Frank J. Bartos

Motor Summit 2014: Energy efficiency focus is on total motor systems

Presentations at this biennial technology conference showed growing movement to embrace work on the larger electrically driven system beyond the motor itself. This approach can enable large efficiency gains. Motor Summit was hosted by European and international energy associations and co-hosted by the National Electric Manufacturers Association (NEMA) of the U.S.

Big plans for small nuclear reactors

Cover story: U.S. nuclear power plant outlook: new designs, safety, plant openings are part of the nuclear energy spotlight in 2014. Speakers at a recent American Nuclear Society meeting discussed more efficient nuclear reactor designs with simpler controls, nuclear plant safety, small modular reactors, and timeline for next new nuclear power plants.

Direct-drive linear motion expands its applications

Direct-drive linear (DDL) motion technology had its start in the machine tool industries: high-quality machining, honing, grinding, punching, and laser cutting. Linear motor systems have expanded into gantries/material handling, flying cut-off equipment, metal forming, assembly shuttles/conveyors, and food-processing machinery and other applications. See photos, supplier table, links to related stories.

PC-Based Control Delivers for Manufacturing

Influences of personal computer (PC) technology are all around us. Penetration of PC control into industrial communication, operator interfaces, production monitoring, and so on is enormous. PCs also have spawned a host of application software and tools that help streamline diagnostics, data management, and other plant functions.

AC Drives Simplify Complexity

They span the gamut of sizes from "micro drives" that virtually fit into your shirt pocket to large system drives and medium-voltage units. However, ac adjustable-speed drives have some attributes in common: increasingly capable control of ac induction motors, including torque control in some models, and inherent benefit of energy savings for many applications.

IPM Designs Improve Brushless Servos

Permanent magnet synchronous motors—brushless servo motors for short—rely on a rotating magnet rotor to generate the magnetic field needed for efficient torque production. Most often, the magnets reside on the rotor's outside periphery for the sake of design simplicity, providing good dynamic performance for many applications at lower cost than alternatives.

Starting, Stopping Motors Softly

Good reasons not to start (or stop) ac induction motors under full input voltage include exposure to extremely high locked-rotor currents and torques up to 230% of full-load torque. Solid-state, reduced-voltage (SSRV) soft starters serve to mitigate destructive effects of such very high motor inrush currents and resulting mechanical stresses on connected equipment or system components.

ASICs Versus FPGAs

As with other technologies, reports of the demise of ASICs have been premature. Design starts may be down sharply, but ASIC revenues continue to impress, especially in Asia/Pacific regions. Also, alternative hybrid approaches, such as "structured ASICs" may add new life to the technology. Meanwhile, FPGAs (and other programmable logic devices) are flexing their muscles, gaining critical mass, a...

Hydraulic cylinder anatomy

Available in a gamut of sizes, types, and design configurations, cylinder actuators form the main output device of a hydraulic motion system, and often the most visible part. These actuators convert hydraulic fluid pressure into rapid, controllable linear motion and force to move loads. A typical actuator consists of the cylinder body, end caps, piston, piston rod, seals, and bearing surfaces ...

Java in the Factory

Newer technologies carry inherent potential to improve on what has gone before. A case in point is Sun Microsystems' 1995 introduction of Java software and programming language, ushering in advances like platform/operating-system independence, ability to reuse software applications, Web connectivity, and basis on industry standards.