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This issue of MD's Motors newsletter starts with a look at devices
often used with motors: electromagnetic clutches and brakes and how they
operate. Then electric motor and hybrid drives prove their worth for
more than just cars, as they take to off-road equipment such as
excavators, bulldozers, and graders. Two articles look at the role small
motors play in medical equipment, while another takes to the sky in a
gyrostablized camera platform for unmanned vehicles. For many decades
the UL mark was a sign of integrity and suitability of use. But some
shady manufacturers have been placing counterfeit marks on untested and
sometimes shoddily constructed equipment. We'll show you how to tell if
the UL mark you see is the real McCoy. Our festured content looks at
several areas of special interest, including a preconference glance at
NIWeek 2009 and the robotic summit being held there. The newsletter
rounds out with the usual assortment of new products.
You can sound off about these and other matters on our LinkedIn,
Facebook,
and Twitter pages.
-- Bob Repas, Associate Editor
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People use electromagnetic (EM) clutches and brakes every day and
often don’t realize it. Anyone who switches on a lawn tractor, copy
machine, or car air conditioner may be using an EM clutch — and EM
brakes are just as common.
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A growing demand for machines that cost less to operate, together
with regulatory pressures for lower emissions, are leading
construction-equipment manufacturers to electric and hybrid drives over
traditional hydraulic and mechanical ones.
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DC Gearmotors for
Battery-powered/Mobile Robotics
 Midwest Motion
Products
provides solutions for 12, 24, 36, and 48 VDC equipment such as
mobile robotics, AGVs, UGVs, fuel cells, and mobility/accessibility
applications. See sample
at www.midwestmotion.com. Gearmotor sizes range from
10- to 220-mm diameter, with output torque up to 4000 in.-lbs. Options
include integral brakes, tachometers
and encoders. The company also provides a variety of fully compatible
servoamplifiers, and DC motor speed controls, many of which are
IP-65-rated for use in
harsh environments. DC linear actuators are also available from
stock. See www.midwestmotion.com for further details.
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It used to be that brushless-dc (BLDC) motors just weren’t an
option for most medical applications. But that situation is changing as
the cost of BLDC drive electronics falls. Furthermore, a quest for
more-efficient, compact, and reliable medical equipment has put BLDC
motors on the prescription list for a variety of applications.
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A multileaf collimator (MLC) for radiosurgery from Varian Medical
Systems, Palo Alto, Calif., contains up to 120 tungsten slats controlled
by miniature motors. The slats block the path of X-rays, letting
clinicians precisely “paint” radiation doses on tumors close to
sensitive tissues such as optic nerves and spinal columns.
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The clarity of an image depends not only on camera focus, but on
camera stability as well. Cameras mounted in aircraft or helicopters
typically use gyrostabilized platforms to stay steady. However, those
platforms are heavy and need plenty of power to operate. They do not
adapt well to UAVs that weigh only 15 kg (33 lb) and operate
continuously for 24 hr. Hood Technology Corp., Hood River, Oreg.,
tackled the task of creating just such a platform, creating the first
700-gm (1.5-lb) gyro-feedback-stabilized sensor turret for cameras in
the ultralight class of UAVs. The forces needed to maintain turret
stability come from a collection of lightweight, compact motors from
MicroMo Electronics, Clearwater, Fla.
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The century old symbol of the Underwriters Laboratories, the UL
Mark, is a well-known sign to consumers that a product has been honestly
tested and approved as safe for its intended use. Some unscrupulous
manufacturers and marketers, however, put bogus UL symbols on products
that have been nowhere near the Underwriters lab. To stem the tide of
counterfeit UL marks, CableOrganizer.com, a firm that sells electrical
cable and wiring, published guidelines to help users tell the difference
between genuine and false marks.
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Linear synchronous motors in the QuickStick system from MagneMotion
Inc., Devens, Mass. (www.magnemotion.com), use moving magnetic fields to
power pallets carrying goods or moving components through production on
a track. The pallets can carry loads as heavy as several tons up to 4
m/sec with up to 1 g of acceleration. The pallets themselves have no
powered components, so there is no need for complicated electrical and
control connections or cabling. All motor components, controls, and
position sensors are built into the stationary motor segments in the
track.
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The near global meltdown of the economy and tightening of the credit
markets has taken a bite out of the motor market, according to a study
published by Global Industry Analysts Inc., San Jose, Calif. Other
factors that have put a crimp in motor sales are the reduction in
housing starts and construction and a weakening demand in residential
HVAC. But there are some bright spots.
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Jeff Randall from Maxon Precision Motors demonstrates Maxon's moving
coil technology motor, and talks about its application with Machine
Design's Lee Teschler. Length: 7:12
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A robotics expert with 25-years experience building robots that
walk, hop, swim, roll, and entertain for commercial, industrial, and
governmental organizations will deliver the closing keynote address at
this year’s NIWeek conference in Austin, Tex. Dr. David Barrett,
director of the Senior Consulting Program for Engineering (SCOPE) and
associate professor of mechanical engineering at Olin College, is
recognized as one of the most influential voices in the field of mobile
robotics. During his keynote presentation, he will share insights on how
robots in industry and engineering education are poised to revolutionize
the way people interact with technology in their daily lives.
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Six models comprise the VWDIR134 line of parallel-shaft dc
gearmotors designed for high-torque applications. The 90-Vdc brushed
gearmotors provide up to 500 lb-in. constant torque and are available
with 1/10 or 1/11 hp. The compact, integral gear reducers have
hardened-steel helical and spur gearing with ratios ranging from 10:1 to
266:1 and corresponding fixed output speeds from 152 to 6 rpm.
Bison Gear & Engineering Corp.
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The EC5 and EC13 are sterilizable drives for use with or without
planetary gearheads in medical applications up to 90,000 rpm. They
feature extremely low-noise and low-vibration operation, and marginal
thermal emission.
maxon precision motors Inc.
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The VLT micro variable-frequency drives now come in an M4 frame size
covering the three-phase 380 to 480 Vac, 15 to 20-hp range. The drives
feature conformal-coated PCBs, provide serial communication via RS-485
Modbus RTU and FC protocols, a detachable Local Control Panel (LCP) with
or without a potentiometer, a LCP copy function, and a panel-front
mounting kit for the LCP.
Danfoss Drives
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MV-A variable-displacement hydraulic motors are adjustable
displacement ball-piston motors designed for applications requiring
durability, smooth low-running speed, and minimum leakage. The
high-efficiency motors permit precision control of torque and speed.
IPlanet Products Corp.
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Check Out the New EET Website
Are you looking for more information on energy efficiency? EETweb.com
features the latest efficiency updates, information on the basics of
energy efficiency and products available for energy efficient designs.
Click here to
visit the site and learn more!
Now Available On-Demand
The Energy Efficiency Web Conference & Expo
Engineers saw and heard great educational content at the Energy
Efficiency Web Conference and Expo. If you missed the live virtual
event, don’t despair! An archive of the full day’s agenda is now
available.
Design engineers are required to integrate energy efficiency into their
designs while maintaining lower costs, the highest reliability or both.
The editors of Machine Design understand these challenges
and have developed this conference to help engineers understand the
recently imposed energy mandates. The information presented at this
educational event will help engineers compare the different technologies
and product related to energy efficiency. Attendees will gain access to
the technical information needed to help them make the best decisions
without having to travel or take time away from current projects.
Visit the archive to:
- View informative webinars on energy efficiency
- Visit interactive booths where you can contact suppliers
- Peruse the Resource Center where you can download or link to
additional pertinent energy efficiency information
Register Now!
ARCHIVED WEBCASTS AVAILABLE FOR FREE VIEWING
Click
Here for a list of archived Machine Design webcasts.
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SANTEST CO. LTD.
Santest manufactures extraordinarily high quality displacement and
liquid level transducers and
is the only manufacturer of adaptive servo controllers that utilize
simple adaptive control theory.
www.exsenco.com
Motor Sizing & Selection
Use project specs to nail down the brushless, DC servo, and/or stepper
motor along with drive products....from Danaher Motion.
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Contact Information
Editorial questions: Robert Repas
216-931-9319
Advertising/sponsorship opportunities: Virginia Goulding
216-931-9893
Machine Design
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