Machine Building

How to check if cooling output inside enclosures is sufficient

Manufacturing automation systems are delicate and very expensive pieces of kit, which perform vital functions for the businesses they serve. The enclosures that protect them must have strictly controlled internal environments with interior temperatures that are carefully maintained within a few degrees. If not, the impact can be harmful to the inverter drives, power supplies, contactors, PLCs and other electrical and electronic components operating within them. This requires careful control of the climate within the enclosure. Here, Jason Swann, Rittal Product Manager for Climate offers some practical tips on how to evaluate an existing enclosure climate control through a series of simple checks.

5th April 2017

TIJ coding systems drive down costs

Cost savings are welcome at any time, but the exceptional pressure being put on British manufacturers by today's rapidly rising raw material prices is forcing many to re-examine their operations for fresh ways to save money and protect their margins. With that in mind, we can expect a surge in popularity for coding systems based on convenient, cost-effective thermal inkjet (TIJ) technology, argues Steve Ryan, UK sales manager for Rotech Machines.

3rd April 2017

How to maximise the efficiency of drive system components

Urs Kafader of maxon motor presents guidelines for maximising the efficiency of different elements in a drive system.

1st April 2017

Hydraulics drive sport stadia to new levels of automation

Sports stadia are becoming more and more sophisticated. First there were closable roofs, then movable seating; now even the pitches can be reconfigured to suit different sports or other activities. Requiring massive loads to be moved with speed, precision and safety, stadium architects turn to hydraulic specialists such as Oilgear. Oilgear UK's Engineering Manager, Jonathan Walker, talks through the process of specifying and installing such a mammoth project.

31st March 2017

Tips for specifying stainless steel hinges

This article from Southco will help machine builders and specifiers choose the right stainless steel hinge for given applications by presenting five questions that should be considered.

28th March 2017

Intelligent interlocking protects people and productivity

Fortress Interlocks is focused on machine safety and, while the product range still includes locks and keys, it now extends to complex electrical and electronic systems. The advent of Industry 4.0 presents another challenge, as we race towards 50 billion devices connected to the internet by 2020. We expect many of our products will be in that number. It is a huge step from our original interlocks, which have been protecting the workforce since the 1950s.

27th March 2017

Connector trends in Industry 4.0

Smaller, faster, safer, and more powerful. No, these words aren't describing the newest sports car but the future trends in connectors and connectivity.

24th March 2017

Robot economics - justifying the investment

Manufacturing is just starting its evolution into the digital world, and robotics is one of the key enabling technologies. But is it the right time to take the plunge? Robotics manufacturers such as FANUC can help manufacturers work through them all important return on investment calculations, Andrew Armstrong, FANUC's UK Sales and Marketing Manager explains.

24th March 2017

What screw head type should I use?

Kevin Moorcroft, MD at industrial threaded fastener specialists Challenge (Europe) Ltd recently discussed the question "˜What screw head type should I use?'

24th March 2017

Cabinet and enclosure hardware developments at EMKA

Much has happened since the Millennium where the feedback over those years from developing products to keep pace with industrial needs has driven the development of ubiquitous items like quarter-turn locks and latches which form a core range with companies such as EMKA (UK).

23rd March 2017