Six Key Machine Control Challenges Solved
Rahul Kulkarni, Product Marketing Engineer, National Instruments
When designing your next-generation machine, cutting-edge technologies in control systems, software architectures, and electromechanical components differentiate your automation system from the competition. This article explores the top software and hardware challenges machine builders face today and offers a performance-driven approach to solving these challenges.

Get the Most out of your Machine-Safety Audit
Control Engineering, February 2008
Steve Dukich and Mike Duta, Rockwell Automation
Follow these five steps to make safety audits part of a successful safety program. This is the first part of a two-part series on machine-safety audits.

Relays: Far from Dead
Control Engineering, February 2008
David C. Thomas, Tyco Electronics
The traditional socket mounted, electromechanical relay, often based on designs that are several decades old, is still a highly effective solution to load-switching problems in industrial and commercial applications.

On-Machine Controls
Control Engineering, February 2008
By C.G. Masi
Automation vendors have begun to reverse the trend away from on-machine controls by introducing ruggedized industrial electronics packages that make it possible to move controls back onto machines.

The Human Touch
Control Engineering Asia, January 2008
By Charlie Masi
Whether it’s designers cleverly developing products for robotic assembly or skilled workers performing intricate operations alongside sophisticated technology, the human factor is key to successful factory.

Adaptive Controls Save Tools and Time
American Machinist, January 2008
Larry Haftl, Associate Editor
Adaptive control systems have been in use since the early 1960s. Faster microprocessors and low-cost computer memory have dramatically increased the benefits that come from using these systems. But how do adaptive control systems stack up against toolpath-optimization software?

Browse these and more articles and white papers on the Machine Control portal.

Hitachi launches industrial components website
Web portal covers Hitachi’s industrial components and equipment products and services.

Rockwell Automation White Paper identifies competitive advantages of standards
Paper shows why standards and regulations are important to global business, and why industry should care.

Misumi publishes mechanical components catalogs
The Metric and Inch catalogs have 3,000 pages with 500,000 mechanical components and other products for enhanced factory automation.

Rexroth publishes guidebook to Optimize Assembly Operations
“How to Optimize Your Assembly Operations” offers detailed comparison of assembly conveyor systems as well as supporting illustrations and charts.

Browse these and more resources and literature on the Machine Control portal.

NI software and hardware controls particle accelerator
Using LabVIEW software with R Series reconfigurable PXI I/O hardware, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) developed a motion control system capable of intercepting misguided or unstable particle beams.

FlavourCraft standardises on Beckhoff Automation
SA Instrumentation & Control, February 2008
By Andrew Ashton
The Beckhoff choice allowed FlavourCraft the flexibility to build both small and large systems with the same components and programming languages. They use Beckhoff I/O, Profibus, OPC, PACs and PLCs.

Connecting SmartMotors to Ethernet networks
Industrial Embedded Systems, January 2008
By Rahul Shah, Lantronix
Connecting an embedded device server to an Animatics SmartMotor provided all the networking hardware and software required to connect the motor to an Ethernet network or the Internet.

Baldor PowerLink system controls tube-bending production cell
The Ethernet-compatible Powerlink system controls four axes of motion, plus the I/O needed for the continuous operation of the process.

WEG Supplies Automation For World’s Second Largest Crane
Process & Control Today, January 2008
WEG supplied transformers, MV motors, and MV frequency inverters to automate the second largest overhead crane in the world, at the Usiminas steel plant in Brazil. The crane provides a 260-ton lifting capacity while transporting molten steel at speeds of up to 8 metres per minute.

Browse these and more application stories on the Machine Control portal.

Configurable Component Technical Seminar
March 19-20, 2008 Charlotte, NC
MISUMI will conduct its Configurable Component Technical Seminar at the South Pack show to demonstrate the advantages of configurable components.

Understanding Motion Control Systems - AIT Training Course MCS110
3-Day Course - This practical course introduces engineering concepts of motors and drives that can be easily understood by both engineers and technicians unfamiliar with the technology and not accustomed to complex theory and mathematics.

LUDECA opens Vibration Analysis Training Center
Facility provides training for machinery alignment, condition monitoring and balancing, with dedicated laser alignment, vibration analysis and balancing systems.

Industrial Control Repair opens Robotics Learning Institute
Learning Institute offers a robotics training program where students get the opportunity to work hands-on in a real world environment performing tasks associated with actual work scenarios.

Browse these and more training and seminar opportunities on Machine Control portal.

• SKF introduces PICO miniature linear stages for pick-and-place
• Premo EMC introduces FS Sinus filters for frequency inverters
• Mitsubishi releases iQ Automation Platform
• Mitsubishi introduces e-F@ctory Solution
• FDT specification now includes Profinet and Modbus
• IBM, Mitsubishi and ILS Technology deliver SOA Solution
• Technosoft announces MxK28335 DSC Motor Control Kits
• ACS Motion Control anounces SPiiPlus Motion Controller
• Interroll introduces EC100 Brushless RollerDrive

Browse these and more Product Announcements on the Machine Control portal.

Search all Products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date.

National Instruments Reports Record Revenue and Net Income
National Instruments reported record quarterly revenue of $205 million, up 13 percent and the company's best revenue growth quarter for 2007.

ABB CEO Fred Kindle leaves company
ABB Chief Executive Officer Fred Kindle is leaving the company due to irreconcilable differences about how to lead the company. Chief Financial Officer Michel Demaré is interim CEO.

Bison Gear promotes Jim Parejko to Vice President
Parejko was promoted to Vice President, Continuous Improvement and Engineering. Parejko joined Bison in 2006 as Engineering Manager.

EWS Tool Technologies acquires Command Tooling Systems
Command Tooling Systems is a U.S. manufacturer of CNC toolholders.

MCA says sales of motion control up 10% in Third Quarter
Sales of motors, electronic drives, actuators and other motion control components continued to grow in 2007, up by nearly 10% from second quarter 2007.

Browse these and more company and organizational news on the Machine Control portal.

ABB to control mine hoist at Jinchuan Nickel in China  
ABB will supply System 800xA control system, motors, drive system, switchgear, and measuring and unloading equipment for the new mine hoist.

Sensors check seat belts for safety
When building a replacement rig for a seatbelt manufacturer, Mindready Solutions Solutions used a transducer from Sensor Technology and found previously undetected large torque oscillations.

SMAC LXY actuators automate testing of air bags
Moving Coil Actuators (MCA) are now used for measuring & testing safety critical air bag components.

Weigh feeder uses A-B switches, terminal blocks and drives
Schenck AccuRate gravimetric feeders use Bulletin 800 F-series switches, terminal blocks and Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 4 variable frequency drives.

Acorn Industrial Services assists with animatronic human
The 26ft high animated replica of a famous American footballer is the creation of an award winning team at the London-based SFX company Artem.

International Symposium on Robotics
March 10-13, 2008 Barcelona, Spain
40th International Symposium on Robotics will bring 300 researchers, scientists, and engineers from all over the world to discuss the latest advances in robotics applied to industry.

5th Annual RoboBusiness Conference & Exposition
April 8-10, 2008 Pittsburgh, PA
Event enables decision-makers from business, government and academia to grasp potential opportunities arising from emerging robotics technologies.

Embedded Systems Conference
April 14-18, 2008 San Jose, CA
Attracts the industry’s engineers and engineering managers, media and technology analysts, executives, financial analysts, venture capitalists, and many of the largest hardware and software companies.

BC Industrial Expo
April 30-May 1, 2008 Abbotsford, BC
The BC Industrial Expo in Abbotsford, BC is the place to be for maintenance and engineering, design engineering, equipment and machinery maintenance and original equipment manufacturers. More than 200 exhibitors/suppliers will be represented at the show.

PTDA Canadian Conference
May 29-31, 2008 Whistler, BC
Devoted to Canadian industry networking and trends, the conference is a must-attend event for distributors and manufacturers in the power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) industry.

Automatica 2008
June 10-13, 2008 Munich, Germany
Displays the latest in robots, assembly and handling technology, machine vision and associated technologies in five trade fair halls.

Add an event to our calendar.

Rick Zabel
Vice President, Publisher
Automation.com

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