Featured Articles:
-Mechanical Options Match Needs
-Guidelines for Motion System Design
-Tried and true: soft starters; and more

Resources & Literature:
-ACS Motion Control offers free development software
-Misumi publishes mechanical components catalogs
-Rexroth publishes guidebook to Optimize Assembly Operations; and more

Application Stories:
-DL205 Performs in Theatrics
-Baldor PowerLink system controls tube-bending production cell
-Connecting SmartMotors to Ethernet networks; and more

Featured Training:
-Understanding Motion Control Systems - AIT Training Course MCS110
-FastPic Systems offers on site software training
-LUDECA opens Vibration Analysis Training Center; and more

Product Announcements:
-Beckhoff Automation announces CX1010 Mid-range Embedded PC
-ABB introduces compact ACS55 variable frequency component drive
-ABB announces E-Clipse Bypass back-up motor control
-Technosoft announces MxK28335 DSC Motor Control Kits; and more

Company News:
-Bison Gear names Martin Swarbrick CEO
-ISA100 Wireless Committee forms discrete automation group
-Bison Gear promotes Jim Parejko to Vice President; and more

Application News:
-Automation Shines at Grote Industries: Robot Case Study
-Weigh feeder uses A-B switches, terminal blocks and drives
-Siemens supplies two Gearless Mill Drives for mine in Venezuela; and more

Featured Events:
-2008 Motor, Drive & Automation Systems Conference
-International Symposium on Robotics
-5th Annual RoboBusiness Conference & Exposition; and more

Guidelines for Motion System Design
Machine Design, January 2008
By Jacob Paso and Brad Smith, Delta Computer Systems
If motion-system designers, engineers, and technicians kept these guidelines in mind, projects would run smoother and on schedule, and equipment would work right the first time. Here are seven steps to a successful project.

Tried and true: soft starters
Motion System Design, January 2008
By: Elisabeth Eitel
Soft starters serve as an electrical throttle, usually installed between line power and motors, to smooth startups and prevent sudden and costly inrush current. What versions are best where?

Mechanical Options Match Needs
Control Design, January 2008
By Joe Feeley, editor in chief
Lead screws and ball screws still have an important role to play in linear motion applications.

Common Mistakes Made When Automating
American Machinist, December 2007
Brief article describes five common mistakes: Choosing the wrong automation, unforeseen failures, unrealistic expectations, not integrating optimally, and training.

Component-life theory comes down to earth
Machine Design, December 2007
By Chris Blaszczyk, Misumi USA
A fundamental question engineers face when designing a motion system is determining how long it will last. Consider real-world factors when predicting the life of linear-motion systems.

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

ACS Motion Control offers free development software
ADK software enables the implementation of complex motion-time-event sequences with accurate positioning and timing, and simpler applications such as point-to-point control.

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.

ServoSoft adds more drives and motors to sizing program
Other enhancements include Pxt and Ixt overload models, bleeder duty cycle vs power charts, and an interface for Windows XP and Vista.

Misumi publishes 2008 catalog
The 2008 Misumi metric and inch catalogs feature 6,000 products and 3,000 products with size or material additions.

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

DL205 Performs in Theatrics
By T.J. Johns
The University of Arizona School of Theater Arts uses motors, computers and Automation Direct’s DL205 I/O to change scenes rapidly. The set has six hydraulic lifts, a rising "throne wall," seven telescoping metal trees and two steel doors hanging from the ceiling, all of which move independently to various positions.

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

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.

Robots Insert LEDs into Automotive Raised Stoplights
Robotics On Line, January 2008
By Wolfgang Jeutter, Manz Automation
Hella Hueck KG, a German supplier of car electronics and automotive lighting, uses Manz OCP-1 (4-axis robot and 3-axis clinch tool) cell and magazine loading and unloading devices. The PCBs are automatically moved into the machine cell, where pre-inserted resistors are measured.

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 Motion Control portal.

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.

FastPic Systems offers on site software training -
FastPic Offers on-site user training during the installation of any FastPic software products for warehouse storage and retrieval applications.

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.

Power-off brake backlash
Motion System Design, September 2007
Tutorial article describes Power-off brakes, sometimes called safety, spring-set, or failsafe brakes. These are widely used on the backs of motors to hold machines, pulleys, Z axes, and robotic arms in position in case of a power failure.

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

• Technosoft announces MxK28335 DSC Motor Control Kits
• ACS Motion Control anounces SPiiPlus Motion Controller
• Interroll introduces EC100 Brushless RollerDrive
• Misumi announces LX Series single-axis actuators
• Parker adds motor options to HPLA/HLE Linear Actuators
• Aries Engineering introduces signature analysis system for press and assembly
• PI introduces Piezoceramic Linear Actuators
• Parvalux introduces two worm-wheel gearboxes
• CP announces Posco Sequencing and Positioning Control System

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

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

Bison Gear names Martin Swarbrick CEO
Swarbrick first joined the company in December 2006 after serving as Vice President and Director of Business Excellence for Motorola Inc.

ISA100 Wireless Committee forms discrete automation group ISA100 Wireless Automation standards committee formed an interest group for wireless networks in factory and discrete automation.

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.

MIT and ABB announce energy research partnership
ABB will join MIT in research for nanofluids, power electronics, intelligent robotics and equipment heat management. The five-year, $5-million partnership will help develop green technologies and train graduates.

ARC says low power AC Drive Market in India will grow 15%
The market for low power AC drives in India, which exceeded $150 million in 2006, is expected to grow at 15.4% over the next five years, according to ARC.

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

Automation Shines at Grote Industries: Robot Case Study
Robotics On Line, January 2008
By Mary Kay Morel, Motoman Inc.
High demand by major automotive OEMs and aftermarket suppliers for the company’s head and tail lamps, dome lights, emergency lighting, flashers, and LED marker lamps and other products led Grote to implement robotic assembly to improve productivity.

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.

Siemens supplies two Gearless Mill Drives for mine in Venezuela
The drives improve the efficiency of grinding copper ore. The two drives are worth EUR 20 million and will enter service in 2009.

ABB to deliver two Gearless Mill Drive systems for Climax Mine in CO One unit, rated at 15,000 HP (11.2 MW), will power a 34 feet (10.36 meter) semi-autogenous mill. The other unit, rated at 12,000 HP (8.9 MW), will drive a 22 feet (6.7 meter) ball mill.

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.

2008 Motor, Drive & Automation Systems Conference
February 14-15, 2008 - Atlanta, Georgia
Two-day conference is focused on the latest advancements and economics in electric motor, drive & automation technology. Topics discussed will include new motors, drives & automation systems, system design and integration for optimum performance, new components and materials, advancements in electronics and control, testing systems and techniques.

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.

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.

International Manufacturing Technology Show
September 8-13, 2008 Chicago, IL
The largest and longest running manufacturing technology trade show in the United States, IMTS is ranked among the largest trade shows in the world.. IMTS attracts over 90,000 visitors from every level of industry and over 40 countries.

Add an event to our calendar.

Rick Zabel
Vice President, Publisher
Automation.com

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