Motion Control News

GE producing mega-hybrid machine fleets of tugs, locomotives, and buses

GE recently announced that it is demonstrating new hybrid tugboat technology in cooperation with the C-MAR Group. GE’s hybrid tug propulsion system, which features its V228 or V250 medium-speed diesel engines, a battery, a generator, and control technologies, will decrease both fuel consumption and emissions, according to the company.

The tugboat platform builds on current hybrid technology projects for locomotives, city buses, and off-highway vehicles. Beyond the system applications of hybrid technology, GE also is making significant investments in battery technology and energy storage management.

“Four-dollar-per-gallon gasoline is painful for the average U.S. consumer, and the impact of these record-high oil prices is even harder on companies transporting goods,” says Tim Richter, lead hybrid systems engineer, GE Global Research. “GE has been working with electric and hybrid vehicles for more than 30 years. Hybrids are a great fit with our expertise in motors, controls, and energy management. From trucks and tugs to buses and locomotives, we can look at technology across the transportation sector and deliver working solutions for these mega-hybrid machines.”

“By water, rail, city streets, or interstate highways, virtually every part of the transportation sector can be hybridized,” Richter adds. “GE’s technology developments for mega-hybrids can potentially cascade down to the passenger cars, which would have a mega-impact in the auto marketplace.”

Emerging hybrid technologies from GE include: Evolution Hybrid locomotive, available in 2009; hybrid tugboat in cooperation with the C-MAR Group; hybrid off-highway vehicle demonstration in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE); and a zero-emissions hybrid fuel cell transit bus in partnership with the Federal Transit Administration.

These hybrid technologies are all part of GE’s ecomagination initiative. Ecomagination represents the company’s commitment to develop new environmentally friendly technologies and products to solve our toughest environmental challenges. Under ecomagination, GE has pledged to more than double its level of investment in the development of cleaner energy technologies from $700 million to $1.5 billion during the next five years.

In addition to GE’s mega-hybrid activities, GE’s Global Research Center is engaged in two projects with the DOE totaling $6.8 million to accelerate the introduction of plug-in hybrid vehicles to market. The first of the two DOE projects is a $5.6 million contract to develop smaller, lower cost, higher performing hybrid drivetrain motors for hybrid electric vehicles. The second is a $1.2 million project to develop advanced high-temperature, high-energy-density capacitors. Both technologies are critical to enabling the commercialization of plug-in hybrid vehicles.

GE’s research activities also extend into battery development for electric cars. In recent months, GE Energy Financial Services announced capital investments in the Norwegian electric car manufacturer THINK and lithium-ion battery manufacturer A123Systems. GE Global Research is performing some research in conjunction with A123 to support their battery development, including batteries for the THINK vehicles.

Source: GE

Motion Control Products

Rack-mounted motion controller provides new level of precision

ACS Motion Control has developed a rack-mounted system that delivers smooth motion control at high speeds, without compromising accuracy, for the most demanding applications. Designated the SPiiPlus 3U, the advanced two-, four-, six-, or eight-axes motion controller features customized algorithms that offer precise motion control to meet a wide range of application parameters. Built for OEM rack-based systems, the SpiiPlus 3U can be integrated into ACS Motion Control's MC4U rack-mount control module to provide motion control for up to eight motor drives.

Want more information? Click below.
ACS Motion Control

Second-generation intelligent positioning controllers

maxon EPOS positioning controllers are the ideal choice for applications that require decentralized drive intelligence. These modular digital positioning controllers, based on the CANopen standard, cover a performance range from 1 W to 700 W. They can operate in position, speed, and current control mode, and can be configured to operate with both DC and EC motors, depending on software commands.

Want more information? Click below.
maxon

Need more power? Get it from Danfoss’ newest variable frequency drives

Danfoss Drives VLT Series Variable Frequency Drives are now available with power through 1,350 hp in 460- and 690-VAC. F1 frame models deliver power up to 1,050 hp in an 86.8-in. x 55.1-in. x 23.9-in. footprint, while F2 frame models deliver up to 1,350 hp in an 86.8-in. x 71.0-in. x 23.9-in. footprint.

These high-power variable frequency drives facilitate ease of use by sharing a common platform with smaller Danfoss drives. Proven power electronics promise reliable operation, and components are accessible from the front of the unit for quick, easy serviceability and maintenance. Additional features include DC-link reactors to reduce harmonics without external AC line reactors, DC-link fuses that provide independent protection of inverters, and coated PCBs that provide extra protection in potentially corrosive environments.

Want more information? Click below.
Danfoss Drives

Stepper drive eliminates DC supply, runs on 115/240 VAC

Copley Controls’ panel-mounting StepNetAC drives run directly on 115/240 VAC at 7 A peak current eliminating a separate DC supply. Pivotal benefits include servo-mode operation for smooth, quiet stepper motor operation (a boon for laboratory environments) and freedom from lost steps. A range of sophisticated motion control modes are built-in: indexing, PVT trajectory tracking, camming, and electronic gearing. The drive can operate standalone or be part of a distributed control network.

Want more information? Click below.
Copley Controls

Encoder for rugged apps

The compact Acuro XR absolute encoder incorporates three important design elements that make it ideal for harsh applications. First, unlike traditional absolute encoders that utilize optical technology, the new encoder utilizes magnetic technology. Second, it uses considerably oversized bearings to handle high axial and radial shaft loads. Third, it is tightly sealed around the shaft and housing to resist liquid ingress.

Using a magnet instead of light to generate the electronic signal increases the encoder's resistance to shock, vibration, and moisture tremendously, so much so that this absolute encoder can now be used in applications previously unsuitable for sensitive optical units. Ball bearing design and installation are significant factors in affecting the useable life of an encoder, so the bearings used in the Acuro XR were selected for operation at maximum loading to achieve three times the useful life of conventional designs. The result is a mechanical life of up to 10⁹ revolutions under simultaneous axial and radial loads of 200 N.

Want more information? Click below.
Dynapar

Servomotor connector ideal for applications with limited footprint

ITT Interconnect Solutions now offers its Cm2 Series servomotor connectors with an extended voltage range. Providing maximum power in a minimal package size, the connectors feature a voltage range from 48 VAC to 630 VAC, making them suitable for both low- and high-power applications.

Designed as a replacement for two mated pairs of circular connectors, the Cm2 Series devices are half the length and weight of conventional circular connectors. The connector design enables simple harnessing and easy contact assembly. The connectors feature crimp contacts, excellent vibration resistance, and are completely shielded and sealed, including two sealed entries for power and signal cables. The Cm2 Series connectors are ideal for small servomotor applications such as industrial motion control, robotics, factory automation, and material handling.

Want more information? Click below.
ITT Interconnect

New brake pedal effort sensor for vehicle test apps

The Automotive Sensors division of PCB Piezotronics (PCB) has released a new series of pedal effort load cells for automotive test applications, including brake development, drivability, vehicle handling, and legislative and safety testing. Designed to measure the force required to operate a vehicle’s primary brake, clutch, or floor-mounted emergency brake pedals, the Series 1515 brake pedal effort sensor with integral cable is compact, with a 1.19-in. (3.02-cm) overall height. It is designed to be easy to install and remove, and is temperature-compensated for 30°F to 130°F (-1°C to 54°C).

PCB Automotive Sensors brake pedal effort sensor is designed with high overload protection (500% of FS), and an integral loading surface that rejects off-axis loading errors. These sensors are offered in a broad range of capacities, and provide good resolution, linearity, and repeatability in both static (constant force) and dynamic (panic stop) loading events.

Want more information? Click below.
PCB

Intelligent plug-in minidrive with CANopen

PIM2401, the new Technosoft intelligent plug-in minidrive, is specially designed for motion control applications where space is dramatically limited. Its miniature size (39 mm x 44 mm x 14 mm) and weight (15 g) allow it to be mounted horizontally or vertically, inside the machine or near the motor. The drive is manufactured with simple pins; this architecture reduces the time needed to assemble it. PIM2401 controls DC, brushless, linear, and step motors up to 25 W (24 V, 1 A).

With its small dimensions, PIM2401 embeds a digital drive, a powerful motion controller, and PLC functionalities in the same unit. One of the key advantages of PIM2401 is its ability to execute complex motions without requiring any external controller. Complex movement sequences can be programmed directly on the PIM, while system control functions are handled from the supervising PC or PLC. Motion modes such as contouring, profiling, gearing, electronic camming, and PVT are easily executed in stand-alone or multi-axis configurations.

Want more information? Click below.
Technosoft

Linear actuators introduced for AC-powered apps

New Jaeger brand “SJ” Series electromechanical linear actuators provide ideal repetitive-motion solutions for AC-powered applications. They can perform reliably and efficiently in a wide range of motion-driven equipment and devices functioning in settings from healthcare to office.

The UL-approved AC actuators (115 VAC and 230 VAC) feature motors offering thermal protection up to 120°C, integrated limit switches, acme screw, and metal gearbox. All contribute to promote quiet and virtually maintenance-free operation. SJ Series actuators are available in three standard types with the capability to achieve load capacities up to 5,000 N and speeds (no load or full load) up to 7.2 mm/sec, depending on model. Stroke lengths range from 100 mm to 600 mm.

Want more information? Click below.
SKF

High-efficiency AC-powered brushless DC motor drive

Trust Automation has introduced the compact, low-cost, programmable TA2230 constant velocity drive. The TA2230 drive is designed to run a brushless motor at a constant velocity using the motor’s Hall sensors for the velocity feedback. Using an RS232 interface, the drive can be programmed at start-up to ramp up at a preset rate and maintain a constant velocity regardless of changes in load. This low-cost, highly efficient drive is ideal for new and existing industrial applications such as factory automation, machine tools, conveyors, injection molding machines, air compressors, pumps, and in existing applications where improved performance and lower operating costs are desired.

This compact brushless motor drive with the optional cooling fans measures just 9.3 in. x 3.5 in. x 5.7 in. Motor output from the drive with an AC supply of 100-220 VAC @ 50/60 Hz, 25-A peak current is the equivalent of a 15,000-W (45-A peak) PWM drive. The DC voltage is 0-330 VDC at 45-A peak, 20-A RMS continuous.

Want more information? Click below.
Trust Automation

Motor feedback system now available in blind hollow shaft configurations

VFS 60 Motor Feedback Systems from SICK STEGMANN are now available in blind hollow shaft configurations. Blind hollow shaft encoders have just one point of potential access, which significantly reduces the potential for contamination by dust, dirt, or water compared with standard hollow shaft encoders, making them well suited for use in dirty or dusty environments with water washdown cleansing.

VFS 60 blind hollow shaft encoders feature a unique nickel code disc that provides robust operation in harsh industrial environments, and tolerance to temperatures as high as 100ºC. They are IP65 rated and deliver from 1 to 10,000 ppr in an industry-standard 60-mm housing. They are available with a TTL or HTL interface.

Want more information? Click below.
SICK STEGMANN

Linear stepper motor features 1-micron resolution

A low-cost, high-performance, 2-phase linear stepper motor from H2W Technologies with 1-micron (0.00004-in.) resolution is designed for easy integration into new and existing applications. This compact, industry-standard, 5-lb Linear Stepper travels at 80 in./sec (2 m/sec), can operate in any axis, and features 1-G acceleration. It is the ideal choice for new and existing pick-and-place, wire bonder, parts transfer, fiber optic, semiconductor, and other precision robotic applications.

This stepper is capable of very precise position, velocity, and acceleration control when integrated with a microstepping drive and indexer. It is ideal for open-loop positioning applications with light payloads, and it can also be operated as a brushless linear servo with 5 Gs of acceleration and no loss of accuracy.

Want more information? Click below.
H2W Technologies

PLA module can reduce need for PLC- or PC-based systems

Sprint Electric offers a Programmable Logic Arithmetic unit (PLA) with extended functionalities for diverse applications and motion tasks. The PLA is a stand-alone applications module that can complement and enhance any analog or digital drives system, simplify system design, and reduce or eliminate the need for PLC- or PC-based systems.

Via its range of configurable inputs and outputs to the internal application blocks, the PLA enables the user to define a control strategy to exactly meet the demands of the process or application. The block diagram created is flexible and has a unique "Configuration Checker" detecting shorts within the user-defined connections.

Want more information? Click below.
Sprint Electric

Fine positioning capability for microstep operation

New MAE brand “HN Series” hybrid stepper motors feature low detent torque to holding torque ratios, promoting smooth operation and the fine positioning capability required for microstep operation. These motors can provide accurate open-loop control and high-speed operation suitable for a wide range of positioning applications.

Standard Size 34 HN Series hybrid steppers are available in three models (lengths 2.64 in. to 4.92 in.) with step resolutions of 1.8° (200 steps per rev) in full-step mode. Holding torques (bipolar) from 397 oz-in. to 1076 oz-in. can be achieved, depending on model.

Want more information? Click below.
AMETEK

Better design of electromagnetic devices

Ansoft Corporation announces Maxwell v12 and RMxprt v12. Maxwell is the company's electromagnetic field simulation software used for the design and analysis of 3D/2D structures such as motors, actuators, transformers, and other electric and electromechanical devices common to automotive, military/aerospace, and industrial systems. RMxprt is a specialized software program dedicated to the design of electric machines.

Maxwell v12 includes a new 3D electric transient solver that solves time-varying electric fields due to a transient disturbance, such as lightning strikes on electrical equipment. The new version also is equipped with advanced model healing capabilities. This productivity feature will automatically identify and resolve potential problems with geometry imported from popular CAD systems and streamline the solution process.

Want more information? Click below.
Ansoft

Innovative TNC 620 contouring control

With the TNC 620 with digital drive control, HEIDENHAIN introduces an exciting new control for use on both milling machines and machining centers with up to five axes plus spindle. This new TNC is based on the innovative software platform, NC Kernel. The main computer, controller unit, and other components of the HEIDENHAIN TNC 620 control system feature a new, powerful interface: HSCI (HEIDENHAIN Serial Controller Interface).

The TNC 620 is equipped for handling even very complicated tasks, including those that use swivel and rotary axes. And for simultaneous machining with up to five axes, the TNC 620 offers special functions that produce optimal machining results. Dynamic look-ahead, algorithms for jerk limitation, and intelligent motion control enable the TNC 620 to handle even very stringent requirements on the surface of a finished workpiece.

Want more information? Click below.
HEIDENHAIN

Ceramic replacement actuators are non-magnetic, vacuum compatible, fast

PI's new line of compact ceramic piezo motors and nanopositioning actuators replaces classical actuators and motion control components in precision motion control applications in semiconductor, photonics, and nano-biotechnology. High-speed motors, high-force actuators, and zero-wear flexure designs are available.

Advantages: no lubricants, vacuum compatible, millisecond responsiveness, non-magnetic.

Applications: precision motion control in optics and imaging applications, fast valve control, high-energy physics/high magnetic fields, vacuum applications, precision liquid dispensing, scanning microscopy, OCT, and MRI.

Want more information? Click below.
Physik Instrumente

Inertial accelerometers for harsh environments

This new generation of products comes in a LCC20 (8.9-mm x 8.9-mm) ceramic package, some three times smaller than current sensors and in a variety of g-ranges from ±2 g to ±250 g. The MS9000 sensors can operate over extended temperature ranges with just a few milligrams bias stability guaranteed over extended lifetime. The high-quality sensors conform to MIL-STD-883-E as typically required by the aerospace, military, and geophysical markets.

Want more information? Click below.
Colibrys

Linear drive with no electronics or programming required

An inexpensive optional hardware attachment for Amacoil/Uhing linear drives enables mechanically controlled ramp down of linear speed. The slowdown option requires no electronics or programming and may also be configured for dwell if the drive unit is required to stop. Operating completely independent of the drive motor, the mechanical ramp-down feature assures a gradual reduction in linear speed before reversal, which dissipates the forward momentum of the load being moved to prevent shaking or jarring during reversal.

OEM designers will find the slowdown option does not complicate design. The only modifications to the basic Uhing linear drive assembly are the addition of the slowdown arm to the reversal mechanism and an extra end stop bolt on the assembly supports.

Want more information? Click below.
Amacoil