Original article date: February 2000
Does it make any difference if a stepper driver uses digital signal processing (DSP)? GEOFF SORE from Smartdrive explains why he believes that it gives many advantages
Using digital signal processing (DSP) technology for digital stepper-motor control offers a number of advantages to the machine builder and the end-user, but the key [...]
Original article date: June 1998
Modern seal scraper and guide elements are today developed as high performance machine elements. With proper choice and installation they should manage trouble-free operation with a long service life expectancy.
Oswald Seals’ so-called Really Useful Guide to Hydraulic Sealing contains four sections designed to help select the right type of seal and [...]
Original article date: July 2000
Automotive engineers concentrate on developing efficient engines. MILES DADSON, HBM UK’s automotive engineering specialist, discloses some unexpected areas of development
In order to reduce the fuel consumption of car engines, engineers within the automotive industry are trying reduce friction in the cylinder head. Valve gear is of particular interest to the energy [...]
Original article date: January 1999
Do you know your sensorbus from your devicebus from your fieldbus? DICK CARO of Automation Research Corporation looks at what’s heppening at the lower end of networking.
There are three major driving forces at work in the industrial automation market: 1) the need for openness in the design of systems to avoid [...]
Original article date: May 2000
A new all-plastic integral spring design enables objects such as cables, tubing, paper and labels to be temporarily clamped to each other or to other objects. DAVID WRIGHT reports
Annoyance doesn’t have to be unproductive. Dr Brian Wybrow used to get annoyed when he put his hand in a peg bag and [...]
Original article date: June 2000
Noise in hydraulic systems has a nasty habit of being worse than expected during system installation. What’s on offer to combat the problem? DAVID WRIGHT investigates
Hydraulic sound isn’t pleasant, and is usually classified as noise. In excessive amounts, it can damage the health of workers in the area around a hydraulic [...]
Original article date: October 1998
The SMT-BD1 digital servo amplifier is the latest development from Infranor. As its name suggests it uses a digital signal processor (DSP) to control all the functions of the amplifier and this results in a drive that is extremely easy to set up. New control functions have been introduced within the [...]
Original article date: October 1997
The design principles of a new range of pneumatic components achieve fast pay back and productivity goals says Carl McGowan Sales Engineer with Parker Pneumatic
Increased productivity and fast pay-back times are the chief goals of design engineers when selecting and specifying automation equipment. In order to achieve these goals components should [...]
Original article date: February 2000
With its acquisition of Hydrostatic Transmissions, PSS is now offering high torque, low speed radial piston motors, integrated into its own range
Now being supplied by Steering and Hydraulics Division of North Walsham, Norfolk based PSS, is the HTL range of rotating shaft hydraulic motors. The principle of operation of these motors [...]
Original article date: March 2000
New equipment being introduced by Loctite for metering and dispensing fluids and pastes includes systems which cost at least 25% less than systems previously available. Alan Quinn braved the A1 to take a look.
The need to improve quality, increase productivity and reduce waste has combined with Health and Safety regulations to [...]