Shaft collars function as mechanical stops, clamps often used on split hubs, bearing faces and as a means for locating components on a variety of equipment including motors, gearboxes, linear actuators, packaging equipment, printing presses, medical devices, and measuring instruments. Shaft collars from Ruland are single point faced to ensure a high level of face to bore perpendicularity. The result is face runout of TIR < .05 mm (.002') on standard collars with even tighter tolerance on bearing locknuts and special designs.
A precise shaft collar face to bore relationship is important for many applications.
It ensures that components are both properly positioned and not tilted on the shaft.
Collar face perpendicularity also ensures even pressure on interfaced components.
Uneven pressure can result in premature failure of components such as bearings.
When shaft collars are subject to shock loads, precise facing reduces the likelihood that the position of the collar will be shifted.
A circular groove indicates the precision face on Ruland shaft collars.
The collars should be installed so that the groove is on the side that will receive shock loads or is against components needing precise positioning or even pressure.
Ruland offers shaft collars in aluminium, black oxide carbon steel and stainless steel, as well as engineered plastic collars.
One- and two-piece clamp-style designs are available with bore sizes from 3mm to 80mm.
Clamp-style shaft collars do not mar the shaft like traditional set-screw types (DIN 705).
Clamp-style collars also have higher holding power because they wrap around the shaft when tightened thus applying compressive stress nearly uniformly on the circumference of the shaft.
Two-piece clamp-style collars have an additional advantage since they can be installed on the shaft without removing other components.
Ruland uses forged socket hardware in all its shaft collars, which allows for higher screw torque and increased holding power.
Shaft collars are part of Ruland's complete product line which also includes rigid couplings with precision honed bores and five types of zero-backlash motion control couplings: beam couplings, bellows couplings, oldham couplings, miniature disc couplings and curved jaw couplings.
Pneumatic conveyor blowers operate continuously
The Shark range of dry-running, rotary lobe blowers from Rietschle (UK), is now an extended family. Thirteen models are available in both pressure and vacuum versions, with capacities ranging from 15m3/h to 8300m3/h. Suitable for pressure duties up to 1bar or vacuum to 0.5bar (abs), they deliver nearly constant, oil-free air or vacuum, at varying pressures.
The gearboxes of these large volume blowers are robustly constructed for continuous operation (up to 60,000 h, maintenance-free), in pneumatic conveying and in process applications ranging from aeration to gas stirring.
The triple lobe design hugely reduces flow and pressure pulsations: to the extent that resonance silencers are not required on the discharge side, even when several blowers are connected in parallel.
They are available either as bare shaft units, or as compact, skid-mounted assemblies complete with drive motor, non-return and safety valves, connecting compensator and silencers.
For indoor and external operation, the compact assembly can be enclosed in an acoustic box to reduce the operating noise level by a further 20 dB(A).
Dynamically balanced prior to assembly, the contra-rotating rotors are driven by helical toothed drive gears, for silent running and high load-carrying capacity.
The hardened gear teeth are ground and polished to minimise geometric errors, and to maintain fine operating tolerances between the lobes.
The rotor housing is free of any sealing or lubricating materials, and isolated from the oil-lubricated drive gears.
Thanks to the compact nature of the design, only limited foundations are needed, which reduces installation costs.
Servicing is minimal, and frequency control is available as an optional extra, both of which make for economies in operation: a relevant factor given the longevity of these units.
The gearboxes of these large volume blowers are robustly constructed for continuous operation (up to 60,000 h, maintenance-free), in pneumatic conveying and in process applications ranging from aeration to gas stirring.
The triple lobe design hugely reduces flow and pressure pulsations: to the extent that resonance silencers are not required on the discharge side, even when several blowers are connected in parallel.
They are available either as bare shaft units, or as compact, skid-mounted assemblies complete with drive motor, non-return and safety valves, connecting compensator and silencers.
For indoor and external operation, the compact assembly can be enclosed in an acoustic box to reduce the operating noise level by a further 20 dB(A).
Dynamically balanced prior to assembly, the contra-rotating rotors are driven by helical toothed drive gears, for silent running and high load-carrying capacity.
The hardened gear teeth are ground and polished to minimise geometric errors, and to maintain fine operating tolerances between the lobes.
The rotor housing is free of any sealing or lubricating materials, and isolated from the oil-lubricated drive gears.
Thanks to the compact nature of the design, only limited foundations are needed, which reduces installation costs.
Servicing is minimal, and frequency control is available as an optional extra, both of which make for economies in operation: a relevant factor given the longevity of these units.
Clutches and couplings take strain in gear tests
Mayr Antreibstechnik has recently supplied a quantity of Mayr EAS compact overload clutches combined with Mayr Roba-DS torsionally rigid couplings to EGM of Hanover for use on automatic gearbox test rigs. Transmitting 150kW at 6000rev/min, the Mayr EAS compact overload clutches were selected due to their high running speed capability and immediate drive disengagement facility should a failure occur in a gearbox being tested . To ensure that no further damage occurs to the both the gearbox and test equipment in the event of a gearbox failure, the drive requires immediate disengagement .
The Mayr EAS compact overload clutch will operate virtually instantaneously on reaching the preset overload torque completely disengaging the drive to ensure no further torque transmission.
Re-engagement to the preset torque after an overload condition being a simple and quick operation without the necessity of special tools, thus minimising any down time .
The Mayr EAS compact clutches enabled the required overload/disengage torques to be easily adjusted to suit each specific application.
The Roba-DS torsionally rigid couplings connecting the EAS compact clutches to the automatic gearboxes required special sleeves of 1030mm length .
The Mayr EAS compact overload clutch will operate virtually instantaneously on reaching the preset overload torque completely disengaging the drive to ensure no further torque transmission.
Re-engagement to the preset torque after an overload condition being a simple and quick operation without the necessity of special tools, thus minimising any down time .
The Mayr EAS compact clutches enabled the required overload/disengage torques to be easily adjusted to suit each specific application.
The Roba-DS torsionally rigid couplings connecting the EAS compact clutches to the automatic gearboxes required special sleeves of 1030mm length .
Beagle 2 Mars Lander at drives exhibition
Manufacturers of some of the world's smallest and cleverest precision motors, maxon motor, are due to make a particularly cosmic impact at the Drives and Controls 2001 Exhibition this March. Visitors to their stand - B15 - will be able to see, close up, the Beagle 2 Mars Lander - the flagship of the European Space Agency (ESA) project. It is this mission, due to launch in 2003, that may be the first to answer the question "Is there life on Mars?" The Drives and Controls 2001 Exhibition and Conference moves to its brand-new £250m exhibition centre in London's Docklands so, no doubt, many of the exhibitors will be looking to do something a little special in order to make an impact this year.
Few, however, will be able to compete with the coup pulled off by maxon motor, and the Beagle 2 is sure to draw the crowds.
maxon is involved in many different aspects of the Mars project.
The solar array deployment (the solar 'wings' that help control the craft) and the robotic arm, which supports the panoramic cameras and other instruments, are all powered by maxon motors.
Most importantly, maxon motor have been chosen to drive the tunnelling 'mole' that will be a vital part of the mission.
It is this that will collect soil and rock samples from below the surface of the Red Planet and that will hopefully provide the answer to one of mankind's great unanswered questions: 'Is there, or has there been, life on a planet other than our own?' Motors supplied by maxon motor must be able to withstand extreme conditions.
They must be able to function in temperatures of up to -100 degrees C on the planet's surface, yet will have to be sterilized before departure at temperatures well above boiling point.
They have been designed using some extraordinary state-of the-art technology, including special lubrication, a new form of low discharge capacitor, vacuum-compatible bearings, special designed low degassing cable and extra reinforced gearboxes.
With a landed mass of less than 30kg, Beagle 2 represents the most ambitious science payload to systems mass ratio ever attempted.
Almost a third of the payload will carry out various types of analysis or be used to manipulate and collect samples for study on the surface of Mars.
This is one of the reasons for the team choosing maxon who make some of the world's most miniscule precision motors; their smallest one weighs a mere 2.8g, is only 6mm in diameter, and yet it turns at up to 100,000 revolutions per minute.
It's no wonder that Lord Sainsbury, the Minister for Science, recently said, "Beagle 2 is a superb demonstration of the skill and creativity of British science and engineering."
Few, however, will be able to compete with the coup pulled off by maxon motor, and the Beagle 2 is sure to draw the crowds.
maxon is involved in many different aspects of the Mars project.
The solar array deployment (the solar 'wings' that help control the craft) and the robotic arm, which supports the panoramic cameras and other instruments, are all powered by maxon motors.
Most importantly, maxon motor have been chosen to drive the tunnelling 'mole' that will be a vital part of the mission.
It is this that will collect soil and rock samples from below the surface of the Red Planet and that will hopefully provide the answer to one of mankind's great unanswered questions: 'Is there, or has there been, life on a planet other than our own?' Motors supplied by maxon motor must be able to withstand extreme conditions.
They must be able to function in temperatures of up to -100 degrees C on the planet's surface, yet will have to be sterilized before departure at temperatures well above boiling point.
They have been designed using some extraordinary state-of the-art technology, including special lubrication, a new form of low discharge capacitor, vacuum-compatible bearings, special designed low degassing cable and extra reinforced gearboxes.
With a landed mass of less than 30kg, Beagle 2 represents the most ambitious science payload to systems mass ratio ever attempted.
Almost a third of the payload will carry out various types of analysis or be used to manipulate and collect samples for study on the surface of Mars.
This is one of the reasons for the team choosing maxon who make some of the world's most miniscule precision motors; their smallest one weighs a mere 2.8g, is only 6mm in diameter, and yet it turns at up to 100,000 revolutions per minute.
It's no wonder that Lord Sainsbury, the Minister for Science, recently said, "Beagle 2 is a superb demonstration of the skill and creativity of British science and engineering."
Brushless DC motors come with onboard control
Crouzet has developed a new generation of brushless DC motors featuring fully integrated electronic control. Available as 30 or 90W versions, they have been developed to meet demand for a range of compact, versatile, low maintenance and high efficiency motors. The built in electronic controller provides a user-friendly interface to enable the speed and direction of the motor to be regulated and also protect it from damage due to overload.
It removes the need for a separate speed card in the control panel, reducing costs, saving space and simplifying connection.
With less servicing, lower energy consumption and integrated motor overload protection, Crouzet brushless motors provide OEMs and equipment manufacturers with a high quality, low cost of ownership solution.
Two versions of the motor are available.
One has integrated speed regulation for constant load applications, the other an integrated speed loop to maintain constant speed as the load varies.
Hall effect sensors mounted adjacent to the rotor are used to feed back rotor position, speed and direction to the controller.
The built-in electronic control card provides a user-friendly interface with inputs for on/off, direction of rotation, 0-10V DC speed control, PWM (pulsewidth modulation) and encoder output.
Motor temperature and supply current are monitored and if a fault condition occurs, the motor is automatically shut down.
The near quiet operation and low EMC emissions make the motors particularly suitable for high technology applications.
These include medical equipment such as dialysis equipment and respirators, commercial copiers, postal and bank processing systems, and packaging/automated handling systems.
Crouzet brushless DC motors can be supplied for direct drive or with a range of integrated, high quality, offset and planetary gearboxes to give the output speed and torque required for virtually any application.
They are part of a comprehensive range of electric motors for industrial automation applications.
The full Crouzet motor range includes conventional DC motors, synchronous, stepper and asynchronous motors together with a range of axial fans.
The new range of Crouzet motors represent a quantum leap in brushless motor technology, providing the control engineer with a high performance, low maintenance solution with the added benefit of built in speed control and motor protection.
It removes the need for a separate speed card in the control panel, reducing costs, saving space and simplifying connection.
With less servicing, lower energy consumption and integrated motor overload protection, Crouzet brushless motors provide OEMs and equipment manufacturers with a high quality, low cost of ownership solution.
Two versions of the motor are available.
One has integrated speed regulation for constant load applications, the other an integrated speed loop to maintain constant speed as the load varies.
Hall effect sensors mounted adjacent to the rotor are used to feed back rotor position, speed and direction to the controller.
The built-in electronic control card provides a user-friendly interface with inputs for on/off, direction of rotation, 0-10V DC speed control, PWM (pulsewidth modulation) and encoder output.
Motor temperature and supply current are monitored and if a fault condition occurs, the motor is automatically shut down.
The near quiet operation and low EMC emissions make the motors particularly suitable for high technology applications.
These include medical equipment such as dialysis equipment and respirators, commercial copiers, postal and bank processing systems, and packaging/automated handling systems.
Crouzet brushless DC motors can be supplied for direct drive or with a range of integrated, high quality, offset and planetary gearboxes to give the output speed and torque required for virtually any application.
They are part of a comprehensive range of electric motors for industrial automation applications.
The full Crouzet motor range includes conventional DC motors, synchronous, stepper and asynchronous motors together with a range of axial fans.
The new range of Crouzet motors represent a quantum leap in brushless motor technology, providing the control engineer with a high performance, low maintenance solution with the added benefit of built in speed control and motor protection.
Overload clutch gets its own website
A new website aims to help design engineers and industrial distributors select the Centric Clutch overload clutch that is best for a given application. Commonly used in applications such as paper converting, packaging, wastewater treatment, braking and material handling, these products offer valuable machine design benefits. The new www.CentricClutch.com features downloadable product guides and application information for Centric Clutch mechanical and pneumatic centrifugal overload clutch products.
Technical data and product specifications for a variety of models can be accessed easily with the click of a mouse.
And a special section offers important considerations and helpful guidelines for selecting a Centric Clutch.
Overload clutches provide design advantages such as machine protection and reduced repair time during jamming load conditions.
Centric clutches offer an accurate method of resetting the torque without operator intervention.
A single position clutch will reengage in the exact rotational position each time - often necessary for system timing in bottling, packaging, paper converting and other similar applications.
Overload clutches provide consistent torque levels after many overloads.
At very low speeds, systems can develop a large amount of unnecessary torque that can damage drive system components (shafts, gearboxes, chains, couplings, etc.) in the advent of a jam.
Technical data and product specifications for a variety of models can be accessed easily with the click of a mouse.
And a special section offers important considerations and helpful guidelines for selecting a Centric Clutch.
Overload clutches provide design advantages such as machine protection and reduced repair time during jamming load conditions.
Centric clutches offer an accurate method of resetting the torque without operator intervention.
A single position clutch will reengage in the exact rotational position each time - often necessary for system timing in bottling, packaging, paper converting and other similar applications.
Overload clutches provide consistent torque levels after many overloads.
At very low speeds, systems can develop a large amount of unnecessary torque that can damage drive system components (shafts, gearboxes, chains, couplings, etc.) in the advent of a jam.
Miniature motors suit all applications
For applications as diverse as medical equipment and robotics, security devices and instrumentation, EMS is now offering the extensive FTB range of high-performance low-profile miniature motors. The motors are available in direct drive versions with torque ratings from 0.05 to 3mNm, and in geared versions with ratings from 50 to 180mNm. All the new motors feature ironless rotors with three flat oval copper coils, which rotate in an axially oriented magnetic field, and which have very small moments of inertia.
This design allows high rates of acceleration to be achieved with minimal flutter, and provides complete freedom from cogging.
In addition, the linear characteristics of the motor make it easy to provide accurate speed control.
The low-profile construction of the motors, which vary in thickness from 5.2 to 8.2mm for direct drive types, and from 12 to 19.1mm for types with gearboxes, makes them an ideal choice for use in modern equipment, where minimum overall size is almost always a prime requirement.
All the motors in the range are available in versions to suit 3 and 6V supplies, with many models available to suit other voltages from 2 to 24V.
Recommend maximum operating speeds for direct drive motors are between 5500 and 10,000rev/min, depending on the motor size.
In addition to FTB motors with integral gearing, EMS also offers compatible spur gearheads for many of the motors in the range.
This design allows high rates of acceleration to be achieved with minimal flutter, and provides complete freedom from cogging.
In addition, the linear characteristics of the motor make it easy to provide accurate speed control.
The low-profile construction of the motors, which vary in thickness from 5.2 to 8.2mm for direct drive types, and from 12 to 19.1mm for types with gearboxes, makes them an ideal choice for use in modern equipment, where minimum overall size is almost always a prime requirement.
All the motors in the range are available in versions to suit 3 and 6V supplies, with many models available to suit other voltages from 2 to 24V.
Recommend maximum operating speeds for direct drive motors are between 5500 and 10,000rev/min, depending on the motor size.
In addition to FTB motors with integral gearing, EMS also offers compatible spur gearheads for many of the motors in the range.
Miniature motors suit all applications
For applications as diverse as medical equipment and robotics, security devices and instrumentation, EMS is now offering the extensive FTB range of high-performance low-profile miniature motors. The motors are available in direct drive versions with torque ratings from 0.05 to 3mNm, and in geared versions with ratings from 50 to 180mNm. All the new motors feature ironless rotors with three flat oval copper coils, which rotate in an axially oriented magnetic field, and which have very small moments of inertia.
This design allows high rates of acceleration to be achieved with minimal flutter, and provides complete freedom from cogging.
In addition, the linear characteristics of the motor make it easy to provide accurate speed control.
The low-profile construction of the motors, which vary in thickness from 5.2 to 8.2mm for direct drive types, and from 12 to 19.1mm for types with gearboxes, makes them an ideal choice for use in modern equipment, where minimum overall size is almost always a prime requirement.
All the motors in the range are available in versions to suit 3 and 6V supplies, with many models available to suit other voltages from 2 to 24V.
Recommend maximum operating speeds for direct drive motors are between 5500 and 10,000rev/min, depending on the motor size.
In addition to FTB motors with integral gearing, EMS also offers compatible spur gearheads for many of the motors in the range.
This design allows high rates of acceleration to be achieved with minimal flutter, and provides complete freedom from cogging.
In addition, the linear characteristics of the motor make it easy to provide accurate speed control.
The low-profile construction of the motors, which vary in thickness from 5.2 to 8.2mm for direct drive types, and from 12 to 19.1mm for types with gearboxes, makes them an ideal choice for use in modern equipment, where minimum overall size is almost always a prime requirement.
All the motors in the range are available in versions to suit 3 and 6V supplies, with many models available to suit other voltages from 2 to 24V.
Recommend maximum operating speeds for direct drive motors are between 5500 and 10,000rev/min, depending on the motor size.
In addition to FTB motors with integral gearing, EMS also offers compatible spur gearheads for many of the motors in the range.
Gearheads torque up servomotor performance
The growth potential for ZF's new range of high-performance planetary gearheads has been underlined with the conclusion of a trading partnership between ZF Industrial and motion control specialist, Goodwin Electronics. The partnership combines the best in precision gearhead and servomotor technology in a package that provides automation users with greatly improved levels of torque for use in precision applications in machine tools, packaging, printing, automotive and robotics. The new collaboration provides a well-established sales and applications base for ZF Industrial's WT and PG ranges of low backlash, high performance planetary gearheads.
Goodwin Electronics is a total systems company with more than 20 years experience in the design and manufacture of electronic control and measurement systems for some of the most complex industrial applications in today's global market.
"Our business is built upon a total service package, and an ethos of getting things right first time", says Goodwin Managing Director, Paul Shuffleton.
"The systems we supply are only as good as the products we use and the expertise that we employ to implement them.
Because of this, we only partner with best-in-class companies like ZF that have a proven quality pedigree and a reputation for reliability in the market".
"Goodwin Electronics is the UK's premier business partner for Yaskawa Electric, one of the world's largest manufacturers of drives, so we are uniquely placed to exploit the synergy between the ZF gearheads and a range of servomotors that have a reputation for being the most reliable on the market".
"The package of the WT and PG ranges of planetary gearheads and Yaskawa servomotors is an extremely attractive one, offering machine designers a compact and lightweight solution for gaining extra torque or improved inertia matching from servomotors without sacrificing space.
It also offers high degrees of torsional rigidity, resulting in exceptional levels of positional accuracy and reliability".
The PG and right angle WT gearheads that are the core of the new partnership are designed to a provide a simple and cost effective means of optimising the torque performance of AC and DC servomotors.
They also offer the added benefit of being dimensionally interchangeable with competitive units on the market - plus the traditional advantages of a planetary gearbox design: low weight, compact design and low noise, plus a combination of high efficiency and a low moment of inertia.
"The wealth of applications and systems experience which Goodwin Electronics brings to our new partnership is an ideal complement to our precision planetary gearboxes and means that customers requiring more from their servomotors can achieve it, simply and cost effectively, with an optimised package from industry leaders", commented ZF's Account Manager, Rob Pearson.
Goodwin Electronics is a total systems company with more than 20 years experience in the design and manufacture of electronic control and measurement systems for some of the most complex industrial applications in today's global market.
"Our business is built upon a total service package, and an ethos of getting things right first time", says Goodwin Managing Director, Paul Shuffleton.
"The systems we supply are only as good as the products we use and the expertise that we employ to implement them.
Because of this, we only partner with best-in-class companies like ZF that have a proven quality pedigree and a reputation for reliability in the market".
"Goodwin Electronics is the UK's premier business partner for Yaskawa Electric, one of the world's largest manufacturers of drives, so we are uniquely placed to exploit the synergy between the ZF gearheads and a range of servomotors that have a reputation for being the most reliable on the market".
"The package of the WT and PG ranges of planetary gearheads and Yaskawa servomotors is an extremely attractive one, offering machine designers a compact and lightweight solution for gaining extra torque or improved inertia matching from servomotors without sacrificing space.
It also offers high degrees of torsional rigidity, resulting in exceptional levels of positional accuracy and reliability".
The PG and right angle WT gearheads that are the core of the new partnership are designed to a provide a simple and cost effective means of optimising the torque performance of AC and DC servomotors.
They also offer the added benefit of being dimensionally interchangeable with competitive units on the market - plus the traditional advantages of a planetary gearbox design: low weight, compact design and low noise, plus a combination of high efficiency and a low moment of inertia.
"The wealth of applications and systems experience which Goodwin Electronics brings to our new partnership is an ideal complement to our precision planetary gearboxes and means that customers requiring more from their servomotors can achieve it, simply and cost effectively, with an optimised package from industry leaders", commented ZF's Account Manager, Rob Pearson.
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