March 2008

2008 Motor, Drive & Automation Systems Conference CD ROMs Now Available for $290!

The 2008 Motor, Drive & Automation Systems Conference, which recently took place in Atlanta, Georgia, brought together hundreds of OEMs and leading motion control solutions providers for two action-packed days of in-depth presentations and discussions of the latest advancements in electric motor & drive, and automation systems technology.

If you were unable to attend but are interested in staying up-to-date on the materials presented and exhibited at this conference, the Conference CD ROM is now available for $290. The Conference CD ROM includes:

• PDF Presentations of the Technical Sessions (357 Sessions)
• Audio of many of the Technical Sessions
• Exhibitor Information / Materials (60 Exhibitors)
• Attendee Information (Name / Company / Title / City / State)

To order your 2008 Motor, Drive & Automation Systems Conference CD ROM, visit http://www.infowebcom.com/conf_cdorder2008.php  or contact Jeremy Martin (jeremym@infowebcom.com) with questions.

The Keys to Successful Mechatronic Product Development
Best-in-Class Performers Bring their Products to Market Up to 2.9 Times Faster than their Competitors and Under Budget Twice as Often

Market demand is driving manufacturers to develop more products that blend mechanical, electro-mechanics, digital control systems and electronic design elements, but this compounds the inherent complexity of product development. Coordinating the disparate engineering disciplines on a single design presents a set of demanding challenges. However, simply ensuring all these systems work together adds new layers of difficulty. In a new study by Aberdeen, a Harte-Hanks Company, "System Design: New Product Development for Mechatronics," it was revealed that leading companies are bringing these products to market both on time and under budget. The difference lies in how they approach mechatronic product development.

"Many companies are attempting to go outside the enterprise to find these resources to access partners with discipline expertise as a strategic action," notes Michelle Boucher, research analyst for Aberdeen Group's Product Innovation and Engineering practice, "However, when it comes to coordinating mechatronic product development, the Best-in-Class have a greater focus on how they adapt existing resources and technology to alter the way product development takes place."

This report analyzed the experiences of more than 170 companies to uncover what these industry leaders are doing differently.

The report details how they:
•  Improve communication and collaboration between engineering disciplines, supporting their ability to hit
   development cost targets up to 2.2 times as often as their competitors
•  Plan and validate design requirements at a system level, a contributing factor to meeting product cost
   targets up to 2.1 times as often as their competitors
•  Identify system level problems earlier in the product development process, helping meet product launch
   dates up to 2.9 times as often as their competitors

A complimentary copy of this report is made available due in part by the following underwriters: IHS, National Instruments, Siemens PLM Software and Dassault Systemes. To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, visit: www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?cid=4576.

For more information visit www.aberdeen.com  

Strong Demand Fuels Low Voltage Motor Drives Market in 2007

The worldwide low voltage motor drives market continues to surpass everyone’s expectations. According to IMS Research, early indicators suggest the market had another stellar year in 2007 as it continued the recent trend of double digit growth, and in some regions, even surpassed the growth seen in 2006.

While the EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) region experienced similar growth in 2007 as it did the previous year, increasing by about 15 percent over the 2006 levels, the markets in the Americas and Asia Pacific grew faster in 2007 than they did the year before. The market for motor drives in the Americas seemed unphased by the recent economic woes affecting the US, and surged ahead by increasing more than 15 percent over 2006 levels. A continued focus on energy conservation due to record high energy costs, combined with an emphasis by major American companies to cut operational costs, has made motor drives the ‘darlings of the boardroom’. According to IMS Research motor drives analyst Alex Chausovsky, “motor drives continue to provide decision makers with an effective way to manage their long term energy costs, as well as significantly bringing down the total cost of ownership for a majority of the motors used by industry.”

The Asia Pacific drives market performed even better in 2007 than its European and American counterparts, growing by more than 25 percent over 2006 levels. India and China continue to exhibit an insatiable hunger for raw materials such as metals and chemicals, and the increasing spending power of their populations is driving the demand for construction and processed foods & beverages, all of which are industry segments that rely heavily on motor drives. In addition, as the region’s economies continue to expand, there is a greater need to manage their limited energy resources, and motor drives will continue to be utilized to a great extent.

For more information visit www.imsresearch.com  

2009 Motor, Drive & Automation Systems Conference Announced: Moving Back to Florida!

Webcom Communications and e-Drive Magazine are happy to announce that the 2009 Motor, Drive & Automation Systems Conference is moving back to Florida. The conference will take place March 3-4 at the Hilton Disney in Orlando, Florida.

This sixth annual, two-day symposium will serve an audience of decision makers from around the world who are interested in learning the latest advancements, capabilities and economics in electric motor, drive & automation systems. This event provides a wonderful opportunity to meet with top executives and technical professionals of leading companies that integrate motion control technology into their products and equipment as well as developers and manufacturers of motors, drives and integrated systems, and component, material and technology providers.

What attendees are saying about the 2008 Motor, Drive & Automation Systems Conference

• "This is a bit of a 'secret show'. It has tons of potential, great people, and a low cost to attend. I am sure word of mouth will make this one even stronger in 2009." - Frank Hurtte / River Heights Consulting
• "I like the general format. We have come for a number of years, and it remains a very productive conference for us." - Nechama Cox / Chorus Motors
• "Well run conference, and the content is much better than many conferences I attend." - Bill Lydon, PLCopen North America
• "Thanks for a good job. Well worth the money." - Charlie Nash, AdvanTech International
• "It seems to have momentum and it is a great conference for what we do, better than most."  - Kitt Butler, Advanced Energy
  

Servo Drive for Military and Harsh Applications

Copley has extended the XENUS offline servo drive's temperature, humidity, vibration and shock ranges to meet military COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) requirements, including Mil Standard #810. The hardened drives, designated Series R10, can now be used to control rotary and linear motors/actuators in military applications and extreme industrial environments.

The hardened drives operate in stand alone and networked operating modes, and respond to a variety of input formats including step-and-direction commands for upgrading from stepper motors to high torque servomotors. Operating modes also include indexing, point-to-point, PVT, PT, position, velocity and torque control, as well as electronic camming and gearing. The drives are compatible with CANopen, RS422 and RS 485 communications, operate on single phase or three-phase 85 to 264 V supplies and deliver up to 3 kW drive power.

Copley has developed extensive libraries of motion control software (Copley Motion Libraries) and software COM objects to make system development fast and simple. The development of low level code to control a CANopen network of intelligent drives is eliminated. All network housekeeping is taken care of automatically by a few simple commands linked into the user's Visual Basic, Labview or C++ application program.

Drive users can automate otherwise time-consuming system setup and commissioning functions with Copley's CME 2 software. The software provides auto tuning of the amplifier's current loop, and auto phasing of Hall sensors for both rotary and linear motors and actuators. With setup and tuning completed, the software settings are stored in the amplifier's non-volatile flash memory.
 
For more information visit www.copleycontrols.com

Johnson Medtech's Ceramic Motors Enable Precision Movement in World's First MRI-Compatible
Image-Guided Surgical Robot

HR2 Piezo Ultrasonic Non-Magnetic Motors And AB Drive Module

Johnson Medtech, the medical products network of Johnson Electric, a global provider of motion actuators, recently announced its participation in creating the neuroArm, the world's first MRI-compatible image-guided surgical robot capable of both microsurgery and stereotaxy. Actuators that utilize revolutionary ceramic motors designed by Nanomotion of the Johnson Medtech network enable the neuroArm to safely operate within an MRI to provide surgeons with unprecedented detail and control.

Working with a team of experts from the University of Calgary and MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA), Nanomotion of the Johnson Medtech network collaborated to implement non-magnetic actuators that enable the precision motion necessary for conducting microsurgical operations safely within the strong magnetic field of an MRI system. In the past, the magnetic nature of electric motors and their metal components restricted surgeons and surgical tools from the MRI environment, making motion impossible.

The neuroArm utilizes sixteen of Nanomotion's HR2-1-N-3 piezo ultrasonic non-magnetic motors, coupled with the company's AB5 drive module. These motors cover six joints, all of which are rotary. Using the real-time visibility into the human body provided by the MRI, the sophisticated Nanomotion actuators in the neuroArm enable surgeons to manipulate tools at a microscopic scale and conduct surgeries that were previously difficult or impossible.

"Our design team overcame a number of challenges in building the neuroArm. One was the need for the neuroArm to operate in the strong magnetic field of the MRI, and with extreme precision," said Dr. Garnette Sutherland, professor of Neurosurgery, University of Calgary. "Nanomotion's non-magnetic piezo ultrasonic motors enable the neuroArm to effectively conduct microsurgical operations within the MRI environment."

In addition to the non-magnetic benefit of the ceramic motors, Nanomotion's precision motion control abilities increase the granularity with which a surgeon can work, from within an eighth of an inch using the human hand, to within the width of a hair using the neuroArm. These sophisticated motors provide surgeons with unprecedented detail and control, enabling them to manipulate tools at a microscopic scale.

"Working together with the international neuroArm design team, we have overcome the formidable challenges encountered in creating a motion device that functions in a sterile operating room, within an MRI and alongside medical professionals involved in surgery," said Jim Dick, senior vice president of Johnson Electric. "The neuroArm is improving operative medicine to enable safer, more successful surgeries for patients around the world, and Johnson Medtech's Nanomotion is proud to be a member of the design team."
 
For more information visit www.jemedtech.com

New Motor Generation Offers Design Freedom

B&R's liquid-cooled three-phase synchronous motors feature high power density with compact outer dimensions. This opens up new perspectives for the design of machines and systems. This extra level of freedom enables machine manufacturers to create efficient and economical solutions.

Integrated water cooling enables more compact sizes and prevents the machine or the switching cabinet from overheating. Doing away with energy consuming and noisy fans saves space, reduces emissions and lowers costs. The life-span increases significantly because the motor parts, except for bearings, are free of wear. Intelligent connection technology for power and encoder connections using circular connectors or terminal boxes simplifies installation considerably.

8KS series motors are available in four sizes with a rated speed of 1,100 1/min to 2,200 1/min and a maximum speed of 4,500 to 10,000 1/min. The rated torque is between 8.3 Nm and 605 Nm. The motors can be controlled with ACOPOS or ACOPOSmulti servo drives.

For more information visit www.br-automation.com 

OEM Increases Accuracy by Applying Mechatronic Design Principles Using Allen-Bradley Controls from Rockwell Automation

Feeder and meter manufacturer Schenck AccuRate is  incorporating Allen-Bradley products from Rockwell Automation into its line of Mechatron gravimetric feeders, providing end users with increased levels of accuracy. Schenck AccuRate’s customers have consistently specified Rockwell Automation controls for their machines, and both companies share an interest in the growing development of mechatronic design principles.

For machine builders, mechatronic design requires organizing a cross-functional design team in which each of the disciplines is represented, instead of having separate design teams (mechanical, controls, software, etc.). Forward-thinking machine builders such as Schenck AccuRate even include their automation supplier in this collaborative effort, engaging them early in the process.

“To provide the most advanced automation to our customers, we continue looking  for ways to effectively link the mechanical world to the controls engineeringworld,” said Gary Kuehneman, director of Business Development and Marketing, Schenck AccuRate. “Teaming with Rockwell Automation took us in the right direction because the company knows how to effectively incorporate different engineering disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, software and controls – and has an industry-leading portfolio of integrated controls available in the market.”

The Mechatron feeder is controlled by Schenck AccuRate’s patented Disocont Integrated Controller. The Disocont  is a dynamic, weight-based controller with patented control algorithms that enhance feeding accuracy and is part of the Rockwell Automation Encompass Program, a third-party product referencing program.

The Rockwell Automation solution consists of Bulletin 800 F-series switches, terminal blocks and Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 4 variable frequency drives that integrate seamlessly with Schenck AccuRate’s control platform. Heat sink thermal protection in the drives allows the feeder to operate at lower speeds, helps extend the overall life cycle of the drives and, ultimately, lowers maintenance costs for the end user.

“The biggest challenge that many of our customers face is training machine operators. When we implemented new technologies on this feeder, our goal was to make the application as easy to learn and use as possible,” said Kuehneman.

Schenck AccuRate plans to expand its relationship with Rockwell Automation and utilize the company’s industry knowledge and standards expertise by standardizing its extrusion process applications, its alternative fuel delivery systems, and other feeder product lines on Allen-Bradley controls.

For more information visit www.rockwellautomation.com

New High-Torque Rotary Actuator From UQM Technologies

UQM Technologies, Inc. has introduced a new rotary actuator product that is designed for both on-road and off-road vehicle applications.  Capable of running on voltage inputs from 12-48 VDC, the custom actuator can provide up to 1100 in-lbs of peak torque.  As designed, the output drives a 0.5-inch through-shaft that provides motivation for heavy lifting applications such as slide-outs, bed-lifts, and parking brakes.  Other output options are available such as solid-shafts with keys or splines.  As configured the maximum no load speed at the output is 27 rpm.  Other configurations are available to optimize output speed and torque parameters.  Weighing less than 6 lbs, the compact unit delivers exceptional torque for its size and weight. 

For more information visit www.uqm.com

Enhanced Drive Well Suited for Industrial Applications

Parker’s Electromechanical Automation Division, a supplier of motion control technology, recently announced that its Compax3 digital servo drives have been enabled with ETHERNET Powerlink (EPL) motionbus technology. With all 12 power levels of the Compax3 drives now EPL enabled, system performance is increased while overall system cost and installation time have been decreased.

ETHERNET Powerlink is a high-speed, digital motionbus solution connecting a motion controller to multiple drives and I/O points using standard Ethernet networking hardware. This centralized, real-time communication system for automation and motion control makes Ethernet deterministic for real-time industrial applications. ETHERNET Powerlink systems combine the high performance of centralized motion control with the lower costs of decentralized machine architectures. System design and machine installation times are greatly reduced due to the simplified, inexpensive and readily available Ethernet cables that replace traditional, expensive analog control and feedback cables. The Compax3 family joins three power levels of the Aries EPL servo drives as well as the ACR9030 and ACR9040 multi-axis EPL controllers in Parker’s expanding line of EPL products.

Jay Schultz, a product manager for Parker’s Electromechanical Automation Division, said that the industrial packaging markets will especially benefit from this drive expansion. He noted that because the Compax3 EPL-enabled servo drives come in 12 power levels, ranging from .5kW to 100kW, the family gives packagers more options for high-axis-count machines. The Compax3 servo drives also includes Category 3 Safety – another feature of interest for industrial markets.

The unique benefits of an EPL system appeal to a broad range of market segments. The Ethernet connections result in higher reliability and decreased installation times for all machine builders. These benefits directly translate into greater machine up time and faster time to market – both critical success factors for OEMs.

For more information visit www.parker.com

EMMS-ST Stepper Motors / CMMS-ST Stepper Controller from Festo

Festo Corp.’s CMMS-ST single-axis position controller combined with the EMMS-ST stepper motor offers an easy to use, comprehensive and cost effective package for single and multiple-axis handling with loads of up to 20 kg.

Stepper Motor EMMS-ST  -  New stepper motor series offers long service live and reliable performance. The two phase hybrid stepper motor offers high torque with options for an integrated brake and incremental encoder feedback.

Features and benefits include:
• holding torque from 0.5 Nm to 9.3 Nm;
• external gearbox options:  3:1 and 5:1;
• optional integrated encoder/holding brake.
Stepper controller CMMS-ST  -  The CMMS-ST controller differentiates itself from conventional controllers by eliminating resonance, heating, and loss of step - performance issues inherent in stepper motor systems.

Features and benefits include:
• position controller with integrated power stage;
• configurable as both open loop and closed loop;
• integrated braking resistor and mains filer.

For more information visit www.festo.com 

The Straight Dope on Mechatronics
Yaskawa, the company that invented the term, describes its evolution

The above is a diagram from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Web site, which describes the various fields that make up mechatronics.

By Todd Rohde, Yaskawa Electric America, Inc.

When the word Mechatroncis first appeared nearly 40 years ago, most people had no idea what it was. With time and technological advancements, however, mechatronics has become a familiar term in the field of engineering worldwide. Today, it’s hard not to come across the word mechatronics in some way, shape or form.

What is Mechatronics?
Essentially, Mechatronics is the concept of working smarter – not harder – and to inexpensively get the most done in as little time as possible. The term can be defined in many different ways, but functionally, it is a blend of mechanics and the synergistic use of precision engineering, control theory, computer science, and finally sensor and actuator technology – all designed to improve products and processes.

But mechatronics is more than that. It also concentrates on mechanics, electronics, control and molecular engineering as well as computing, all combining to produce simpler, economical, reliable and versatile systems. Mechatronics can also be described as the totality of fundamentals and techniques in a unified framework for service and production of future-orientated machines and products.

Yet another definition of mechatronics relates to the synergistic integration of mechanical engineering, electronics and intelligent computer control for design and manufacture of industrial products and processes. All in all, Mechatronics has been associated with many different topics including manufacturing, motion control, robotics, intelligent control, system integration, vibration and noise control, automotive systems, modeling and design, actuators and sensors as well as micro devices.

History of Mechatronics
The genesis of mechatronics began in 1969 in Japan when Tetsura Mori, a senior engineer for Yaskawa Electric Corp., coined the term. Back then, mechatronics was viewed strictly as electromechanical systems or control and automation engineering.

As is evident, the term mechatronics is a combination of words, which is nothing new for Yaskawa; a company that has been combining words and concepts since the 1950s. One of the first terms they created was “minertia,” which was named for a servomotor line that used minimum inertia to develop super-fast starting and stopping ability. Next came, “mochintrol” – short for motor, machine and control – which boasts electrical actuators capable of freely controlling mechanical arms and fingers.
 
Yaskawa applied for a registered trademark for mechatronics in 1970 and won the rights to the term in 1973. Although the foundation was set for the study of mechatronics, it failed to take off to its full potential; Yaskawa and its engineers were ahead of their time, and so they did not pursue widespread publicity.

It wasn’t until the mid-1980s that the term began to gain popularity. Yaskawa decided not to renew its trademark and relinquish the rights to the term so as not to limit the industry’s research and advancement of the technology.

During the 1970s, mechatronics focused on servo technology, in which simple implementation aided technologies related to sophisticated control methods such as automatic door openers and auto-focus cameras. In the 1980s, mechatronics was used to focus on information technology whereby microprocessors were imbedded into mechanical systems to improve performance, such as antilock braking and electric seats. Finally, in the 1990s, mechatronics centered on communication technology to connect products into large networks, including the production of air bags and other related technologies.

Mechatronics Today
As the need for mechatronics continues to expand, the term continues to become more and more common. Two things that have contributed to its growth are the shrinking global market and the need for reliable and cost-effective products. To be competitive, companies must develop new technologies to design and manufacture their products. Mechatronics assists rapid reaction to change, competitive product properties and shortened product cycles – absolute necessities for any company.

While mechatronics still involves the merging of mechanics and electronics, it also includes software and information technology. Mechatronics melds new technologies to existing technologies and combines them to solve problems, creates products or even develops new ways of doing things. Mechatronics integrates different technologies to solve problems as efficiently as possible. In the past, engineers tried to use their own lines of study to solve a problem, but now they can use the thought processes of many different outlooks to enhance their research with the use of more efficient tools.

Future of Mechatronics
When it comes to mechatronics, the sky is the limit as more and more ideas will be developed to improve the way we live and do things. With the ever-changing needs and wants of a complex and sophisticated world, innovations and technologies will have to improve and develop with the rapidly changing times. In the future, mechatronics will increasingly focus on safety, reliability and affordability.

Mechatronics will also play a large roll in the use of robotics to assist with efficiency, productivity, accountability and control. Robots not only master repetitive and dangerous tasks, but they do it low cost and with lower margins of error. Companies using robotics will have the luxury of keeping work in their own plants rather then exporting it over seas.
               
Mechatronics also is projected to play a major roll in the medical field, as well as in  computerized world and parts of industry-based manufacturing. Instead of building a computer to run a machine, mechatronics will help make the computer a part of the machine that builds a product.

Conclusion
Mechatronics shouldn’t change the design process, but rather give the engineer greater knowledge so that concepts can be developed more efficiently; so that communications with other engineering disciplines are improved. Client and market satisfaction are the major goals in the field of mechatronics. Once the needs of a client are expressed, product specifications can be developed from those needs. Then the design process can begin. Engineers will use and do whatever it takes to produce the end result desired in order to come up with new products and processes.

Currently marketing communications specialist for Yaskawa Electric America, Inc., Todd Rohde has been a writer and editor for more than 10 years. He holds a bachelor's degree in English with a Concentration on writing along with a Communication minor from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

For more information visit www.yaskawa.com

2009 Motor, Drive & Automation Systems Conference
March 3-4, 2009
Hilton Disney / Orlando, Florida

http://www.e-driveonline.com/Conf-09/motors_conf09_index.php

   April 2008
   8-10
   RoboBusiness 2008, Pittsburgh, PA
   

   14-17
   SAE World Congress, Detroit, Mich.

    21-25
    Hannover Fair, Germany.

Explore Opportunities in the Expanding Mobile Robotics and Intelligent Systems Industry.
RoboBusiness is the must-attend event for those interested in the business and technical issues related to the development of the personal, service and mobile robotics industry.
Visit www.robobusiness.com for complete event information or click the links below for some highlights.

>> CONFERENCE PROGRAM
>> Conference TRACKS
>> KEYNOTE Presentations
>> World-renowned SPEAKERS
>> Robotics SITE VISITS
>> ROBOT HALL OF FAME Cocktail Reception & Induction Ceremony
>> HIGHLIGHTS and Networking Opportunities

REGISTER online or call 800-305-0634.

IMTS 2008
September 8-13, 2008
Chicago, Illinois

Improve Productivity

If you utilize electrodynamic and electromotive systems in your company’s products, then IMTS, the International Manufacturing Technology Show (September 8-13, 2008 at Chicago’s McCormick Place) has the answers you need to become more productive. IMTS 2008 features mo0re than 1200 exhibitors offering some 15,000 products. Because IMTS is organized into pavilions, you can easily find the solutions you need. You’ll see faster, more precise machines; cutting tools designed to process virtually any material; finishing technologies; automation systems; sophisticated quality instruments and manufacturing software. You’ll meet and talk to experts in advanced manufacturing technologies. You’ll see how to reduce cycle times and increase productivity. Plan now to attend. For more information, and to register, go to www.imts.com.

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