Motion System Design

Plastic bearings offer advantages

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:20:00 EDT

A new brochure from igus Inc., East Providence, R.I., shows how plastic plain bearings, spherical bearings, and linear bearings and slides are used in real-world applications.

Global conference targets mid-career engineers

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:13:00 EDT

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) announces the Global Engineering Management Conference, a new gathering aimed at mid-career engineers.

Sturdy actuator strengthens pool lift

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:55:00 EDT

Various manufacturers offer pool lifts ranging from simple manual slings powered with water pressure to complex battery-powered lifts operated by radio remote control. Spectrum Products, Missoula, Mont., recently fortified its battery-powered lifts by fitting its top-of-the-line Traveler II XRC500 unit with a 500-lb-capacity linear actuator specially designed for the application by Warner Linear, Belvidere, Ill.

Snakes slither using friction, weight redistribution

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:22:00 EDT

Researchers at New York University and the Georgia Institute of Technology have discovered that snakes use both friction generated by their scales in addition to weight redistribution to slither along flat surfaces.

Waterjet cuts carpets into nifty designs

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:44:00 EDT

Another application of waterjet cutters is to carve designs into artificial turf and carpets: CNC Machines International (CNCMI), Raleigh, N.C., makes a VLF series high performance waterjet cutter to do just that.

Vision-enabled feeder handles 400+ parts

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:36:00 EDT

Vibratory bowl conveyors provide an economical and reliable way of feeding small parts in a given orientation, but only handle similar items.