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New Touchless Rotary Position Sensors Read the Novotechnik White Paper: How New Angular Position Sensor Technology Opens Up a Broad Range of New Applications. This white paper describes touchless (magnetic) angle sensor technology and how it can solve design problems other technologies can't. In addition, it can simplify existing on-line control applications by providing design engineers with an opportunity to reduce implementation and maintenance costs. This technology can solve problems from measuring through materials to existing shaft alignment issues.
Click here to read the White Paper. No registration required. See available line of Novotechnik position sensors, specs, and more.
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In this issue of Designfax |
News |
Cover Image: Nelson Publishing
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New 3D-printing technique embeds sensing capabilities inside robotic actuators Universal Robots delivers amazing 72% revenue increase in 2017 |
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Coupling Connection for Motion Control These versatile, flexible nickel and stainless steel shaft couplings from Servometer are capable of accommodating misalignments for parallel, angular and axial motion or any combination of all three types and are often used to support applications in resolvers, encoders, stepper and servo motors, small pumps, fans and blowers. For reliable 24/7 operations choose between standard parts for replacement, clamp style or set screw hubs. Go online today to choose a standard part. Hundreds of sizes to choose from. Standard parts can also be customized to fit your application. Solve your coupling connection challenge today.
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| Featured Articles |
| Top Raspberry Pi accessories for makers | |
Newark element14 recently named its bestselling Raspberry Pi accessories from the last year for the extremely popular credit card-sized computer. Top Raspberry Pi accessories include cameras, displays, and controllers.
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It's a hit: Army developing mounted automatic targeting system with gaming-like interface The U.S. Army's Active Stabilization or AIMLOCK sensor system can easily identify potential targets through computer vision, track movements, and markedly increase accuracy -- largely taking the Soldier out of the loop.
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Better than a hologram? New system produces 3D images that float in 'thin air' In the original "Star Wars" film, R2D2 projects an image of Princess Leia in distress. BYU electrical and computer engineering professor and holography expert Daniel Smalley has long had a goal to create the same type of 3D image projection. In a paper published at the end of January in Nature, Smalley details the method he has developed to do so. "This display is like a 3D printer for light," he said.
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Wheels: First crankshaft integrated starter-generator system for 48-V hybrid vehicles The demand for 48-V hybrid vehicles, which offer excellent fuel efficiency at relatively affordable costs, is expected to increase, especially in Europe. Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has begun mass-producing the auto industry's first crankshaft-mounted integrated starter-generator (ISG) system for 48-V hybrid vehicles, which will be mounted in future Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
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0.38 sec: Fastest Rubik's Cube-solving robot uses 6 Kollmorgen ServoDisc motors A pair of enterprising engineering students has posted a video online that shows a machine they built solving a Rubik's Cube puzzle in 0.38 sec -- the fastest in the world by far if they can get it made official (current world record is 0.637 sec). The machine was created by MIT Biometrics Lab Master's student Ben Katz and software developer Jared Di Carlo, and each has posted an in-depth blog about their creation and methods. "We noticed that all of the fast Rubik's Cube solvers were using stepper motors and thought that we could do better if we used better motors. So we did," said Di Carlo, adding that each motor "can accelerate insanely fast. In a 10-ms quarter-turn move, the motor reaches over 1,000 rpm." Katz said the device uses six Kollmorgen ServoDisc U9-series motors. "Two were taken from my old robot arm project, the rest were found pretty cheaply on eBay," he said. Two PlayStation cameras are also part of the mix. Read Katz's blog, which contains videos and a link to his partner's page.
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Engineer's Toolbox: Self-clinching fasteners by design Dozens of types and thousands of variations of self-clinching fasteners (steel, stainless steel, or aluminum) have been engineered over the years. Leon M. Attarian of PennEngineering provides three mini case studies where manufacturers benefited greatly by switching to self-clinching fasteners in their assemblies. This article is filled with insightful tips and suggestions.
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New zero-backlash, spring-engaged brake family The pneumatically released ZSE family of spring-engaged brakes from Nexen Group offers high torque, high speed, and zero backlash ideal for holding applications. Unlike brakes using leaf springs to transmit torque, the ZSE is zero-backlash -- up to 100% of its rated holding torque. Highlights include speeds up to 5,000 RPM and holding torque up to 300 Nm. Nexen has released four different sizes (450, 600, 800, 1,000) for a wide variety of applications. The bore sizes are available in three standard sizes and can be easily customized. The ZSES brakes are available with internal sensors to provide feedback and data to maximize machine safety and efficiency, making them ideal for Industry 4.0 compatibility.
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Alternatives to screws for compact electronics Aluminum and stainless steel microPEM TackSert pins from PennEngineering provide cost-effective alternatives to micro screws for attaching top panels to base panels or chassis in compact electronic assemblies. They will attach top panels of any material to a base or chassis manufactured from common cast metals (such as magnesium and aluminum) or plastics (such as ABS and printed circuit boards). The pins ultimately eliminate many of the costs and issues associated with screws and integrate unique design features, promoting reliable and effective performance.
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Give your design a boost: Boost mechanisms A mechanism designed to generate a large force from a small force is called a boost mechanism. Carlicia Layosa, Marketing Product Engineer at MISUMI USA, gives an overview on the mechanical components that can make up a boost mechanism -- including links, levers, screws, wedges, gears, and pulleys -- and their basic design principles, comparative force vectors, and application examples. Click here to read the blog post.
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Cost-optimized BLDC motors for series production With the DBL36, Nanotec now offers a brushless DC motor that is designed for large quantities. This motor is available in three lengths with a rated power of 7.5 W (size S), 18 W (size M), and 33 W (size L). These electronically commuted 3-phase motors are equipped with three Hall sensors that provide information on the rotor position. They are characterized by very high efficiency and, thanks to their precision ball bearings, smooth running characteristics. The rated speed is 4,800 rpm for sizes S and M and 4,500 rpm for size L; its rated voltage is 24 V. With a rated torque of 1.5 to 7 Ncm and a diameter of 36 mm, the DBL36 is an extremely economical solution for a wide range of applications. The winding can be adapted to other rated speeds and voltages in series production.
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Tips for selecting linear actuators Aaron Dietrich from Tolomatic runs through the main specifying considerations for electric actuators, citing their high performance, adaptability, low total cost of ownership, and easy integration. But what about accuracy and repeatability? Should you go with a rod-style actuator or a screw type? What kind of force should you expect if you are considering converting from hydraulic to electric actuation? Tolomatic also offers an extensive ebook to help with your decision-making if you need it.
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| Most Popular |
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Army hydrogen fuel-cell Chevy pickup takes on training in Hawaii Soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division put the Army's ZH2 fuel-cell electric vehicle through the rigors of operating in jungle terrain during a training exercise at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii in late January. The aim was to evaluate the Chevrolet Colorado ZH2's operational effectiveness during multiple reconnaissance missions, putting General Motors' fuel-cell and off-road vehicle technology investments and commercial off-the-shelf products to the test.
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100+ welds eliminated: NASA tests 3D-printed part for heavy-lift rocket Engineers successfully hot-fire tested an RS-25 rocket engine with a large 3D-printed part for the first time on Dec. 13, marking a key step toward reducing costs for future engines that power NASA's new heavy-lift rocket, the Space Launch System.
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Engineering mystery: What's that white crack in my bearing? Metal bearing failure due to rolling contact fatigue is generally a rare occurrence, but it does happen. A characteristic feature of many premature failures is the extensive subsurface crack networks that have a "white etching appearance," referred to commonly as white etching cracks. Bearing specialists at SKF take a deep look into this phenomenon in an attempt to determine if the white cracking causes failures or is a symptom of a bigger problem.
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| Videos+: Technologies and inspiration in action |
| Introducing the smallest wave springs on the market | |
Smalley is involved in the development of medical technology and applications unique to the medical industry, and we are now ISO 13845 certified. We deliver high-quality alloys that are used for implants and medical instruments. Alloys including 316 Stainless Steel, Elgiloy, Inconel, and Titanium are readily available for fast production. With customs that can be designed with No-Tooling-Charges™ in sizes from .157" and 4 mm.
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