December is the sneakiest of months. I know it’s out there, lurking behind the other months. But no matter how old I get, it always manages to creep up on me. I swear I only looked away for a day or two, but alas, December got me again. You’d think by now that I’d be ready, that I’d have more of a clue about how time works. But no, apparently not. Here I am again, surprised that the year is almost over.

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.

Why use the rolling process to produce high accuracy lead screws, actuator screws, and other power transmission components rather than traditional cutting processes such as turning, grinding, milling, whirling, or hobbing? Rolling processes and cutting processes both produce a precise form on the workpiece. But if the form geometry, tolerances, and material selection allow, rolling is the process to beat. Speed, surface finish, fatigue strength, precision, dimensional stability, and material savings are some of the primary advantages realized when the rolling process is applied.

Randy Stott, publisher of Power Transmission Engineering and Gear Technology magazines, recently sat down with Norm Parker, technical fellow and technical manager for Torque Transfer Systems at Stellantis, to discuss bearing technology during the Motion + Power Technology Expo in Detroit.

Burckhardt Compression recently partnered with one of Europe's leading steelmaking mills undergoing a significant transformation. The mill aimed to convert one of its plants into a sustainable facility in compliance with stringent environmental guidelines. The project's critical aspect involved reviving four non-Burckhardt compressors that had been inactive for a decade. Acknowledging the crucial role of these compressors in steel production, the mill sought the expertise of Burckhardt Compression.

Deutronic has developed a new line of charging computers to supply reliable power to the 12V board net for EV or gas-powered vehicles in multiple environments in the North American market. Company executives Zubin Verma and Tobias Wanzke will preview the capabilities of the DBL 1903-14 charger at the AAPEX automotive aftermarket show, October 31-November 2 at the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas.

Bio-Ultimax1000, a biosynthetic formula that directly replaces mineral oil based hydraulic fluids, has a flash point of 450°F. This 200-degree cushion can mean the difference between safety and catastrophe when a hydraulic hose breaks and sprays a hot running engine.  

Efficient power-saving braking for mobile robots is critical to minimize battery charging downtime. The new larger size Miki Pulley BXR-LE brakes are ideal for factories and similar applications using mobile robots. 

NKE Austria GmbH presents its bearings for railway applications. The bearings are used in traction motors and locomotive gearboxes as well as in railcars, trams and underground trains.

Bodine Electric Company introduces six new type 56R1-50JW/H stainless-steel hollow shaft gearmotors. These new geared motors combine a stainless-steel AC inverter-duty, 230/460 VAC motor with a stainless-steel hollow shaft gearhead. When used with an AC inverter (VFD) control, these gearmotors deliver variable speed and maintenance free operation over a wide speed range. Ideal for equipment that is subject to intensive cleaning, these new gearmotors also meet EU hygienic standards for food machinery. They are suitable for use in the food and beverage industry, pharmaceutical industry, and in permanently wet environments.

Sumitomo Drive Technologies is expanding its range of precision gear products and upgrading its ECY series with higher torque and a plug & play drive for motor connection. The ECY series comprises high-precision shaft gears, used for example for surface machining in dental technology or in collaborative robots (cobots). Thanks to their internal cylindrical roller bearings, the gear units provide both high rigidity and higher performance in a smaller design envelope.

The American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) announced the promotion of Jenny Blackford to the organization’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) today. In her new role, Blackford will oversee the association’s systems and processes, enterprise wide. In addition, she will have expanded roles relative to human and technology resources and investments.

WEG recently announced, through its indirect subsidiaries abroad, the acquisition of the industrial electric motors and generators business of Regal Rexnord Corporation, a global manufacturer of electromechanical equipment. The acquisition value is $400.0 million, subject to common price adjustments for this type of transaction.

Schaeffler AG and GKN Powder Metallurgy announce their joint commitment to advance the development of the permanent magnet industry in Europe and North America through a memorandum of understanding. GKN Powder Metallurgy will supply Schaeffler locally with permanent magnets with the aim to ensure a stable, local supply whilst improving sustainability and transparency in the supply chain.

How does one accurately examine the components in a robotic arm or prosthetic leg? There’s not exactly time (nor space) to set up multiple cameras to track deformation or changes in shape of soft components.