The rugged, high-stakes environment of the mining industry requires safety to be non-optional. Every piece of equipment, every process, and every decision must come together to ensure the livelihood of the workforce is preserved and operational excellence is achieved. From conveyor systems to hoists and grinding mills, these critical components play a large part in providing essential raw materials to the global economy. One crucial element that plays a vital role in all these sectors, however, is the braking systems of these heavy applications.
The mining industry relies heavily on efficient and reliable equipment to process large volumes of ore and mineral resources. One critical component in this ecosystem is the grinding mill, which plays a pivotal role in comminuting materials to prepare them for further processing. Grinding mills, particularly the large semi-autogenous (SAG) and ball mills, often operate under challenging conditions that demand precision, durability, and adaptability. A key technology enabling these mills to operate safely and efficiently is the hydraulic inching drive system.
It’s an exciting time in the electric motor industry. In the past two years more truly innovative new technology development has occurred than in the previous two decades. We can thank the e-mobility movement for that. It’s not just cars, trucks, bikes and buses, but just about everything else that moves on wheels as well as on water and in the sky.
Robotic devices—such as cobots, exoskeletons, prostheses, and humanoids—are designed to operate in environments that are shared with humans. These settings are often unpredictable, making human-centric movement a crucial requirement.
The increasing cost of food and beverage machinery makes running equipment to failure not just impractical, but potentially devastating to your bottom line. However, there are solutions that can lead to significant savings, and an often overlooked one is implementing an effective lubrication program. A well-structured program delivers a trifecta of benefits: reduced downtime, a cleaner and safer work environment, and easier compliance with the stringent regulations of the food processing industry.
Clearing the world’s waterways of invasive vegetation, algae, refuse, and other pollutants is essential work with enormous impact. Healthy marine environments are a lifeline for so many things—from jobs such as farming, fishing, and shipping; to clean water and wildlife habitats; to property values, tourism, and recreational opportunities. Regular herbicide use, chemical runoff, and basic evolution have caused numerous plant species to develop resistance, leading to clogged waterways and other hazards. Removing the offensive materials mechanically is ideal, but that method poses different challenges. Fortunately, Weedoo Greenboat, Inc. found an environmentally friendly solution that is also cost effective from Renewable Lubricants.
Organized by the Turbomachinery Laboratory at Texas A&M University, the annual Turbomachinery and Pump Symposia (TPS)—the 53rd Turbomachinery and 40th International Pump Users—event was held August 20–22, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.
With over 2,500 exhibitors occupying 1.3 million net square feet, Pack Expo promises solutions catering to over 40 vertical markets. Expectations also forecast a convergence of more than 45,000 attendees from global consumer packaged goods and life sciences companies.
Truth be told, there are few components as versatile as the gearmotor. We find them in AGVs, AMRs, and robotics. They can also be found in automation equipment, industrial drive solutions and material handling applications. Four key trends involving gearmotors today include the simplification in design and installation, quiet and energy efficient performance, predictive maintenance and condition monitoring—and lastly—the ability to perform at the highest levels in hazardous and demanding applications.
MINExpo boasts 1,900+ companies involved in the global mining industry. Opening sessions allow the industry to come together to debate global challenges, market fluctuations and the future of mining. Resources include exploration, mine site development, open pit mining, underground mining, smelting and refining, processing and preparation and reclamation. Here’s a sample of the companies exhibiting and the products/technologies they will be featuring in Las Vegas from September 24–26, 2024.
Digital Transformation. IIoT. Industry 4.0. While they may seem like trending buzzwords, the technologies are critical to operations being efficient and competitive, and reducing unplanned downtime. Every industry strives for maximum efficiency; be that manufacturing, oil & gas, or water/wastewater. For capturing production data, the days of the clipboard and manual data analysis are gone.
CCTY (Lake Zurich, IL) is a manufacturer of high-performance motion control and assemblies including spherical plain bearings, rod ends, mast guide bearings, self-lubricating bearings, tie rods, ball joints and more. CCTY is a full-service global engineering and consulting partner that helps customers quickly turn new product ideas into reality. PTE recently discussed the company’s evolution with Yaman Obaid, a mechanical engineer specializing in robotics for CCTY.
Siemens’ annual event Realize LIVE Americas never fails to disappoint on the technology front. Automation, AI, IIoT, the Industrial Metaverse, additive manufacturing—you name the technology—Siemens has it covered. The factory of the future is no different. The company spends a great deal of time discussing smart manufacturing, analytics and services examining what a typical shop floor might look like in 15–20 years.
Gear drives are fundamental in most processing operations, connecting the prime mover to the driven equipment and ensuring that the system has enough torque to effectively move product. Correctly specifying and selecting the proper gear drives for critical applications leads to reliability, greater uptime and profitability.
Predictive analytics will be all over IMTS 2024 including the Automation Sector, accelerated by SPS—smart production solutions. Visitors will find a broad range of digital solutions at IMTS 2024 at McCormick Place in Chicago on Sept. 9–14.
Demand for specialty wire and cable—fueled in part by data center expansion as well as new charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs)—is in turn creating greater demand for cable production capacity. As you design machines that will satisfy the demand, you’ll want to incorporate an effective driving method that controls speed and torque with the highest precision.
As the world shifts towards sustainable energy solutions, the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) continues to increase, and at pace. This transition impacts the priorities of those throughout the industry—from OEMs to suppliers—as traditional automotive components are being replaced by electric motors, battery systems, power electronics, and thermal management systems.
There is no compromise to safety in robotic applications. Lightweight robots or collaborative robots (cobots) are capable of complex and unexpected movements and need to stop immediately ensuring the safety of human operators. This is where smart couplings and smart brakes provide intelligent flexibility and guidance.
In the highly competitive gear manufacturing industry, Master Power Transmission (MPT) recognized the need for innovation. To achieve this, MPT partnered with Ready Robotics, undertaking a transformative journey into advanced automation through their Automation Readiness Assessment (ARA).
Half a million global visitors visit Aiguille du Midi as an access point for skiing in the winter and hiking, rock climbing and paragliding in the spring, summer, and autumn seasons. The mountain—part of the French Alps—boasts the current title of employing “the world’s highest vertical ascent cable car.” This unique transportation takes passengers from 3,396 to 12,605 ft. above the clouds. The planetary gearboxes needed for the cable car operation are provided by CMD Gears.
Automate 2024 (Chicago) offers comprehensive automation education and new developments in robotics, vision, AI, motion control and other technologies. Automate delivers the latest innovations in manufacturing automation technology from more than 800 exhibitors. If the robotic and automation highlights aren’t enough, the show also hints at the evolution of AI, IIoT, e-Mobility, condition monitoring and intuitive software. This article previews the show floor topics reshaping manufacturing for the foreseeable future.
Anticipation vs. reaction is the name of the game in fluid power, hydraulics, and pneumatics. The organizations embracing mechatronics, digital toolsets, AI and the electrification movement will be in a much better position moving forward. Here are a few of the trends/technologies to consider relating to fluid power and motion control today:
While the factory has received a modern makeover in recent years, it’s no surprise various industrial segments are taking advantage of digital tools to promote efficiency, sustainability, and productivity. The farming and agriculture community has embraced automation, robotics, IIoT, drones and autonomous vehicles to address global food demands and production limitations.
As the world transitions towards sustainable energy solutions, the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is rapidly growing. This shift not only highlights the importance of reducing carbon emissions but also underscores the critical role of mining in supporting the infrastructure needed for this green revolution. From lithium-ion batteries to rare earth metals, mining plays a pivotal role in powering the future of transportation. The intricate relationship between mining and EV infrastructure highlights challenges, opportunities, and the path forward.
Mark your calendars for March 19–21, 2024, as the Bearing Show—colocated with Lubricant Expo—descends upon Huntington Place in Detroit. As North America’s premier exhibition and conference dedicated to bearings, this free-to-attend event promises to be a groundbreaking convergence of industry leaders, technological advancements, and invaluable networking.
Solid Edge is a portfolio of affordable, easy-to-use software tools that address all aspects of the product development process. Solid Edge combines the speed and simplicity of direct modeling with the flexibility and control of parametric design—made possible with synchronous technology. The following Q&A discusses Solid Edge 2024 with Dan Staples, vice president, mainstream engineering, Siemens Digital Industries Software.
Vesconite Bearings, a global supplier of bearing and wear materials located in Johannesburg, South Africa, is taking strides towards sustainability and environmental responsibility by implementing a comprehensive solar energy solution. The initiative, spearheaded by Factory Manager Robin Crabb and CEO Dr Jean-Patrick Leger, involves a significant investment in solar infrastructure to reduce the factory’s reliance on the power grid and make substantial progress in becoming more environmentally friendly.
With an “all-hands on deck” approach to maintenance today, engineers require the latest tools and technologies in the form of new software/apps to make MRO tasks easier. Turns out, technology is allowing your smartphones, tablets and computers to track bearing reliability and performance with an emphasis on sustainability, longevity and analysis.
In an exclusive interview conducted at the Motion + Power Technology Expo 2023 in Detroit, marketing director Roger Thomas of Flender Corporation sheds light on the Flender One helical gear unit. Our discussion delves into product development, its link between product design and digital services, and the overarching commitment of Flender toward sustainability.
Developing a new gearbox series is costly and time-consuming. This is especially true in marine propulsion, as classification society certifications must be achieved in addition to the required verifications. For this reason, Reintjes offers the same drives for various types of ships. In gearbox development, this means that each application requires different loads and usage profiles, with different service lives and maintenance intervals. Thus, each drive must be designed and calculated with advance consideration of every possible profile.
Manufacturing, chemical processing, food and beverage, construction, mining, oil and gas, agriculture, and power generation industries all employ the use of turbomachinery. Reliability and minimizing downtime are critical in these applications. Rolling bearings are integral to the operation of pumps and compressors and must be able to withstand moderate to heavy loading and harsh operating environments. A wide variety of ball, roller, and needle bearings can be found in these machines; however, this article will focus on the most common type of bearing used, the deep groove ball bearing.
This article examines the sound engineering practices and design principles needed to ensure the performance of mechanical linear motion components in sanitary washdowns or chemically cleaned environments. Relevant regulations and agencies, washdown-compatible materials, and best mounting practices and motion components for washdown applications are also discussed.
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).
It’s common to hear “surface roughness” described as a number that can be measured on a gage. But describing surface texture with a number is a lot like describing a concert in decibels: loudness is just part of the story. A rock band, an orchestra, and a chainsaw can all produce 100 decibels, but the full picture is much more complex and interesting.
Brakes and clutches play a crucial role in various applications, and their importance lies in their ability to control motion and transmit power with precision and accuracy and enhance the safety and protection of personnel and equipment. They also optimize energy consumption and reduce downtime. The ability to integrate these components into OEM applications is essential. Below we focus on the brake and clutch solutions provided by Force Control, Miki Pulley, and Ringfeder.
With its flexible multiproduct line for rotary encoders, Sensata has developed a sustainable solution. The heart of the precise sensor assembly system: The Smart Function Kit for pressing processes. The complete mechatronic package with preinstalled software reduces the programming to a minimum. Engineering, commissioning, and quality assurance become quicker, easier, and more cost-effective.
More than a billion people around the world unite to ring in the New Year, their eyes set upon the glittering New Year’s Ball in Manhattan. Thousands are gathered at Times Square — the famed “Bow Tie” of Midtown — braving the December cold and peering through glasses with numerically shaped frames. Millions more tune in from their various screens at home.
With so much riding on its descent, the Ball, along with the mechanical and electrical systems responsible for its operation, must operate like clockwork.
Hannover Messe 2023 provides the latest technologies in robotics, automation, motion control, IIoT, fluid power, e-mobility, material handling and more.
Precision flexible shaft couplings come in two basic forms, both of which are designed to operate without backlash or excessive inertia while compensating for inevitable misalignment offsets between motor/gearbox and load. Torsionally stiff couplings are made with metallic flexible elements and with the intent to eliminate as much twisting deflection as possible so that the rotation of both shafts is kept as well synchronized as can be.
NYCU (National Yang Ming Chia Tung University) Vulpes Racing—founded in 2008—is a Formula Student Team that combines mechanical engineering, industrial design, public relations, video production and marketing expertise.
The following article is a collection of products and technologies featured at IFPE and CONExpo/CONAGG 2023.
There is an increasing trend toward integrating evermore compact smart components into larger, more complex motion control systems, and advances in AI, ML, and IIoT are helping with the speed and quality of their adoption.
The following off-highway, construction and mining solutions hint at the all-electric transition taking place across each industry.
PT products such as gears, motors, pumps, fans and bearings will—without a doubt—continue to run through rigorous and harsh environments for the foreseeable future, but software and hardware improvements aim to disrupt unplanned downtime and machine maintenance through a series of new condition monitoring assets.
Vesconite Bearings, through its supply of marine rudder bearings to the MN Colibri charter vessel in June, is proud to be associated with an exciting communication satellite launch that took place in September 2022. The MN Colibri has historically transported launcher components, including communications satellites, for various heavy-lift space launch vehicles, and outfitted with the Vesconite rudder bearings allowed it to transport the Eutelsat Konnect VHTS satellite, which is regarded as an important addition to global telecommunications infrastructure.
Food production is an essential, but often overlooked, component of our food chain. Reliable, efficient machinery plays a key role in the food processing industry—and ball bearings are essential to the performance of this equipment. Designers and engineers are faced with important decisions when specifying bearings used in food processing equipment, which must withstand challenging operating environments while meeting stringent safety requirements.
Overall, the Turbomachinery & Pump Symposia saw 3,815 attendees, hosted 94 technical sessions, and had 274 exhibiting companies. Many attendees commented on the value of networking conversation at the show. From 2021 to 2022, TPS saw an increase in international delegates, with just 19 countries represented in 2021, to 44 countries represented in 2022. Below is a taste of the booths we had the chance to visit.
To determine whether a machine screw jack or ball screw jack is the right fit for your application, Thomson and Motion engineers offer the following application parameters early in the design phase.
V-belts look like relatively benign and simple pieces of equipment. They're basically a glorified rubber band, right? Need a replacement? Just measure the top width and circumference, find another belt with the same dimensions, and slap it on the drive. There's only one problem: that approach is about as wrong as you can get.
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