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Code what you know
One of the inherent limitations of engineering is that those who
practice it are often unable to independently merchandise their
knowledge or skills. A guy can spend years designing multi-axis
positioning mechanisms, and acquire world-class insights on minimizing
vibration, but only in context -- solving one problem at a time -- does
his knowledge typically have commercial value.
Ah, but things are changing. The vast interconnectedness of complex
systems, which in the past, prevented engineers from leveraging their
IP, may soon be the bridge to creating sustainable income based on
technological know how. Where once IP was bound in mechanical functions
and parts, it is now set free in software, a form of currency in and of
itself. The shift modular design will only accelerate the process. My
advice: Start coding.
-- Larry
Berardinis
Not
your father's packaging machine
At the recent PACK EXPO tradeshow held in Las Vegas, industry
observers commented on the proliferation of robotics in packaging
machinery compared to just a year or two ago. These new machines are no
longer large, articulated arm robots originally designed for the
automotive industry and then adapted for end-of-line applications, such
as palletizing and case packing. Increasingly, 2-axis and 3-axis Delta
robots are operating in both primary packaging systems for product
pick-and-place, and secondary operations like cartoning and case
packing.
Full Article
UC
Berkeley Establishes NI Lab
National Instruments and the University of California, Berkeley,
College of Engineering, announced the opening of the school's NI
Embedded Systems Laboratory. The lab, equipped with NI technologies like
LabVIEW graphical development environment and LabVIEW Real-Time, offers
electrical engineering and computer sciences (EECS) students a new
graphical system design environment to design, prototype and deploy
their projects. All students in the UC Berkeley EECS department will be
able to explore aspects of embedded systems design from core concepts
like models of computation, concurrency and tool-supported design
methodologies to sensors and actuators, data acquisition, and
interfacing.
Full Article
Chevy's
R07 Racing Engine: a Chip Off the Old Small Block
When GM's 1955 engine architecture wasn't up to the Toyota challenge,
the automaker responded with a whole new design. First, GM developed the
new Impala SS exclusively for NASCAR Nextel Cup Competition. Now, it's
replacing the smallblock, second-generation (SB2) engine, NASCAR's
workhorse since 1998. Besides being more competitive, the new powerplant
will be safer, less costly, and more reliable. The R07, short for
"Racing 2007," is GM's first purpose-built NASCAR racing engine.
Full Article
Save
time with motion controllers
The holidays may be over, but the editors of Motion System Design
have another gift for you. Some might argue it's the best gift of all
-- time. Each month, our Time Saving Technology department will
introduce new products and ideas to help you work more efficiently and
become a more effective problem solver.
Full Article
Motion-control chips
Magellan motion-control chips support dc brushed, brushless dc, step,
and pulse and direction motors. The processors can be used in one, two,
three, and four-axis configurations to control any combination of
motors. The chips feature programmable PID filters with velocity and
acceleration feedforward, 32-bit position error, 50-ìsec loop time,
and four selectable profile modes, including S-curve, trapezoidal,
velocity contouring, and electronic gearing. The chips are driven by a
host microprocessor using a CANbus 2.0B, 8, or 16-bit parallel bus, or
an asynchronous serial port. Analog inputs include eight 10-bit inputs
for parameters such as position, velocity, and acceleration to generate
corresponding trajectories. The chips accept feedback from incremental
encoders at 10 megacounts/ sec or from an absolute encoder or resolver
at 160 megacounts/ sec.
More Information:
Performance Motion Devices
Inc.
Servomotor plus flywheel
The MaxPlus-J (MPJ) servomotor features a special inertia flywheel
that adds from three to 10 times the inertia of a standard MPP
servomotor. Features of the MPJ include: segmented core technology for
40% higher torque, a potted stator design for improved thermal
efficiency; 1.3 to 20-Nm continuous torque; 1.5 to 26-Nm continuous
stall torque; 5 to 82-Nm peak torque; brushless construction,
high-performance neodymium magnets; thermistor protection, resolver,
incremental encoder, or absolute single or multiturn encoder; and
rotatable right-angle PS-style connectors. The units are available in
Sizes 92. 100, 115, amd 142, and available options include a 24-V
fail-safe brake and IP65 shaft seal.
More Information:
Parker Hannifin Corp., Electromechanical Automation
Div.
Motion
control software
Steeplechase VLC software offers seamless integration of the SynqNet
motion network when used with the RapidCode VLC driver. It controls up
to 256 axes of motion from one runtime program. The single, ease-of-use
programming environment for real-time motion control simplifies
development and eliminates need to purchase, learn, and maintain
multiple programming packages. Integrated PC-based networked control
eliminates analog wiring and intricate handshaking between PCs,
standalone controller, and motor amplifiers. RapidCode VLC driver
provides common set of motion commands, such as jogging, point-to-point
positioning, position tracking, contouring, linear and circular
interpolation, and electronic gearing.
More Information:
Phoenix Contact
Inside
The Industry: High-Tech Vehicles
Where is the automotive industry heading with vehicle electronics and
software? The short answer is that it's going from silicon-defined
systems to software-defined systems. Let's look deeper and begin with a
snapshot of the Ford F-150 pickup truck. Today, this vehicle contains 20
electronic modules, 50 sensors, 40 actuators, and three in-vehicle
communication networks.
Full Article
Scalable,
flexible designs gaining ground
"Scalability" and "flexibility" in manufacturing are no longer just
management buzzwords. Multipurpose machinery that can grow and change as
needed is becoming a high priority, if not an outright demand from end
users. Consider these expert tips and tools to limber up your designs.
Full Article
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