March 2016

Don't Believe the "R" Word

For several months, many economists have been using the “R” word when it comes to manufacturing. They say we’ve been in a global manufacturing recession since some time in the fourth quarter of last year.

Powder Metal Gear Technology: A Review of the State of the Art

During the past 10 years, the PM industry has put a lot of focus on how to make powder metal gears for automotive transmissions a reality. To reach this goal, several hurdles had to be overcome, such as fatigue data generation on gears, verification of calculation methods, production technology, materials development, heat treatment recipes, design development, and cost studies. All of these advancements will be discussed, and a number of vehicles with powder metal gears in their transmissions will be presented. How the transmissions have been redesigned in order to achieve the required stress levels while minimizing weight and inertia, thus increasing efficiency, will also be discussed.

Gear Design Effects on Performance of High-Speed Helical Geartrains as Used in Aerospace Drive Systems

The performance of high-speed helical geartrains is of particular importance for tiltrotor aircraft drive systems. These drive systems are used to provide speed reduction/torque multiplication from the gas turbine output shaft and provide the necessary offset between these parallel shafts in the aircraft. Four different design configurations have been tested in the NASA Glenn Research Center, High-Speed Helical Geartrain Test Facility. The design configurations included the current aircraft design, current design with isotropic superfinished gear surfaces, double-helical design (inward and outward pumping), increased pitch (finer teeth), and an increased helix angle. All designs were tested at multiple input shaft speeds (up to 15,000 rpm) and applied power (up to 5,000 hp). Also two lubrication, system-related, variables were tested: oil inlet temperature (160–250° F) and lubricating jet pressure (60–80 psig). Experimental data recorded from these tests included power loss of the helical system under study, the temperature increase of the lubricant from inlet to outlet of the drive system and fling-off temperatures (radially and axially). Also, all gear systems were tested with and without shrouds around the gears.

Clutches: Declassified

In the world of PT components, the clutch gets absolutely no recognition whatsoever. There are entire magazines dedicated to gears, bearings and motors, but clutches get very little press outside of the automotive industry.

The Test Run

Modeling and simulation is a key driver of innovation. Whether it’s general manufacturing, consumer goods or life sciences, the ability to realistically model and simulate the response of parts, sub-systems and complete assemblies to increase accuracy and repeatability is vital in today’s analytical world.

Slicing Downtime

An independent cheese packager in central Wisconsin packages millions of pounds of cheese every year. Whether shredded, sliced, crumbled or waxed, each package is designed specifically for a customer’s unique needs. As a “toll processor,” production line speed is critical to productivity as well as profitability.

Sum of the Parts

Energy’s endless energy efficiency game of whack-a-mole, motors have historically always been one of the go-to moles. They’ve been in the spotlight since 1992. Over the past few decades, repeated efficiency laws have seen motor efficiency get whacked into tighter and tighter shape.

Engineering Showcase 2016

One of our goals at Power Transmission Engineering is to help you understand, identify and select the best technology for your mechanical power transmission or motion control applications. With every project, you have to decide which components to use, and which suppliers, based on functionality, quality and price. We aim to help you make those decisions informed by providing the latest information on current technology, especially when it comes to mechanical components.

Seeking Higher Ground

Even for a toddlin town famous for making “no small plans” — such as, for example, reversing in 1900 the Chicago River to secure clean drinking water, or rebuilding itself seemingly overnight after the devastating “Great Chicago Fire” (1871) — to physically — and successfully — elevate itself as much as 14 feet above its original ground level defies not only description but credulity.

Product News

News about the latest Products

Industry News

News from around the industry

All Eyes on U.S.

Hannover Messe always promises to be one of the landmark trade shows of the year. Their massive attendance numbers are no secret. In 2015, they saw 6,500 exhibitors and 220,000 trade visitors, and they boast that 68 percent of their visitors are decision makers. In recent years, the show has built a tradition showcasing the latest Industry 4.0 advances and technology, and this year continues that tradition. The theme, Integrated Industry -

Calendar

Calendar of events