When Australian steelmaker InfraBuild needed two new circuit breakers to provide backup for its main electric arc furnace, ABB had the solution—its VD4-AF vacuum circuit breaker with an innovative servomotor actuation system that delivers more than five times the operations of a standard breaker, supporting greater reliability and safety as well as lower operational costs.
Operating for long hours, under extreme loads, in high temperatures and dusty environments, ongoing wear is a significant challenge for open gears. This can lead to unplanned downtime and reduced equipment life—creating a barrier to effective operations. Leading mining and cement companies use advanced grease technology and technical inspections to help prevent open gear failure, optimize service life and ensure the smooth running of their operations.
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Consider the following scenario: guided by vision sensors, a robot spots a product on a moving conveyor, determines its exact position and, in one fluid motion, picks it up and places it into a waiting assembly, carrier tray, or shipping container. What human operators once found tiring—or at least tedious, the robot performs flawlessly, hour after hour, even long after its flesh-and-blood coworkers have gone home for the evening.
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Despite a lukewarm sustainability agenda here in the United States, global bearing manufacturers continue to be motivated by eco-friendly technologies, environmental awareness and energy efficiency regulations. Material innovation is one of the key strategies to reduce environmental impact moving forward. Concerns include energy consumption in manufacturing, waste generation, emissions from lubricants and raw material extraction. The end goal is to provide longer-lasting components with less waste.
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The load limit diagram of a motor spindle serves to graphically represent the permissible operating range as a function of parameters such as rotational speed. It enables a quick assessment of the conditions under which the spindle can be operated safely and reliably without exceeding mechanical, thermal or dynamic limits. Such a diagram is a key tool for the design, selection and evaluation of spindle systems in mechanical engineering particularly in the field of machining where high demands are placed on precision, performance and service life.
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The path toward success in mechanical power transmission today hinges on an organization’s ability to provide smart and digital automation solutions. Customers are looking for system components boasting more performance, precision, and cost effectiveness in robotics and industrial automation applications. Schaeffler, the global technology company specializing in solutions for the automotive and industrial sectors, offers a strong and diverse product range not only for large industrial robots, but also for lightweight and collaborative robots (cobots).
In the realm of tractor gearbox applications, gear whine noise has long been a persistent challenge that significantly impacts the user experience and overall perceived performance of the vehicle. This paper delves into a comprehensive study that discusses the approach to tackling this issue through a combination of design optimizations, simulation techniques and physical validation processes.
Schaeffler continues to advance key technologies shaping the future of mobility and motion. One area of interest—humanoid robots—is where Schaeffler is developing advanced component and system capabilities for the next generation of robotics. PTE recently had the opportunity to discuss these technologies with Al Makke, engineering director, humanoid robotics, North America, at Schaeffler Group USA.
Closed-loop control systems can handle a wide range of motions with a wide range of loads if the control system and the mechanics of the system are properly designed for the task. A couple of the more difficult combinations to design for are high inertial mismatches and backlash with hard gearing. The question is not just how to make the system stable but also how to get the desired performance.
The drive system choice is dependent on key motion features of your application. Lead screws offer self-locking capabilities, while ball screws require brakes to prevent back-driving. The choice between them hinges on efficiency, cost, precision, and speed, with the screw drives themselves paired with a linear guide for optimal performance.
Bellows couplings are commonly used in applications requiring precise rotation, high speeds, and dynamic motion transmission. With zero backlash and a high level of torsional stiffness, they offer clear performance advantages in many servo-driven systems.
The Simplicity self-lubricating linear plain bearings are built to last, and they will often out-perform and last longer than a traditional linear ball bearing. Called the “little red bearing” by loyal customers, they have been a popular replacement for failing ball bearings. Simplicity plain bearings will not catastrophically fail.
The difference between a smooth-running drive and constant headaches? The right timing belt and pulley plus a whole lot more. Discover what works, what doesn’t, and put your design skills to the test—engineer your best system yet!
Discover how Regal Rexnord’s Bauer™ PMSM gear motor helped a transportation company streamline inventory, cut energy use, and save $80,000 annually. Learn how this scalable solution delivers financial, operational, and sustainability gains across facilities.
Vector Companies is a global platform of gear, shaft, and custom component manufacturers that helps innovators move faster from print to production with dependable, high-quality parts.
Mar 5, 2026
To enhance customer experience and provide a high level of visibility and control, ABB has streamlined and simplified its process for submitting and tracking warranty requests for ABB and ABB Baldor-Reliance NEMA motor lines. Customers can now submit a warranty request directly, and any member of the ABB team, from district offices to sales and technical support, can assist with the process.
KHK USA Inc. announces its extensive line of metric worm gears, manufactured to the highest quality standards by Kohara Gear Industry Co., of Japan. KHK’s large selection of worm gears are very quiet and provide smooth transmission of power and are suitable for a very wide range of applications where a large speed reduction is required in a compact space.
Apr 13, 2026 - Apr 16, 2026
In 2026, AeroDef Manufacturing is represented on the national stage by a multifaceted showcase at RAPID + TCT 2026.
Jun 1, 2026 - Jun 4, 2026
Jun 15, 2026 - Jun 18, 2026
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Power Transmission Engineering is THE magazine of mechanical components. PTE is written for engineers and maintenance pros who specify, purchase and use gears, gear drives, bearings, motors, couplings, clutches, lubrication, seals and all other types of mechanical power transmission and motion control components.
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