM11 (NEMA 11 frame) integrated motors […]