Machine Building

What is the impact of robotics in food production?

According to research by the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, almost a third of food processing operations already use robotics in their facilities. What's more, half of those surveyed said they will increase their level of automation in the next three to five years. However, not every food manufacturer is an automation convert. Nigel Smith, managing director of six-axis robot distributor, TM Robotics investigates why.

8th January 2019

What is a moving coil actuator?

In this, the first of several technical notes on moving coil actuators, Ed Neff, President of SMAC Moving Coil Actuators (MCA), provides a brief history of linear actuators and explains where moving coil actuators fit in.

8th January 2019

How ready-to-install brakes help to ensure safety

Safety brakes have to protect people and systems and in emergencies also save lives. Therefore, mayr power transmission diligently excludes all risks right from the design stage. The safety brakes from Mauerstetten are supplied ready to install. For users, this means the greatest possible safety and simple installation without additional effort.

7th January 2019

UKCA Marking of Machinery and the implications - updated

Derek Coulson, a Technical Advisor with Safe Machine Ltd, outlines his views of the proposed UKCA Marking of Machinery, which could replace CE Marking to the Machinery Directive when the UK leaves the EU following the current transition period ending on 31 December 2020.

7th January 2019

IO-Link as the key to implementing Industry 4.0

IO-Link was originally developed in order to provide easy standardized wiring of intelligent, complex sensors and actuators using a simple three-core sensor cable. As the issues surrounding Industry 4.0 grew more specific, it quickly became clear that IO-Link is the key in implementing powerful Industry 4.0 concepts, since a wide variety of field information is required from production plants.

20th December 2018

Are you prepared for OT security?

In today's connected world, with the Industrial Internet of Things and increased adoption of industry 4.0, businesses must deal with more and more connected devices. Security is key to success here and should not be ignored, says Tim Ricketts, Director of M.A.C. Solutions.

12th December 2018

Root cause analysis aids development of new bearing materials

The symptoms of bearing damage known as White Structure Flaking, which occur in wind turbines as well as other drive systems, typically become noticeable very early, well before the end of the bearing's expected service life. The causes have long remained unknown, but now, new findings are being made available by NSK, the results of which have led to the development of a new bearing material that offers significant benefits for wind turbine longevity.

11th December 2018

What is the difference between full ceramic and hybrid bearings?

Approximately 27,000 ceramic tiles cover the exterior of the NASA Space Shuttle - a reusable spacecraft that carried astronauts in a low orbit around Earth. Acting as a thermal barrier to the 1650degC generated by atmospheric re-entry, the tiles illustrate the impressive resistance of ceramic materials. The impressive properties of ceramics are also being used in bearings. Here, Chris Johnson, managing director of precision bearing specialist SMB Bearings, explains the specifications, capabilities and differences of full ceramic and hybrid bearings.

11th December 2018

Human-robot collaboration and the use of AI: trends in packaging

Malte Schlüter, Global Key Account Director F&B/CPG at Mitsubishi Electric, presents four trends that are currently influencing the packaging industry and will go on to shape the future.

6th December 2018

Choosing the right filter for a measurement application

When selecting sensors for displacement, position, distance and profile measurement tasks, engineers should consider the various types of sensor filtering before making a purchasing decision, says Chris Jones of Micro-Epsilon.

5th December 2018