We have nearly reached the half way point between SLAS 2017 and SLAS 2018.  What better time to close out a review of the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening 2017 show with a look at the...

A common method of coiling and uncoiling processed steel web is center winding. Steel coilers are powered by electric variable speed drives and motors. Large motors are usually selected...

Solar inverters come in different sizes and shapes, as they are used for many different scenarios for renewable energy and power generation, but one thing is common to all of them. Their main purpose...

The collective term Industry 4.0 refers to the fourth industrial revolution, typically described as the computerization of manufacturing—or in other words, the merging of traditional automation with...

Centralized machine control is more than a control architectural scheme, it’s the first step to enabling Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). The Parker Automation Controller (PAC) provides...

Most engineers recognize that gearheads can be used to create a better inertia match between the object that is being moved and the motor being driven. Put simply, it is dictated by the gearhead ratio...

Today, virtually everything we buy has at some point been on a commercial freight truck, traversing countries and even continents to reach us, the consumer. Commercial vehicle manufacturers are...

Environmental factors, performance requirements and communication protocols all factor into selecting a feedback device for your rotary servo motor application. In this post, we’ll look at some...

Modern industrial machinery is creating ever-increasing demands on hydraulics to provide more efficient and quieter solutions with a smaller footprint, while maintaining the benefits traditionally ...

More than 5000 participants from 42 countries attended the recent Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) annual conference and exhibition in Washington D.C. SLAS is the premier show...

The world is quickly moving towards more hybrid and electric vehicles, which reduce toxic emissions. This trend is leading to an overall improvement in the quality of the air we breathe, especially in...

Engineers working in industries that use fast-running machinery will almost certainly be familiar with the demands for ever-greater productivity to increase competitiveness and reduce costs. We...

Do you have a stack of t-slot aluminum framing catalogs or a folder of pdf datasheets from extrusion manufacturers that contains an almost endless amount of data on the material? For a person...

It has been reassuring to see the trend towards renewable energy developing over the past decade, proving that we are becoming more sustainable. Public opinion appears to have exerted...

What's changing at SLAS 2017 this year? The Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) is having their annual conference and exhibition in Washington D.C. from February 4th - February...

There is no “one size fits all” drive train linear actuator technology for every application. In reality, the selection depends entirely on what is most critical to a specific application....

Power generation environments are tough on hydraulic and other types of cylinders (including pneumatic and electro-mechanical). Vibration, dust, gravel, corrosives, chemicals, axial load, and sideload...

For challenging automation motion control applications such as packaging machines and rotary tables, some servo drives need to be housed outside the electrical cabinet. Although the traditional style...

It’s well documented that creating compressed air for use by pneumatic cylinders is not a particularly cost-effective process, largely as a result of generator and system inefficiencies. With accounts...

Design engineers developing applications using servo motors and gearheads must lend consideration to thermal issues. Machine performance requirements have become significantly more demanding, making...