Category Archives: Motion Control

Don’t Ignore Brake Materials

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Michael Shade

Until recently, I drove a 1997 Ford Escort, Old Rusty. At the tail end of winter, the car’s blower motor gave out, rendering the heater and defroster features inoperable. Each morning of the week following the motor’s demise, I would find myself trying to scrape a thick layer of frost off of the inside of my windshield, the concave nature of which was not even mildly hospitable to scraping. When the mechanic at the garage told me that it would cost $600 to fix the blower, I asked him to perform a general inspection of the car. I wanted to know if it was worth putting that kind of money into that kind of car if there was any chance that some other costly problem would present itself. He found that the sub-frame was rusted into oblivion (which is how the moisture was accumulating in the car’s interior and collecting on the windshield), a wheel bearing was loose (which meant the wheel could fly off as I drove somewhere) and that the engine was leaking oil from an undetermined location. Time for a new car. Continue reading →

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Linear Slides for Easy Motion

Posted on March 12, 2012 by nicolet

You are sitting in a dark tunnel, when suddenly the mining cart you are sitting in takes of and goes flying down a large hill, ripping around corners, soaring up and down, making your adrenaline rise and your stomach fall. If you cannot completely imagine the scenario, you could easily pick your favorite movie consisting of a scene such as this. Maybe Indiana Jones or Harry Potter? The reason I want you to think of these situations is it is a slightly more exciting transition into our next topic, linear slides. If you picture these large carts and carriages, they are often sliding along on wheels on a metal surface or railing. Linear slides can be thought of as the metal railings these large carts would slide down. However, instead of the wheels, ball bearings are used. The slides work much like the railings in that they dictate exactly where the carriage will go. Continue reading →

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The Machine Vision Team

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Andrea Mustine

As children we learn that there is no “I” in “team,” a concept that teaches us to think unselfishly and use our individual skills for one common goal. As adults, those of us who venture into the business realm learn quickly that no company can thrive when every member of the staff is a lone wolf. Success depends on communication and a common vision. The same is true of many of the systems used in the manufacturing industry, such as machine vision. Regardless of how technologically advanced and impressive each piece of machinery is, it must function within the larger context of a full machine vision system to reach its full potential. A comprehensive look at what machine vision is and why the individual parts must work together as a team to make the manufacturing industry more efficient, less expensive and safer for workers will reinforce what has been drilled into our heads since we were small; it’s better to have a team then to go it alone. Continue reading →

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Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions Releases a 36mm Linear Actuator Configuration to Replace Existing Size 14 Hybrids

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Andrea Mustine

Waterbury, CT – Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions, a premier manufacturer of linear motion products, has released a new version of the popular 36mm G4 linear actuator. This configuration includes a special adapter plate that allows the smaller 36mm OD unit to replace existing size 14 hybrid stepper motor linear actuators. Continue reading →

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IQS Newsroom Featured Profile: ITT KONI-Enidine Rail

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Amy Harris

Unmatched history and invaluable experience are found in the combined resources of KONI, Houdaille / Vibratech and Enidine which now make up ITT KONI-Enidine Rail, providing the railway industry with the widest range of energy absorption and vibration isolation products . From the first shock absorbers manufactured for automobiles, and on to the most sophisticated high speed train systems that we have today, the team of KONI-Enidine has played a part in bringing vibration control improvements and developments each step of the way. With a goal not simply to survive in the industry but rather to challenge the borders of rail system motion with greater stability and efficiency, KONI-Enidine has achieved growth well above the average market rate – a well deserved payoff for the company’s proactive approach to business. Continue reading →

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IQS Newsroom Featured Profile: Velmex, Inc.

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Breana Cronk

Modern industry, like much of the modern world in general, has come to expect fast results, customizability, quick and easy access to information and the best product for the best price. In the world of rotary and linear positioning stages, Velmex Incorporated offers clients all of this and more with maximum load capacities of 400lbs, maximum speeds of 30inches per second and a maximum resolution of one micron. Velmex combines elegantly functional products with exceptional customer service to provide manual and motor driven linear slide, rail and guide systems for industry and science alike. A highly informative website ensures that every customer understands their equipment while modular designs and custom fabrication ensure that Velmex complete systems and components satisfy the precise requirements of every application. With skilled staff and informed customers, Velmex continues to lead the way in linear and rotary slides and guides. Continue reading →

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Linear Bearings Make Modern Movement More Bearable

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Breana Cronk

Driving cautiously to work this morning, I was surrounded by lake effect snowfall and well-below freezing temperatures. My appreciation of the beautiful view was soon replaced by a singular focus of staying on the road. As the back wheels of my car slipped going around the corners and took away my sense of control, it caused me to desire one thing: friction. Having grown up many miles away from snowy winters, the combination of slick roads and cold tires sometimes proves too much for my previous warm weather driving experience. At those times, all I need is some more resistance between my vehicle and the road to slow it down and provide traction, so that my wheels don’t move quite so smoothly across the glossy ice and the process of motion is slowed dramatically. For manufacturers of linear bearings however, the desire is exactly the opposite – they look for ways to reduce friction and to create the least amount of resistance possible in order to make transportation of goods and products smoother and faster. Continue reading →

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I Am Joe’s Gas Spring

Posted on December 27, 2010 by Michael Shade

People who are familiar with Reader’s Digest (or who have read or seen ‘Fight Club’) are likely to be familiar with the ‘I am Joe’s Body’ series that was published in Reader’s Digest some decades ago. It was a novel concept – describing the functions of various organs in first-person in hopes of connecting with audiences who are bored or intimidated by textbook lessons in anatomy. Independent of context, anatomy lessons can be boring or confusing; some of my readings for biology courses in college may as well have been written in Sanskrit. Since I started at IQS last week, I’ve been swimming in an unfiltered sea of extruders, oxidization inhibitors and cross-linked oligomers. If only these parts and services could speak to me, I thought to myself, I might have a chance at understanding what they do. While trying to think of a way to explain how gas springs work, I came across a picture of a gas spring-operated prosthetic: Continue reading →

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A Day in the Life of Fractional Horsepower Motors

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Amy Harris

If I asked you what a fractional horsepower motor is, you could probably deduce fairly easily from its name that it is a motor with less than one horsepower’s worth of power. If I asked you to suggest where I could find a fractional horsepower (FHP) motor, it’s possible you would find it a little trickier to come up with an answer. However, the chances are that before you sat down to read this article today, you have already come across and used numerous FHP motors. From the mechanism in an electric toothbrush, to the pump in the coffee machine sitting on the kitchen counter, to the small motors that move the windows and locks in our cars, we are surrounded by fractional horsepower motors in most stages of our lives. These miniature motors keep our refrigerators and washing machines running, and power our windshield wipers and air-conditioning units and office machinery. In truth, we would be hard-pressed to get through the day without them. Continue reading →

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IQS Newsroom Featured Profile: ITT Enidine

Posted on November 29, 2010 by Amy Harris

ITT Enidine claims ‘We do essential things in extraordinary ways’, and one would not expect any less from a company that has been a premier supplier of energy absorption and noise reduction materials for almost 45 years. ITT Enidine, previously known as Enidine Incorporated, is a leading manufacturer of vibration control and shock absorption devices for customers around the world. Servicing markets such as industrial, aerospace, rail and transportation, ITT Enidine has been flexible in its approach to changing market conditions, ensuring the company’s growth and development in the midst of the economic downturn. Continue reading →

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IQS Newsroom Featured Profile: Broadway Gear, Inc.

Posted on October 22, 2010 by Breana Cronk

The US distributor and wholesaler of Changkong Gears, Broadway Gear, Inc. proudly continues the tradition of high quality products and services built on the company’s more than forty year history as a top gear manufacturer in China and around the world. Drawing on a skilled staff of engineers, the company focuses on the design and manufacture of fine module gears, gearboxes, gear decelerators and pumps to serve a broad array of industry. Broadway Gear was founded to meet the growing demand for quality industrial gears in North America as the company’s customer base rapidly expanded to include China, South Asia, North and South America. Consistent yearly increases in sales over the past ten years highlight the growing prosperity of Broadway Gear and its proven propensity for quality products and competitive pricing. Continue reading →

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Putting It All Together with Shaft Couplings

Posted on August 23, 2010 by Breana Cronk

In world full of gizmos and gadgets, it is hard to keep up with the latest and greatest technological advancement or mechanical construct. It seems almost daily that a new car that does this or a new washing machine that does that comes on the market. One mainstay of industrial, commercial and domestic applications alike, however, is the shaft coupling. From automotive driveshafts to power generation and even washing machines, shaft couplings allow engineers to facilitate the transmission of torque and power in a predictable and reliable way, even when market place trends may be anything but. Though modern materials and manufacturing methods commonly revamp this antiquated device, it remains true to its original design. Despite relatively few changes, shaft couplings are implicated in an astounding number of modern machines, responsible for putting it all together, literally. Continue reading →

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Moving Forward with Linear Actuators

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Breana Cronk

Kitchen automation’ has little to do with robots, conveyor belts or self-assembling food, contrary to the images that pop up in my head immediately upon hearing the phrase. We live in an electronic-filled world with new gadgets being developed all the time. It only makes sense that technology would eventually make it to the kitchen. Linear actuators are the devices mainly responsible for the introduction of popup spice racks or fold-down televisions. Though appliances such as microwaves, refrigerators and dishwashers have drastically improved through new technologies, kitchen automation is the newest development. Disappearing cabinets, sliding tabletops and rising counters may sound like pure imagination but they are becoming a reality through these useful devices. Continue reading →

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From Electric Cars to Electric Can-Openers: The Many Sides of the Electric Motor

Posted on May 28, 2010 by Breana Cronk

While the first crude models were developed in the mid 1800′s, it was not until the mid 1990′s that the electric car was introduced into mainstream modern America. Running completely off of electric motors, these cars provided pollution free, low impact transportation and a smooth quiet ride to boot. By 2003, however, these cars had all but disappeared from the roadways, seemingly consumed by the gasoline engine yet again. While many focus on this unfortunate loss of technology, there is reason to celebrate once more. This year at auto-shows across the country and around the world, several of the nations leading automakers introduced new lines of the electric car which are already backlogged for delivery. While this revisited application for the electric motor is met with great fanfare, the devices are actually exceedingly diverse instruments common to the everyday life of the average American. Continue reading →

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The Starts and Stops of Air Cylinders

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Breana Cronk

In nearly every old-timey Hollywood hit there is bound to be a dramatic scene depicting the picturesque steam engine train racing across the pristine landscape. Popular locomotive history is likewise riddled with praise for the steam engine, yet there are few mentions of its fireless companion: the air cylinder powered train. Maybe the name just is not quite as catchy. Names aside, pneumatic cylinders were popular in the locomotive world of the past. Far from a relic, however, air cylinders are in wide use today. Found in virtually every modern form of transportation, they generate linear force and motion from compressed air. These economic and environmentally friendly devices are responsible for the stop and start of planes, trains, automobiles and more. Continue reading →

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Ball Screws: The Method of Choice in Linear Actuation Applications

Posted on February 8, 2010 by Todd Halt

When I think of a screw, the first thing that comes to mind, of course, is a threaded fastener that holds two objects together. Those simple little things sure do come in handy. In fact, I used a couple yesterday to re-attach my closet organizer to the wall after it had collapsed under the weight of all my clothes. Standard screws are composed of a threaded shaft (the main component, with the spiral grooves running horizontally) and a nut, the small piece with internal threading that runs up and down the shaft. Pretty straightforward, right? Well, not in all cases. They aren’t well known, but there are power screws out there that do much more than hold objects securely together. One of those types is a ball screw. While they are essentially composed of the same parts, these screws are more complicated and vital components in many technically advanced applications. Continue reading →

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Friction Materials: Essential for Motion Control & Braking

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Rebekah Fuller

Let’s imagine for a moment a world without friction, which is, simply put, the force resistant to movement when any two objects rub against each other. Wait a second… that’s just too chaotic! If you think the world is a disaster now, just take away friction and… boom! Everything crashes into everything because there’s no force to stop it. So, here’s what I’ll do: I’ll just take away the friction between your posterior and what it’s sitting on… I need a good laugh today. You can’t stay put can you? Keep slipping and sliding, huh? Continue reading →

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Relying on Gears, Speed Reducers Offer Power Transmission Solutions

Posted on October 30, 2009 by Rebekah Fuller

Due to the advancements in electronic controls, mechanical engineers may have the tendency to bypass the use of gearing, as the robust gears used in machinery of high speed and high power are quite complex in design. However, electronics has a hard time beating gears for such dedicated, high accuracy requirements as in automobile transmissions. For a variety of internal machinery workings, gears are optimum for changing the rate of rotation, the direction of the axis of rotation, and rotary motion to linear motion. The multitude of gear types can be combined in many ways to create larger gear units, such as gear heads, gear boxes, gear reducers and gearmotors – which all fall under the category speed reducers. Continue reading →

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4 Springs for Countless Applications

Posted on June 8, 2009 by Rebekah Fuller

From micro springs used in such devices as pacemakers to gigantic ones functioning within a NASA shuttle, we are surrounded by springs our entire lives. Our very own HyTech Spring and Machine Corporation, a master designer and manufacturer of miniature springs, precision springs and custom springs, emphasizes: ‘There are few products built today that don’t rely on a spring.’ So let’s take a look at the four main types of springs. Continue reading →

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Bellows With A Twist – Electrodeposited nickel bellows couplings flex to fit misaligned shafts yet remain torsionally stiff.

Posted on May 6, 2009 by briannat

What do a micron-precision silicon wafer cutter, a surgical microscope focusing mechanism, and a target sighting system for an MIA2 Abrams tank all have in common? Each contains an electrodeposited nickel bellows coupling. Such couplings excel in instrumentation and fractional-horsepower applications but are occasionally overlooked because they tend to cost more than other types. Couplings are typically rated by their torque capacity, rotational inertia, resistance to the elements, service life, windup and backlash levels, and flexibility. By all these measures, electrodeposited bellows couplings compare favorably to competitive designs. Continue reading →

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