Design and software company ECM PCB Stator Tech and global engineering and manufacturing services firm East West Manufacturing have announced a strategic partnership to advance adoption of next-generation products incorporating PCB Stator electric motors. The arrangement enables ECM to leverage East West’s extensive production capabilities while allowing East West to extend the benefits of ECM’s […]
About The Author
Lisa Eitel
Lisa Eitel has worked in the automation industry since 2001. Her areas of focus include motors, drives, motion control, power transmission, linear motion, and sensing and feedback technologies. She has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and is an inductee of Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society; a member of the Society of Women Engineers; and a judge for the FIRST Robotics Buckeye Regionals. Besides her motioncontroltips.com contributions, she also leads the production of the quarterly motion issues of Design World.
Leadscrews in medical equipment
Leadscrews are essential to surgical robotics, patient-monitoring systems, diagnostic imaging devices, and rehabilitation equipment. Leadscrews are those spiral shafts that (upon application of torque) convert rotational motion into linear motion — axially advancing and receding a mating nut to deliver accurate positioning. They’re well suited to medical equipment as they come in a variety of […]
Trends in engineering training and human-centric design
Both professional and vocational engineering training are evolving to address skill gaps and workforce-readiness issues. Advancing communication technologies, the COVID-19 pandemic, and new digital-transformation approaches have forever changed the way technical training in manufacturing and automation is conducted. Now analytics tools can track training progress; adaptive learning can adjust curricula to offer personalized resources; and…
New: Siemens browser-based functions for manufacturers with Zel X software
Siemens Digital Industries Software recently released Zel X software — a next generation browser-based engineering app for streamlining manufacturing and shop-floor operations. Zel X consolidates software for manufacturing, operations, collaboration, design and simulation into a comprehensive, yet lightweight browser-based solution that delivers value instantly. “The manufacturing industry is demanding open, flexible toolsets that are not…
Part 3: The increased viability of sustainability
In Parts 1 and 2 of this series, we learned how certain design approaches and technologies enable sustainable operations and carbon-emissions reductions. Here, we learn how industry is working to reduce other waste and quantify the effects of their efforts. By Lisa Eitel | Executive editor MEET THE EXPERTS Anant Bhat | Director — Industrial…
Part 2: The increased viability of sustainability
In Part 1 of this series, we learned how sustainability programs are supported by efficient technologies. Here, we learn how industry is working to reduce carbon emissions. By Lisa Eitel | Executive editor Last year saw 50% more increase in global renewable-electricity capacity than years past — reaching approximately 507 gigawatts, according to the International…
Part 1: The increased viability of sustainability
Sustainability and manufacturing need not be mutually exclusive. As detailed in this three-part series, industry is putting unprecedented effort into ESG initiatives. By Lisa Eitel | Executive editor In recent years, businesses with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives have put increased emphasis on sustainability. Especially in manufacturing and automated operations, metrics abound to allow…
Custom connectivity from binder suits plant applications
Industrial circular connectors binder designs and produces customized connectivity solutions based on specific customer requirements. The company specializes in creating solutions for use cases with unique demands that go beyond the standard scope of products listed in the binder catalog. For such applications, binder offers customized solutions that are reliable and tailored to meet the…
Update on digital twins and more for digital manufacturing
New digital approaches leveraging cloud simulations and other advanced analytics are helping manufacturers optimize production lines and end products. By Lisa Eitel | Executive editor At the forefront of digital transformation (DX) initiatives is digital manufacturing. Leveraging an integrated computer-based approaches for design, simulation, testing, and production, the use of digital manufacturing could double over…
The latest digital transformation (DX) initiatives
While most organizations are prioritizing DX efforts, few have fully leveraged cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies so essential to DX operational efficiencies. Now, that could be changing. By Lisa Eitel | Executive editor Digital transformation (DX) initiatives are at the forefront of business initiatives around the world. Spurred by rapid adaptations instituted during the…
ARRIS secures $34M for aerospace and consumer efforts
Fiber-reinforced composites manufacturer ARRIS has raised $34M from new and returning investors, including ST Engineering, Zebra Technologies, Youngone, Standard Industries, Vertex Exploratory Fund, NEA, XN, Taiwania Capital, Bosch Ventures, Modern Venture Partners (MVP), and Alumni Ventures Group (AVG). Funding will be used to build on the company’s success in scaling its global operations. In November…
Automotive electric-actuator market trends
Automotive electric actuators adjust engine settings; manage safety features; and impart precise control fuel efficiency. Many such actuators are compact and light, fitting well in modern cars and requiring less maintenance. Some can be programmed to execute different tasks. The market for these automotive actuators is likely to grow at a moderate pace and reach…
Automation for North American EV battery production
By 2028, the 40-plus electric vehicle (EV) battery-manufacturing sites in the U.S. could annually output product capable of 1,037 GWh … tracking to increase by twentyfold from the size of the industry just a few years ago, according to the U.S. Dept. of Energy. One geographical corridor running from Michigan to Alabama currently dominates the industry,…
Five things to know about leveraging wireless charging to support DX
Digital transformation (DX) initiatives continue to make headlines. The buzzword is synonymous with improving automation, safety, and efficiency in the manufacturing industry. More facilities than ever are integrating Industry 4.0 technologies such as sensors, IoT, and robots, into their operations to enhance modernization efforts, increase efficiency, and reduce downtime. Here, wireless charging of equipment found…
ABB opens refitted state-of-the-art U.S. robotics facility
ABB today opened its refitted U.S. robotics headquarters and manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan, which will support ABB Robotics’ global leadership in developing and manufacturing cutting-edge robotic solutions in the US, for the U.S. and the Americas. The expanded facility reflects ABB’s commitment to long-term growth in the U.S. market, which is predicted to…
Trends: Drives and controls incorporate more safety and feedback
The last decade has seen advancements in controls and motor drive technologies to boost efficiency, safety, and ease of use. Now commonplace are drives that: Let end users leverage autotuning functions for faster commissioning Detect and correct for vibration issues — including the shaping of power into motors to avoid resonances Spur increasingly compact motors…
Interview with motor pioneer Ted Lin on his 25th patent
Inventor Ted Lin is a personage of innovation and expertise in the demanding field of dc motor technology. His 25th patent is a testament to his lasting contributions to motion control engineering. A half-century ago, Lin began his journey with a B.S. in Physics from Tsing Hua University in Taiwan and an M.S. in Physics…
DigiKey added more than 450 new suppliers and 1.7 million new parts in 2023
DigiKey, a leading global commerce distributor offering the largest selection of technical components and automation products in stock for immediate shipment, announced today that it expanded its portfolio in 2023 by adding more than 450 new suppliers across their core business, DigiKey Marketplace and Fulfilled by DigiKey program. The company added more than 1.7 million new accessible…
Stainless steel: The gold standard for equipment cleanliness
The value of safety — both for protecting people from physical harm as well as end users and OEM machine builders from lawsuits — has spurred increased adoption of integrated safety into slicing, baking, and bottling machines especially. Of course, economic pressures must be weighed against sophisticated safety fixtures. Save for a temporary rollback of…
Pneumatics in food manufacture
Pneumatic actuation is ubiquitous in food and beverage-processing equipment because it outperforms electric automation for many tasks. Pneumatics have a lower upfront cost and higher resistance to harsh cleaning — both dry and wet. With minimal electrical or electronic subcomponents at pneumatic axes’ end effectors and points of application interactions, these delicate elements aren’t potential…
Considering enclosures to satisfy food-safety regulations
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) imposes world-class regulations using hazard analysis and third-party certifications to ensure food safety. What’s more, a CDC, FDA, and USDA Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration is currently underway to more precisely pinpoint foodborne-illness origins (including those involving automated machinery) using modern approaches. Expansion of the FDA could boost the…
Where machine design intersects with FSMA rules
Remember that while U.S. food-regulatory agencies don’t directly regulate food equipment, they regulate its use to require cleanliness. As part of FSMA, the Preventive Controls for Human Foods Rule demands that all plants registered with the FDA prepare and implement written food-safety plans — or FSPs for short. These FSPs must identify and outline solutions…
Sanitation and safety for food and beverage equipment
Food and beverage equipment must be safe and sanitary. In fact, food safety in particular is a key factor that will drive ROI for food and beverage manufacturers in coming years. Consider some specific examples: End users of grain milling, pasta making, and baking equipment have increasingly prioritized equipment that is quieter than past iterations…
Cutting-edge manufacturing enables production of diverse vane sizes
Vesconite Bearings recently produced both the smallest and largest vanes in its history. This achievement underscores Vesconite Bearings’ commitment to engineering vanes in air motors, vacuum pumps and concrete vibrators to maximize efficiency, reliability and performance. In June, Vesconite Bearings successfully crafted the tiniest vanes to date, measuring a mere 1.3 mm in thickness, 6.3…
Saginaw HMI enclosures and suspension arm systems from AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect has added new quality-built Saginaw carbon steel and stainless steel HMI enclosures available in various sizes with NEMA 3R/4/12/13 ratings (stainless steel units are also rated NEMA 4X). These enclosures protect human machine interfaces (HMIs) from harsh industrial environments, helping to prolong HMI service life and ensure reliable operation. They include a removable front…