Machine Building

Prevention of white etching cracks in rolling bearings

The formation of white etching cracks (WEC) in rolling bearings can lead to their premature failure. However, a number of innovative approaches have been developed that significantly reduce the risk of WEC, says Dr Steve Lacey, engineering manager at Schaeffler UK.

25th August 2015

Machine guarding requirements for robot cells

This article from Axelent discusses the important issue of guarding for robot cells when the guard is to be positioned within the motion range of the robot.

21st August 2015

Specifying standard, modified or customised worm gear sets

Darren Reynolds, the Gears Product Manager at R.A. Rodriguez (U.K.) Limited, outlines the most important factors to consider when specifying either standard or custom worm gears sets for any type of machinery.

17th August 2015

Powering cathodic protection

Often dubbed the inconspicuous killer, rust costs the global economy $2.2 trillion dollars every year. It accounts for anywhere between 3.5 to 4.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and is responsible for the structural failure of steel frames around the world. From bridges and cars, transcontinental and marine pipelines, to industrial machinery, tools and parts, rust contributes significantly to plant downtime the world over.

12th August 2015

Wireless standard harmonisation creates a new problem

As more and more wireless devices come to the market, concerns have emerged within the standards body responsible for managing the radio spectrum allocation and wireless device conformance that more guidance is needed to help ensure spectrum sharing. Tony Ingham of Sensor Technology Ltd reviews the situation.

12th August 2015

Changes in the network security landscape

Until a few years ago network security focused on enterprise systems and relied on firewalls to prevent viruses from arriving electronically. Now there is increasing realisation that the production control systems need to be protected too, and that viruses can be uploaded by many means. Industries as diverse as manufacturing, processing, refining, power generation, and food and drink processing are all considering ways to improve the security of their plant and control systems. John Browett of CLPA (CC-Link Partners Association) considers the current position and looks at how to mitigate potential threats.

12th August 2015

Predictive maintenance of rail traction motors: depot-based CM

A series of studies have shown that depot-based condition monitoring of railway traction motors using underfloor wheel lathes can be implemented at a fraction of the cost of Remote Condition Monitoring, says Dr Steve Lacey, Engineering Manager at Schaeffler UK.

5th August 2015

Bearings contamination identified through NSK's AIP analysis

Combating contamination in bearings is one of the single most effective ways to extend bearing life and consequentially to reduce the maintenance requirement of the machinery they are fitted to. When band saw manufacturer Prosaw found that bearings were regularly failing on automated saws that had been supplied to a prominent manufacturer of building insulation, both Prosaw and the end user needed a solution quickly.

28th July 2015

PI technologies enable innovation for Industry 4.0

In the Industry 4.0, Internet of Things and Big Data environment, industrial communication is of central importance. The close networking of automation components, machines, systems, and IT systems needed for this, including across locations or even between different companies, is only possible with standardised and integrated communication. In recent years, Profibus & Profinet International (PI) has brought about numerous developments that meet these requirements.

28th July 2015

High-precision bearings for printing machinery

In order to ensure high print quality, bearings for printing machines must be carefully matched to each customer application. In this article, Dr Steve Lacey, Engineering Manager at Schaeffler UK, outlines the factors to consider when specifying bearings for sheet-fed and web-fed printing machines.

28th July 2015