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Product advice: Smart mechatronics platforms offer new handling solutions
Intelligent mechatronics components, such as linear motion products, controllers, servo drives and operator software with easy-to-use configuration tools, are necessary to build complete, high-performance mechatronics solutions, according to a company with a Control Engineering Engineers’ Choice Award product.
Donation made for mechatronics lab at university
Omron Foundation made a donation to California State University, Chico (Chico State) for an expanded mechatronics laboratory and classroom space.
EC: SINAMICS V20 Variable Frequency Drive
Motion Control - Drives: The SINAMICS V20 variable frequency drive is the cost-effective, reliable and easy-to-use ac drive for basic applications. This is a Control Engineering 2014 Engineers’ Choice finalist.
EC: MV1000 Medium Voltage AC Drive
Motion Control - Drives: The MV1000 is a full featured medium voltage drive, providing outstanding quality, performance, flexibility and system friendliness for medium voltage applications, from 200 to 5,000 hp. This is a Control Engineering 2014 Engineers’ Choice honorable mention.
EC: XT Motor Control Center
Motion Control - Drives: Eaton XT motor control centers provide 24-Vdc control power in a compact footprint, and are designed to improve uptime and enhance safety for commercial, industrial, and OEM applications. This is a Control Engineering 2014 Engineers’ Choice finalist.
EC: Allen-Bradley Kinetix 5500 servo drive with Kinetix VP low-inertia servo motor
Motion Control - Drives: The single-cable Kinetix motion solution gives machine builders a proven solution for servo and induction motor control on a single development platform to reduce design time and cabinet space, and improve power density and efficiency. This is a Control Engineering 2014 Engineers’ Choice finalist.
EC: Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 525 AC Drive
Motion Control - Drives: The compact Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 525 ac drive helps machine builders and end users simplify equipment design and operation, and speed installation and configuration. This is a Control Engineering 2014 Engineers’ Choice award winner.
Medium voltage AC drive is compact, saves energy
Yaskawa's MV1000 medium voltage ac drive family use a modular, compact design for energy savings and are compatible with the 1000 series low voltage ac drive products.
Going green in powertrain and engine testing
Flexible test machines that regenerate energy promise to revolutionize the world of aircraft and automotive subsystem testing.
Vertical lift stages, in 2 sizes, with dc servomotor
Aerotech's MPS-SV series lift stages are offered in two sizes, the MPS50SV and MPS75SV, and feature a DC servomotor as well precision-ground ball screws for accurate geometric performance.
Top Control Engineering articles, September 2013
The most-visited articles at www.controleng.com during September 2013 included: Alarm management standard, IT vs. OT, automation upgrade help, Invensys acquires InduSoft, thermowell selection, motor shaft grounding, machinery directive help, help from IT, big structures from small interlocking pieces, human-robotic collaboration, automation justification, modular PLCs, and more.
Self-assembling robots from MIT have simple design
Resolves problem for modular-robotics community: Small cubes with no exterior moving parts can propel themselves forward, jump on top of each other, and snap together to form arbitrary shapes. Link to video of the robots.
Safe motion modules, hygienic servos, fighting robots
Kollmorgen Safety Modules (KSM) help original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) deliver higher productivity by combining machine safety logic and safe motion. Servo drive advancements, stainless steel motors, and fighting robots were also shown.
Integrated-motor market to expand by more than 40 percent in five years
Integrated-motor market sales are projected to reach $553 million by 2017 due to a larger global market size and additional market revenues from ac brushless servo and dc brushless integrated motors.
Latin American low-voltage motor drive market takes uphill path to $600 million in sales in 2017
The low-voltage ac and dc motor drive market is expand to grow to $600 million by 2017 thanks to lower commodity prices and concerns about potential mining and hydroelectric projects.
Foundation offering grant for electrical motor power density tests
EMERF is offering a $15,000 grant to a university or research facility to develop research concepts on improving power density and efficiency in small electric motors.
North American machine vision sales rise for second straight quarter
The AIA reports North American machine vision sales rose 6% for the second quarter of 2013 with machine vision systems having the highest growth of any category.
Top Control Engineering articles, July 2013
The most-visited articles at www.controleng.com during July 2013 included: System Integrator Giants of 2013, temperature sensor selection, future human-machine interfaces, Invensys sales talks, programming methods, top articles in June, when to automate advice, and industrial network selection, among others.
Linear positioning drives deliver 40 N force
Nanotec Electronic's Nema 8 and Nema 14 hybrid linear positioning drives deliver a force of up to 140 N and a resolution of up to 0.01 mm.
Direct drive motor assemblies
Applimotion's customized direct drive motor assemblies include precision bearings, encoders, and cabling for a low-profile direct drive solution.
Of PLCs, control panels, and VFDs
PLCs have come a long way since the late 1960s and their applications in engineering are both innovative and seemingly endless.
Global motion control shipments fall in first-half 2013, optimism expressed
Global shipments for motion control products fell 6.8% for the first half of 2013, but there is still general optimism that sales will increase by the end of 2013 according to the Motion Control Association.
Servo drives receive expanded IO capability
Ormec's XD indexer family expands analog I/O, adding motion control features for new applications and it also features software for complex applications.
Integrated linear motor stage
Aerotech’s PlanarDL-series delivers geometric performance for applications where precision is critical and it has three positioning performance options as well as anti-creep crossed-roller bearings.
Motion controller for end users with third-party controls
The Q170MCPU-EIP motion controller by Mitsubishi Electric is designed for end users who have third-party control system to incorporate and create Mitsubishi positioning applications via the Ethernet.
How to size servo motors: Advanced inertia calculations
Inside Machines: To properly select the appropriate servo motor for a motion control application, find the inertia of the load being rotated. Applications where the center of rotation is on a different axis than the center of mass can lead to some challenging inertial calculations.
Servomotor line with field-replaceable encoders
Siemens' Generation II Simotics 1FK7 servomotors are field-replaceable 24-bit encoders in 10 styles as well as three inertia versions and seven shaft heights.
Consortium formed for semiconductor wafer fabrication challenges
Ten global companies formed the Facility 450 Consortium (F450C) and five companies formed the Global 450 Consortium (G450C) with the intention of addressing facility and infrastructure challenges of 450mm semiconductor wafer fabrication issues.
Rotating torque sensor series
The Dyno LaborSaver rotating torque sensor series from SensorData Technologies allows for dual measurement and has a wide range of measurement options.
Electric cylinder and closed loop servo drive
Festo's EPCO electric cylinder and CMMO-ST closed loop servo drive are designed to quickly assist in machine and product changeovers and offers the flexibility of commissioning via the Internet.
Software wizard provides easy embedded motion controller setup
Product Exclusive: PMD Pro-Motion software offers axis wizard and support for digital amplifiers and embedded motion development, providing easy setup of embedded motion controllers.
Top Control Engineering articles, April 2013
The most-visited articles at www.controleng.com during April 2013 included the following topics: PID tuning rules, April Fool’s Day article, salary and career survey, lower PLC software costs, remote I/O, robotic innovations and safety, lambda tuning, motion control, cyber security, and energy efficiency, among others.
Demand for DC brushless motors in automotive applications expected to grow 52 percent by 2017
DC brushless motor shipments will outpace shipments of DC brushed and stepper motors used in automotive applications from 2012 to 2017.
China’s motion control market falls nearly 20 percent in 2012
Revenue from sales of motion controls in 2012 fell to $2.2 billion, down 19 percent from $2.7 billion in 2011.
Stepper motion systems addendum
Cost, simplicity, and continuing innovation are keeping stepper motion technology competitive—as described in the May 2013 main article. Additional developments and perspectives on motor-drive integration, controls, component miniaturization, and stepper motion system suppliers are provided here.
Step-motor-based systems stay competitive
Motion control: Traditional stepper-motor systems represent the only motion-control technology able to operate in open loop—although the addition of position feedback to enhance performance is on the rise. Simpler controls, lower cost components, and other innovations keep stepper systems competitive with servo motion systems in numerous applications.
Motion control: Statue of Liberty rescue elevator
Application Update: At the Statue of Liberty, the new fast, efficient rescue elevator features a smooth ride to the top, ensured by a motor drive, to improve safety, emergency access, and evacuation for the crown jewel of U.S. statues and tourist destinations.
Products used: Automaker changes gears without changing grippers
Original equipment manufacturer Moore Controls used Festo HGPLE electric grippers to help an automaker’s transmission operations eliminate costly changeovers.
Automaker changes gears without changing grippers
When a major automaker sought a new strategy for automated transmission operations, an original equipment manufacturer put electric grippers at the cutting edge to eliminate costly changeovers.
China market for motion-control gear slowed in 2012, but picture brightens starting this year
The overall motion-control market in China contracted 19 percent last year compared to 2011.
CNC services and support
The ‘right’ technical services and support capabilities for CNCs will maximize uptime, boost profits, and reduce maintenance costs.
Solid-state cylinder switch
The SMT-8M-A solid-state cylinder switch by Festo features a supplemental on-board LED for proper field commissioning and is designed for T-slot applications on pneumatic drives.
Taking the complexity out of designing Smart-Grid devices
National Instruments executive says a new development platform should bring renewable energy sources to the grid much faster.
The right system components are critical to maximizing the energy-saving potential of VFDs
Cabling—like other components—must be vetted for its ability to withstand the harshest operating conditions.
Understanding servo system application requirements
When selecting servo-based motion control systems, it’s all about the application.
Servodrive control
Cover story: Smaller, faster, higher accuracy, and easier to use are among servodrive control advances. Servodrive controls offer high accuracy and repeatability for precise applications, as shown in the cover application video and in the articles, explanations, and examples about each.
Top Control Engineering articles, January 2013
The most-visited articles at www.controleng.com during January 2013 included the following topics: U.S.-manufacturing of medium-voltage drives, decentralized process control, a new engineering research center, 5 ways to enable the next generation workforce, automation programming, and Ethernet communications, among others.
Open architecture digital PMSM servodrive control
Milling machine axis control system uses real-time open architecture and digital permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) control, based on a high-performance PXI platform. Updated with reader comment Feb. 5.
Motion control: Product handling, re-feeder challenges
Integrator update: Controlling the product flow in adjacent machines can be challenging. Polytron and Finesse Manufacturing address product handling and re-feeder interruptions, turning a three-legged race into a winning relay.
Eaton dedicates new innovation, engineering center
Electrical reliability, efficiency, and safety were key points of emphasis during a Jan. 9 ribbon cutting, tour, and lunch for Eaton employees, media, and other selected guests at the new Menomonee Falls Innovation Center. See photo gallery and video clip, below. Updated Jan. 16.
Top Control Engineering articles for 2012
Think Again: Control strategies, optimization, safety and security, and system integration were among top Control Engineering articles for 2012, based on online traffic. What advice here will help your 2013 be more productive?
Yaskawa commemorates first U.S.-manufactured MV1000 medium-voltage drives
The Kagami-Biraki sake ceremony celebrates the start of U.S. manufacturing of the Yaskawa MV1000 medium-voltage ac drives, first in that series of drives to be built in Oak Creek, Wis., with an investment in manufacturing and testing in excess of $3 million. See photo gallery from the ceremony and plant tour, below.
CNCs offer predictive, preventive maintenance tools for motors
Fanuc's Series 30i/31i/32i-Model B CNCs offer predictive and preventive maintenance tools for motors and fans. Fanuc can judge when the fan will fail through monitoring tools, enabling maintenance personnel to repair the problem at their convenience.
Integrated motion servo drive with EtherNet/IP connectivity
Kinetix 5500 servo drive by Rockwell Automation joins the Kinetix 350 and Kinetix 6500 drives to provide users with more options to match motion control needs.
Integrated CNC controller with HMI functions
The M700V series by Mitsubishi Electric is an integrated CNC designed for metal-cutting, forming, plastics, and woodworking applications.
Top Control Engineering articles, November 2012
The most-visited articles at www.controleng.com during November 2012 included the following topics: Leaders Under 40, best products, mobile apps, feedback controllers, machine commissioning, System Integrator Giants, fieldbus project help, level control, project management, and lean manufacturing, among others.
Top Control Engineering articles, October 2012
The most-visited articles at www.controleng.com during October 2012 included the following topics: Best products, HMI, mobile apps, motors, level control, system integrators, safety, PLCs, energy efficiency, and project management, among others.
EC: EPCO Electric Cylinder
Motion Control: The EPCO electric cylinder is a ball screw driven actuator with integrated stepper motor (closed loop / with encoder) used in light industrial applications. This is a Control Engineering 2013 Engineers' Choice finalist.
EC: IndraDrive Mi Integrated Motor-drive System with Multi-Ethernet Interface
Motion Control - Servo drives: Rexroth IndraDrive Mi with Multi-Ethernet interface is a milestone in drive engineering, combining control electronics and servo motor in one ultra-compact unit. This is a Control Engineering 2013 Engineers' Choice finalist.
EC: MR-J4 Series Servo System
Motion Control - Servo drives: The MR-J4 servo system from Mitsubishi Electric Automation combines high performance features (for maximum throughput and OEE), user-friendly, HMI functions (to accelerate set-up, reduce installation costs and improve operator safety), and energy saving features. This is a Control Engineering 2013 Engineers' Choice Awards Honorable Mention.
EC: AM8000 Servo Motors
Motion Control: Synchronous servo motor with One Cable technology, with which the power and feedback system are combined into one standard motor cable. This is a Control Engineering 2013 Engineers' Choice Awards Honorable Mention.
SMMA 2012 Fall Technical Conference
SMMA 2012 Fall Technical Conference is Nov. 6-8, 2012, in St. Louis, Mo. Pre-Conference options include three SMMA Motor & Motion College course and the Permanent Magnet Division (PMD) Meeting. During the conference, 28 table top exhibitors will showcase products and services.
Servo motor versus induction motor systems
Cover story tutorial: Choosing between permanent magnet servo motor or induction motor systems depends on application performance criteria. Consider this advice for the best fit. See more information and photos online, including comparative table.
Motor-integrated servo drives
The Acoposmulti65m by B+R Automation is designed to unite motors, sensors, and servos into one compact unit. It comes with IP65 protection and is equipped with STO.
Servo amplifier has EtherCAT connectivity
The Mitsubishi Electric Automation MR-J3-xA-RJ158 is an AC servo drive that provides users connectivity to servo amplifiers through EtherCAT communication. It is designed for automotive applications and has an amplifier with a capacity that ranges from 100W to 22kW.
Mobile showroom demonstrates motion control solutions
Mitsubishi Electric Automation's Solutions in Motion is a mobile showroom that has interactive demonstration pods as well as an industrial, bottling-line demonstrating new products.
Motor lineage, design knowledge help when choosing servo or induction motors
Webcast: In the Control Engineering RCEP Accredited webcast, “Servo vs. induction motors: Which should be considered for what applications?” information presented suggests that understanding motor lineage and motor design help with motor specification. See graphics.
Actuator with reverse parallel motor mount
The new reverse-parallel motor mount reduces the length of the Tolomatic ERD actuator while increasing mounting flexibility and motor selection in electric actuator applications.
Energy management: What’s next for manufacturing?
Small changes in how energy is managed in manufacturing can add up to millions of dollars in energy-consumption savings. See below for four tips for saving energy in motion-control applications.
Industrial permanent magnet motors, and DC motor lines expanded
Baldor has expanded its permanent magnet and wound field industrial DC motors.
Integrated motion control programming software
B&R’s Automation Studio software programming environment integrates motion programming within the B&R Generic Motion Control platform.
EtherCAT box for incremental encoder connection
Beckhoff Automation's I/O module synchronously reads encoder values via high-precision EtherCAT Distributed Clocks.
CC Link option for field inverter
The FR-A700 inverter by Mitsubishi Electric has added a CC-Link IE Field option card that controls remote I/O and read/write functionality up to one Gbps using the industrial Ethernet protocol.
Servo, drive, motion controller
Product Exclusive: Mitsubishi Electric’s new MR-J4 Series Servo and Motion Controller boosts productivity with speed, safety, and performance.
Challenges of Motor Selection and Sizing
The range of sizes, types, and configurations of electric motors can seem endless. Here are a few ideas for navigating the choices.
Monitor machine conditions
Control Engineering International: Machine condition monitoring can be integrated within digital control of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM).
Efficiency needs a system approach, depends on individual applications
Energy-efficient motion control: To identify the most energy-efficient pneumatic and electric automation, a technology-neutral comparison is required. After considering different alternatives, a German automotive components supplier adopted a ready-to-install energy-efficient handling system.
Technologies used in the Ulmer Automation application
Festo PositioningDrives engineering software helps with appropriate component selection and sizing to optimize mechanical drive and transmission components and motors and to prevent duplication of safety factors, reducing energy costs by as much as 70%.
Machine-tool Energy Efficiency: Current Issues
Industrial Energy Management: A range of energy consumers, such as pneumatics, hydraulics and lubricant processing, influence a work center’s power profile.
600V ICs for energy efficient inverter motor drive applications
International Rectifier introduces the compact IRS2334SPbF and IRS2334MPbF three-phase 600V ICs.
Technologies resolve 3 motion integration engineering deficiencies
Motion Analyzer mechatronic design software, Integrated Architecture and Logix Control Platform from Rockwell Automation, and EtherNet/IP enabled devices help resolve motion system integration challenges with mechatronics, scalability, and automation architecture.
Motion system integration, 3 overlooked points
Tips and Tricks: Control Engineering asked what engineers overlook when doing motion system integration. Pay attention to mechatronics, scalability, and the advantages of using one automation architecture.
Easy Motion System Integration: Practical Strategies, Tools
Inside Machines: When designing machine motion controls, remember that motion starts at the load. Applications that guide motion system integration decisions can result in a more strategic machine design for more efficient and intuitive operation.
Ethernet-based servo drive for machine automation
ABB Microflex e150 servo drive is designed for the Ethernet-based machine automation market and offer encoder interfacing, motion control programming and integrated functional safety capabilities.
Integrated motor communicates on EtherNet/IP systems
The MDrive integrated motor by Schneider Electric is designed for EtherNet/IP systems enables the networking of products from different manufacturers without the need for special interface adaptation.
Industrial networks: Free membership upgrade offered
The Mechatrolink Members Association (MMA) is offering its Regular Member package for free until March 31, 2012, which is good for an entire year thereafter, the group said.
Servo drive with Multi-Ethernet
With a Multi-Ethernet interface the IndraDrive Mi from Bosch Rexroth simplifies the realization of varied automation structures with one type of hardware.
Integrated, open PLC and motion programming for packaging
IndraMotion for Packaging from Bosch Rexroth is designed to reduce the amount of engineering by implementing all PLC and motion programming tasks in the same same programming language.
Vision and motion hardware added to controller platform
A reconfigurable Camera Link frame grabber for embedded vision and a motion module were added to the CompactRIO controller platform from National Instruments.
Machine automation controller provides motion, logic, vision
Omron Industrial Automation's Sysmac NJ-Series machine automation controller is designed to provide motion, logic, and vision on one unit to simplify use and increase efficiency.
Motion controller for demanding applications
Galil Motion Control’s PCI BUS Econo Motion Controller, The DMC-1417, is designed to handle demanding applications.
NYC Tunnel Boring
Automation Integrator Case Study: Communications network, variable frequency drives, and controllers integrate miles-long underground tunneling and motion control project.
EC: Electric Mini Slide EGSL
Motion control: The EGSL from Festo is a ball screw-based electromechanical slide used in conjunction with servo and stepper motors in precise positioning and pressing/clamping applications. This is a Control Engineering 2012 Engineers’ Choice honorable mention.
Energy-efficient sensorless motor control, variable speed motor control
Sensorless speed control motor and variable speed motor control technology are key energy-saving technologies.
EEMODS ’11—efficient motor systems conference: standards, new technologies
Energy Efficiency in Motor Driven Systems (EEMODS)—a notable international conference on electric motors, drives, and numerous related systems—drew some 150 attendees from industry, academia, government, research labs, and other service organizations to Alexandria, VA (greater Washington, D.C. area) during Sept. 12-14, 2011, to discuss, debate, and promote advances in energy-efficient technologies. This part 2 of two articles covers developments in efficiency standards and newer motor technologies.
EEMODS ’11—successful 1st U.S. staging of efficient motor systems conference
The latest edition of Energy Efficiency in Motor Driven Systems (EEMODS)—a notable international conference on electric motors, drives, and associated systems—had the objective to explain and promote commercial advances of energy-efficient systems to OEMs, energy users, and other stakeholders. This part 1 of two articles covers system issues, recommendations, and a market overview of efficient motors and drives. See graphics.
Accreditation for WPI, first U.S. robotics engineering undergraduate degree program
Four years after the program's launch, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) said it is the only university in the nation with bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs in robotics engineering.
Ultra compact I/O terminal for servo motor control
Beckhoff Automation introduced an ultra compact I/O terminal for servo motor control. The “revolutionary EL7201 Terminal permits direct connection of a servomotor and resolver to a 12 mm EtherCAT Terminal,” the company said. Five axes can be controlled in width of less than 2.5 inches.
Pack Expo Las Vegas 2011: Automation products target machine builders
Automation and controls introduced and discussed at Pack Expo Las Vegas 2011 last week aimed to help machine builders optimize designs, become more energy efficient, and improve safety. A sampling follows with more to come.
NEMA 1 inverter drives in 40 hp, 50 hp, 60 hp
Lenze SMVector NEMA 1 inverter drives ramp-up to 60 horsepower; new drives are said to be compact and cost-effective. The drives are among Lenze technologies at Pack Expo 2011, booth S5360, in Las Vegas, Nev.
Inside Machines: Reduce servomotor instability
Motor instability, uncontrolled and unintended motion at the motor shaft, can occur at low or high frequencies and often cause growling at higher frequencies. Effectively reduce or eliminate servo instability without increasing position errors or decreasing performance.
Mechatronics a main focus at Pack Expo 2011
Bosch Rexroth is emphasizing automation technology to enable modular, safe and energy efficient packaging machinery at Pack Expo 2011 in Las Vegas. Technologies include open control motion software, an integrated motor/drive with Ethernet communications, and corrosion-resistant pneumatics.
CNC system used to create 9-axis rotary transfer
Italian manufacturer Sinico used NUM's CNC system to develop the 9-axis rotary for manufacturing volume batches from metal bars and tubes.
Wind turbine gear production accelerated by refurbishing gear shaper
Linear actuator reportedly enables gear profile changeovers in minutes instead of hours, speeding wind-turbine gear production.
Many participants in wind power technology
Wind power suppliers: There is a large community of manufacturers and developers whose scope of supply ranges from complete wind turbine systems to hardware and software components and to numerous auxiliary subsystems that make up a wind farm. See list, photos, links.
Variable frequency drive for ultra high-speed motors, spindles
Amtech Drives Eazy Series Variable Frequency Drive system is designed to manage electrical currents for high-speed motors and spindles.
Inside Machines: Winding Technology in the Drive
Winder applications that can be integrated into drive systems by setting parameters, rather than configuring and programming, provide an advantage. See photo, diagrams, table.
Linear shaft motor stage offers nanoprecision
Nippon Pulse America released their SCR100 stage, which has a coreless direct drive motor, which allows for higher accuracy and precision.
Frequency inverter drive for decentralized applications, integrated positioning
Lenze Americas Plug and Drive 8400 protec frequency inverter drive is said to be quick to commission in demanding applications in the automotive, logistics, and printing industrial applications.
Spring applied brakes for servo, stepper motors
Inertia Dynamics released new reverse mounted spring applied brakes to help with demanding motor-braking situations.
Inverters feature high dynamic performance, efficiency for motion control
Lenze Americas’ high efficiency, dynamic performance 8400 inverter series boosts motion control and logistics automation control productivity.
Moog acquires Animatics
Moog, a motion-control company, acquired Animatics, advances smart motor capabilities.
CNC outlook: making tracks in midrange products
Easier CNC programming is creating growth in midrange computer numerical control products, said Siemens Industry. Advanced features, once available for high-end CNC tools used for aerospace, automotive, and medical applications, provide competitive advantage to a wider range of machine tools.
Application: Unusual CNC Design
Milling center has highly dynamic 3-axis processing with exceptional stability, high energy, efficiency, and compact dimensions, using industrial PC (IPC) and industrial Ethernet automation technologies.
Smartmotor design fits numerous applications, uses
Animatics' new smartmotor is designed to bring integrated benefits in harsh environments. It is rated IP65 with optional IP67 protection.
Robotic legs, motion control: Advances exceed some human capabilities
Smart prosthetics, including robotic replacements for human legs, meet and exceed some human capabilities, and advanced sensor developments will soon close the control loop between humans and robotic limbs, said Dr. Hugh Herr, biomechatronics researcher and professor, MIT Media Lab. See photos. Link to video.
Choosing the right motion control architecture
Building a controller has never been easier—or more confusing. This tutorial guide can help determine which motion control architecture to use. See tables, diagrams, and link to video.
Explosion-proof motors for extreme applications
Siemens Industry’s toughest line of hazardous duty motors feature NEMA Premium logos and are available from 1 to 300 hp.
Quick release mechanism protects against vibration shakeout
Speed Connect from Siemens Industry Inc. protects against vibration shakeout on its Motion-Connect line of power and signal cables.
USB interfaced I/O card for downloading configuration options
Mesa's 7I61 is a USB interfaced version of the FPGA based Anything I/O card series. It provides 96 I/O bits of easy to access programmable user I/O.
Coordinated Variable-Speed System Drives
A paper machine example illustrates that large electric drive systems have special requirements, for example, special inverter packaging with a separated dc converter to save space and cost, and provide the best reliability.
4-axis 750 W servo drive for Ethernet motion controllers
Galil adds to multi-axis drive family, the packaging of multio-axis drives with motion controllers saves cost, space, wiring.
Getting money back for efficiency
Aren't there tax credits and rebates if I find ways to save energy? How do I apply?
Yaskawa names Ogawa as CEO; Kudo retired
Masahiro Ogawa has been named Chief Executive Officer of Yaskawa America Inc. The company is headquartered in Waukegan, Ill. Ogawa replaces Gen Kudo who retired.
Rapid design, prototyping of PID controllers
Computer models can simulate processes, allowing you to design and refine PID controller action before it is implemented and deployed.
SMMA Management for Motion Control Conference
Motor and Motion Association’s Management Conference brings motion control exhibits, meetings, information to industry professionals.
Honorable mentions for 2011 Engineers’ Choice Awards
HONORABLE MENTIONS - click on the link for each product to learn more.
Linear motion control system helps Biotech Lab robot
The RoToR by Baldor Electric allowed Singer Instruments’ innovate biotech laboratory robot for pinning arrays of cells, more than 200,000 cell samples per hour.
Multi-axis conformal coating machine handles high volume throughput
Baldor Ethernet-compatible Powerlink servos simplify machine build in small packages.
Advanced motor design: New Motors Reach New Applications
Permanent magnets, axial, transverse, and radial flux designs optimize torque, power, efficiency, size, weight, and other motor performance parameters, as explained in this February Control Engineering feature article. Reader feedback added below on Feb. 16.
Retrofit brings old floor-type mill up to modern standards
NUM’s CNC technology helps bring an old-floor type horizontal boring mill up to state-of-the-art standards, areas improved include programming software, motion control system.
Rotary actuators with class I, division 2 option for hazardous locations
Exlar features rotary actuators with Class I, division 2 certification, suited for operating quarter turn, multi turn valves.
Video helps with servo motor tuning
Viewers now can learn to use the Galil Motion Control GalilTools scope to help tune a servo motor. View and measure the system step response and adjust the PID tuning parameters until optimum performance is observed.
Top 20 Control Engineering articles of 2010 at www.controleng.com
Link to the most-read Control Engineering articles of 2010 at www.controleng.com. Energy-efficient motor technology topics, pushed by a Dec. 19 regulatory deadline and increased sustainable engineering efforts, ranked very high. Also very popular were industrial communications technologies, wireless and Ethernet, various Tips and Tricks tutorial-type advice, as well as awards recognition. This was the topic of the January 2010 Think Again column.
Servo drive: cost-effective, easy to use for motion control applications
Allen-Bradley Kinetix 3 component servo drive from Rockwell Automation provides a solution for machines requiring less than 1.5 kW, up to 12.55 N-, of instantaneous torque.
Motion controller can rejuvenate your machine
Add productivity to your hydraulic machine with a new motion controller. Adding an electro-hydraulic motion controller can increase machine productivity. PLCs typically do not have instruction sets that are tailored for this function, and machine scan times can vary from scan to scan, making it difficult to deal precisely with feedback information. Old machine can add new life with a motion controller retrofit. See more photos and motion control diagram.
Serial synchronous interface module for motion control, position sensing applications
Opto 22 Snap-SCM-SSI serial module offers a communications interface between digital encoders and Snap PAC System I/P processors or programmable automation controllers; designed for use in motion control and other tracking and identifying applications.
Motion software upgrade analyzes, optimizes motion control systems
The Motion Analyzer 5.000 is part of a set of Rockwell Automation mechatronic design tools intended to provide mechanical, electrical and controls engineers the ability to collaborate to digitally prototype machines. Upgrade includes user interface, Profile Editor, selection assistants.
Spindle motors for heavy-duty machine tool, motion control applications
Siemens Industry’s 1PH8 family of high-performance induction motor drives and servomotors provide dynamic response, smooth operation and low vibration levels
Soft start/soft stop motor controller
New Enclosed Altistart 22 soft start/soft stop motor controller by Schneider Electric offers advanced performance and reliability in a packaged starter.
Software connectivity boosts sales, adds product flexibility
Embedding enhanced communications software capability into its machinery helped a precision press manufacturer improve its product and its sales, giving its servo systems the ability to connect with customers’ components regardless of the protocols being used.
ABB to acquire Baldor Electric Co. in a $4.2 billion transaction
ABB and Baldor announce a recommended offer for ABB to acquire Baldor for $63.50 per share, an overall transaction value of $4.2 billion, including net debt of $1.1 billion. (See photos and links to additional analysis at bottom of story.) The move, the companies said, is in line with ABB’s strategy to lead the multibillion dollar North American industrial motors business and be a global leader for movement and control in industrial applications (industrial motion).
High-inertia servomotors for high, variable loads
Siemens Industry Inc. 1FK7 servomotor provides highly robust control response suitable for high- and variable-load inertia applications, such as feed and auxiliary axes on machine tools, and winders and unwinders on converting, packaging and printing equipment.
Pack Expo: Process to packaging control capabilities expand
At Pack Expo International 2010, Rockwell Automation offers control capabilities to help improve machine performance, flexibility, and longevity.
Explosion-proof linear actuators for demanding environments
Exlar’s linear actuator line has been expanded to include the EL100 explosion-proof linear actuators, rated for Class I, Div 1, Groups B, C, D and T3 hazardous environments.
Control Engineering-Engineers’ Choice nominees, 2011
Nominations are closed for the 2011 Control Engineering Engineers' Choice Awards. Nominees follow, by category. Subscribers may now vote once per ballot if they meet the appropriate criteria ...
Control Systems, HMI Change Management, Security
Change management and security concerns have increased as human-machine interfaces have become more open and expose process data and metadata. Security precautions need to provide selective availability to control functions. Standards such as OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) can help off-the-shelf products be flexible and reusable, even in demanding applications.
EC: Allen-Bradley Kinetix 3 component servo drive
Motion Control - servo drives - Rockwell Automation Allen-Bradley Kinetix 3 component servo drive. The Allen-Bradley Kinetix 3 component servo drive from Rockwell Automation provides machine builders the ability to better match the needs of manufacturers without the complexity of traditional servo solutions. This is a Control Engineering 2011 Engineers' Choice (EC) Honorable Mention.
EC: Gold Whistle Intelligent Servo Drive
Motion Control - servo drives - Gold Whistle Intelligent Servo Drive from Elmo Motion Control. The Gold Whistle is an Intelligent Digital Servo Drive using the latest technology and offering the highest performance motion and network communication architecture to run Brush & Brushless Rotary and Linear Motors. This is a Control Engineering 2011 Engineers' Choice (EC) nominee.
EC: DMC-41X3
Motion Control - drives: Galil Motion Control Inc., DMC-41X3. Multi-axes Ethernet-based programmable motion controller. This is a Control Engineering 2011 Engineers' Choice (EC) nominee.
DC electric motors with Hall sensors
Bosch i-Business Group explores new uses for Bosch DC electric motors with hall sensors in industrial, medical, and commercial applications that require precise control of motor speed or positioning mechanisms.
IMTS innovations: 6-axis servo system, micro CNC, robotic cell, machine sensors, easier programming, large servos
Diverse product introductions, targeting greater machine tool efficiency, accuracy, speed, and ease of use included 6-axis servo system, micro CNC, robotic cell, machine sensors, easier programming, large servos with peak power output as high as 530 kW (710.74 hp).
Full-function robotic finishing solution
PerfectEdge, a complete, full function robotic solution, meets the challenges of tight tolerance chamfering, deburring or finishing processes, while offering a non-touch teach method of programming.
Electromagnetic Linear Encoders to the Rescue
Automated motion control beyond traditional robotic applications requires non-traditional linear encoders. Electromagnetic encoders are the answer. Control Engineering feature article; see diagrams.
Motion controller with Ethernet, takes encoder inputs up to 15 MHz
Enhancements to this motion controller, the latest product in a series, includes Ethernet 100Base-T, a USB 2.0 port, higher speed performance, larger program memory, and more. It can close a loop in 62 microseconds.
CNC machines push linear encoder limits
The bleeding edge limitation for CNC accuracy and reproducibility involves thermal expansion. One solution is to provide a second, shorter, encoder axis at right angles to the main axis. Here's how.
Global Perspective: Engineering Poland
2010 has been a promising year in Poland innovative automation that can increase productivity and flexibility, especially among smaller companies and with technical university partnerships.
Festo Codesys controller integrates drives, pneumatics, I/O
An embedded controller uses Codesys programming to integrate control of electric drives, pneumatics and I/O connections, the Festo CPX-CEC. This is a Control Engineering August 2010 North American edition Product Exclusive.
Piezo motors, actuators streamline medical device performance
For the execution of precise movements with medical equipment, the latest piezoceramic motors and actuators are more compact, require lower voltage, deliver higher torque, have shorter response time, generate less heat, and are nonmagnetic and vacuum compatible, compared to conventional electromagnetic motors.
Basic piezo technologies for motion control applications
The most common piezo actuators and motor types are “simple” piezo actuator, flexure-guided, piezo actuator, ultrasonic friction motors, piezo stepping motors, and Ultrasonic transducers. Different piezo actuators and motor types are available. The most common ones are:
11 ways piezoelectric motors improve equipment performance
Piezoelectric Motors Help Equipment Performance: Ten reasons to consider piezoelectric motors for motion control application follow, along with one more point that many motion system or product designers might not have considered. This is an August 2010 Control Engineering Inside Machines feature article.
Expansion: Motoman Robotics expands manufacturing in Ohio
Motoman SDA10D robot from Yaskawa (a dual-arm robot called “Dexter Bot”) wore a hard hat and turned the first shovel of dirt on a new 300,000 square foot state-of-the-art office and production facility, for the company's North and South American operations.
NIWeek: New high-performance servo drives, motors, use Ethernet
New products provide distributed motion solutions with EtherCAT technology and the NI LabVIEW 2010 NI SoftMotion Module. The products are designed so engineers and scientists can more easily build scalable, distributed motion control systems. They are said simplify setup and configuration for deploying custom motion applications to any NI real-time controller supporting NI EtherCAT technology, including NI CompactRIO, PXI real-time controllers and NI industrial controllers,
Variable frequency drives: Mitsubishi Electric Automation enhances F700-NA Series VFDs
Mitsubishi Electric Automation Inc. released a version upgrade for the F700 VFD Series variable frequency drives. The new version incorporates many new features and functions tailored to meet the requirements of the Water Handling Industry and a new level of flexibility for application specific requirements, Mitsubishi says.
Chip-level motor, motion control vendors
Motor control and motion control have similarities and different objectives; motor control typically needs less precise regulation of speed and torque than motion control. See suppliers.
Motion control: Packaging machine builder saves with servo system, controls upgrade
Siemens Simotion Shaftless Drive Standard software helps machine builder gain 50% savings on components and 30% savings on control cabinet footprint with comparable performance.
High-torque gearhead provides longer life, higher performance
Bodine Electric gearhead offered with new 3-wire-reversible 34R frame ac induction motor.
Control Engineering North American edition, April 2010
Click on the cover image to see the table of contents, including the salary survey cover story.
Customer-driven quality
Global Perspectives: Mitsubishi Electric's reputation for quality is largely directed by customer requirements. Customer visits to the company's Tokyo headquarters and Nagoya Works facilities foster the two-way communication necessary for maintaining high quality levels.
2-axis motion control card
Industrial Automation Group of Advantech introduces the PCI-1220U, a 2-axis motion control card for stepping and pulse-type servo motors. Hardware controlled linear and circular axis interpolation ensures synchronized movement across both axes, without consuming the PC’s CPU. Other features include programmable T/S-curve acceleration/deceleration rates, constant speed control and more.
New Porsche Hybrid: Two 60 kW motors, no batteries
Porsche racing hybrid technology used in its new 911 GT3 R Hybrid uses electrical front axle drive with two electric motors creating 60 kW. Each motor supplements the 480-bhp four-liter flat-six cylinder engine at the rear of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid. Uncommon features of this hybrid vehicle, include: The car will be tested in long-distance races on the Nürburgring.
Sensorless Control of a Brushless DC Motor
Digital signal controllers make it possible to meet motor torque and speed demands without employing rotor position sensors.
Mitsubishi Electric L Series PLC
Mitsubishi Electric L Series programmable logic controller (PLC) is the company’s newest generation of industrial control, combining advanced networking with motion and sequence control. This is an April 2010 North American edition Product Exclusive.
CNC machine gets integrated drive system
Machine builder sought lower stonecutting machine component costs, reduced footprint and build time, and improved performance. AIM Inc. gained those and other benefits by installing a new drive and control system.
FR-D700 variable frequency drive from Mitsubishi Electric
Mitsubishi Electric FR-D700 variable frequency drive allows adjustable speed control of an ac induction motor.
Baldor delivers motor energy calculator via iPhone app
BE$T software conveniently shows potential savings when single or grouped motors are changed to energy-efficient designs.
Lexium 32 servo drive range with servo motors
Schneider Electric's Lexium 32 servo drives reduce cabinet space, simplify interoperability, and improve machine performance.
2-axis motion control card for stepping, pulse-type servo motors
Advantech Universal PCI Card ensures synchronized movement across both axes, without consuming the PC's CPU.
Roboticists saved from integration workload
Maxon partnership with National Instruments results in easier robot development, ViNI robotics platform.
Siemens low vibration motor exceeds IEEE STD 841-2009
Siemens Industry Inc. has introduced a new design concept for the low vibration version of its rugged SD100 IEEE841 motor. The frame, bearing housings, stator and rotor employ the company's most technologically advanced designs to surpass the vibration requirements of the IEEE Std 841-2009. Separately, Siemens 1FK7 servomotors are now available in three weeks.
SR motor anatomy: See inside switched reluctance motors
Simple electromechanical structure of switched reluctance (SR) motors offers benefits of robustness and reliability by eliminating permanent magnets, rotor bars, and more - tutorial.
Porsche unveils 918 Spyder hybrid sports car concept
New concept from Porsche is an efficient, low-emission, mid-engine super sports car that features hybrid and electric drive technology.
Collecting Data Reports from Controllers
A tutorial on how to create a simple solution using common off-the-shelf software to solve a variety of manufacturing data collection needs.
Smart machine control creates unique sortation system
Sortation subsystem benefits from integrated automation to redefine efficiency in high-speed distribution centers.
Rockwell Automation A-B solid-state overload relay: voltage protection, energy monitoring
Allen-Bradley Bulletin 193-EC5 E3 Plus solid-state overload relay provides enhanced motor protection and motor energy consumption information, helps users improve energy efficiency and protect electric motor investment, says Rockwell Automation.
Video addresses common motion, I/O problems
Galil Motion Control debuts 2-minute videos for busy engineers seeking technical solutions.
Sortation system benefits from smart machine control, integration
Smart system integration and machine control enable a new integrated sortation subsystem to redefine efficiency in high-speed distribution centers.
Motors & Drives: Energy savings predictor available through iTunes
Yaskawa offers variable frequency drives message through pop culture software service, Apple iTunes. The simple-to-follow, five-step savings estimator from Yaskawa Electric America helps compare VFD performance to other methods of motor volume control (based on motor output or shaft horsepower).
Motion Control Winners, Engineers’ Choice Awards 2010
In discrete control, Control Engineering gave 2010 Engineers' Choice Awards for drives, motion control, and motors.
Electric servo precision for tube bending
Actuated by servo motors, this new breed of CNC machines boasts as many as 15 motion axes on some models.
Motor control terms, braking
Are there differences in servo drives and servo amps? What are the different kinds of motor braking strategies? 'Brake' now for motor learning.
Protect linear transducers in rough environments
Housing designed for steel mills protects sensors from corrosion, shock, and vibration in very rough applications.
More mechatronics products, services from Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation has expanded its mechatronic solutions portfolio consisting of software tools, motion control products and support. According to Rockwell, the portfolio helps engineers to better collaborate, and reduce machine costs and development time by providing a common forum where design input from the mechanical, controls, software and electrical engineers can be more easily gathered...
Yaskawa adds more manufacturing to Milwaukee-area facility
Yaskawa expands manufacturing space in Milwaukee-area facility; 140,000 square feet total helps continued growth in the Americas. See photo.
Intelligence at the Device
Cover story: As components get smarter and more powerful, manufacturers are finding themselves managing high-performance automation and control systems whose parts are capable of monitoring themselves, diagnosing their own problems, and maybe even making a decision or two, economically and easily.
Understanding Intelligent Motor Control
A number of trends are pushing motor drives to operate more intelligently. The first is that more intelligent algorithms can drive motors more efficiently at a given torque and speed. The second is that system efficiency increases when the motor is driven at the exact power level needed, rather than throttling.
Joint Makeover
Recently, a major medical device manufacturer was getting some discouraging feedback from its main customer group: endoscopy surgeons. They said the company’s surgical scissors were difficult to control. It seemed the screw and small nut used in the hinge mechanism, although secure and reliable, was either too loose or too tight to allow pinpoint accuracy.
Tools for Complex Machine Design
At its Automation Fair conference in November, Rockwell Automation announced an expanded mechatronic solutions portfolio consisting of software tools, motion control products, and support. The portfolio enables better collaboration among machine builders by providing a common forum where design input from mechanical, controls, software, and electrical engineers can be more easily gathered and e...
QuickSilver Controls: NEMA 23 servo motor has improved efficiency, power
QuickSilver Controls Inc. expands its line of servo motors with the QCI-A23L-3. This servo motor provides almost 33% higher power output capability than the similarly sized motor it replaces.
Panel PCs handle extreme heavy lifting
Integrated control system helps Wheelift automated guided vehicles move turbine generators, transformers, and other massive payloads.
Mitsubishi Electric Automation molded case circuit breakers, 5-600 A
UL-approved MCCBs complement Mitsubishi Electric Automation drives and servos.
Using Algorithms to Increase Motor Efficiency
In the face of economic uncertainties and increasing environmental concerns, many businesses are trying to make their operations more lean, efficient, and environmentally friendly. Examining your electricity bill is a good place to start. The top consumers of electricity are HVAC systems, water heating, lighting, office equipment, and machinery.
Embedded PCs Keep Drilling Machines on Budget
The need to drill straight and precisely shaped holes has been with manufacturers since the very beginnings of industry. Ever since the introduction of hand guns and rifles, the precision benchmark has been set high for deep hole drilling. Even today, these drilling systems are often referred to as “gun drills” because gun and rifle manufacturing was one of the first applications to...
Robotics development for academics, hobbyists
Microchip Technology announced the availability of a PIC32 32-bit microcontroller (MCU)-based robotics development kit through Digilent Inc.
How to Choose a Controller
A dozen application-specific lists, and more detailed information online, help you sort through controller choices no matter what type of system you're building or upgrading.
CC-Link leads in Asia among open fieldbus networks; helps pharmaceutical manufacturing in Brazil
CC-Link Partner Association says CC-Link is the leading open network in Asia. In other news, CC-Link and Mitsubishi Electric controls serve as the SCADA system for the Mantecorp pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Brazil.
System integration: How to design a PC-based test system
Motion controller and DAQ PC combine to produce high performance pipe-testing applications. System integrator Advanced Machine Automation used National Instruments LabVIEW, Microsoft Visual Basic, Delta Computer Systems RMCLink software, and other tools for the system.
Control Engineering Industry Leaders
Control Engineering is a magazine for engineers in all industries who buy, specify, design and maintain automation, control and instrumentation devices, networks, systems, and software for automated process, manufacturing, and hybrid solutions. Visit the partner sites below for insight into their market expertise, products, and services. Click on an Industry Leader logo and you will be taken through to view this valuable information Honeywell Honeywell Process Solutions serves several industries, including refining, oil and gas, pulp, paper and printing, power generation, chemicals, life sciences, and metals, minerals and mining.
Machine control: Long bed CNC gantry mills achieve unprecedented accuracy
A Siemens Volumetric Compensation System and proprietary temperature compensation system combine with laser calibration to achieve +/- 0.003 in. accuracies.
Can linear motors replace ball screws?
A reader of Control Engineering recently asked, “When I hear the sound of a ball screw that’s beginning to fail on a CNC milling center, I have to wonder: Isn’t there a better way to get that kind of linear movement? Are there other technologies?” We put that question to John Meyer at Siemens Motion Control Group, and he suggests linear motor technology.
Industrial networks: CAN, CANopen find new applications, including wind power
Besides traditional industrial machines, this serial bus system for embedded control is in wind power systems, medical machines, and more.
OEMs find advantage with mechatronics use, sustainability goals
A Rockwell Automation motion control expert describes how machine builders can use mechatronics modeling software to realize sustainability targets for their customers.
Encoders: Heavy duty magnetic rotary and tiny micro inductive models debut
Baumer introduces MHXX Series of magnetic rotary encoders, while Maxon Motor USA introduces the Mile inductive encoder for micromotors.
Advanced drive module for integrated control system
ACS Motion Control has enhanced the drive operation of its MC4U integrated modular control system with the development of an advanced 4 axis high-voltage universal digital drive module.
Motion and logic controller family enhanced
Ormec Systems Corp. has enhanced its ServoWire Motion & Logic Controller (SMLC) family.
5 bottom line improvements to packaging automation
Packaging automation, such as Yaskawa Sigma-5 servo amp and motor pairing, can improve machinery in five key ways.
Packaging Technology and Solutions Center adds efficiency to machine design
The Schneider Electric Packaging Technology and Solutions Center (PTASC) supports machine builders' automation, control and power needs to improve machine design and efficiency.
Multi-axis system includes PLC with 1 ms update rate
Motion controller includes a PLC programmable in any IEC61131-3 language.
Automated: Pumping station doubles capacity, saves energy
When the process control of the pumping station at Parksluizen in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, was automated, an Emotron FDU variable speed drive for 690 V with 12 pulse power supply was included. Pumping capacity doubled and energy consumption was minimized. Other benefits include...
Smart Drives Protect Their Motors
Like the self-maintaining robots of science fiction, modern machines have become more intelligent, and in some ways also more human. They are incorporating more decentralized intelligence, which operates like a human’s autonomic nervous system. This makes it possible for a packaging machine, for example, to protect itself from expensive breakdowns through quick reflexes, in the form of er...
Control Panel Design: 60% Less Space
The winner of the 2009 Control Engineering panel design award is CP Packaging of Appleton, WI. The company’s design for a plant-floor machine control panel reduces space on the machine, provides easy access for maintenance, reduces costs, and saves build-out and installation time. In the winning video describing the entry, CP Packaging’s Ray Buchko Jr. Link to videos, more photos.
Report from Hannover: New Beckhoff automation hardware, software
At Hannover Fair (April 20-24, 2009), Beckhoff introduced several new products, including an expansion to its AX5000 servo drive series; software that integrates robotics, motion control, and PLC; and a condition monitoring terminal. The company also previewed the upcoming release of a PC-based safety PLC.
Broadway Automation: Behind the Scenes
Ideas in Automation: Creating modular motion control systems that can move multiple pieces of scenery during the same show is the typical system integration and design work for Hudson Scenic Studio. The typical Broadway show today requires automation to move scenery because of its design, size, or complexity. Actuation includes ac motors, hydraulics, and pneumatics. See photos.
New motion controller and motion control library
Ingenia has introduced the Mercury motion controller and motion control library.
Motor controller with optical encoder inputs targets mobile robots
Designers of mobile robotic vehicles have a new motion controller choice from Roboteq Inc. See photo.
Application: CNC retrofit helps mold shop succeed
There comes a point in the life of every business when it has to choose between investing in an advanced technology and staying with the tried-and-true—the potential big payback versus the safe status quo. When that choice confronted the owners of Fidelity Machine & Mould Solutions, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (see more photos), they chose CNC machine controls from Miceli Technologies because...
2008 New Product Compendium: Motors, Drives and Motion Control
The following products were introduced in 2008, and participated in the Control Engineering Engineers' Choice Awards competition.
Motor energy-efficiency developments: recycling, efficiency classes
Although an effective date isn’t expected before 2011, mandatory minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for electric motors are coming to Europe in 2009. Learn more about recycling, replacement, and motor classes.
Top 20 Control Engineering articles of 2008 at www.controleng.com
Below are links to the top 20 articles posted during 2008 that received the most traffic during the calendar year at www.controleng.com. Most popular among Control Engineering readers were articles about electrical design software, rules for software project success, closing the engineering skills gap, copper versus fiber networks, and soft starters. Link to all 20 most valuable.
Polish automation trends mirror global interests
Almost every technology presented by vendors at industrial fairs is called innovative. So, are we truly living in a time of milestone technology solutions, or is “innovative” simply marketing’s favorite new term? The answer is not always easy to discern. Consider the advanced control algorithms now being introduced in programmable logic controllers.
Top stories of 2008 and why
Of the myriad things I write, sharing the year’s top stories is best. A) It involves measurement, which is fun — sorting the number of times readers accessed these stories online. B) I get to learn what you found most interesting or useful and figure out why. In 2008, the following stories were most viewed at www.
Microprocessor advances translate into more CNC machine capability
It is a fact of life that the needs of general-purpose-computing drive microprocessor trends. Simple semiconductor-fabrication economics makes mass-marketable designs very inexpensive, while making designs aimed at smaller market segments, such as CNC, cost prohibitive. “Advances in technology help all technologies in a general way,” says Paul Nickelsberg, president and chief techni...
4-axis stepping/pulse-type servo motor control module
Industrial Automation Group of Advantech released Adam-5240, a 4-axis stepping/pulse-type servo motor control module for use with the Adam-5550 Series PACs (programmable automation controllers).
Motion control: Omron selects EtherCAT as its next motion bus system
Omron Corporation announced that it has selected EtherCAT to be its next motion bus system. In addition, the company will take an active role in the EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) to help customers transition to EtherCAT smoothly and seamlessly.
Packaging Automation Benchmark Study Vol. 3
Digital Edition System Integrators This third and final installment of the Automation in Packaging Benchmark Study focuses on system integrators, and the role they play coordinating projects for packagers, equipment builders and automation suppliers. Packaging is a specialty that manufacturers in virtually every industry must address. Control Engineering and Packaging Digest set out to investigate this dynamic market through the Automation in Packaging Benchmark Study, a three-part, year-long research project conducted by Reed Research Group.
Siemens announces motors, drives, and motion control advances
The Sinamics S110 drive, C240 PN Simotion motion controller, and the 1PH8 series of motors were debuted by Siemens at the SPS/IPC/Drives show.
New controller handles complex motion applications
GE Fanuc says PacMotion is a completely new motion controller designed to serve the high-end needs of complex motion applications. See photo. White paper offers more information.
Industrial Ethernet applications in real time
Industrial Ethernet protocols can help real time applications. Examples follow, along with application photos and links to additional industrial Ethernet information. Peek inside multiple industrial Ethernet applications with Rovema, SERCOS III, Automata, Bosch Rexroth, Ilapak, Ethernet Powerlink, Linux, B&R Automation, and...
Targeting Tumors with Motion Control
Focused radiation continues to be an effective means for treating cancerous tumors, particularly when there is a clear shot at the target. Getting a clear shot, however, is no simple task, especially since the target is often surrounded by healthy tissue, can grow, shrink or shift over time, and is affected by changes in the patient’s anatomy.
Robotics tutorial: More diversity, functionality
Robotics are adapted to and integrated with an increasing diversity of applications. Understanding types of robots and their functions can help end users, system integrators, and original equipment manufacturers know how to safely and efficiently apply technologies that save humans from tasks that are both mundane and dangerous.
Hybrid power: Volvo Powertrain awards Danaher Motion contract to develop hybrid heavy-duty vehicles
Responding to global demand for fuel efficient and environmentally sound vehicles, these companies....
Look at these demos: Tear down embedded systems, get the point of linear motion control
Participate or watch in live embedded teardowns at an embedded systems event for a chance to win a Beagleboard kit. At IMTS last week, there was a potentially explosive demo on magnetorestrictive sensor technology, among other demonstrations. See photos. Link to tutorial and video videos.
Molded Parts: Stamp, Place, Remove, Inspect
Filtertek, Inc. is a world innovator in filter technology. The Hebron, IL, manufacturer makes custom filtration products and fluid control devices for automotive, healthcare and consumer product applications. The company’s ingenuity is reflected in a portfolio of more than 340 issued patents and pending patent applications for novel designs of fuel filters, transmission sump filters, semi...
Programmable Logic Controllers, Programmable Automation Controllers
The 405 respondents who answered the joint Control Engineering/Reed Research product research study on PLCs and PACs will be increasing their purchases of these devices over the next 12 months. Even with the tight economy, 23% of respondents expect their purchases to increase. Of those polled, 69% expected purchases to remain the same as last year, and only 8% expect them to decrease. More trends, PAC and PLC products, and a link to more research follows.
Motion Controller Accelerates NASCAR
Automotive test rig manufacturer sets out to improve NASCAR’s standard chassis test stand with improved dynamic capabilities and reduced maintenance.
Barcode scanners tutorial offered
Few things today would disrupt society more than if barcode scanners stopped working. But what is a barcode and how does a barcode scanner work? MechatronicsZone.com presents Mechatronics On-Demand Webcasts to explore the role of mechatronics and, in this case, focus on the development of a nearly indispensable technology.
Transformerless drives: Higher performance, lower cost
Reducing input harmonics using an input isolation transformer with multiple secondary windings to feed VFD bridges can compromise, and raise maintenance cost.
Energy savings: Right-sizing electric motors could save billions in energy annually
Energy efficiency losses through over-sizing of pump electric motors by engineers are commonplace, according to WEG Electric Motors.
Modeling in motion
The convergence of mechanical, electrical, and software engineering is changing the face of motion control design and development. This tutorial shows how.
Expansions: Hydraulic hybrids in motion, more efficient transformer manufacturing
Smarter motion systems and more efficient, more highly efficient transformers seem likely to result from opening of a Bosch Rexroth technology center and a new WEG Electric Motors manufacturing facility.
Off-the-Shelf PLC Optimizes Motion Control Functionality
Like most blow molding original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), Saline, MI-based R&B Plastics Machinery LLC (R&B) in has to coordinate different machine motions very closely. Its machines had been using closed-loop hydraulic motions with dedicated motion control cards, which are not only expensive, but somewhat difficult to coordinate.
Look at what we saw: Hannover Fair 2008, a technology postscript
Did you go? If not (or even if so) take a look at this look back at Hannover Fair 2008 (more photos and links follow) for more controls, automation, robotics, industrial computers, networks, and instrumentation than most people ever see in one location. Highlights include....
System reduces VFD ground currents
Company says its solution, which meets NEC 250 grounding requirements, was engineered for use wherever ac induction motors are operating in conjunction with variable frequency drives and for other applications where large switching power supplies are used.
Servos control motion market growth
Rapidly growing servo products sector accounts for 80% of the total motion-control market.
NYC refuse trucks to test hydraulic hybrid technology
Bosch Rexroth reports that it has been selected, along with Crane Carrier Company and ISE Corporation, by Calstart’s Hybrid Truck Users Forum (HTUF) Refuse Working Group to examine and test the use of hybrid vehicle technology in refuse trucks. The companies expect the hybrid trucks to demonstrate between 30% and 50% reductions in fuel and emissions use during testing.
A Comprehensible Guide to Servo Motor Sizing
The Importance of servo motor sizing should not be underestimated according to Wilfried Voss, author of A Comprehensible Guide to Servo Motor Sizing.
MechatronicsZone road show kicks off
If you cannot participate in one of the free 2008 Mechatronics road show seminars, browse MechatronicsZone to learn how the mechatronics approach to design can help engineers get the job done better, more quickly and at lower cost.
Research results: Protocols for Industrial Ethernet
Need for wide-ranging application capability and the ability to handle diverse environments drives protocol development, sparks user interest, survey results suggest. In Reed Corporate Research studies of control products as recent as five years ago, products using the 4-20 mA standard were still dominating the control scene. That’s changing. Here's how.
PLCs and DCSs Converge
In the past it was fairly easy to determine whether a distributed control system (DCS) or a programmable logic controller (PLC) based system was right for your application, because their strengths and weaknesses were well understood. In recent years, however, this has become more difficult, thanks primarily to the advancement of the microprocessor, which has allowed the technologies to converge.
Big brake: Brake motors save energy
Baldor Electric Co., a manufacturer of energy-saving industrial electric motors, drives, power transmission products and generators, offers three phase short series brake motors with an integral Dodge spring set brake for a compact and cost effective design.
Automation in Packaging
Research, trends, and applications associated with the use of automation in packaging, developed by Control Engineering and Packaging Digest
Poland: “Small China” in Europe
Polish industry: A time of significant investments
Fieldbus: Growing Globally
While considered mainstream technology, fieldbus adoption in process industries is still far from commonplace. The picture for users remains upbeat, but incomplete in many respects. Why?
Manufacturing in Poland: Creating a “mini-China” in Europe
Many investors and analysts have begun calling Poland “small China”. According to a November 2007 Forbes report, Poland, China and Vietnam are among the best places in the world for production and service investments. Recently, Ernst & Young ranked Poland as second among countries in which companies are planning to invest, stating that Poland offers “excellent productivity...
Japan considers EtherCAT, other networks
With more than 108,000 visitors gathered at the System Control Fair 2007 (SCF2007) in Tokyo last November, the EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) took its first steps toward promoting its unique and advanced technology in Japan. This was the first time the group exhibited its high-speed industrial Ethernet technology there.
Mechatronics info: MechatronicsZone.com redesigned
MechatronicsZone.com unveiled a new design, departments and features. The site has original content on control systems, electronic systems, mechanical systems and software, areas of an emerging trend in engineering known as mechatronics.
Control Engineering announces Engineers’ Choice Award Winners, 2007 New Product Compendium
Oak Brook, IL — Control Engineering has announced the winners of its 2007 Engineers’ Choice Awards, and released its 2007 New Product Compendium, an online index of more than 150 control, instrumentation and automation products introduced to North America in 2007.
On-Machine Controls
Installing machine controls on the actual machine is not a new idea. Mechanical control systems, of course, were perforce installed right on the machines they controlled. They had to be, because controls were operated through mechanical linkages. Manual controls for electrically powered machinery continued to be installed on industrial machines to give human operators easy access.
2007 New Product Nominees
2007 Engineers' Choice Award nominees. Product descriptions and deep links to more information can be found in the online 2007 New Product Compendium.
Winners: Motors, Motion Control & Drives
Winners of the 2007 Engineers' Choice Awards - Motors, Motion Control and Drives
Electric Servo Motors Product Research (January 2008)
Research was undertaken to gain a better understanding of Control Engineering subscribers’ applications and needs regarding electric servo motors.
Analysis: Use of brushless motors grows for factory floor and beyond
Brushless permanent magnet (PM) motors continue to evolve into high torque, high efficiency, smaller sized packages. They currently dominate electric motors in office automation, medical instruments, and a wide range of factory floor automation applications (including robots, semiconductor equipment, material handling, packaging machines, nut runners, machine tool drives). Now, they are beginning to move into lower-cost, high-volume automotive and appliance applications, albeit in selective cases.
Servo Motors Speed Up
Rapid and often dramatic technological advancements have given new dimension and substance to automation and control systems of late. Throughout this time of change, however, some components have stayed stable and steady. Case in point is the servo motor. Enhancements and accessories may benefit the application, but the product remains nearly ubiquitous in manufacturing, providing critical serv...
Baldor helps Dolphins make big impression
Although the Dolphins will not be Super Bowl-bound this season, the team did leave an outstanding impression on fans in the United Kingdom. The real-life model of the towering 26 foot high animatronic figure 'Big JT’ - NFL Miami Dolphins star player Jason Taylor - has very fast feet. When physical effects company Artem was commissioned to create the figure, they had to be quick as well.
Motion control: Automation solution provides four-axis motion control
Baldor Electric launched a new version of the company’s 'all-in-one' motion automation solution supplied in a rugged, ready-to-use packaged form. The company says its NextMove-ESB2 offers control for servo and stepper motor axes, together with onboard I/O and fieldbus connectivity.
Motion control: Fast feet for largest animatronic human figure; see video, photos
Bristol, U.K., and Fort Smith AR — There's fast feet on the 26 foot high animatronic figure called "Big JT" is NFL Miami Dolphins star player Jason Taylor, according to companies involved, Baldor and Artem.
CNC platform: Machine tool OEMs get high performance, flexibility
Naperville, IL — Num has launched Flexium, a modular CNC platform for machine tool manufacturers that provides scalability that can be applied economically on a machine with few axes, or more than 200. Combined with open programmability, it gives users freedom to customize the human-machine interface (HMI) and add value, the company says. It has a advanced new CNC kernel, four times more powerful than the fastest version of Num's existing Axium controller.
Electro-hydraulic, servo-piston control: Hydrostatic pump family expands
Ames, IA— Sauer-Danfoss Inc. has released the H1 45/53cc and 78cc single pumps, joining its 147/165cc single pump and the 45/53cc integral tandem pump. The H1 family of compact closed-circuit variable displacement axial piston pumps features high power density. Units use an integral electro-hydraulic servo piston assembly that controls rate and direction of hydraulic flow.
Research on Programmable Logic Controllers
Nothing takes the fun out of a control engineering project faster than having to wade through piles of vendor and/or supply house catalogs to find the components for a control system. Even small machine control applications require a lot of specifying, recommending, and purchasing of parts for the simplest of control logic systems—especially if it is to be rendered in traditional relay la...
Motor standards: Activities at UL, NEMA; can you help
UL is undergoing a major revision of their motor standard UL1004, while National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) is seeking help with another motor standard.
Modular Systems Combine Performance and Flexibility
Driven by intense cost and competitive pressures, semiconductor producers try to maximize production while improving outgoing quality. They also need flexible equipment that can be updated quickly and cost-effectively. Maximizing throughput measured in units per hour (uph) and doing it in the smallest area possible helps speed return on investment in an extremely competitive environment.
Not Your Grandfather’s Conveyor Line!
As I sit, staring out of this airport window at a baggage handler unloading the belly of a not-so-jumbo jet, I’m struck by how woefully behind the times that baggage handling system really is. We have a human manually picking packages off a mobile conveyor belt that he earlier towed up to the jet with a little riding tractor.
Analog Encoders Reduce Pre-alignment Time
How do you double semiconductor wafer throughput, decrease wafer pre-alignment time fivefold (to 600 ms), and improve in positional repeatability fivefold (to 5 nm), while at the same time reducing cost and increasing reliability? The competitive nature of the semiconductor industry places increasing importance on performance characteristics and integration ease for motion controllers used in t...
Synchronized Motion Relies on Special Controls
The number of motion axes found in industrial automation systems has grown steadily over time because of availability of more powerful controllers and other processor advancements. Yet, in many of those systems, motion axes function independently of each other—as in indexing stations that move parts point-to-point through serial manufacturing stages or in distributed architectures with pa...
All My Best Ideas are Stolen
Physicist and star of educational TV during the 1950s and 1960s, Dan Q. Posin was fond of quoting Isaac Newton: “If I have seen further it is by standing on ye shoulders of giants.” Designing control systems may not be on the same level as Newton’s contributions, but “standing on the shoulders of giants”—that is, learning from others’ experience—i...
Hydraulic controller nets best-paper win
Mondeep Duarah and Vijay Jayabalan of Captronic Systems, Bangalore, India, won Best Paper in the control category at NIWeek 2007 with their article entitled “Digital Electro-Hydraulic Servo Controller.”
Driver enhances LabView to create motion profiles
Austin, TX—Yaskawa Electric, a manufacturer of ac inverter drives, servo and motion control, and robotics automation systems, developed a driver for National Instruments’ LabView graphical programming environment.
Motion Control Meets Medical Imaging
Medical imaging original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are turning to motion control platforms that help control costs, streamline production globally, and provide systems capable of delivering the most sophisticated 2D and 3D clinical images possible. Motion control requirements are driven by these goals, and the need to satisfy specific kinematics requirements.
Loop Controllers: Dedicated Units Gain Popularity
Process loops can be controlled by a variety of devices: standalone single-loop or multi-loop controllers, PC-based controllers, or pneumatic controllers. Which types users preferred and why were among results in the 2007 survey of user of standalone loop controllers conducted by Control Engineering and Reed Research Group.
Motion: Lenze-AC Tech moves toward packaged solutions
Uxbridge, MA—As the new mechanical product manager at Lenze-AC Tech, [www.actech.com] Chris Ball’s marching orders are to spearhead the company’s drive to integrate its next generation of gearmotors and gear reducers with its other products, creating packaged solutions and integrated systems.
Trends: Drive technology for ac motors
Zurich, Switzerland—Traditionally, the primary use of drives has been in such applications as powering pumps, fans and conveyors.
Linear Motors: Miniature direct-drive linear motor helps shrink automation systems
Canton, MA—Copley Controls introduced a new ServoTube small-silhouette STB11 linear motor.
Specialty Motors and FO Engineering announce strategic alliance
Specialty Motors (SMI) and FO Engineering have agreed to jointly pursue of new business and development of a new proprietary line of power and motion control products.
Who Puts the ‘Industrial’ in Ethernet?
Industrial Ethernet hardware can take plant-floor punishment without pampering in enclosures, allowing shorter cable runs with simpler distributed (rather than centralized) designs, and higher reliability than commercial-level Ethernet switches, routers, hubs, gateways, and connectors. Industrial ratings (such as NEMA 4x or IP67 and beyond) applied to Ethernet hardware mean that equipment can h...
Brushless PM Torque Motors
Electric motors come in a rich variety of configurations to suit different purposes. One specialty motor type—known as a direct-drive, permanent-magnet (PM) torque motor—is characterized by a large diameter-to-length ratio and large number of magnetic poles to optimize torque production. These relatively low speed motors, usually operating under 1,000 rpm, come in housed and framele...
PC-based logic, puzzle-solving robotics
Bosch Rexroth displayed a robotic system to solve Rubik’s Cube puzzles—demonstrating the prowess of its NYCe compact PC-based control. Repetitive puzzle solutions took less than 2 minutes. Software programming of the robot was provided by Korean company Sejin-iGB (www.gear-box.com). Besides its wide range of electric, hydraulic, and pneumatic control technologies on display, other B...
Mechatronics Resolves Design Challenges
Intense global competition is putting pressure on machine builders to deliver machines with higher throughput, reduced operating cost, increased safety and more features that improve productivity and differentiate their machines from the competition. For this reason, today’s machine builders have switched from designing rigid, single-purpose machines that rely purely on mechanical gears a...
Digital drives: Synchronous motors cold form precision profiles
Using a cold forming process to manufacture high-quality gear teeth calls for a drive system that can guide movements precisely and in absolute synchronism.
Motion: major actuator types
Electric, hydraulic, and pneumatic motion are three major actuator technologies. Which you use depends on your application’s characteristics. Electric control excels when absolute accuracy of movement is required or when continuous motion is needed. Electric servo control is useful in diverse applications: CNC (computer numerical control) for spindles in machining centers and in lift̵...
Actuators: Choosing the right technology
Machine designers should take a cross-technology view of power technology, choosing the most appropriate for their application.
Control Engineering 2006 Engineers’ Choice Awards Winners
Control Engineering 2006 Engineers’ Choice Awards Innovative control, automation and instrumentation new products introduced between December 2005 and Dec 2006 Stand Out Technologies Every year, hundreds of new products are introduced, but only a few go on to greatness. At Control Engineering , we try to predict which those will be. View the winners HMIS AND INDUSTRIAL PCS HMI Hardware Hardened Resistive Touchscreens - Christensen Display ProductsHMi Operator Interface- Eaton Corp. HMI Software Web Studio v6.1 - IndusoftWebHMI - Iconics Industrial PCs C69xx Industrial PCs - BeckhoffPowerBox 1700 - Modular Industrial Computers. MACHINE CONTROLLERS AND EMBEDDED CONTROL Controllers CX1020 Embedded PC - Beckhoff AutomationCompactLogix 1768-L43 - Rockwell Automation Embedded Products Fido 32-bit hard real-time microcontroller - Innovasic SemiconductorETXexpress-CD - Kontron Discrete Sensors & Readers Dataman 7500 Series reader - CognexChecker 101E - Cognex INSTRUMENTATION AND COMPONENTS Components & Connectors PanelMax corner wiring duct - PanduitP Series terminals - Weidmuller Instrumentation & Analysis Rosemount 3051S for HART protocol - Emerson Process ManagementPDM Series power display - Ohio Semitronics Process Sensors AWI-P wirelss pressure transmitter - Adalet WirelessSafety-certified Coriolis meters - Emerson Process Management MOTORS, DRIVES AND MOTION CONTROL Drives Kinetix 7000 servo drive - Rockwell AutomationKinetix 6000 servo drive - Rockwell Automation Motion Control Model 940 PositionServo - Lenze/AC Technology Corp.750 Series Stepper Module - Wago Corp.MSS Series gearheads - Baldor Electric Motors NEMA motors - Siemens Energy & AutomationMR-J3 Series AC Servos - Mitsubishi Electric Automation NETWORK HARDWARE AND I/O Switches, Routers & Hubs SE-44M-E924 managed Ethernet switch - TurckDirect-Link industrial Ethernet switch - Woodhead Industries I/O Products & Cabling BK9105 EtherNet/IP Bus Coupler - Beckhoff AutomationActive Ethernet I/O - Moxa TechnologiesSnap PAC R-2 - Opto 22 Wireless Solutions Channel Blanket topology - BeldenRAD-802.11XD WiFi device with security - Phoenix Contact SOFTWARE Enterprise Integration & Analysis InFusion ECS - Invensys Process SystemsEquipment Operations Module 1.0 - Wonderware Programming LabView 8.2 - National InstrumentsDevelopment modules for ControlLogix C applications - ProSoft Technology PROCESS & ADVANCED CONTROL Advanced Control Loop-Pro software suite - Control Station Inc.Profit Suite R300 - Honeywell Process Solutions Process Control InTune v5 predictive maintenance software - ControlSoftSafetyNet for emergency shutdown - MTL Open Systems Technologies 2007 Awards Nomination Instructions and Timeline Information to come Previous Editors' Choice and Engineers' Choice award winners Seal of Approval: Best Technologies of 2005 2004 Editors' Choice Awards Archive of earlier winners 2006 New Product Compendium Nominated 2006 New Products by Category Human-Machine Interfaces and Industrial PCs HMI Hardware HMI Software Industrial PCs Instrumentation, Process Sensors, Control Components Analysis instrumentation Connectors Process Sensors Machine and Embedded Control Controllers Discrete sensors and readers Embedded products Motors, Drives and Motion Control Drives Motion control Motors Networks/Communications Hardware and Software I/O products and cabling Switches, routers and hubs Wireless solutions Process and Advanced Control Advanced control Process control Software Enterprise integration Programming Additional New Products Introduced in 2006 Machine Control, Embedded Freescale Semiconductor MC9RS08KA MCU An ultra-low-end, sub-50-cent 8-bit MCU small enough to fit in the head of an electric toothbrush, ideal for traditional electro-mechanical and portable applications such as motor control. Machine Control, Embedded Freescale Semiconductor MR2A16A MRAM The 4-Mbit MR2A16A device uses magnetic materials combined with conventional silicon circuitry to deliver the speed of SRAM with the non-volatility of Flash in a single, high endurance device. Instrumentation and control components, Process sensors Schneider Electric Sensor Competency Center Hyde Park Virtu 30 The new Virtu 30 mm by Hyde Park is an ultrasonic sensor available in a 30 mm barrel body style that breaks new ground for the cost-conscious customer. These compact sensors solve a greater number of applications with an increased sensing distance of 4' (102 mm) to 39' (1m) with the option of being normally open, normally closed or a teachable output.
Motion control: Servo drives add high-current power levels
Parker's Electromechanical Automation Div.'s Compax3 family of industrial high-performance, all-digital servo drives now comes in four new high-current power levels. Rohnert Park, CA —Four new high-current power levels have been added to Parker's Electromechanical Automation Division 's Compax3 family of industrial high-performance, all-digital servo drives. Series is now available with up to 75 kW of output power to satisfy the demand for high- and low-power drives within the same family.
Kinetix 7000 Servo Drive adds flexibility, high performance
Rockwell Automation With continuous output power of 22 to 150 kW, Kinetix 7000 servo drive seamlessly integrates with Allen-Bradley Logix controllers, servo motors, and actuators to add flexibility to machine design and efficiency to manufacturing. The units go beyond supporting synchronous permanent magnet motors, with asynchronous induction motor support as well, giving customers a cost-effec...
A Rainforest Grows in Cleveland
Behind the scenes, a lot of control engineering goes into creating and maintaining a tropical rainforest near Lake Erie, just 40 miles from the Canadian border. It is a feat accomplished by Cleveland (Ohio) Metroparks, a recreational authority that provides an “emerald necklace” of woodlands, golf courses, hiking trails, and other attractions surrounding this Midwest city—know...
Hydraulic Motion Control
The market for powder compacting press equipment is highly competitive, with machine manufacturers vying for market share using a variety of cost/performance options. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) succeed by reducing costs, adding features, increasing productivity, or combining all three. A case in point is Precision Compacting Technologies of Bentonville, AR.
Tech Tips August 2005
August 30, 2005 Tech TipLow-voltage fuse application guidance Fuse voltage ratings are related to their capacity to open a circuit during overcurrent conditions. Voltage rating determines the fuse’s ability to suppress internal arcing produced after a fuse link melts. Select a voltage rating higher, but never lower, than system or circuit voltage. With a lower voltage rating, arc suppression will be impaired and—under some fault-current conditions—the fuse may not safely clear the overcurrent. Low-voltage fuses of a given (labeled) voltage rating can be safely applied on lower service voltages.
Tech Tips November 2006
November 28, 2006 TECH TIP OF THE WEEK: Use the right feedback device for the application Closed loop systems use feedback signals for stabilization, speed, and position information. There are a variety of devices to provide this data, such as the analog tachometer, optical encoder, Hall sensor, and resolver. The table in Figure 1 summarizes their various features.
Tech Tips September-October 2005
October 25, 2005 TECH TIP OF THE WEEK: Avoiding ground loops Ground loops (also referred to as 'noise') in an electrical system result from unwanted current flow in a conductor connecting two points that should be at the same electrical potential, but aren't. Minimizing electrical noise effects on control system performance and reliability requires: Using isolated ac power sources; Establishing a single, common system ground point; Providing isolation for low-voltage signals (for example, thermocouples); Minimizing influence of stray magnetic fields; and Selecting appropriate cables and pathways, including adequate cable separation. Improper grounding, such as grounding cable shield wires at both ends or at the wrong end, is well-documented as a source of introducing electrical noise. Cable shield wires should be grounded at one end, preferably at the power source end. The other end should be taped and protected.
Tech Tips March 2007
March 20, 2007 TECH TIP OF THE WEEK: Factors affecting network bandwidth. Bandwidth is defined as the carrying ca-pacity of a circuit. It's usually measured in bits per second for digital circuits, or in hertz for analog circuits.
Tech Tips March 2005
MARCH 29, 2005 TECH TIP OF THE WEEK: Motion control terminology Motion control, as other technologies, has its fair share of special terms. Not all of them are rigorously defined; some require blending to suit the specific audience. Here's a sampling of some well-known and not-so-well-known terms. A motion control system typically consists of a controller to process motion algorithms and signals; an amplifier to boost signals to a level needed to power an actuator that provides the motion output; and feedback (sensors/transducers) to allow adjustments for process changes, based on comparing measured output with the input. An operator interface or host terminal front-end completes the system.
Tech Tips February 2007
February 27, 2007 TECH TIP OF THE WEEK: Use motor current to monitor load. Every wire carrying an electric current cloaks itself in a magnetic field. You can find the direction of the field by using your right hand to grab the wire so that your thumb points in the current direction.
Tech Tips December 2006
December 26, 2006 TECH TIP OF THE WEEK: More servomotor inertial matching. The following is a reader response to a Technology Update called 'Matching moments of inertia' that appears in the December 1, 2006, issue of Control Engineering magazine. Click here to read that. As 'Matching moments of inertia' points out, for best performance the moments of inertia of the load and servomotor armature should have a 1:1 match.
Question of the Weekly Q406
December 26, 2006 QUESTION: Can a vision system reject cartons with incorrect bar codes? Khalid Jamal Khayyat, Pharmaceutical Solutions Industry Ltd., Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, wants to know, 'Is there a vision inspection system available that can read barcodes on carton labels as they move down a production packaging line, and can reject cartons that have incorrect bar codes?' This is a classic control application using machine vision, and there have been a number of systems built to do it. With a popular application like this, your best bet is to look for a pre-packaged application from a major vision-equipment vendor, such as Cognex or Systech International. To pick the right system, however, you'll need to supply a few details about your application. First, how repeatable is the position of the barcode and label? At issue is where will each barcode appear in the camera's field of view. In some situations, the barcode is sure to appear in exactly the same spot in the field every time.
Question of the Week Q206
June 27, 2006 QUESTION: This is a trim installed inside a valve that uses a "torturous path," multiple holes, expanding flow area, or sudden expansions and contractions to lower the sound pressure level generated by a valve. Source: "Valve Handbook," Philip L. Skousen, McGraw-Hill (1998), ISBN 0-070057921-0 June 20, 2006 QUESTION: The torque required to start a motor or machine from standstill. Due to static friction effects, it is always greater than the torque needed to maintain motion. Source: Glossary of Terms, "General Motion Control," Rockwell Automation Inc., Publication GMC (April 1998). June 13, 2006 QUESTION: A high-performance valve used to regulate flow, temperature, or pressure of a process.
Question of the Week Q106
March 28, 2006 QUESTION: A graphical language for depicting sequential behavior of a control system (or control action) is referred to as a sequential function chart (SFC). It's used to define time- and event-driven control sequences, and is considered as an extremely effective graphical language to express both high-level parts of a control program and to program low-level sequences—for example, device interfaces. SFC elements are used to structure the internal organization to perform sequential control functions in order to partition a set of steps and transitions connected by directed links . A transition is the condition whereby control passes from one step of the SFC to another—along the corresponding directed link.
Stepper Motion Evolution
It’s the only motion-control method able to run in open loop, without the need for position feedback. This makes stepper-motor-based systems simpler than servo motion systems, with the lower cost of step motors adding to the attraction. Coupled with other evolving design enhancements—such as hardware miniaturization and higher torque density—stepper systems stay competitive fo...
Engineers’ Choice 2006 – Motors
Engineers Choice CompetitionNew Products for 2006: Motors, Drives, and Motion Control Control Engineering — February 15, 2007The annual Control Engineering Engineers Choice Awards highlight significant new products from the previous year as selected by readers of Control Engineering print publications and electronic newsletters. The following new products are nominees for that competition. To be eligible, a new product must have been introduced to the U.S.
Fix it before breakdown
The old adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” may have had its day—and may still apply to some situations—but is unacceptable in today’s lean manufacturing environments. Critical production processes and automated manufacturing systems can’t afford the cost of unplanned downtime amounting to thousands of dollars per hour.
Motor technology: Move, but don’t touch!
A three-phase LSM has an alternating-pole permanent magnet structure suspended over a straight electromagnet stator structure. Magnetic interaction between the permanent magnet poles and alternately energized electromagnet poles provides a net push in the desired direction. Source: MagneMotion Take a three-phase synchronous electric motor with a permanent-magnet rotor and lots of poles, slice it radially from axis to housing, and unwrap it to lay out flat.
Material handling: Monorail system with non-contact power transfer demonstrated in Germany
SEW Eurodrive's electric monorail system inductively couples electric power from a set of three conductors carrying high-audio-frequency alternating current through a soft-magnetic core into a pickup coil. The middle conductor carries current in twice the quantity and opposite sense as the upper and lower conductors. This current arrangement forms a pair of poles (as seen in this cross sectional view), which couple maximally to poles in the magnetic core.
SPS/IPC/Drives 2006: The beat goes on
A record 43,000 visitors—24% increase over 2005—topped off positive results for the latest staging of the focused electric automation show SPS/IPC/Drives in Nuremberg, Germany, Nov. 28-30, 2006. This added to new records for number of exhibitors (1,203) and display area (77,500 sq m), as reported in Nov.
SPS/IPC/Drives 2006: Motion, mechatronics, efficiency
Nuremberg, Germany —A record 43,000 visitors—a 24% increase over 2005—topped off positive results for the latest staging of the focused electric automation show SPS/IPC/Drives in Nuremberg, Germany, Nov. 28-30, 2006. This added to new records for number of exhibitors (1,203) and display area (77,500 sq m) as reported in Nov.
Machine, motion control: Software simplifies complex applications
Latest PiCPro software from Danaher Motion, able to support up to 64 axes of high-performance motion, is designed to program the company's MMC-D64 machine and motion controllers. Wood Dale, IL —Latest PiCPro software from Danaher Motion is described as able to support up to 64 axes of high-performance motion. Designed to simplify the integration of machine and motion control applications, PiCPro is used to program Danaher's MMC-D64 machine and motion controllers and provide connectivity with the company's MMC Smart Drives and AKM servo motors. Software combines IEC 61131 ladder logic or structured text programming with 100 MHz Ethernet motion control.
Industrial Ethernet Protocols: Survey results show who’s winning and why
The desire and need to be connected continues to grow—and gain complexity—as automation and control engineers become more heavily involved in networking at all levels. In particular, Ethernet and industrial Ethernet are finding their way onto the plant floor and into original equipment manufacturers’ (OEM) offerings with increasing frequency as related technologies evolve and ...
SPS/IPC/Drives 2006: Ethernet, safety, security
Ethernet in automation, safety and security in automation, and motion control were among key topics discussed at SPS/IPC/Drives 2006. The exhibit and conference for automation technologies, ran Nov. 28-30, 2006, in Nuremberg, Germany, with more than 1,200 exhibitors covering HMIs, drives, interface and sensor technologies, software, electromechanics, and other systems and components.
Programmable automation controllers (PACs)
When ARC Advisory Group analyst, Craig Resnick, proposed a new term for an emerging class of programmable devices for automation in 2001, few expected such growth of related technologies. The market extends beyond the formal name—programmable automation controllers (PACs). Some vendors reject the word, yet satisfy the PAC feature set with newer programmable logic controllers (PLCs).
Servo System Application Tips
Electric servo systems provide the most advanced and precise motion control available for increasingly versatile industrial applications. Servos excel in two distinct working modes: rapid point-to-point load positioning and smooth, accurate trajectory control between points, as in surface contouring.
SPS/IPC/Drives 2006: Exhibition spotlights Ethernet, safety, security
Nuremberg, Germany —Ethernet in automation, safety and security in automation, and motion control are among key topics on the docket for SPS/IPC/Drives 2006, which opens here today. The exhibit and conference for automation technology runs Nov. 28-30, 2006, and will feature more than 1,200 exhibitors covering a plethora of systems and components in areas including HMIs, drives, interface and sensor technologies, software, and electromechanics.
PLC Users Like What They Have
The old saying “No News is Good News,” certainly seems to apply in the world of programmable logic controllers (PLCs). Control Engineering’s 2006 PLC Product Research Survey, with help from Reed Corporate Research, indicates that PLC users seem to be happy, or, at least complacent. They’re happy with their suppliers.
System integration: Wire harness maker finds flexibility with open controls
The CX1000 features a 266 MHz Intel Pentium MMX processor and has no moving parts. Source: Beckhoff Automation A pick and place machine powered by Beckhoff motion control software and embedded PCs establishes communication throughout production line. The Prettl Electric facility located in Greenville, SC specializes in wiring harnesses for the automotive industry.
Rockwell Extreme Machines 2006
Stork Townsend Dimac - Aetna Group USA Cavanna Celerity Automation Wright Machinery ATS Automation Tooling Systems Mikron Assembly Technology Schneider Packaging Stork Townsend Raw meat in, cooked sausages out - with no human operator interaction. That process defines the patented QX family of co-extrusion machines by Stork Townsend. QX is an automated process that simultaneously extrudes a continuous flow of meat batter and a thin outside layer of edible collagen gel, making the casing at the same time as the sausage.
Applying Motion Control
When Arthur C. Clarke remarked that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, he may have had semiconductor fabrication in mind, right up there with nuclear physics. Chips on the edge have features only a few atoms wide (some 65 nm with those as small as 45 nm in the works) and are fabricated with processes that are increasingly complex.
‘Astronomical’ application of LVDT sensors
Linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) position sensors are used for linear position measurement and feedback in factory automation, motion control, metal fabricating, power plant, and gas/steam turbine systems. These sensors are used for position measurement on governor valves, throttle valves, reheat/stop valves, interceptor valves, and many other control valves.
Concept brings greater flexibility to auto manufacturing
Concept replaces expensive pallets and robots with easy-to-build programmable gantry style platforms.. Within the automotive industry, the flexible body shop has been a major innovation that permits multiple car bodies to be produced on the same line. Some older lines, however, use expensive pallets designed to hold specific body parts in place for different cars, or the parts may be held in place by complex programmable robots. For example, four fixturing robots might be programmed to lift a vehicle body for spot welding.
Motion control: Digital servo drive has DeviceNet option
Compax3 family of industrial digital servo drives from Parker's Electromechanical Automation Div., now includes a DeviceNet fieldbus option. Rohnert Park, CA— Compax3 family of industrial high-performance, all-digital servo drives from Parker 's Electromechanical Automation Div. now features a DeviceNet fieldbus option. DeviceNet fieldbus interface is said to provide improved system integration, reduced downtime and maintenance costs, enhanced peer-to-peer capabilities, and easy access to data.
Electro-hydraulic motion controller adds quality to pultrusion machine
Unlike extrusion, which squeezes material through a mold, a pultrusion machine takes fiber material like carbon or glass, impregnates it with resin, and pulls it through a die that shapes it as desired. A chemical reaction occurs as material passes through the heated die. The result is a hardened product, which can be used in ladders, reinforcing panels, chemical-resistant grating, and other co...
Network Backbone Speeds Printing
Intense printing industry competition requires operators to have high quality, long-lasting control infrastructures with low latencies and high throughput. Computer Integrated Automation Inc. (CIA) uses CC-Link industrial network to provide the open backbone for controlling 32 Tensor web printing press units at Engle Printing & Publishing Co.
Shielded Cables Tame Servo System EMI
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) in motion control system cabling can be a major source of frustration for servo motor system designers and users. Left unsuppressed, it interferes with system control, creates data errors, and can even turn devices on and off. EMI frequencies can range from dc and the lowest audio frequencies through the entire radio-frequency band.
Drive system for multi-axis machines
AcoposMulti drive system from B&R Industrial Automation offers high efficiency for multi-axis machines in the plastics, packaging, print, and textile industries. It integrates a 24-V supply for drives and PLC, PC, or peripherals (optional) to provide a compact design that ensures predictable machine behavior when power is lost.
Exclusive: Servo drive adds asynchronous control
Model 940 PositionServo drive with asynchronous control from AC Technology is a simple, yet robust motion controller that can operate ac servo motors and ac induction motors.
‘Expert system’ tool at MotionInfo.com adds technology benchmarking feature
Ability to objectively compare the performance of your electric motor products (and related equipment) to that of the competition is vital to many companies. However, the process can be time-consuming and subject to bias if done by the same team that designs and markets these products. Now MotionInfo.com has teamed up with Incremotion Associates—a notable consultancy and market research firm in motion control—to offer a technology benchmarking service, based on its recently launched “motion-intelligent expert system” ComponentSelector.
Siemens Automation Summit widens its scope
Las Vegas, NV —With around 700 end-users out of more than 900 total attendees, the 2nd annual Siemens Automation Summit, held here June 5-8, 2006, lived up to its billing as a “users conference.” Expanding substantially on last year’s process-oriented conference, the 2006 Summit highlighted all company divisions—discrete manufacturing as well as process industries. Some 190 technology presentations, including breakout sessions and training classes helped to hold attendees’ interest amidst other attractions of Las Vegas. A Solution Showcase area displayed Siemens’ across-the-board technologies, while 31 key Siemens Automation Partners exhibited products and services in the Solution Partners Pavilion. Aubert Martin, president & CEO of Siemens Energy & Automation Inc., Aubert Martin, president & CEO of Siemens Energy & Automation Inc., reviewed the company’s giant footprint on the automation and technology scene worldwide, as well as in the U.S.
IMTS: Machine technologists get ready
Machine technology providers and others intent on sharing knowledge are preparing for "The Americas' largest manufacturing show." According to organizers, the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) is one of the largest industrial trade shows in the world, with thousands of exhibitors and more than 85,000 expected visitors.
Motion software update
Software for motion control and its related sectors continues to expand. A recent crop of software offerings includes Performance Motion Devices’ Pro-Motion 3.5, intended to speed up motion system analysis and development; Motor-CAD V3 from Magsoft for enhanced simulation of thermal behavior in electric motors and generators; and Applied Motion Products’ Si Programmer software for stepper and servo drives. More details on these products follow along with links to their suppliers’ Web sites. PMD’s Pro-Motion 3.5 supports the company’s ION Digital Drives family and its Magellan family of motion chips and boards.
Sensorless control for energy-saving motors in washing machines
International Rectifier Corp. (IR) recently introduced a sensorless control platform for direct-drive Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) washing machines. The platform features an embedded field-oriented control (FOC) algorithm for high-dynamic torque control that improves washing cycles—consuming less hot water to reportedly save up to 70% of energy usage. International Rectifier’s new iMotion washer platform is now available for sampling.
Machine technologists get ready for IMTS: Sept. 6-13, 2006
Chicago, IL—Machine technology providers and others intent on sharing knowledge are preparing for 'The Americas' largest manufacturing show.' According to organizers, the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) is one of the largest industrial trade shows in the world, with thousands of exhibitors and more than 85,000 expected visitors.
Digital servo drives
Compax3 family of industrial high-performance all-digital servo drives welcomes two new higher-powered additions.
Motion selection tool claims expert intelligence
ComponentSelector at MotionInfo.com is billed by its developers as "the first motion-intelligent expert search system to provide ranked results for users needing electric-motor-based products." ComponentSelector allows users to search for the best motor component match in a unique product database.
Test stands benefit from direct torque control
Rigs constructed to test rotating machines like gears, engines, and complete cars require high accuracy and dynamic load control. Torque control capability in ac motors that drive the test stands is particularly useful for newer, complex electronic functions (such as antilock brake system, electric power steering, or dual-clutch transmissions for automotive applications).
Linear drive technology enhances material handling productivity
Celerity Automation's high-speed Linear Transfer Vehicle (LTV) accommodates payloads form ounces to several tons. Advanced linear drive technologies are in place to raise the bar for material handling productivity, according to recent developments at Celerity Automation Inc .—a developer of equipment in the linear direct-drive arena. Recently, the company introduced its patented Linear Transfer Vehicle (LTV), which reportedly is an accurate high-speed linear transfer system that uses the latest in linear direct-drive servo motor technology.
Hannover Fair 2006 in motion
Numerous technologies of "motors, drives, and motion control" were again in the spotlight at this year's running of Hannover Industrial Fair. Presentations ranged from standards announcements and technology discussions to products emphasizing innovation, energy efficiency, and mechatronic integration—even spanning to developments in high-temperature superconductivity. More details and links to additional information follow about ABB drives, Baldor motors and drives, Lenze gear motors, SERCOS III C2C profile specification, drive innovation perspectives from Siemens, VEM specialty motors, and the "Superconductivity City" exhibit. SERCOS Controller-to-Controller (C2C) Synchronization and Communication Profile integrates communication and real-time links with mechanical connection of machine modules.
Mechatrolink motion network gains new supporter
Recently, Phoenix Contact has joined the ranks of the Mechatrolink Members Association (MMA), the Japan-based user organization dedicated to developing and promoting Founded by Yaskawa Electric Corp. —a global manufacturer variable-frequency drives, servo control systems, and robotic technology—MMA membership currently comprises 140 industrial companies. In joining MMA, Phoenix Contact is working with Yaskawa to develop and extend a modular I/O bus coupler product line with Mechatrolink interface based on Phoenix's Inline system. When used with Yaskawa drives and controls, the new I/O bus coupler will allow system engineers to integrate motion control and machine control by working with one network that links drives, I/O modules, and controllers into an overall system.
Motion-component selector offers expert system searches, free trial
Inglewood, CA—A Web-based motion-product selection tool recently launched at MotionInfo.com promises to put expert system capability into the hands of users to intelligently search for the best motor component match in a unique product database.
Medium-Voltage Drives Shine Offshore
Less numerous than their ever-present low-voltage "cousins," medium-voltage (MV) ac drives are out there in growing numbers, doing heavy-duty motor control in diverse, rugged applications. They span industries from mining, sugar-cane processing, and liquefied-gas handling stations to fluid-power system test stands, fan/pump flow optimization in power-generating plants, and control of mobile off...
Web-based expert system for motion-component selection debuts, offers free trial
Need to dramatically streamline your motion product selection tasks? If so, launch of ComponentSelector at MotionInfo.com may be the tool for boosting your productivity. Billed by its developers as "the first motion-intelligent expert search system to provide ranked results for users needing electric motor based products," ComponentSelector allows users to search for the best motor component match in a unique product database.
ServoWire SD Drives add IEEE 1394b networking
Networked servo drive products from Ormec have recently been expanded and enhanced with the addition of IEEE 1394b technology for the company's new ServoWire SD Drive family. With 1394b networking, SD Drives gain a more robust, efficient, and faster network than previously available with 1394a, says Ormec.
Detect, control machine vibration
Machining Point Control servo system enhancement detects and controls machine vibration at the machining point.
DC-injection lets motors do the braking
Much is made of increasingly dynamic performance available from electric motors (and drives), and rightly so. The other side of the equation is ability to stop all that speed and acceleration efficiently, when needed. External braking is the more familiar stopping method, but three-phase ac induction motors provide internal electronic means to slow and brake their motion—among them, dc-in...
Operator Interface Terminals
If "eyes are windows to the soul," as the French poet, Guillaume de Salluste Du Bartas rhapsodized back in 1578, then operator interface terminals (OITs) are surely windows to the process—continuous, batch, or discrete. And although it may seem a stretch to equate the soul with a manufacturing process, the fact that manufacturing is still the heart of the world economy it might as well in...
High-cycle brake motors
Low-inertia, high-efficiency, high-cycle brake motors have cast aluminum footless frames for increased thermal dissipation. DC brake with integral rectifier provides for faster action than traditional spring-set brakes. Design is suited for continuous start/stop applications, such as baggage conveyors.
Test instruments for rotating devices
DynoLAB-EM electric-motor test system is designed to check electric motors and other rotating electrical devices, including alternators, starters, pumps, and generators. It handles a variety of tasks including performance testing, engineering evaluation, durability cycling, quality control validation, and in-use simulation.
Sensorless vector control boosts stepper motion performance
Agile Systems’ SilentStep system works with 2-phase bipolar step motors, using either three half-bridge or two full-bridge drive circuits. Three half bridges (shown) reduce the number of power switches and associated driver and control circuits from eight to six. Stepper-motor-based systems offer simple, low-cost motion control and about twice the low-speed torque production of an equivalent-size brushless servo motor system.
Software making motion control more friendly; free demo download
Technosoft’s EasyMotion Studio includes a task confirmation feature that sends messages to the user about status of the drives and motors network. Setup, tuning, and programming software for drives/motors is growing in importance. One indication comes from a recent Control Engineering Product Research survey on servo motors (to appear in the March 2006 issue), where respondents rated software for setup/tuning as the most important performance feature in selecting their motors.
Elau: New servo motor family optimized for packaging machinery
Elau’s purpose-built PacDrive SH Series servo motors are backward compatible with other components of the company’s PacDrive automation system. Motors and cables are CE/cUL/UL certified. Catering to dynamic and environmental requirements of the latest generation mechatronic packaging machines, Elau (a Schneider Electric company) has introduced SH Series servo motors that feature salient-pole winding technology.
Linear positioners drive ink jets
To read the original print article click here . When most people hear the term “ink jet” they think of an inexpensive color printer. Yet ink-jet technology has a much wider range of uses. As a branch of digital fabrication, it is used in producing passive and active electronics, in biomedicine, pharmacology, micro-optics, and stereolithography, and in many other applications.
Brushless PM Motors: ‘Big’ on Power, Efficiency
Better known in relatively small physical sizes and lower power applications, brushless permanent magnet (PM) motors can be made in virtually any size, with no real technological constraints. Large brushless PM motors are not particularly new. They're available from select manufacturers, which now seek to overcome past economic issues that have limited their numbers.
Technology trends, developments at SPS/IPC/Drives 2005
Motors, drives, and motion control were part of the success of the focused electric automation show SPS/IPC/Drives Exhibition and Conference (Nuremberg, Germany, Nov. 22-24), showing continued growth of its exhibiting companies (up 12.6%), display area (up 12.1%), and attendees (up 8.7%) compared to 2004. Beyond statistics, this annual event offers valuable perspective on trends and developments affecting motion control and related technologies.
Digital drive duo debuts
The trend continues toward more capable, compact digital drives for the distributed control of different electric motor types. Over the past couple months, Performance Motion Devices (PMD)—a leading motion control technology company—announced the first two members of its new ION family of high-performance, network-connected motion-control drives. First came ION Brushless DC Drive (late Nov.
Data Acquisition – 2006-01-01 – 2006-01-01
In its purest form, data acquisition (DAQ) is the process of gathering information in an automated fashion from analog and digital measurement sources and presenting that information in a meaningful way. Depending on your industry, DAQ means different things to different people. For example, to the utility industry, DAQ is part of the SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system and ...
Bearings monitor status of motion system
SKF offers Sensor-Bearing Units as a compact, patented, and reportedly cost-effective way to verify motion status of rotary or axial components running in open-loop or closed-loop motion control systems. SKF Sensor-Bearing Units integrate one of the company's Explorer-class, single-row, deep-groove ball-bearings with an SKF active sensor in a simple, lightweight but robust structure.
AC drives stress reliability, ease-of-use, performance
With an initial size range of 1-60 hp, offered from stock, Baldor Electric's H2 Adjustable Speed Drives are said to be "the most reliable" on the market. Buttressing the claim is extensive testing during each design phase and verification during each step of the manufacturing process. Testing includes in-circuit and functional testing of each circuit board; stress testing, FMEA testing; and ful...
AMC ships 1 millionth servo drive
AMC servo drives reportedly control more than 1.5 million motors, since many of the units have multi-axis capability on a single printed-circuit board. Advanced Motion Controls (AMC) has announced the shipment of its 1,000,000th servo drive near the end of Nov. 2005.
SPS/IPC/Drives 2005 in motion
Success of the focused electric automation show SPS/IPC/Drives Exhibition and Conference (Nuremberg, Germany, Nov. 22-24) was measurable in all three categories of exhibiting companies (1,160), display area (73,000 sq m or 785,000 sq ft), and attendees (34,600)—respectively, rising 12.6%, 12.1%, and 8.7% over 2004. Besides statistics, this exhibition and conference brings together a gamut of electric drives, motion systems, and related software.
Servo motor family expands
Line of brushless rotary servo motors expands to include MPP092x, MPP100x, and MPP115x motors equipped with a resolver, standard 2,000-line incremental encoder, Heidenhain EnDat absolute encoder (single or multi-turn), or Stegmann Hiperface absolute encoders, which are to be released soon.
PLCs Maximize Machine, Motion Control
Control engineers now have at their disposal a wide variety of logic devices to program processes and machines. Computers and computer technology provide almost unlimited control possibilities no matter what the application. PLCs remain a strong part of the mix—a recent survey finds more than half expect to increase PLC spending in the next 12 months.
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.
ZiLog: MCUs stress level of integration, fast ADC for motor control
ZiLog’s FMC16100 Series microcontroller features 20 MHz CPU core, 6-channels of 12-bit PWM with fast shutdown, and 8-channel 2 Microcontroller (MCU)-based systems for motor-control applications continue to grow. One recent advance is ZiLog Inc.’s launch of new generation Flash MCUs targeting sensorless brushless dc (bldc), ac induction, and switched-reluctance motor applications. Named Z8 Encore! MC Series, the new 8-bit chips are based on extensive research into customer requirements in this rapidly growing market sector, according to ZiLog.
Rockwell Extreme Machines
Bosch Packaging Technology Minster Machines Gasbarre Products Vacuum Coating Technologies Interactive Rides Inc. Bosch Packaging Technology Bosch Packaging Technology is a world leader in the design, manufacture, sales and service of high quality packaging and processing equipment for numerous industries, including pharmaceuticals, food, ophthalmic products and related industries. Among its many products is the CUC 3001, a continuous motion machine that can process as many as 400 cartons per minute.
Sine of the Times
Today's advanced adjustable-speed drives (also called variable-frequency inverters) and motors increasingly can be found in production processes in manufacturing plants, machinery and robotics, elevator systems in high rise buildings, commercial air conditioning systems, and washing machines. Despite indisputable advantages of adjustable-speed drives (ASD), there are a few less-mentioned drawb...
Vacuum-rated motors
Vacuum-rated, laboratory-grade servo and stepper motors are designed to survive negative pressures as low as 10-7 Torr and are temperature-rated at 130 8C internal and 105 8C for the case. Motors meet specialized vacuum process needs of the observatory industry and are also well-suited to laboratory applications, such as space-based optical systems, semiconductor manufacturing chambers, and e...
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.
Servo motor meets hygienic design standards
Allen-Bradley MP-Series stainless steel (MPS) motor gives food, beverage, and life sciences manufacturers a full-washdown-capable servo motor.
Micro PLCs
So do you need a micro PLC or a PAC (programmable automation controller)? What's the difference, and, if you do want a programmable logic controller, what designates a "micro PLC," and do traditional monikers still apply? It may be that the functionality a controller brings from automation design through implementation, use, repair, and upgrades is more important than the type of controller.
Servo amplifier connects via FireWire
Ndrive MP digital servo amplifier is an ultra compact, high-performance discrete-drive option for the Automation 3200 motion system.
Adjust Quality in Real Time
In discrete applications, automation systems and quality control systems are often separate, producing a time lag between quality analysis and actual production. Wouldn't it be great to monitor quality information in real time and feed corrective instructions back to the control system in a closed loop before the production line makes a bin-full of scrap? Process control has been doing just th...
Mixer-Dispenser Redesign Automates Changeover
When planning to upgrade the control functions on its popular polyurethane resin dispensing equipment, Automatic Process Control (APC), based in Union, NJ, sought to increase the dispenser's functionality and precision, simplify operator interaction, and improve reliability and safety. The new controllers also had to integrate seamlessly into a machine already widely used and trusted in the pol...
Nuclear Plant Revisits Control System and Maintenance Strategies
The Diablo Canyon installation consists of two 1,100-megawatt pressurized water reactors. This type of reactor pumps highly pressurized water within a primary loop through the reactor core, heating it to temperatures that can exceed 600 °F. High pressure keeps the water from boiling. The water is then sent to the steam generator, where it flows through thousands of tubes, where its heat co...
Baldor: Digital drive for resolver-based ac brushless servo motors
A new model of Baldor Electric’s MicroFlex family extends servo drive applications to ac brushless servo motors using resolver feedback—likely opening added applications with a feedback device that’s more electrically robust than encoders.
Low-cost ac dynamometer for basic electric motor testing
New products are coming on the market to ease traditionally complex tasks of dynamometer testing of electric motors.
Servo motors for demanding use
MaxPlusPlus (MPP) Series brushless servo motors are designed for demanding applications.
Servo option for motion controllers
AMP-20542 low-inductance servo motor option for Galil’s DMC-21x3 Series of Ethernet motion controllers directly attaches to the controller’s 96-pin connector, eliminating the need for cabling.
Patented wiring system reduces ground currents to 0, extends motor life
Today’s proliferation of variable-frequency drives (VFDs), uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs), servo systems, and computer-controlled equipment generate high-frequency ground currents, which traditionally have been grounded to “earth” for safety reasons.
SPS Electric Automation America trade show debuts
Billed as the first North American trade event to focus on electric automation technologies for industrial applications, the first SPS Electric Automation America trade show was held May 23-26 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center near Chicago. Several hundred attendees visited more than 70 exhibitors, and attended three seminars and 16 technical conference sessions d...
Sensors: Getting into Position
What's the right position sensor for a particular application? It depends on required precision, repeatability, speed, budget, connectivity, conditions, and location, among other factors. You can bet that taking the right measurement is the first step to closing the loop on any successful application. Link to related videos.
Position sensing: encoders, transducers, position controllers
Recent position sensing technologies include an integrated circuit for encoders, an incremental encoder, transfer transducers, dual-channel controllers for linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs), measuring device, wide-angle area sensors, and a cable-extension sensor.
Analysis, programming software update: Motorsoft; Applied Motion Products
Two software tools recently announced for motor and drive application sectors are JMAG-Studio, distributed in the U.S. by Motorsoft, and Q Programming Software for servo drives from Applied Motion Products.
Schneider Electric buying remaining Elau shares
Rueil-Malmaison, France—Schneider Electric reports that it recently bought the remaining 53.5% of Germany-based Elau AG that it didn’t already own.
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 ...
Danaher buys G&L Motion Control from Thyssenkrupp
Washington, DC—As part of its recent quarterly earnings call, Danaher Corp. says it recently bought the $15-million G&L Motion Control division of Thyssenkrupp AG.
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.
U.S. version of European automation show debuts in May
Debut of a special-interest exhibition and conference, SPS Electric Automation America, is set for May 24-26, 2005, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont (Chicago), IL. While based on the successful German show SPS/IPC/Drives, the new show has been tailored to fit the specific needs of the American market, says organizer Messe Frankfurt Inc.
Clean Power through Harmonic Mitigation
Harmonics are more of a concern today due to the extensive use of harmonic-generating equipment and because more equipment now being installed in stand-alone machines and processing lines is sensitive to harmonics. Harmonic distortion can result in misoperation of sensitive electronic equipment and generators.
Baldor stresses H2 Drive reliability, simplicity, performance
“The most reliable industrial drives you can buy today,” is how Baldor Electric chairman and CEO, John McFarland, describes the company’s new H2 Drives family shown at National Manufacturing Week in Chicago earlier this month.
Exhibits, seminars, educational opportunities
Motors, drives, and motion control professionals need to periodically update their skills. Here’s a sampling of opportunities in the next few months from a new show named SPS Electric Automation America; from Bosch Rexroth Corp.’s training classes, and from Oriental Motor USA Corp.’s annual Fair & Seminar.
MTT seeks motor specs for online motion-specific ‘selector’ tool database
Motion Tech Trends (MTT), a research and consultancy firm serving electric motor and motion control industries, is developing expert system tools for its subscriber-based Web site to aid users and specifiers of electric motion components in making more informed purchases.
Gauging Satisfaction
When it comes to making a decision to purchase equipment for automation and control systems, nothing is as valuable as the collective experience of your peers in dealing with vendors and their products. That's why Control Engineering created its Customer Satisfaction survey—to capture the knowledge of our readers about the products they buy and the companies with which they regularly do b...
National Manufacturing Week includes motion control, motor, sensor presentations
Multiple, concurrent trade shows of the 15th National Manufacturing Week in Chicago’s McCormick Place (March 7-10, 2005), particularly the National Industrial Automation Show (NIAS), will offer opportunities to learn about products of more than 1,000 exhibitors first hand, and attend one or more of 300 conference sessions in 10 tracks that include motor and motion control topics.
Mitsubishi Electric to help automate GEMA plants in Michigan
Vernon Hills, IL—Mitsubishi Electric Automation Inc. recently secured a contract to supply automation products, machine controls, IT validation, startup, training, and support services at two new Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) plants in Dundee, MI.
Parker Hannifin purchases Bayside Controls
Cleveland, OH; Port Washington, NY—Parker Hannifin Corp. reports that it has acquired Bayside Controls Inc., which manufactures integrated solutions for industrial and precision automation applications.
Enclose and protect
End-users and OEMs enclose sensitive control equipment and instrumentation to protect against environmental hazards. Enclosures also make equipment safer and more convenient, suggests product research from Control Engineering/Reed Research Group. On Oct. 5, 2004, an e-mail survey was sent to Control Engineering subscribers to learn about the protection used around computers, programmable logic...
Hottest articles of ’04
Here are the hottest Control Engineering Online articles of 2004, based on number of times each piece was opened in electronic form. If you missed any of these the first time around, you'll want to go to this column online and print them, or save the links. Connections to each item appear with this piece online, in Archives, February 2005, at www.
Closed-Loop Stepper Motion Alternative
Most step-motor-based motion systems operate in open loop and thereby provide a low-cost solution. In fact, stepper systems offer the only motion technology inherently capable of position control without feedback. However, when step motors move loads in open loop a potential loss of synchronism between commanded steps and actual steps may occur.
Early 2005 seminars, exhibitions, conferences in motion
Keeping current on sources of technical information and continued education remains vital in 2005 to professionals working in the motors, drives, and motion control arena. Here are some upcoming events that include seminars, courses, and exhibits to keep in mind.
SPS/IPC/Drives 2004: Updates from OPC Foundation, PLCopen, SERCOS interface, and more
Nuremberg, Germany—Besides showing a gamut of automation technologies ranging from controllers, electric drives, and motion systems to sensors, computers, software, and industrial communications, SPS/IPC/Drives Exhibition and Conference provides a venue for companies and associations to make announcements significant to industry.
Flexible, distributed controllers free up host computers
DMC-31x3 series flexible/distributed controllers from Galil Motion Control are designed for machines that require multi-axis controllers operating in a distributed network. These devices free host computers from the complex task of motion coordination, as well as lowering controller cost per axis. The firm adds that, because they're Ethernet-based, DMC-31x3 ensures low-cost, effective communica...
Flurry of Innovation
Stock market averages and economic indexes aside, one of the best gauges of the recent industrial sector upswing in the U.S. and globally has to be that many control and automation manufacturers released more new products and solutions in 2004 than they have in recent years—a flurry of innovation.
SPS/IPC/Drives 2004: Another ‘Novemberfest’ for electric automation
Nuremberg, Germany —“Novemberfest” has been used once before in these pages to describe the happenings at SPS/IPC/Drives Exhibition and Conference, an annual electric automation show held here since 1997, after its relocation from near Stuttgart.
SKF: ‘Intelligent’ bearings monitor motion system status
Do you have a need for reliable monitoring and recording of the status of motion system components, for example: number of revolutions, speed, direction of rotation, relative position/counting, and acceleration or deceleration? If so, new Sensor-Bearing Units from SKF may be just what you’re seeking.
In motion at SPS/IPC/Drives 2004
Motors, drives, and motion control are at the heart of industrial automation as was demonstrated at the SPS/IPC/Drives Exhibition and Conference in Nuremberg, Germany (Nov. 22-25, 2004).
Embedded at SPS/IPC/Drives 2004
Embedded (and PC-based) controls are integral parts of industrial automation as demonstrated at the SPS/IPC/Drives Exhibition and Conference in Nuremberg, Germany (Nov. 22-25, 2004).
Ethernet/RS232 Econo 1-8 axes by Galil
Galil's DMC-21x2 and DMC-21x3 Ethernet motion controllers are desinged for extremely cost-sensitive and space-sensitive applicaitons.
Sensors: linear, torque, contact
Linear, torque, and contact sensing capabilities increased recently with new product introductions from Macro Sensors, Magtrol, and Omron.
Control Engineering Online Update for November 12, 2004
November 12, 2004 Highlights Sponsored by BEI Motion control design and implementation presents an array of options to the engineer. To select the most optimal approach, an understanding of stages and associated drive technologies is important. Encoder Design Rules at your Fingertips - Get a Free Calculator Does your controller have the bandwidth to handle the data rate of a 5000 cycle-per-turn encoder rotating at 2500 RPM? What resolution should you specify for your encoder to achieve a 0.010" tolerance on a cut-to-length operation? Put the answers to these and other critical questions in the palm of your hand with our free Optical Encoder Design Calculator. Click the link below and enter the 4-digit code, 1302, in the order form.
Pack Expo 2004: Innovations deliver packaging advances
Chicago, IL—Pack Expo International 2004, Nov. 7-11, at McCormick Place is expected to draw approximately 50,000 attendees to more than 1,600 companies exhibiting in more than 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space.
Real-time machine control products
Real-time means different things, depending on the application. In the November 2004 North American print edition, there will be a "Technology Update" on the topic. Here’s some related information from Dalsa, Bosch Rexroth, Danaher Motion’s Motion Engineering, and Venture Development Corp.
AB Fair 2004: Partners exhibit numerous solutions, services
Orlando, FL—More than 100 exhibitors are expected to demonstrate their products and services this week at Rockwell Automation's Allen-Bradley Automation Fair 2004, Sept. 27-28, at the Orange County Convention Center.
ISA Expo 2004: Photos from the show floor
Houston, TX—Hundreds of exhibits at ISA Expo 2004 featured thousands of innovative solutions and services. Here are photos of some of the most significant announcements, product launches, and demonstrations.
Micro PLC Key to CNC Overhaul
Tractor-trailers are highway behemoths, so it's somewhat ironic that tiny rivets play a major role in the manufacturing of these vehicles. But that was the case at International Truck and Engine Corp.'s Grove City, OH, plant where the semi-cab side and back panels for tractor-trailer vehicles are produced.
10 Design Tips for Machine Control
How many times have you used something and wondered if the engineers who designed the product ever used it? To make life a little easier for anyone working on a machine, here are 10 design tips in integrating the latest automation, controls, instrumentation, sensors, logic, and communications to save time and effort, and avoid getting (or giving) grief later on.
IMTS 2004 in motion
The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago, Sept. 8-15 paraded myriad technologies and solutions, among which motion control was prominent.
Control Engineering Editors’ Choice Award Winners
Control Engineering editors' award archive, 1987-2003 winners
AC Drives Stay Vital for the 21st Century
Physical size and weight provide the most visible evidence of the remarkable evolution of ac variable-frequency drives (VFDs) in the past 50 years. However, what's under the skin is even more dramatic for the performance, efficiency, and reliability now delivered by these motor controls. Making it all happen were advances in power-switching transistors, microprocessors, other hardware, plus sof...
NI Week 2004: LabView goes embedded with CompactRIO platform
Austin, TX—National Instruments (NI) announced its ultra high-performance embedded control and acquisition platform, CompactRIO, at NI Week 2004.
Control Engineering’s Buyers Guide 2004 Purchasing Study
To gain a better understanding of industry buying power, Control Engineering and Reed Research Group surveyed Control Engineering subscribers about purchases across 26 product categories to determine numbers of units purchased in the past 12 months as well as how much was spent on those purchases.
Allied Motion Technologies acquires Precision Motor Technology
Denver, CO—Allied Motion Technologies Inc. reports that it recently bought Precision Motor Technology B.V. (Premotec, Dordrecht, Netherlands) for approximately €3.75 million, or $4.5 million, in cash and Allied Motion’s common shares.
Expectations high for IMTS 2004
More than 85,000 people visited the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) two years ago, and organizers say attendance may top 100,000 this year. IMTS 2004 will be held on Sept. 8-15 at McCormick Place in Chicago. IMTS 2004 will host 10 pavilions, including Metal Cutting; Tooling & Workholding Systems; Metal Forming & Fabricating/Laser; Abrasive Machining/...
Motion Control, Networks Automate Baling Process
For most people—particularly those steeped in "heavy" industries, such as automotive—the words "manufacturing automation" don't immediately conjure up images of cotton-picking, baling, and storage. Nevertheless, the cotton industry wrestles with the same cost and efficiency pressures as any other manufacturing business.
IMTS 2004 products: Baldor, GE Fanuc, Rexroth…
A smattering of expected IMTS 2004 developments follows, in motors and motion control, vision, CNC software, PLCs, and flow instrumentation.
B&R Industrial Automation expands U.S. headquarters, sees wider markets
Norcross, GA — Austrian automation giant Bernecker + Rainer Industrie-Elektronik GmbH is expanding its North American activities.
New jobs, applications for wire, cable, connectors
Change may be the only constant, but, while many software-related changes happen fast and make only incremental changes, a few slowly emerging hardware advances can be pretty revolutionary. For example, recent improvements in wire, cable, and connectors are allowing these essential components to take on new tasks, serve in non-traditional settings, help retool existing networks, and deliver dat...
Integrated, intelligent motor-control (I²MC) update
Combining drive, controller, processing intelligence, feedback device, communication and more within a servo motor package represents an emerging class of motion control products.
Parker purchases Mead Fluid Dynamics’ U.K.-based subsidiary
Cleveland, OH—Parker Hannifin Corp. reports that it has acquired the assets of Mead Fluid Dynamics Ltd., the European subsidiary of Chicago-based Mead Fluid Dynamics Inc., for an undisclosed sum.
Hannover Fair: Integrated motion control stepper motor
ServoStep was designed to deliver a cost-effective SmartMotor without sacrificing features or benefits.
Hannover Fair in motion
Visitors are rarely far from exposure to motors, drives, and motion control among Hannover Fair’s multiple shows. This year was no exception.
Hannover Fair 2004: Ethernet Powerlink Standardization Group shows interoperability
Only 10 months after inception, the Ethernet Powerlink Standardization Group (ESPG, Winterthur, Switzerland) exhibited its Ethernet Powerlink real-time networking solution at Hannover Fair 2004.
Control Logic Strategies
Control logic options available for automation system design have expanded. When there were fewer alternatives for control logic, the path was clear, but with today's myriad options, where do you start? Consider these facts: Proliferation of microprocessors and related software allow logic to be centralized, decentralized or highly distributed.
Ubiquitous Servos Leverage Design Flexibility
While servo motors have been successfully adapted to wide applications in various industries, manufacturers persist in expanding the flexibility of these motors. Servo motors offer sophisticated motion control over wide torque ranges in standard compact packaging. They're also available in packages that resist electromagnetic- and radio-frequency interference and stand up to a host of hostile i...
Stepper: Relics or Reality by Schneider Electric
In the early days of electronic positioning control, stepper technology was the savior of the factory. By the mid-1970s, mechanical linkages, handwheels and hydraulic applications were quickly being replaced by these revolutionary devices, which offered predicable motor movement based on a simple electric pulse input. The failures and errors induced by adjustable hard stops and manual measurements were eliminated, spawning the electronic motion control and industrial automation industry.
NMW 2004: Motion and motor control highlights
While results and merits of last month’s National Manufacturing Week of shows in Chicago are still being assessed, technology innovation was plainly evident in the areas of motors, drives, and motion control. Read more about highlights from a variety of companies.
GE Fanuc launches shop-floor intelligence software, new CNC
Charlottesville, VA—GE Fanuc Automation launched new software to reduce machine downtime, optimize performance, and boost quality; introduced its next-generation CNC to U.S. customers, and noted the manufacture of its 5 millionth ac servo motor, in three March 8 announcements.
Control Engineering announces first Engineers’ Choice awards
Chicago, IL—Control Engineering announced the eight winners of its first Engineers' Choice Awards at its recent 17th annual awards reception during National Manufacturing Week 2004.
CE announces first Engineers’ Choice award winners
Control Engineering (CE) announced its first eight Engineers' Choice Award winners on Feb. 24 at the magazine's 17th annual awards reception, during National Manufacturing Week 2004. CE's North American subscribers were asked to choose the best technologies from among 35 winners of CE's 2004 Editors' Choice Awards, announced in the January 2004 issue.
Harsh-environment step motor update: Empire Magnetics; Elwood
Step-motor-based motion systems continue to work unheralded in some very tough industrial environments. Here’s an update on two recent product examples.
Got Field-Oriented Control in Your Servos? This article includes online material.
Field-oriented control—sometimes called flux-vector control—is a method that enables highest performance from permanent magnet (pm) synchronous (or brushless servo) motors throughout their speed range. FOC algorithms model the torque-generating efficiency of dc motors and allow linear torque control.
SPS/IPC/Drives 2003 lives up to its promise
It’s hard to argue with success. The European electronic automation exhibition and conference, SPS/IPC/Drives, continues to meet and exceed forecasts in all measurable categories.
Danfoss Drives’ soft starters simplify installation
Loves Park, IL—Danfoss Drives recently launched its MCD 200 Series compact soft starters, which offer advanced heat dissipation, eliminating the need for extra ventilation or bypass connectors, while simplifying installation and minimizing panel space requirements.
Service, Advancement, Impact
Sense, decide, and act are the three cornerstones of the control and automation field and its many related industries and applications. Similarly, the three cornerstones of the Control Engineering2003 Editors' Choice Awards are service to the industry, technological advancement, and market impact. Seven editors—Frank Bartos, David Greenfield, Dave Harrold, Mark Hoske, Jeanine Katzel, Ji...
SERCOS-III combines real-time and Ethernet
Interests Group SERCOS (IGS) interface e.V. recently started a project to link its existing SERCOS interface and Ethernet to form SERCOS-III. The organization reported on its efforts at the recent SPS/IPC/ Drives 2003 show. SERCOS-III is based on the established, real-time mechanisms of the SERCOS interface, which continues to work on the principle of cyclic data tran...
International Rectifier’s new motion control ICs eliminate programming tasks
A drumbeat often heard today is shorter time-to-market for product development. Two new digital control ICs recently introduced by International Rectifier (IR) promise to do just that by easing the configuration of motion control algorithms for permanent magnet (pm) and ac induction motors—along with their position feedback devices.
Rockwell marks 100th birthday at Automation Fair 2003
Milwaukee, WI–An estimated 14,000 visitors attended Rockwell Automation's 12th annual Allen-Bradley Automation Fair 2003, Nov. 18-20 at the Midwest Airlines Center. The fair was highlighted by numerous special events and displays celebrating the 100th birthday of Rockwell's Allen-Bradley brand name, as well as more than 100 exhibitors, 50 technical sessions, and 20 hands-on labs.
Automation Fair 2003: 14,000 celebrate Rockwell’s 100th birthday
Milwaukee, WI—An estimated 14,000 visitors attended Rockwell Automation’s 12th annual Allen-Bradley Automation Fair 2003, Nov. 18-20 at the Midwest Airlines Center.
Two new references available on motors and drives
Up-to-date information helps in the battle to stay current. Here are two recent references.
Galil Motion Control: Easy optical isolation for Ethernet motion controller
Adding optical isolation to DMC-21x3 Series Ethernet controllers from Galil Motion Control (Rocklin, CA) has become as easy as attaching a small (4.25 x 3.70 in.) board atop the multi-axis motion controller using a 96-pin DIN connector.
Plug-in & spin drive
Aries Series of high-power, compact digital servo drives with plug-in and spin design requires no setup. Attach any Compumotor smart encoder motor to automatically configure the drive. Open architecture allows the drive to also be configured for use with any manufacturer's motion controller and servo motor.
PID: Still the One
Negative feedback has been used to control continuous processes since the late 18th century. James Watt used a flyball governor to automatically apply more steam to his famous engine when its speed dropped too low and to throttle back the steam when the engine's speed rose too high. This simple balancing act remains the fundamental function of process controllers today: Measure the process vari...
Exhibitions, seminars, education
Several significant motors, drives, and motion control events are rapidly approaching.
Servo drive market recovering
The worldwide market for servo drives is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2% during the next five years from $2.067 billion in 2001 to more than $2.922 billion in 2006, according to a new study, "Servo Drive Market Outlook," by ARC Advisory Group. Overall, the study found that demand for servo drives is recovering.
International Rectifier: More motor/motion control functionality goes into silicon
iNTERO—a family of drive modules for several motor technologies from International Rectifier (IR, El Segundo, CA)—has expanded with the introduction of a new member that incorporates bridge, brake, and inverter (BBI) functions into one compact unit.
Servo drive market recovering; will reach $2.9 billion in 2006
Dedham, MA—The worldwide market for servo drives is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2% during the next five years from just over $2.0 billion in 2001 to more than $2.9 billion in 2006, according to a new study, “Servo Drive Market Outlook,” by ARC Advisory Group.
Motion controller for servos or steppers
Posys 9xx advanced motion controller is designed for brush/brushless servo, microstepping and stepper motors. PCI-card is plug-and-play capable and available in 1-, 2- or 4-axis configurations.
AC Drives Trend to Efficient, Modular Designs
Whether you call them ac adjustable-speed drives(ASDs)—the name preferred by most—or use other labels, such as variable-speed drivesor variable-frequency drives, or frequency converters as the international community prefers, ASDs excel at one key point: increasingly capable control of ac motors.
NI offers its highest-density PXI motion controller
Austin, TX—National Instruments (NI) has launched its highest performance PXI motion control module, NI PXI-7350, which gives users eight axes of stepper or servo motion control in what NI reports is the industry's smallest form factor, amounting to one slot of a 3U PXI chassis.
Control Engineering eNewsletter for Motors, Drives, & Motion Control for July 2003
VOLUME 4, NUMBER 6 SEW-EurodriveSort Through a 700-Page Catalog In Seconds PT Pilot is now available on the WebAt SEW-Eurodrive, we understand you don't have time to wade through over 1.2 million configurations to find the right drive. PT Pilot is a powerful product selection tool that puts needed information right at your fingertips: Catalog Search Drive System Calculator DriveCAD Software Electronic Image Catalog Technical Documentation Drive Formulas and Coefficients Glossary of Terms PT Pilot helps you quickly select the drive system and features that you need. Click Here and get connected. Unwinder applications ''get a brake'' EPRI's new 2nd edition ASD Guide How small can ''pancake'' motors get? Seminars, educational opportunities More on dynamometers Control Engineering resources Unwinder applications ''get a brake'' AC motor braking is key to ABB's integrated web speed and tension control system.
Software ‘bridge’ improves CNC efficiency during retrofit
To prevent frequent breakdowns and reduce downtime, Pressed Steel Tank (West Allis, WI) recently upgraded an obsolete CNC lathe with assistance from system integrator Nova Systems Inc. To help the retrofit succeed, Nova turned to Roy-G-Biv Corp. for a key piece of motion-control integration software.
Automating Your Packaging Lines
Though it's not a new development for the large variety of packaging machines that produce myriad packaged products, automation now offers a whole new level of packaging productivity. Much of prior automation was limited to an architecture where a large mechanical line shaft, driven by a main motor, powered devices and actuators to accomplish various packaging functions.
Agilent reports its absolute encoder is smallest for automation
Palo Alto, CA—Agilent Technologies Inc. has introduced what it reports is industry's smallest high-speed, 'plug-and-play' absolute encoder that reduces assembly time by half and cuts costs for industrial automation systems by as much as 40%.
Control Engineering eNewsletter for Motors, Drives, & Motion Control for June 2003
VOLUME 4, NUMBER 5 SEW-EurodriveSort Through a 700-Page Catalog In Seconds PT Pilot is now available on the Web At SEW-Eurodrive, we understand you don't have time to wade through over 1.2 million configurations to find the right drive. PT Pilot is a powerful product selection tool that puts needed information right at your fingertips: Catalog Search Drive System Calculator DriveCAD Software Electronic Image Catalog Technical Documentation Drive Formulas and Coefficients Glossary of Terms PT Pilot helps you quickly select the drive system and features that you need. Click Here and get connected Standards update: PLCopen ''Function Blocks for Motion Control'' ''The Robot Files'' Readers' survey: servo motors Amplifier ''briefs'' More choices for integrated drives and motors Wanted: Your input to 2004 Editorial Calendar Check out Control Engineering's free info service Standards update: PLCopen ''Function Blocks for Motion Control'' ''Numerous suppliers'' have implemented ''Function Blocks for Motion Control'' specification since its Version 1.0 release by PLCopen (Zaltbommel, Netherlands) in November 2001, according to Eelco van der Wal, managing director of the organization. Focus of Function Blocks for Motion Control focus is to standardize interfaces among different motion control approaches and promote more reuse of application software.
Servos Optimize Torque per Volume
They're the elite among various electric motor types. Servo motors stand out by incorporating the latest high-force magnet materials, advanced design methods, and precise dimensional tolerances. Combined with appropriate electronics, servo motors offer the most sophisticated motion control available today.
Control Engineering Motors, Drives, & Motion Control Newsletter for May 2003
VOLUME 4, NUMBER 4 SEW-EurodriveSort Through a 700-Page Catalog In Seconds PT Pilot is now available on the Web At SEW-Eurodrive, we understand you don't have time to wade through over 1.2 million configurations to find the right drive. PT Pilot is a powerful product selection tool that puts needed information right at your fingertips: Catalog Search Drive System Calculator DriveCAD Software Electronic Image Catalog Technical Documentation Drive Formulas and Coefficients Glossary of TermsPT Pilot helps you quickly select the drive system and features that you need. Click Here and get connected SERCOS update: 3rd-generation standard coming Compact dynamometer serves as a teaching tool Companies in motion Motor ''briefs'' Wanted: Your input to 2004 Editorial Calendar Check out Control Engineering's free info service SERCOS update: 3rd-generation standard coming Various communication methods compete in the rapidly developing world of motion control.
Parker Hannifin buys MTS Automation
Cleveland, OH—Parker Hannifin Corp. announced April 11 that it has purchased MTS Automation division (New Ulm, MN) from MTS Systems Corp. for an undisclosed amount.
Control Engineering Embedded Control eNews for April 2003
Real-Time Product Section Guide Learn to quickly build real-time measurement and control systems with National Instruments Real-Time software and hardware. The Real-Time Product Selection Guide illustrates how to create reliable, deterministic solutions by integrating LabVIEW(tm) graphical development environment and the LabVIEW Real-Time Module with RT Series hardware such as data acquisition, PXI(tm)/CompactPCI, and intelligent distributed I/O. Click here for your FREE Brochure! What's the latest in embedded systems? How small will ''embedded'' get? Tools used inside new process equipment CMOS switches, MCUs, board-level connectors Best technologies Resources: direct links What's the latest in embedded systems? Control Engineering will be uncovering more of the latest from the Embedded Systems Conference, April 22-26. Frank Bartos, Control Engineering executive editor, will attend, even if your bags aren't packed.
Control Engineering Motors, Drives, & Motion Control eNewsletter for April 2003
VOLUME 4, NUMBER 3 Galil- Galil's 2003 Motion Control Catalog is Available NowGalil's Motion Control Catalog has been completely revised for 2003. The new catalog provides specifications and pricing for Galil's full line of motion controllers. A selection guide makes it easy to choose from single or multi-axis, bus-based or stand-alone, and box-level or card-level controllers.
Direct-Drive Linear Motion Lives!
Technologically, they've made a straight line to success. Direct-drive linear motion systems eliminate gearboxes, ballscrews, belts, couplings, or other rotary-to-linear motion converters between motor and load—offering superior speed, acceleration, load-positioning accuracy, and rapid stroke cycling, compared to systems based on rotary motors.
Control Engineering Motors, Drives & Motion Control eNews for February 2003
VOLUME 4, NUMBER 2 NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS Motion Assistant Makes It Easy National Instruments Motion Assistant is a revolutionary new development and code-generation tool for motion control system programming. It offers an intuitive point-and-click interface where you develop your motion control applications and then generate the LabVIEW code, thus helping you make motion control easy. To download your free Motion Assistant Evaluation Software visit www.ni.com/info and enter dyzzpu National Instruments Tel: (800) 452-6914 (U.S.
Low-cost board-level motion controller
Austin, TX - PCI-7342 two-axis motion-control board is said to offer a low-cost option for servo motor control, along with interfaces to data acquisition and vision systems, plus NI's LabView graphical development environment for programming.
Springtime for Switched-Reluctance Motors?
Build a ''better'' electric motor (and its associated controls)—based on simple, rugged design that eliminates costly permanent magnets—and users will flock to apply the technology. Well, this notion has not yet been proven for switched-reluctance (SR) motors, given the present business conditions and a more sober evaluation of SR technology by potential users.
Great Expectations
Nobody has time to fool around these days. Control and automation professionals need useful ideas now and demand practical solutions immediately. To provide these crucial innovations, the National Industrial Automation Show (NIAS) at National Manufacturing Week (NMW) 2003, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 3-6 at McCormick Place in Chicago, has been reinvented and reorganized.
Position/Motion Controllers for Servo Motion Systems
IMS Research's (Wellingborough, UK; Austin, TX) most recent automation survey, released Jan. 7, found that users are moving to more decentralized control solutions that use intelligent field devices.
Motion Control Standards Continue to Evolve
Too many standards or not enough, that's the question? Whether or not you include de facto industry standards and communication standards as part of motion control will determine that answer.
Control Engineering Motors, Drives, & Motion Control eNews for January 2003
VOLUME 4, NUMBER 1 Galil- Galil, the leader in motion control with over 300,000 controllers sold, has introduced its DMC-21x3 series which is half-the-price and size of comparable Ethernet controllers. The four axis model is just $795 in 100 qty and measures only 4.25' x 7'. Click here to get specs . See Galil's free online video, 'Demonstration of Motion Control' where Dr.
Servos expected to become more intelligent
Wellingborough, U.K.—Users of servo motion systems are increasingly implementing intelligent servo drives with integrated position control capabilities, according to IMS Research's most recent automation survey.
Making Valve Controllers/Positioners Smarter Is Smart Business
Talk to a group of instrument engineers about ''smart'' positioners and it's soon apparent each person has evolved their own definition of what smart positioners are, what they do, and where they are used.
Slotless, brushless PM motor is efficient
Despite some declarations that electric motors have become "commodity items," new motor innovations continue to reach the market via novel hardware refinements and new software tools. For instance, TG3600 Series slotless, brushless PM motors from ThinGap Motor Technologies (Ventura, CA) incorporate new winding technology that promises to eliminate eddy current and hysteresis losses, and obtain ...
Control Engineering Europe Ad Rates & Specifications
Control Engineering Europe CEE 2002 Editorial Calendar Control Engineering Europe is the leading pan-European, English language publication for OEMs, machine and panel builders, control system designers, and control system end users throughout Europe. Published six times a year, the magazine reaches both major production sectors of Europe's industries: the manufacturing sector, which produces automobiles, electrical machinery, and consumer goods, and the process sector which provides Europe with food, chemicals, petroleum, and pharmaceuticals. No other European publication covers the area of sensors, industrial computers and software, human-machine interfaces, process control, programmable controllers, and motors and motion control so authoritatively and comprehensively. Control Engineering Europe will receive BPA certification in 2002.
Editorial Calendar 2002
2002 Editorial Calendar Monthly in Control Engineering Printable (PDF) editorial calendar Quarterly Previews January - May 2002 June - September 2002 (incl. Mid-June) October - December 2002 (incl. Mid-December) PDF files require Adobe Acroba Reader.
Control Engineering Motors, Drives, & Motion Control eNews for December 2002
VOLUME 3, NUMBER 6 National Instruments - Motion Assistant Makes It Easy National Instruments Motion Assistant is a revolutionary new development and code-generation tool for motion control system programming. It offers an intuitive point-and-click interface where you develop your motion control applications and then generate the LabVIEW code, thus helping you make motion control easy. National InstrumentsTel: (800) 452-6914 (U.S. and Canada)Fax: (512) 683-9300Email: info@ni.com URL: Click Here Let's go forward with more confidence in ourselves and our objectivesas we bring this tough, tumultuous year to an end. - Frank Bartos, Executive Editor, Control Engineering Unidrive goes more ''universal'' Motor rewinding without fear of efficiency loss Software briefs: AGVs, ActiveX interface Accurate in-cylinder position sensing Charitable season for technology Control Engineering in November and December Motor innovations: Linear actuator, torque motors Worth reading: Observers tell about plant behavior Control Engineering resources Unidrive goes more ''universal'' New Unidrive SP (Solution Platform) Building on its pioneering development of Unidrive in 1995 that offered several methods of ac motor control in one unit, selectable by software, Control Techniques (Eden Prairie, MN; Newtown, Wales, U.K.) has just introduced a new generation ''universal'' ac drive named Unidrive SP (Solution Platform). Through the universal drive selection feature, Unidrive SP can operate in the following control modes: V/Hz, open- and closed-loop vector, brushless servo, and regeneration.
Control Engineering Motors, Drives, & Motion Control eNews for November 2002
AutomationDirect - Half-priced drives, next day delivery Would you like a low-cost micro drive with "big drive" features? Then try out the new line of AC drives from AutomationDirect. The GS series drives offer features not commonly found in microdrives, at half the price of the competition. They also offer simple programming, simple communications, and AutomationDirect's 30-day money-back guarantee and two-year replacement warranty. Check out the new line of AC drives at: Click Here Welcome back to the Motors, Drives, & Motion Control E-newsletter after a hiatus of a few months.
Pack Expo 2002: SEW-Eurodrive champions distributed control
Lyman, SC—SEW-Eurodrive is boosting the movement toward distributed control with its Decentralized Control Technology (DCT), which it recently configured for North American applications and made available here.
Chip-Based Motion/Motor Control: The Way to Go for Some Users
Motion system engineers, developers, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have another tool in their hands thanks to advances in microelectronic design and processing. This online extra article provides added information to the main article on chip-based control in Control Engineering, October 2002.
Industrial Robots Fast, Nimble at 30
Mention robots and even engineers may have pictures of Sony's Aibo pet dog or the Jetson's household helpers. Robots have also made news recently with products from iRobot Corp. (Somerville, MA) helping troops scour caves in Afghanistan and helping archaeologists search tombs in the Egyptian desert. Perhaps some are even considering uses for the "Roomba" vacuum cleaning robot.
Medium-Voltage Motors Ease Limits on Current Capacity and Power
Most electric motors run on supply voltages under 600 V, yet operating at these so-called ''low voltages'' limits current-carrying capacity and output power needed for large industrial loads. Current limits pose a special problem during motor start-up. Medium-voltage (MV) ac motors overcome such limits.
Chip-Based Motion/Motor Control Saves Time, Cost, and Space
You would expect leading-edge digital signal processors (DSPs) to be reserved only for sophisticated, high-end motion applications. However, some of the latest processor chips now provide single-axis motor control in washing machines, refrigerators, and related commercial products.
Control Engineering Embedded Control eNewsletter for September 2002
Advantech... Founded in 1983, ADVANTECH AUTOMATION is the only complete PC-based Industrial Automation Solution Manufacturer offering products such as Industrial PCs, Workstations, Flat Panel Monitors, Customized PCs, Data Acquisition & Control Devices and Web-enabled products for communication and HMI monitoring and control. ADVANTECH offers a family of scaleable Windows-based computers for almost any industrial application offering Environment Facility Monitoring, Factory Automation, Machine Automation, and a variety of other total solutions.For more information, visit www.advantech.com angelas@advantech.com Embedded control in September Control Engineering What's hot at IMTS Let's get started Control remote devices Still life in embedded product development Online webcasts, conference, expo Embedded control in September Control Engineering Control Engineering's September issue is posted on the Web.
IMTS 2002: MDSI showing new products, partnerships
Chicago, IL— Manufacturing Data Systems Inc. (MDSI, Ann Arbor, MI) and its OEM partners are exhibiting machine tools and controls with MDSI's OpenCNC software this week at IMTS 2002 , Sept. 4-11, at McCormick Place.
AC Drives Meet and Exceed User Demands
Simpler variable-torque applications continue to be the most common use for ac adjustable-speed drives, yet manufacturers are adding increasingly sophisticated capabilities and high-level functions to these products. EXPANDED ARTICLE AND PRODUCTS ON-LINE
Servo Motion Spreads Integration, Applications
This article is an Online Extra to the Electric Servos Go for Ease of Use, Integrate with All the Plant .' Click on the title to read the entire article. Sidebar: Servo motion applications Integration of components that comprise an electric servo system is growing, alongside an overall integration of servo motion systems into manufacturing processes. Several complementary factors are helping to expand applications, hence the servo motion market.
Nano devices lead assault on traditional PLC applications
Programmable logic controllers, which are most commonly recognized as 15-128 I/O-point micro devices, 128-512 I/O-point medium devices, and over 512 I/O-point large devices, have come under pressure from still other manifestations of these devices over the past few years.
New integrated, intelligent motors from Denmark’s JVL Industri Elektronik
Birkerod, Denmark - JVL Industri Elektronik A/S has recently introduced what it calls ''a completely new concept in motor control.'' Designated the MAC motor, this development combines an ac servo motor, controller, Hall-effect sensor, and encoder in a single compact unit ''that offers true servo performance'' and ''previously unseen low price.''
Motion control standards have a way to go
"Lack of standards" is a complaint often heard in the motion-control arena. Given the kaleidoscope of technologies and products that comprise this sector, the comment isn't surprising. However, if one includes proprietary approaches and de facto standards, plus various communications buses used in motion control, then probably there are too many "standards" out there.
Linear positioning stage is precise, versatile
Schaumburg, Ill.— New TLC Series precision positioning stages offer travel lengths in the 100-mm to 2-m range (4-78.7 in.), with speeds up to 6 m/sec (nearly 20 ft/sec) and accelerations to 10 G, depending on load and configuration. Submicron resolution and repeatability up to 1 micron are standard features.
Rexroth, Panasonic to jointly develop servo drive components
Hoffman Estates, Ill.— Bosch Rexroth AG (Lohr, Germany) and Panasonic Motor Co. (Osaka, Japan) recently agreed to jointly develop electrical servo drive components. The two firms are working together to develop and produce ac servo drive products, focusing on open control communications, ergonomic product design and innovative construction.
125th Anniversary for business operations at Boston Gear
Quincy, Mass. - Just 101 years after the founding of the U.S. as a nation, a company called Boston Gear opened for business in Charlestown, Mass.
Control Engineering Motors, Drives, & Motion Control Newsletter for February 2002
In this issue: Pneumatic actuator emulates muscle motion Readers surveyed on motion control, Part 2 Sintered magnet material advances high-performance motors, actuators A twist on drive and motor integration Enhancements to simulation software Motor 'briefs' Control Engineering in February Courses, other learning sources Control Engineering News Linear pneumatic actuator emulates muscle motion Are you looking for an alternative to pneumatic cylinders? Check out a novel method to obtain precise, repeatable linear motion using material flexure and deformation similar to that of human muscles. New MAS Fluidic Muscle from Festo Corp. (Hauppauge, N.Y.; Esslingen, Germany) claims advantages of size, weight, and output force compared to standard pneumatic cylinders. It offers as much as 10 times the force, but has only about 13% the weight of a metal cylinder of equal inner diameter, according to the company. Fluidic Muscle is based on membrane-contraction-a concept that 'involves the wrapping of a watertight, flexible hose with nonelastic fibers arranged in a rhomboidal fashion.' The resulting 3-D grid pattern deforms when actuated by compressed air.
Control Engineering’s Motors, Drives, and Motion Control Newsletter for May 2001
In this issue: Motion controllers update MV drive adds synchronous motor control Integrated motor-drive units in hazardous areas Hannover Fair 'briefs' Expert info, cost analysis for Intelligent MCCs Companies in motion Two mini-tutorials on motor drives Control Engineering in May Motion controllers update A dynamic development environment produces continual improvement and enhancement of motion controllers. A programmable 'electronic cam' function has been added to SDM314 digital motion controllers from GE Fanuc Automation (Charlottesville, Va.). Emulating a mechanical cam-but without attendant wear problems-electronic camming allows tight coordination of master and slave axes on a machine and transition between complex move profiles that would otherwise require changing cams. A Cam Editor tool allows user entry of position information and ability to create/store cam profiles in a library.
Control Engineering Motors, Drives, & Motion Control Newsletter for August 2000
In this issue: Superconducting motors update Chipset adds step motor control Step motion systems survey Wanted: Users' views on 'soft motion' Companies in motion Worth reading Need to transmit motion into vacuum? Information/guidance for the asking Control Engineering in July and August Superconducting motors update You can't buy them yet, but high-temperature superconducting (HTS) motors moved closer to reality with the demonstration of 1,000-hp capability by a Reliance Electric ac synchronous HTS motor from Rockwell Automation (Greenville, S.C.). Ongoing tests include running the HTS motor from startup to 1,800 rpm, under control of an inverter drive. Another first for the demo: the HTS motor operated with a closed-loop refrigeration system. American Superconductor Corp.
Control Engineering’s Motors, Drives, and Motion Control Newsletter for September 2001
In this issue: Electronic motor drives are alive and well Enhanced motion controllers New definite-purpose contactor More help with ac motor production tests Wanted: Users' input on combined intelligent motor and controller products Worth reading Major European Automation/Drives show coming Companies in motion Control Engineering in August and September Register now for the SupplyChainLinkExpo Electronic motor drives (EMDs) are alive and well EMDs comprised a huge $12.5-billion worldwide market in 2000, with growth projected to reach $19.1 billion in 2005, says a 1,400-page market research study by Drives Research Corp. (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.). A market research and management consultant firm in electric motor and drive technologies, Drives Research Corp.
Control Engineering Motors, Drives, & Motion Control Newsletter for February 2001
In this issue: A 'magnetic' alternative to variable-speed control Transmit torque through barrier Free linear motor design software Medium-voltage ac drives update Direct machining initiative incorporates soft motion Motor briefs Companies in motion Control Engineering in February Wanted: Users' input on energy efficient motors Take a survey on support and service A 'magnetic' alternative to variable-speed control Are you looking for an alternative to variable-frequency drives for speed control of ac motors up to 600 hp in your pump, fan, or blower applications? If so, MagnaDrive Corp. (Seattle, Wa.) has another choice based on a magnetic coupling principle. No, it's not a version of eddy-current control. Named MagnaDrive Coupling, the device is placed between the motor and its driven load.
Control Engineering Motors, Drives, & Motion Control Newsletter for January 2002
In this issue: Update on contactors, motor starters Readers surveyed on motion control Chip-based motion developer's kit for PCI bus Rare-earth magnets in ring form Motor controller for $100 New Technical Working Group for SERCOS N.A. Exhibitions, seminars Control Engineering in January Companies in motion Control Engineering News Update on contactors, motor starters Less publicized than other technologies, products for starting and protecting electric motors continue to make refinements that might interest you. Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. (Alpharetta, Ga.) recently introduced three sizes of large-frame contactors with ratings in the 115-500 A range for ac or dc motor control.
Control Engineering’s Motors, Drives, and Motion Control Newsletter for April 2001
In this issue: Web-based expert help for motors, motion control Rockwell Science Center's new business direction, power device developments Simplify your torque measurements Two robust encoder signals from one output Get a handle on harmonic distortion High-speed controller CPU Motor 'briefs' Seminars, education Control Engineering in April Sign up for a Technology Broadcast Web-based expert system help for motors, motion control Need an 'expert' to help analyze a motion axis, size electric motors, and select various mechanical components that make up a motion control system? Web-based VirtualSizer, a new productivity enhancement tool may be your answer. Available from Motion Tech Trends (MTT, Inglewood, Calif.), this expert system software is intended for individual supplier companies serving the motors, drives, and motion control markets. VirtualSizer allows applications engineers, sales staff, and channel partners to more efficiently define and specify the company's best products for a specific application-based on customer data input. The software operates at a company's web site, and is customized around its products, database, and operator interface needs.
Control Engineering Motors, Drives, & Motion Control Newsletter for January 2001
In this issue: Chip sets 'manage' motor control design How to keep tabs on encoder quality Ready for remote web-based motor development? More multi-axis motion controller choices Enhanced monitoring of motors/rotating equipment Companies in motion Education, seminars Control Engineering in December/January Take a survey on support and service Chip sets 'manage' motor control design If you need more help in designing drives for electric motors-ac induction as well as brushless dc types-look into Accelerator architecture chip sets from International Rectifier Corp. (El Segundo, Calif.). The new architecture 'partitions' inverter functions to act as an intelligent 'power management peripheral' to the DSP or microprocessor controlling the overall motion system.
Control Engineering Motors, Drives, & Motion Control Newsletter for September 2000
In this issue: Don't overlook servo-pneumatics for linear motion Need economical 6-axis motion sensing? Hollow-shaft 'equivalent' for linear motors Companies in motion Wanted: Users' views on integrated 'motor and drive packages' Seminar, exhibitions, training Information/guidance for the asking September issue of Control Engineering Don't overlook servo-pneumatic linear motion control Servo-pneumatic linear motion control can add to an engineer's toolbox of solutions, despite the 'foster-child' image of pneumatics that's due to the compressibility of air. Recent developments make the difference. One example is a rodless cylinder with velocity control from Tol-O-Matic Inc. (Hamel, Minn.) that combines pneumatics, electronic control-with encoder feedback-and a proportional magnetorheological (MR) fluid brake to produce accurate positioning at lower cost than electromechanical systems.
Control Engineering Motors, Drives, & Motion Control Newsletter for March 2002
In this issue: Smaller sizes coming to motor and controller integration Readers surveyed on motion control, Part 3 Developments in energy management and efficiency Motion control gets into collaborative manufacturing Robotics contest for students Control Engineering in March Companies in motion Continuing education Control Engineering News Smaller sizes coming to motor and controller integration You will see more of miniaturization coming to one-package integrated servo motors and controllers. Essentially complete servo positioning systems, these products are generally not smaller than NEMA 17 (or about 42 mm). However, several manufacturers are working to change that limit or have products ready to go for the right customer order. Actually, one working example of a NEMA 11 (28 mm) brushless dc servo motor and controller package was seen in the Motion Control Hall at the recently held National Manufacturing Week (NMW) exhibitions in Chicago.
Control Engineering Motors, Drives, & Motion Control Newsletter for June 2000
In this issue: MV drives, ashore and under water Open-loop steppers dominate DSP potpourri New digital dc winder drive Unidrive now available in 230 V Control Engineering in June User aids Major Motion Control Symposium Worth reading Medium-voltage ac drives on the move - ashore and under water Rejuvenated medium-voltage (MV) ac drives are making some agile moves for such large sized equipment. On May 26, ABB (Turgi, Switzerland) launched its ACS 6000 MV ac drive family, rated from 6 to 27 MW at supply voltages up to 3.3 kV. This extends the range of ABB's MV drives substantially above 5 MW provided by ACS 1000-launched in late 1997.
Control Engineering’s Process Control Newsletter for June 2000
In this issue: Batch Control for Dummies Good Manufacturing Practices conference Critical Control Solution Flexibility Intellution's Historian & Microsoft Excel meet Free OPC testing tool Free Honeywell IAC PlantScape CD What's in the June issue of Control Engineering Dave's public service announcement Batch Control for Dummies The official title is 'Applying S88 - Batch Control from a User's Perspective' but the bottom line is, this book is a pretty good read for anyone with process control responsibilities. Don't let 'batch' in the title turn you off. The techniques described by authors Jim Parshall and Larry Lamb are as relevant to continuous processes as they are to batch.
Control Engineering Motors, Drives, & Motion Control Newsletter for April 2002
In this issue: Reality in ac drive markets More results from motion control survey Bypass feature 'hot' for ac drives SERCOS goes electrohydraulic as well Knowledge is power Control Engineering in April Seminars, conferences Control Engineering News Reality in ac drive markets Do you ever wonder how market study results remain the same in good times and bad? Here is a reality check. A February 2002 market research and technology forecast report, 'AC Drives Outlook for North America 2002-2006,' from Drives Research Corp. (DRC, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) puts some much-needed realism into market growth figures. In contrast to other recent studies, DRC sees just the start of modest growth for ac drives in 2002, following 'a double-digit decline in 2001.' In 2001, some of the largest ac drive suppliers in North America absorbed major sales slumps.
Control Engineering Motors, Drives, & Motion Control Newsletter for December 2001
In this issue: Function Blocks add order to motion control Propelling the Human Transporter Wireless control comes to integrated motor drives Efficiency standards for small electric motors? Expert source on lamination steels Recent market studies: open control, optical encoders, step Companies in motion Control Engineering in December SCLE presentations archived for viewing Function Blocks add order to motion control Applying various, often incompatible motion control systems can be complex, confusing, and costly to users. PLCopen, Zaltbommel, Netherlands, has announced some sorely needed progress in standards development for this arena with the release of 'Function Blocks for Motion Control' specification, version 1.0, at the SPS/IPC/Drives show in Nuremberg, Germany, at the end of November 2001. PLCopen is a vendor- and product-independent worldwide association supporting IEC 61131-3 programming standard. The Function Blocks library-covering single-axis control and coordinated multi-axis control, among other items-has been in the works for years by PLCopen's Task Force Motion Control, according to the organization's managing director, Eelco van der Wal. Also included in the specs are examples on how to use the Function Blocks.
Control Engineering Motors, Drives, & Motion Control Newsletter for November 2000
In this issue: Acquisitions continue Smart linear motion modules Induction motors rate new design software Telemetry transmits torque info in real time Motors 'briefs' Companies in motion 'Motor drives' training Information free for the asking Control Engineering in October/November Motion-control-related acquisitions continue The Schneider Electric (Rueil Malmaison, France) acquisition of Crouzet Automatismes (Valence, France) and SIG Positec (Lahr, Germany; U.S. office in Plymouth, Mich.) continues a recent flurry of motion-control-related company mergers. Schneider's objective is to widen available solutions across the board, but gains in the motion arena will be significant by adding to its team these two seasoned European suppliers to OEM markets.
Control Engineering’s Motors, Drives, and Motion Control Newsletter for June 2001
In this issue: 'Film coil' technology advances motors Looking at the North American ac drives market (2001- 06) European motor drive vendor award ISA/AIME Applied Motion Control conference Software simplifies motor testing New torque-mode servo amplifier Information is knowledge Companies in motion Control Engineering in June Register now for the SupplyChainLinkExpo 'Film coil' technology advances motors In the never-ending quest for lower cost electric motors comes 'film coil' technology. The innovative development promises high magnetic field strength and greater coil density than wire coil-the alternative coil forming technology. Lower cost is a plus using processes similar to printed circuit board manufacturing.
I/O Devices Increasingly Distributed
Trends in I/O Devices I/O devices are more distributed Industrial networks increasingly popular Ethernet use growing for I/O communication Special function modules flourish Sidebars: Extra Products Online 'Give me enough time and enough money, and I can build a machine to solve any automation problem,' once said application engineers in the automation special machine industry. Well, they were probably overly optimistic, but automation suppliers are responding to the pain felt by control engineers needing to do more in less time while reducing cost. One response is development of increasingly distributed I/O devices. Many factors had to converge to provide distributed I/O devices.
Electric Servos Go for Ease of Use, Integrate with the Whole Plant
'Integration and more integration" describes in the fewest words the current direction for electric servo technology. Integration runs from the grand scale of servo systems blending with machine controls and overall factory processes to the micron scale where functionality of microcontrollers and digital signal-processor (DSP) chips just keeps growing.
Software aids multiple integrated servo motor/controllers
Redmond, Wa.—New QS-CNC v2.0 control software is said to merge CNC G-codes and familiar alphanumeric motion commands to simplify application of SilverMax integrated servo motors (with built-in amplifier and controller) from QuickSilver Controls (Covina, Calif.). Using only a serial port, the software coordinates multiple SilverMax units in complex cutting operations to interpolated accura...
Servo drives with 20 kHz current loop
Camarillo, Calif. —DR100EE Series digital servo drives are designed to control brush dc and brushless servo motors, including linear motors. Space Vector Modulation switching is used in the 20 kHz current loop to increase bandwidth for high-performance motion control. Electronic commutation of brushless motors employs a sinusoidal encoder, said to obtain the lowest possible torque ripple...
Progressive Innovations
Everything that can be invented has been invented. Yeah, right. After 15 years, it may briefly seem like this statement—erroneously attributed to a U.S. patent commissioner in 1899—has some validity. However, this misquote is probably only appealing because it gives people a chance to catch their breath—just before they're again swept up by the inspiration of the inventor...
Motion Trends 2002
How readers use motion technologies is a moving target. Additional findings of an extensive survey of readers of Control Engineering and Design News who use and specify motion control technology are highlighted in a Special Supplement in this issue. Current developments in motion control center on the spread of distributed control architectures and increased integration of components that...
Blazing fast PLC
Vernon Hills, Ill. —Not just another PLC, Q-series is billed as an "automation platform for the future." Designers can place up to four CPUs on a rack along with local I/O modules. The platform can compete with VME computers in semiconductor manufacturing or can combine process and sequential logic modules for batch control.
Information at Internet Speed
A healthy manufacturing sector is essential to the health of all of the world's economies. Yet, manufacturing ended 2001 in the U.S. with its 17th straight month of decline, although signs of a recovery in 2002 are popping up. Forecasters predict that when this essential market rebounds, it will do so with fewer people employed.
Inner Workings of Industrial Automation
It's great to be in the right place at the right time. However, getting in position can be difficult, especially in uncertain and tumultuous times.To help engineers and other technical professionals maintain or regain optimum equilibrium, organizers of the National Industrial Automation Show (NIAS), part of National Manufacturing Week (NMW) 2002, have rearranged thousands of exhibits to b...
One (or more) Controller for Every Application
Engineering conferences and publications thrive on controversy. There's nothing like a good religious debate to get one's blood flowing, and some engineering debates assume a religious air. There are the "fieldbus wars" and the "PLC vs. DCS vs. PC-based control" arguments. Technology and competition are combining to put a "double whammy" on these arguments.
Look out, 2002
Categorizing automation, control, and instrumentation technologies has become increasingly difficult. Products fit into more than one area. Systems and devices incorporate multiple technologies. Discrete, process, and batch applications each contain elements of the others. Software and networks connect it all.
Berkeley introduces new motion and machine controller
Richmond Calif. - Berkeley Process Control Inc. unveiled Dec. 4 a new integrated motion and machine controller for the packaging industry.
Control Engineering’s Motors, Drives, and Motion Control Newsletter for November 2001
In this issue: 'Motor Decisions Matter' campaign gains 11 new sponsors Boosting 'soft motion' control Motor with a heart SERCOS update Actuator powered by shape-memory alloys Telemetry aids motion control Info free for the asking Companies in motion Control Engineering in November 'Motor Decisions Matter' campaign gains 11 new sponsors Efficient use of electric energy continues to draw attention, with industrial equipment in the spotlight. The national campaign to develop an overall management plan for electric motors, known as 'Motor Decisions Matter' was bolstered at the end of October 2001by 10 motor manufacturers and an organization that focuses on improving energy investment returns-Advanced Energy (Raleigh, N.C.). Motor Decisions Matter (MDM) now has 29 sponsors. Comprising the new motor manufacturer sponsors of MDM are A.O.
2001: industry innovates despite economy
This sampling of top 2001 coverage shows the control and automation industry's determination to innovate despite this year's economic downturn. For links to more items each month, view this editorial at www.controleng.com.January: Integrate plant and enterprise.... Schneider Electric to auction patents.
Integrated, Intelligent Motors & Controls Will Be in Your Future
An emerging class of motion control products—that combines motor, drive, controller, processing intelligence, feedback device, I/O points, communication, and more in one package—defies simple naming. Some systems add all the elements to the motor, others only a few. Integrated, intelligent motor and control (I2MC) unit is the tag name used here, although some of the systems co...
Vision System, Motion Control Lead Integrated Seat Assembly Operation
To help keep up with increasing commode production, systems integrator Phoenix Automation (Norcross, Ga.) recently built an automated machine that assembles up to 24,000 toilet seats every 10 hours, or 40 seats per minute. This sequential operation requires two indexing pallet conveyors.
Realistic off-vehicle testing of transmission components
A new automatic transmission test rig with controls developed by COM Inc. (Dexter, Mich.) uses two dynamometers-one to drive the component under test and another simulating real-world load conditions.
Go to www.controleng.com
Besides presenting Control Engineering's entire print editions, Control Engineering Online also delivers daily news, Web Exclusives, and Online Extra articles that add value to in-print features. Here are highlights of some articles recently posted online at www.controleng.com.
Adlink integrates motion and vision on PC
Irvine, Calif. - ADlink Technology Inc. announced an affordable, high-performance 4-axis stepper & servo motion control card and an integration of motion control and vision in the same computer.
Apply quality to motion control
Six Sigma has achieved dramatic results within companies like General Electric, yielding an annual return of over $100 million in quality improvement savings. But how can you make it work in your application, and where do you start?The first task in applying Six Sigma is to understand its purpose, which is always to optimize quality and throughput.
How to Improve Quality in Motion Control
Six Sigma methods can be a powerful tool to increase the quality and productivity of processes involving motion control.
Control Engineering’s E-News for Motors, Drives, & Motion Control – July 2001
In this issue: Superconductor motors update Market directions: AC drives, motion control Energy-efficient motor initiatives in the air Interface module, software simplify motion control Motors 'briefs' Seminars, conferences, education Information free for the asking or 'surfing' Control Engineering in July Register now for the SupplyChainLinkExpo Superconductor motors update Developments in electric motors have become mundane, you say? Not so: High-temperature superconductor (HTS) motors are making steady, marked progress toward reality. Demonstration of a prototype 5,000-hp HTS motor took place on July 18 at the site of American Superconductor Corp.'s (AMSC) Electric Motors & Generators business unit (Westborough, Mass. www.amsuper.com ). Said to be world's first in this power rating, the HTS motor is an ac synchronous type with an 'air-core' design.
Motion System Simulation Pays Off in Many Ways
Online Extra to August 2001 Control Engineering article on 'Motion Simulation.'
Technology Advances Power Integrated Control
Imagine designing a packaging line or material handling system with the control all in one package rather than separate logic control, motion control, vision systems, and bar code over RS-232. Real-world data are sent directly from the control program to a SQL database for analysis, selective sharing with customers or suppliers, and production and quality reporting.
Web picks motors
Inglewood, Calif.— A new web-based productivity enhancement tool, VirtualSizer, is available to help analyze motion axes, size electric motors, and select mechanical components that make up a motion control system. Developed by Copperhill Technologies Corp. (Northampton, Mass.), VirtualSizer is intended for suppliers serving the motors, drives, and motion control markets.
Thinking outside the box about the future of I/O systems
Trends in I/O Devices Ethernet as a fieldbus Flexibility Integration of safety components Thinking outside the box has become a metaphor for daily life. Whether it's providing creative answers to everyday problems or placing a new emphasis on various areas of a plant floor, thinking outside the box sets new ideas in motion.
Debating, finding the appropriate control method
It can be very difficult for end-users or OEMs considering relatively new or unfamiliar technologies to decide when, what type, and how much of it to implement. Engineering, marketing and management personnel are often sharply divided on which option is best, as well as which solution is most useful and desired by customers.
Efficient Motors Can Ease Energy Crunch
KEY WORDS Motors, drives, & motion control AC variable-speed drives AC induction motors Energy-efficiency Just glance at some recent headlines about energy costs and power shortages. Never has it been more timely to implement prudent use—not repressive use—of electric energy. Electric motors in general, and industry's "workhorse" ac induction motors in particular, represent g...
NMW show briefs
Siemens
Precise servo-pneumatic positioning
Hamel, Minn. -PrecisionAire is said to be the first servo-pneumatic linear motion system to provide accurate and repeatable positioning at multiple programming points, regardless of stroke length. A combined pneumatic/electric control system, stops at programmed points tortical/horizontal orientation.
All Four One
Whether you're sailing around the globe, cruising miles of tradeshow aisles, or running a manufacturing business, ease of navigation is crucial to survival and success. So, in response to input from former visitors to National Industrial Automation Show (NIAS) and National Manufacturing Week (NMW), organizer Reed Exhibition Co.
National Manufacturing Week 2001: All Four One
A new career expo, pavilions, and streamlined technical conference-plus thousands of exhibitors and visitors-will converge on Chicago's McCormick Place on Mar. 5-8, 2001, for the National Industrial Automation Show and National Manufacturing Week.
Time to Reinvest in Automation
How do you inspire co-workers, team members, management, clients, customers, and others to invest in useful automation and control? How do you find the time to break apart your existing processes, find seemingly tiny improvements and opportunities they contain, and reinvent your systems before your competition does?Legacy systems, huge installed product bases, and old equipment logically ...
SPS/IPC/Drives 2000 offers something for everyone
Measurable statistics, such as number of visitors and exhibitors, display floor space, and a conference program that totaled over 100 lectures, all indicated continuing momentum for SPS/IPC/Drives Exhibition & Conference, held here on Nov. 28-30, 2000. (See details in "Up Front," CE, Jan.
Distributed Motion Control: A Worthy Option for Connectivity
The trend toward distributed motion control is driven by one basic concept—by reducing wiring, costs can be lowered and reliability increased. However, before you get involved in making the multitude of choices regarding network buses, protocols, and a host of technical issues, you will need to determine whether distributed motion makes sense for your application.
Spreading out Controls for Motion Systems
R educed wiring is a prime reason for distributing controls in motion systems, along with dramatic cuts in associated installation costs and complexities of point-to-point connections it allows. This view was discussed in the main article . Other user benefits (as well as issues) arise when a 'distributed' versus a 'central' control system can be justified for a motion application. Besides the wiring benefits, Baldor UK Ltd.
When smaller, faster, and less expensive are not the final answers
In this space throughout the year, Control Engineering has covered PLCs, terminal blocks, board level products, test and measurement equipment, servo motors, control valves, and other products. Looking back, one theme is dominant: everyone wants smaller, faster, easier, less expensive components to get the job done.
Integrated Motor-Drives Seek Wider Market, User Acceptance
Much fanfare marked the marriage of ac induction motors and variable-frequency drives (VFDs) when these integrated packages became readily available in the marketplace over five years ago. A few integrated products were offered even earlier (see Who was first...? sidebar). However, convergence of the two technologies became practical in the mid-1990s and continues today.
Control Technology Corp. expands MultiPro line of controllers
Hopkinton, Mass. -Control Technology Corp. has added seven new models to its MultiPro family of industrial controllers, expanding the MultiPro product line to thirteen.
CNC Technology: Another Weapon in Integrated Manufacturing’s Arsenal
Look for that big, honkin' steel structure back in the plant with chips flying and cutting fluid spraying and you'll find CNC (computer numeric control) at its nerve center. These specially designed controllers handle high-speed, high-precision, multi-axis coordinated motion control. CNC are at the core of large machining centers that manufacture complex metal parts for automotive, aerosp...
More thrust, travel from electric cylinder
Petaluma, Calif. -EC4 Series electric cylinders supply a wide range of thrust loads and speeds, intended for high duty cycles. Their load, speed, and travel capabilities range up to 12, 000 N (2,700 lb), 1,330 mm/sec (52.4 in./sec), and 1,500 mm (59.1 in.), respectively.
`Soft Motion’ Follows Nontraditional Paths
M otion control finds itself, increasingly, an intimate part of the overall machine or process control system. As such, motion control is often associated with PC-based control that relies heavily on software functions. Soft motion is an emerging subset of PC-based control-similar to the development of soft logic-where motion control functions execute in software, entirely on the CPU of the industrial personal computer. Soft motion is characterized by the absence of proprietary hardware or motion control boards.
Soft Motion—PC-Based Motion Control through Software
The world of machine control integrates motion control, logic control, operator interface, supervisory control, data acquisition, and enterprise connectivity. Over time, most PC-based machine controls have incorporated motion control by adding PC-bus boards including a dedicated processor and operating system.
Motion control amplifier choices
Selecting the right amplifier for a motion control application can make a big difference in both the cost and performance of the final system. Generally, two choices exist: buy an off-the-shelf amplifier, or design your own.The amplifier—one of three basic elements of a motion system along with the controller and motor—converts output signals from the controller into higher po...
Versatile PCI motion controller
Fort Smith, Ark.—A motion controller for up to eight "servo/stepper/vector motors," based on the PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) system, has been introduced. Called NextMove-PCI, the card uses a 32-bit DSP, runs at 50 MHz—supporting 200-nsec position capture—and works with encoder signals up to 7.
Pavilions Power Biggest IMTS
Billed as the largest industrial exhibition in the Americas, the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) 2000 on Sept. 6-13 is projected to be the biggest ever—filling all five levels at McCormick Place here. It's expected to draw more than 120,000 visitors to more than 1,400 exhibitors in more than 1.
Do the locomotion of motors
"Come on, do the locomotion, I know you'll get to like it if you give it a chance. Do the locomotion, a chugga-chugga motion like a railroad train." -Grand Funk RailroadMotors, of various types, have provided profound changes in everyday life for over a century. Throughout recent years, however, they have undergone changes to more efficiently and effectively complete tasks in less time.
Rotary encoders provide variety
T he most common feedback device used in motion control systems is the rotary optical encoder. Comments in this 'extra section' pertain to that encoder type. Typical encoder applications encompass machine tools, web handling equipment, robotic and vision systems, packaging machines, conveyors, gantry cranes, storage and retrieval systems, etc. As mentioned in the main article, a standard way of increasing an incremental encoder's resolution is to count the leading and trailing edges of the quadrature signals generated.
Rotary encoders make versatile motion feedback devices
'Encoding" or converting angular position into electronic signals is the mission of rotary encoders. Ways to detect motion include mechanical (via brush contacts) or magnetic/inductive methods, but noncontact optical encoders comprise the most common feedback device used in industrial motion control.
Multi-purpose motion solution
Palatine, Ill.—New from Schneider Electric is a multi-purpose line of servo drives and motors for OEMs. Lexium Servo drive can serve as a smart analog amplifier, high-performance stepper translator, SERCOS-compliant servo drive, or stand-alone motion controller, according to the manufacturer. Lexium works with 230-480 V ac supply and incremental or absolute encoders.
Product & Literature Showcase – 2000-06-01
Gas pressure sensor Cleveland, O. -Meriam Instrument has introduced a new 20-in. H2O range on its line of microprocessor-based sensors.
Open CNC software has smart programming, Internet functionality
Ann Arbor, Mich. -Manufacturing Data Systems Inc.'s (MDSI) new OpenCNC V5.1 is said to streamline manufacturing for the Internet. MDSI calls the upgrade 'groundbreaking new technology that gives manufacturing engineers, for the first time, the ability to modify their standard NC part programs to capture and send data without requiring outside or network integrators, expensive hardware add-ons, or machine downtimes.' Modifications can be made on the CAD/CAM workstation in the engineering office.
Step Motor Systems Have a Lot to Offer
S tep motors and controls continue to evolve and innovate. In their long-standing competition with servo-based motion control, some stepper system developments surprise the users. Stepper drives incorporating digital signal processors (DSPs); common control units for both step motors and servo motors, selected through software; methods to monitor or control step motor stall; and a growing integration of functions around the step motor are some topics discussed in the main text article . Here is additional coverage on these and related areas. Alignment pins and a locator dowel on the front face of Empire Magnetics' Size 11 Medical Motors help personnel wearing rubber gloves with equipment assembly in a sterilized environment. Slow-speed disturbances have been a problem area for stepper systems in the past.
Step Motor Systems Battle for Motion Control Market Share
Satire is much in vogue in magazine ads. For example, dinosaurs have served to differentiate what's "in or out" for distributed control systems. Even step motors are not immune from satire, as in one servo system advertisement of a few years ago that referred to step motors as "great boat anchors.
Innovation and collaboration highlight National Industrial Automation Show, National Manufacturing Week
Everything may be everywhere, but the National Industrial Automation Show and National Manufacturing Week, Mar. 13-16, also featured innovations and cooperative efforts in many other manufacturing disciplines. Examples of e-commerce, web-based, software, hardware, and other groundbreaking products, services, and events at NIAS and NMW included:
Motion control engineered for high temperatures
Billerica, Mass.— Flamemaster series systems use rare-earth, ring magnet technology in brushless servo motors to provide reliable performance in welding, shape-cutting, and other applications in elevated temperature environments. Motors feature high torque-to-inertia ratios for precision at high speeds, low cogging for accuracy, and are IP65 rated.
How to Work with Mechanical Resonance in Motion Control Systems
Mechanical resonance can be a problem for almost any motion control system, from nimble machines that wrap food or assemble electronics to large, lumbering lines that coat film, to high-precision metal-cutting mills and lathes. Problems with resonance usually occur during installation, as servo-loop gains are adjusted to coax the machine to meet specifications.
Powertec brushless dc technology moves to HBD
Peerless-Winsmith Inc., a division of privately held HBD Industries Inc., acquired in early February the industrial motor and drive product lines of a company originally called Powertec Industrial Corp. HBD manufactures electric motors, power transmission gears and speed reducers, as well as other industrial products and equipment.
Presenting … The Best Products of 1999
Many useful and innovative new products burst into industrial automation, instrumentation, and control in 1999. From all products in print and online coverage during 1999, Editors of Control Engineering and Control Engineering Online chose 40 to honor with Editors' Choice Awards, in this 13th annual process.
Several Shows on the Program at Hannover Fair 2000
T his year's Hannover Fair offers visitors an integrated combination of six exhibition sectors. Besides the core Factory Automation sector covered in some detail in the main article, here is a further look at the other exhibit sectors available to control engineering practitioners during this March 20-25 event. Other fair sectors Materials Handling & Logistics (Halls 19-26 and open-air site) is the second largest show sector in terms of display area. In fact, its technologies overlap somewhat with factory automation.
SPS/IPC/Drives `99: Snows slow only start of this growing technology show
Nürnberg, Germany -Winter came early to Central Europe and parts of Germany the past two years. In late November 1999, heavy snows added to travel hardships. 'Chaos in the streets,' in words of the local press, coincided with the start of Nürnberg's major late-fall event, SPS/IPC/Drives-the Electric Automation Technology Exhibition & Conference, held here Nov.
Consolidation ‘tidying’ fragmented motion control markets
Though the world's motion control markets remain splintered, global corporations are gobbling up many well-known brands, according to a recent study by Datamonitor, a London-based market analysis firm. The report, "Motion Control in the Leading Industrial Markets," identifies several forces that are altering motion control's 11 primary markets, which account for 90% of the $3.
Medium-Voltage AC Drives Shed Custom Image
Where do you find control solutions for the largest industrial- or power-plant-type loads that require multi-megawatt electric motors to power them? Today, one growing technology option is the medium-voltage (MV) ac drive. MV drives are similar to, but hundreds of times larger than, their more common low-voltage (LV) cousins.
Industrial Automation Show: What You Need Now
Motion and quality halls, open control architecture and e-manufacturing pavilions, and the usual universe of events and exhibitors will infuse the National Industrial Automation Show and National Manufacturing Week at Chicago's McCormick Place on March 13-16, 2000.Ladies and gentlemen and engineers of all ages! Before plunging your organization and careers into the competitive tornado of ...
Magnetek buys Mondel Engineering
MagneTek Inc. announced Jan. 18 that it acquired Mondel Engineering Ltd. (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) in a cash transaction. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Mondel's specialized motion-control products represent an extension of the ESI industrial drives line acquired in July 1999 by MagneTek, one of North America's largest suppliers of ac drives and...
Interkama ’99
Leaner trade fair looks to the futureDüsseldorf, Germany—Despite a decline in expected numbers of visitors and exhibitors, Interkama '99—International Trade Fair for Industrial Communications, Automation, Measurement, and Analytics—drew 1,255 exhibitors from 39 nations and some 60,000 visitors from 100 nations during Oct.
Motor/drive combination
Radford, Va.— Goldline DDR brushless servo motor and Servostar CD digital amplifier is a direct-drive motor solution for industrial motion control applications that require high torque, flat profile, and maintenance-free operation. Typical applications include rotary table, robots, and semiconductor processing equipment.
Credit-Card Sized Servo Controller/Amplifier
Santa Clara, Calif .-Essentially the size of a credit card, Animatics Corp.'s new RTC-3000 combines the functions of a servo controller and amplifier in a miniature, free-standing unit. Experience with miniaturized motion control design allows running virtually any small brushed or brushless dc (bldc) motor, according to the company. This claim includes motors with a wide range of inductances, and applies to 'difficult to drive' very low inductance motors.
Robotics Integrate PCs, Networks
Remember the "gaps" of past decades? The Sixties began with a missile gap and ended with a generation gap. The search for more "gaps" was rewarded in the 1980's with the discovery of a "robot gap." American industry was supposedly doomed because Japanese manufacturers had more robots than anywhere else.
Linear response from piezo drives
Eindhoven, The Netherlands— A series of motion controllers from Nyquist incorporates algorithms to correct nonlinear response of piezo-electric servo motors. The resulting system behaves like a dc drive, while retaining the dynamic response of piezo motors. The system is based on Nyquist's DAX/ASP motion control core that provides up to 48 servo axes across VMEbus.
‘Forward to the Past’ with SR Technology
A rugged, low-cost brushless dc motor technology without magnets, readily available for use! Now there's a bright new idea. Bright yes, new no. At age 150 years plus, and counting, switched-reluctance (SR) motors represent one of the oldest electric motor designs around.Simple construction is a prime feature.
Software Emerges as Key Link in Automation and Control
Software has become the critical, value-added link within plant operations and control and throughout the enterprise. By its nature, software is rapidly changing. Hundreds of upgrades are underway in the 35 software categories Control Engineering covers across more than 65 industries. (See "Many Vendors.
Danaher buys Atlas Copco Controls
Rockford, Ill.—Pacific Scientific will partner with Atlas Copco Controls (Stockholm, Sweden) to provide solutions to the worldwide motion controls industry.This joint effort follows Altas Copco Controls' acquisition by Danaher Corp. (Washington, D.C.), which is also Pacific Scientific's parent company.
Pouring Thought into the Process
Designing to incorporate distributed intelligence has advantages, but can include challenges outside the realm of traditional thinking. The world over, thousands of automation and controls manufacturers have poured a lot of thought into where intelligence should reside in automation and control system design.
Baldor unveils spate of new drives
A flurry of North American product introductions highlighted a mid-September media tour by Baldor Electric Co. New releases included FlexDrive, Flex+Drive, and MintDrive, a family of servo and positioning drives. Compact, digital FlexDrive is a servo control with autotuning and a Microsoft Windows set-up wizard.
Paving the way
Check the Monday-morning newspaper in the fall for pro football, and you'll see plenty of praise for the running back that gains over 100 yards and scores two or three touchdowns. You may even read how a quarterback "had all day to throw the football," amassing gaudy statistics that make fantasy football leaguers delirious.
Ethernet stand-alone controller
Mountain View, Calif.— DMC-2100 is a stand-alone motion controller that uses the Ethernet communication protocol. The series is available in 1- through 8-axis formats, which enables control of both step and servo motors on any combination of axes. DMC-2100s feature high-speed, longdistance communications, enabling connectivity to computer hardware devices located on a LAN, such as I/O mo...
Network-based motion, machine control system for semiconductor tools
Richmond, Calif.— Berkeley Process Control Inc. has introduced the BXi controller reported to be the industry's first integrated motion and machine control system designed specifically for automated semiconductor process tools. It features eight internally powered servo axes, an expandable 100 Mbit Ethernet I/O system and an object-based development environment.
Servo or Vector Control Can Handle Many Applications
This article, Part 2 of 2, looks at applications. Part 1, in February (March International issue) provided an overview of the two control methods. Applications in printing, converting, and web handling are among areas of competition for servo and vector control, two distinct motor-control methods.
Data Acquisition Hardware Products
Data acquisition through the USB port Marlboro, Mass. -The DT9800 Series family of USB data acquisition function modules offer 16SE/8DI inputs with 12- or 16-bit resolution, up to 100kS/s throughput, 16 digital I/O lines, and 2 user counter/timers. Users also have optional 12- or 16-bit analog outputs.
Drive module with SensorlesServo technology
San Jose, Calif.— IndexBlok Drive Module is said to run virtually any three-phase motor 1-20 kW without a sensor. SensorlesServo technology brings a new cost proposition to applications requiring both simple and complex indexing with up to 16-bit resolution per electrical cycle of the motor. IndexBlok interfaces with PLCs and PC machine controllers.
Yaskawa unveils new headquarters
Yaskawa Electric America Inc. (YEA) held a grand opening May 10 for its new North American headquarters here. The structure represents a significant milestone for the 84-year-old, $2-billion parent company, Yaskawa Electric Corp. The 20-acre campus gives YEA room to grow in the future and supports the company's new "World of Automation Solutions" identity.
Schneider, Honeywell cope with leadership, organizational shifts
Accelerating competition fueled by technological advances and software's emergence are driving many tectonic shifts in the control and automation landscape. This unrelenting pressure has forced many recent mergers and acquisitions and is apparently speeding up a new round of leadership shifts, layoffs, and other sometimes wrenching changes.
Amplifier packs a punch
Pittsburgh, Pa.—ACS1335 and ACS1350 single-axis, digital brushless servo amplifiers each have a digital front end that uses PC menu-driven software. Encoder outputs to 1024 pulses per revolution are synthesized, providing the user with smooth operation at low speeds and high-position accuracy. The amplifiers have an integral power supply and are said to be well-suited to such applications...
Hannover Fair wraps up until 2000
The last Hannover Industrial Fair before 2000 concluded April 24 after drawing 7,510 exhibitors and about 300,000 visitors during its six-day run. Factory Automation, a new central theme for 1999, appeared to find favor, attracting 2,086 exhibitors.Web-based advantages, connectionsSchneider Electric (Paris) continued rolling out Transparent Factory, a toolset that ...
DaimlerChrysler Engine Plant Focuses on PLCs
Dedicated to producing the new 4.7-liter V-8 PowerTech truck engine for the 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee, DaimlerChrysler's new Mack Avenue Engine Plant (Detroit, Mich.) has the most extensively distributed and standardized automation architecture ever applied to engine manufacture, say project participants.
PLCs fight for future market share
The PLC industry finds itself the center of attention and controversy a lot lately. As technological competitor to the PC-based control market, PLC manufacturers are having to fend off the onslaught of PC-based developments with every bit of savvy and know-how they can muster. Certain software manufacturers have even gone so far as to predict the death of PLCs within five years.
Hydraulic press uses PC-based controls
A new hydraulic press can produce complex parts better and less expensively than mechanical presses, but it needs sophisticated control algorithms. Best Press Corp.'s new powder-compacting press forms powders into complex-shaped molded parts with uniform density using hydraulics control technologies from Delta Computer Systems Inc.
Linear Motors and Controls Seek the Mainstream
Hardly new as a technology, direct-drive linear motion systems show a growing variety of configurations. Motor and load are directly connected—as the name implies—doing away with gear trains, belts, ballscrews, and pulleys to achieve remarkable speed, precision, and reliability. Linear motion systems shine where performance is crucial.
Linear Motors and Controls
This section contains additional information related to Control Engineering 's April 1999 article on Direct-Drive Linear Motors and Controls. A table of linear motor products appears in the main article, while representative linear control products are tabulated at the end of this section. Linear motors in machine tool systems require real development process While it's getting simpler to use linear motors, their successful application in machine tool/computer numerical control (CNC) systems still requires a thorough development plan. Complete integration of machine and motor is vital.
Introduction of new servo system
Piscataway, N.J.— Star Micronics America has entered the motion control industry with the introduction of its advanced line of SAMCOP. According to the company, this easy-to-use servo system offers maximum control and flexibility, because it can be treated like a standard PC peripheral device and improves the performance of motion control systems while also reducing costs.
Hannover Fair ’99 Embraces Factory Automation
With ever increasing use of technology and automation, this year's Hannover Industrial Fair—the last before year 2000—remains the premier industrial fair. Also unchanged is the format to assemble several "fairs within a fair" in one location. However, starting in 1999, a new central theme and annual highlight will be Factory Automation, presenting "all the technologies and mod...
Stars of 1998
Nineteen ninety-eight was a stellar year for the control industry; a year when many new and exciting products were proudly rolled out and implemented in plants worldwide.Control Engineering'seditors have chosen the best products of 1998 and honor the top 40 in the industry with the12th annual Editors' Choice Awards.
Shows within Shows
Knowing everything won't accomplish anything without organization and judgment. Consequently, the universe of data available at the 1999 National Industrial Automation Show (NIAS) is also being synthesized into an innovation-inspiring, competition-crushing, company-saving format that visitors will need in their hyperactive, post-millennial markets.
Single-loop and Pneumatic Technologies Hold Strong
There's something to be said for reliability and staying power when we consider the throngs of fads and faux paradigms common today. From an engineering perspective, who would have predicted 57 years after the first pneumatic loop controller with PID functions was created these same devices would still be a prominent component of process control? Who also could have foreseen single-loop c...
Vector Control Competes with Electric Servos
This article (Part 1 of 2) compares technologies and looks at selection guidelines. Part 2, in September, will explore applications. Once upon a time…electric servo systems using permanent magnet (PM) synchronous motors represented the ultimate in high-dynamic position and torque control.
PINning Down a Flexible Solution
DT Industries' Assembly Machines Incorporated (AMI) Division (Erie Pa.) is part of the Parker Integration Network (PIN). The PIN organization brings system solutions to end users through independent systems integrators backed by Parker Hannifin Corp.'s (Cleveland, O.) global technologies and local sales and service.
Motion controller uses USB
Mountain View, Calif. —DMC-2000 series motion controllers now is available for Universal Serial Bus (USB). USB, a serial bus standard developed by the PC and telecom industries, allows computer peripherals to be automatically configured upon physical connection without rebooting or setup programs.
New at IMTS PCs Boost CNC Capability
One trend from the recent IMTS '98 show sure to appeal to control engineers is the merging of PC technology with CNCs (Computer Numerical Control). Application of PCs to CNCs varies from an "open" solution comprised of CNC motion control software running on any PC that meets specifications to adding chipsets with the desired functions to existing CNC boards.
Enhancements Help Step Motors and Controls Evolve
In their traditional open-loop operating mode, step motors and drives remain the simplest, most economical means of position and motion control for a variety of industrial applications in the power range up to one horsepower (0.75 kW). Simple control, yes, but the step-like motion can introduce resonances plus other disturbances over a motor's operating speed range.
Motors and Drives Offer a Variety Of Technology Solutions
Variety in electric motors and their controls continue to add spice to the selection process for users of these products. Control Engineering's new research survey of 1,500 readers verifies the diversity of motor and drive products being applied in many industries. In the following results, 358 usable responses represent the survey's base (North America).
Rockwell Automation buys Anorad, sees linear motor expansion
Following weeks of industry speculation about possible acquisition targets, Rockwell Automation announced Sept. 8 that it's acquiring Anorad Corp. (Hauppauge, N.Y.), a leading linear motor-based, precision positioning equipment manufacturer. The company says buying Anorad will immediately make it the global market share leader in linear motor technology, an area pre...
Industrial Networks Work In Fields, on Buses
As digital industrial networks weave their way through applications it's hard for those applying the technologies to think about working without them. For operators, however, networks are best appreciated when they go unnoticed…in the oil field (Control Engineering, July 1998, p. 114), on the city bus, and in manufacturing and processing.
Motion control seminar has Quebecois flavor
Topics ranging from direct-drive linear motors and fine-tuning of microstepping performance to what's new in motion feedback devices and where electric servo technology might be heading were among media update presentations held here on July 31, sponsored by AutomationSolutions International llc (ASI, Petaluma, Calif.
Motion control packages
Port Washington, N.Y.— Thomson Industries offers a line of complete motion control packages that utilize the latest technology and rugged design for high performance, industrial quality, and turn-key servo axis solutions. The packages are made with the following Thomson products: BLX Series brushless servo motors, Omnidrive smart drives, and a Thomson TMC-2000 motion controller.
Servo valve integration aided by brushless dc positioning
Some folks just can't leave servo valves alone. The latest approach combines electric servo motors' controlability with fluid power's muscle to create reliable, high-performance, proportional servo valves. Recent advances in magnetic materials, power electronics, and microprocessors are used to develop directly driven spool servo valves for numerous automation applications.
Machine Tools and More
If bigger is better, then enormous is excellent, and this year's International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS 98) will be one of the best ever.IMTS 98 will be highlighted by more than 1,400 exhibitors occupying in excess of 1.4 million ft2—making it the largest event in the show's 71-year history.
Electronic Motion Control Reaches for the Sky
Electronic motion control has become a complex combination of diverse elements—motors, drives, amplifiers, motion controllers, embedded chips, feedback devices, software tools, and more. This vast mosaic of solutions is supplied by hundreds of companies with new entrants expanding the list.
Motion Control Sails into a Sea of Applications
Industrial applications represent the mainstream for motion control, but recent spectacular examples from the "entertainment industry" are hard to ignore. In-deed, applications in the cinema, stage, amusement park rides, and other visible venues continue to push motion technology's envelope.One notable example from the entertainment field is "Masquerade Show in the Sky.
28-axis controller
New Ulm, Minn. —Menu-driven programming software allows MotionPlus XDC 720 motion controller to control up to 28 axes of motion. Simple indexing moves to complex camming motion can be done. Tuning is done directly from the tuning window of the programming software using PID loop tuning algorithms.
On-screen Selection Tools Help Specify Products
Control-product selection software is assisting automation users and system integrators in specifying the best of a myriad possible solutions for applications. These tools—on 3.5-in. disks, CD-ROMs, or websites—permit vendors to help end-users, consulting engineers, and system integrators figure out what they need.
Motion, motor controls becoming “system-wide”
Integrated technology that is "system-wide" was a common theme echoing through the exhibits of many diverse companies during NMW.Baldor Electric (Fort Smith, Ark.) displayed solutions from software to 800-hp vector drives. Its brand new technology—direct drive linear motion via its acquisition of Northern Magnetics Inc.
Quicker positioning helps steel mill meet customers’ demands
To extend the range of its steel piling sections to include several new designs with tighter tolerances, British Steel sought new control systems and drives for its roller straightening machines (RSMs) in its heavy section mill in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, U.K. Upgraded piling sections help increase construction efficiency because they can be driven faster when making steel walls.
Software for servo amplifiers, motors
Vernon Hills, Ill.— Microsoft Windows 95/NT and 3.1 compatible MCOMM software allows the monitoring of up to 16 critical amplifier functions, defining of 4 critical high-speed amplifier functions, and display data in trend graph format. Using the alarm display, entire time-stamped alarm histories including amplifier code, description information, and probable causes can be reviewed.
Motion control development software
Rochester, N.Y.— Designed for Microsoft Windows95/NT, MotionDisk provides graphical tools for programming multiaxis motion control, I/O functions, factory networking, and operator interface in an integrated environment. MotionDesk provides synchronizing of all files between Orion motion controllers and selected project configuration.
Power Modules and Devices Advance Motor Controls
The core function of power modules is to perform motor power switching and amplification in electric variable-speed and servo drives. Some power modules integrate capabilities and intelligence well beyond these basic functions. They simplify motor drive design via low parts count, compactness, and reliability.
Plug-and-play, stand-alone servo controller
Port Washington, N.Y.— TMC-2000 controller is capable of controlling up to 4 axes of servo and/or stepper motors, and running four programs simultaneously. Available with prefabricated cables that interface with Thompson Industries' brushless motors and digital amplifiers, the TMC-2000 provides a plug-and-play solution to motion control problems including point-to-point, linear and circu...
PC-Based Control Goes Real-Time
Personal-computer-based control is one of the fastest growing segments in machine control for monitoring a process and for discrete logic control of processes, such as material handling, machining, grinding, or gaging.Development of Windows NT by Microsoft (Redmond, Wa.) enabled PC-based real-time machine control to become reality.
Hannover Fair ’98 Goes More Global Than Ever
Start the second 50 years! Hannover Industrial Fair begins its second half-century after a long, successful run that began under quite humble circumstances. This "world's largest industrial trade fair" arose from the post-World War II ravages of Germany.As Hannover Fair faces its second half century, more changes are certain due to economic and technology trends.
Electric Motors/Controls
Fort Smith, Ark.— New products from Baldor include spindle drive motors, square flange pump motors, encoderless vector controls, hollow-shaft gear reducers, large 5800 frame motors, and a new line of advanced motion control products. In addition, the company recently introduced its new Standard-E motors that comply with the now-in-effect Energy Policy Act.
May We Have the Envelopes Please
"Control products just keep getting more advanced, yet simpler to use,"was the consensus among editors at Control Engineering when it was time for them to choose the best control products of 1997. For the 11th consecutive year, the editors chose the 50 best products based on three criteria: technological advancement, impact on the market, and service to the industry.
It’s Showtime!
Well, you asked for it. The 1998 edition of one of the world's largest manufacturing and technology shows is tanned, rested, and ready to go seamless.Evolving as a result of recent feedback from visitors and exhibitors requesting an even more streamlined and workable event, this year's National Industrial Automation Show (NIAS), and the three other shows that make up National Manufacturin...
AC Microdrives Ply Parallel Paths
Despite the temptation, size alone is not the right descriptor for ac "microdrives"—those ultracompact variable-frequency drives (VFDs) that sprouted during the first-half of the 1990s. For quite a while, it seemed, each new model would be even more miniature than the one announced just a month or so earlier.
Open, Modular Architecture Controls at GM Powertrain — Technical Issues
Operating Systems Hardware Platform Motion Control Open Device Level Networks User Interface Control Software Manufacturing Information System (MIS) Level Networks Application Programming Interfaces (API) It should be clear to the controls community that GMPTG is not trying to dictate the development of OMAC by specifying technical details for every aspect of OMAC. GMPTG is not going to lead the development of any new technology but will ride the technology wave! However, GMPTG engineers are not oblivious to the technical issues associated with OMAC systems. In this section, several OMAC technical areas will be examined.
Terminology in Motion
Motion control, as other technologies, has its fair share of special terms. Not all of them are rigorously defined; some require blending to suit the specific audience. Here's a sampling of some well-known and not-so-well-known terms.A motion control system typically consists of a controller to process motion algorithms and signals; an amplifier to boost signals to a level needed to p...
SERCOS-based cartoner improves flexibility & customer response
BUS OF THE MONTH
Pressure Sensing: It’s Everywhere!
KEY WORDS Process control and instrumentation Process sensing Pressure sensing One of the most-used sensors, pressure instrumentation is found nearly everywhere now. The old process standby is still there—chemical change-of-state monitoring still requires tracking such mundane variables as pressure and temperature—but it now can be found, however tiny, in manufactured goods from au...
Sensorless AC Drives Fill Price/Performance Niche
KEY WORDSMotors, drives, & motion controlAC variable-speed drivesAC induction motorsAdaptive controlControversial right from their name, "sensorless" ac drives actually use current and voltage sensors to achieve motor control. Even beyond terminology, it's not obvious what sensorless ac drives can or can't do, and where they fit into the big picture.
Control Engineering Highlights the 40 Best Products of 2000
Control Engineering editors— in the 14th annual process—highlighted the best products of the year, based on technological advancement, impact on the market, and service to industry.Editors selected from among thousands of products mentioned in Control Engineering and Control Engineering Online during year 2000, in nine product categories: Control components; Human-machine interface...
Innovations inundate National Industrial Automation Show at National Manufacturing Week 2001
Chicago, Ill.— Hundreds of exhibitors showed thousands of innovative products and services at the National Industrial Automation Show during National Manufacturing Week 2001 at McCormick Place. For more coverage, including streaming video clips, click on "NMW 2001" at www.controleng.com. Advantech Automation (Cincinnati, O.
‘Power of Industry’ will propel Hannover Fair 2001
Hannover, Germany—Twenty-five halls will be "in play" to accommodate this year's edition of the "world's largest industrial technology trade show" on April 23-28, 2001. An extra benefit is the fairground's upgraded infrastructure, completed for Expo 2000, the World's Fair. Hannover Fair 2001 combines six "fairs" in its "Power of Industry" theme.
