Machine Building

Servo users should not be seduced by power density alone

Servomotors are high-performance devices and represent all that is best in motor technology. Many engineers will feel a natural inclination to specify, top-of-the-range servos, every time, but clearly performance comes at a price. Gerard Bush of motion control specialist INMOCO offers some thoughts on how to select the optimum servomotor for a given application and how the technology will develop in future.

15th October 2014

LifeSense hydraulic hose condition monitoring system

Alexandra Benz, LifeSense product manager at Eaton's Hydraulics Business, considers the issues relating to unexpected failure of hydraulic hoses, and proposes a solution that can help machine builders design and manufacture highly customised machines that operate reliably, for longer and at high levels of energy efficiency and safety throughout their service life

15th October 2014

Making sense of real-time load measurement

The handling of dry bulk materials used to be a completely manual process, but it is now being increasingly automated in a drive to reduce both the costs and the risks of injury, while also increasing throughput and accuracy. We report on some of the new real-time load measurement technologies behind these developments.

7th October 2014

Top ten tips for operative safety when working alongside robots

Darren Whittall, technical manager at Fanuc UK, offers his top ten tips while explaining why operative safety should be a priority in all robotic applications, and suggests steps that can be taken to avoid robot-related accidents when humans are sharing the same workspace.

2nd October 2014

How food manufacturers can benefit from robotic automation

This article from Fanuc outlines how food manufacturers can benefit from robotic automation, typically for pick-and-place and packaging applications, with the company claiming that enquiries for this type of application are up 35 per cent compared with the previous year.

2nd October 2014

A guide to selecting the right linear guidance system

With numerous designs to choose from, specifying the right linear guidance system can be a daunting task. Mike Hughes, Applications Engineer at Schaeffler UK, provides an overview of the types of system available, as well as their main design features and typical areas of application.

1st October 2014

Linear motion - think beyond conventional linear ball guides

Linear bearings have been an established technology facilitating linear motion almost since the dawn of time - in a crude form, early man used rows of logs to transport heavy loads, removing the last log and transporting it to the front as the load moved along the ground. Although modern linear ball guide designs are somewhat more advanced, it does not mean they are without constraints.

1st October 2014

On-site conveyor maintenance: parked-off brake increases safety

A heavily laden conveyor can have an enormous amount of potential energy, so has to be treated with the utmost respect if accidents are to be avoided. Steve Powell, Product Manager for Twiflex Ltd., an Altra Industrial Motion company, looks at parked-off conveyor brakes, and how they can improve safety during maintenance.

29th September 2014

How to identify the most appropriate motor starting method

The mains supply is coming under growing strain as industry regains momentum, so the chances of motor starting corrupting it are increasing. Various techniques for reduced voltage during starting are available and Jerry Hodek of motor maker Marathon Electric, explores which is best for different applications.

23rd September 2014

Expanding on ESOS regulations for compressed air energy savings

The clock has begun ticking towards December 2015. That is the date by which all UK companies with 250 or more employees, or annual turnover in excess of £42m, must have completed a comprehensive audit of their energy use. The countdown has already been heeded by some firms but others remain unaware of the requirement, which has been introduced by the government under the Energy Savings Opportunities Scheme (ESOS) in response to the EU's efficiency directive.

20th September 2014