Mechatronics

The red curve is the phase of the loop gain before adding a notch filter in the loop. The green curve is the phase of the notch filter being added to the loop (with center frequency of five rad/sec). The black curve is the resulting phase of plant loop gain, which is found by adding the phase at each frequency of the red and green curve. At four rad/sec, the phase of the red curve phase (-140 degrees) plus the green curve phase (-40 degrees) is -180 degrees, which is shown on the black curve. Courtesy: Aerotech

Process Manufacturing April 22, 2020

How to tune servo systems (Part 1): Questions and answers

Inside Machines: More answers regarding servo system tuning follow the March 11 webcast on the same topic.

By Joseph Profeta

Courtesy: New Products for Engineers Database and Nippon Pulse America Inc.

Motors, Drives April 10, 2020

High-performance motor designs

Motor innovations: Advanced motor technologies influence motor form factors, performance, and efficiencies. Examine how these technology advances can help with your next set of applications.

By Dan Jones and Mark T. Hoske

Graduate student Zach Fredin operates the Zund large-format cutter in MIT’s Center for Bit and Atoms. The machine was used to make prototypes of the face shield. Courtesy: Center for Bits and Atoms, MIT

PPE April 2, 2020

University initiates mass manufacture of disposable face shields for COVID-19 response

An MIT team launched mass manufacturing of a new technique to meet the high demand for disposable face shields with a single-piece design that uses die cutting to create them quickly.

By Mary Beth Gallagher

Manufacturing index slides into contraction territory for March 2020. Courtesy: Opto 22

Business of Engineering April 1, 2020

Manufacturing index falls in March as COVID-19’s effects hit suppliers, consumers

The purchasing manufactuers' index had a slight decline in March, but the specter of COVID-19 continues to loom over the manufacturing industry as the pandemic spreads.

By Chris Vavra

Mechanical March 6, 2020

Transform pneumatics systems for energy conservation, efficiency and safety

Machine automation evolution proves the only limitation is the imagination

By Bob Bradley and Robby Haun

Courtesy: AIUT, Control Engineering Poland

Automation, Controls March 2, 2020

Automation of auxiliary processes is the key to the smart factory

The essence of a factory, based on the Industry 4.0 technology, will be to incorporate further areas and production structures into already automated ecosystem of key processes and a digital expansion should be radical.

By Jerzy Greblicki

A total of 24 movers with light, 3D-printed blister grabbers travel along an 11-meter-long XTS circuit between one HSPP system, the laser labeling system and the second HSPP. Courtesy: Beckhoff Automation

CNC Motion Control February 17, 2020

Machine module provides software-supported product changeovers

Koch Pac-Systeme designed a labeling and grouping unit in a toothbrush packaging line with a transport system at its core.

By Frank Würthner

For years, researchers from MIT and Brown University have been developing an interactive system that lets users drag-and-drop and manipulate data on any touchscreen, including smartphones and interactive whiteboards. Now, they’ve included a tool that instantly and automatically generates machine-learning models to run prediction tasks on that data. Courtesy: Melanie Gonick, MIT

Analytics February 13, 2020

Most-viewed university articles in 2019

The most-viewed articles from university sources included stories on drag-and-drop analytics, robotic actuators, nanocrystals, and prolonging power plant life with AI. Links to each article below.

By Chris Vavra

MAV3K is a 3000-lb capacity, industrial strength, omnidirectional, autonomous mobile robot. Courtesy: Robotic Industries Association/Waypoint Robotics

Robotics February 4, 2020

Mobile robots are getting smarter and going new places

Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) are working alongside humans and providing help in applications such as hospitals and warehouses thanks to advances in mobility and mapping technology.

By Laura Moretz

Motors, Drives January 15, 2020

When are VFDs essential?

Engineers should understand variable frequency drive technologies, and the key considerations for designing a VFD to control a motor

By Shreeram Srinivasan, CDM Smith, Chennai, India; and Bernard Pettiford, PE, CDM Smith, Atlanta