When it comes to high-performance servo applications, feedback devices fall into several different categories. In this white paper, learn how each offers unique advantages and disadvantages, both electrical and mechanical, which make one better suited for a particular application than another.

There are two forms of dual die compensation. One form of dual die compensation incorporates two pressure sensors but only one of the two sensors provides a pressure sensitive output. The second sensor is passive and is used solely to correct for common mode errors. The second form of dual die compensation incorporates two pressure sensors and both sensors provide a pressure sensitive signal. Both these compensation techniques are embodied in patent 6,023,978. This compensation technique applies to all common mode errors and is the only technique available to compensate for long term drift of output offset voltage.

This white paper illustrates dual die compensation methods where common mode errors are reduced in comparison to traditional methods and illustrates a reference to traditional sensor construction where common mode errors are not reduced.

Since the 1960s, cable management methods for robots have not changed dramatically. Most experts agree that one of the top blunders made is underestimating cable-management issues. For instance, during a conference hosted by the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), a group of leading system integrators cited cable issues as the number one reason for downtime in robotics cells. Headaches range from tangled and corkscrewed cables, to complete breaks that cause downtime, lost revenue and damaged reputations.

This is why the ways in which robot cables are attached and guided is important. This white paper discusses the less is more approach to cable management and how robotics engineers and integrators can apply this best practice. It centers on designing cable management systems for six-axis robots – including cables, hose, tubing, carrier, and connectors – in three separate sections.

How does a 3D printer work? Beginning with computer-aided design (CAD) data, which defines a tool path, the 3D printer extrudes and deposits molten thermoplastic in layers to build the part from the bottom up. This makes very complex parts easy to produce.

Stratasys manufactures several lines of machines, including 3D printers and their big brothers, 3D production systems (or production 3D printers). This includes the product lines Dimension, uPrint and Fortus, as well as Hewlett Packard's Designjet line. At the core of each system is fused deposition modeling (FDM). Stratasys FDM machines create functional parts by extruding and depositing thermoplastic materials in layers.

This white paper walks you step-by-step through the FDM process.

Ferrules can rectify this situation by giving stranded wire the qualities of solid wire where it is needed most, at the point of connection. Ferrules significantly simplify installation, improve safety and diminish the risk of costly panel failure.

This white paper highlights the advantages of ferrules for electrical connections and includes guidelines for their selection and purchase.

Drive technology with Profinet has a comprehensive range of applications, scalable performance with cycle times as short as a few µs, and user-friendly, cost-effective implementation.

In this white paper, learn how Profinet, combined with Profidrive, becomes a drive bus for the most stringent requirements that is also suitable without limitation for all other automation engineering control tasks.

While object-oriented design may no longer be considered an emerging technology, it is nonetheless treated as a newcomer in the process control field. The purpose of this white paper is to describe the many benefits of utilizing object-oriented design principals in the design of a modern process control solution.

As practices migrate away from point-to-point topology, advanced architectures ensure connectivity, collaboration and integration from the device level to enterprise business systems. With protocols available, each offering diverse features, benefits and performance capabilities, this white paper will assist users in selecting the ideal communication solution to suit individual application needs.

Arc-flash relays are an effective defense against dangerous arc-flash events, and the decision to include such a relay in a design is an easy one. Less easy, however, is selecting the optimal relay for an application.

According to OSHA, industrial arc-flash events cause about 80% of electrically related accidents and fatalities among qualified electrical workers. Even if personnel injuries are avoided, arc flash can destroy equipment, resulting in costly replacement and downtime.

In response, many designers are adding arc-flash relays to electrical systems. These devices greatly mitigate the effects of an arc flash by detecting a developing incident and sending a trip signal to a breaker to disconnect the current that feeds it. Arc-flash relays are complex devices; an understanding of the technical details of their operation and features is essential.

This white paper covers key points of arc-flash relay technology so that specifying engineers, OEM designers, and end users can make an informed selection decision.

Before you specify a rotary ball spline, ask the question: "Should the rotary spline nut be riding on angular contact ball bearings or crossed roller bearings?" After ascertaining your application's requirements - stroke length, velocity, applied load, mounting space, duty cycle, required life, dimensions, installation direction, environment and accuracy - you're ready to factor in the pros and cons of the two technologies.

If you are considering a rotary ball spline, you know that in addition to a ball spline's forte – transference of torque – the rotary ball spline adds a nut that rotates on the ball spline shaft making the unit capable of simultaneous linear and rotary motion with sub-millimeter accuracy.

With MapleSim, researchers can quickly develop their models and can gain insight into their systems' behaviors. Researchers at many academic institutions have adopted MapleSim, advanced physical modeling software from Maplesoft, as a key tool in their engineering research activities.

This white paper illustrates how engineering researchers are making significant strides in their work with the help of Maplesoft technology. It highlights the work of six researchers from around the world, and discusses such diverse projects as space rovers, humanoid robots, parallel manipulators, golf clubs, and electric and hybrid-electric vehicle batteries.

This white paper will explore the historical development of the early tools for simulation, and then expand on their design deficiencies. This is followed by a discussion of MapleSim, its unique design characteristics, and how it bypasses the limitations of current modeling and simulation technology.

For example, electrical CAE (E-CAE) systems have assumed all functions once performed manually or by using more than one program, like a computer-aided design (CAD) package to create graphical schematics and the table-based Microsoft Excel to create parts lists. Those programs couldn't share data with each other, which necessitated a great deal of manual (and redundant) data entry, crossreferencing and error-checking. That is a low-value use of an engineer's time and a complex machine or plant design required an awful lot of it. Today's advanced electrical CAE programs have automated these and many other non-value-added tasks like wire numbering and device tagging. Engineers are completing assignments that once took days or weeks in a small fraction of the time.

In this white paper, learn how the latest generation of CAE programs has broken decisively from CAD and earlier CAE tools by adding a powerful central database that enables them to provide substantial additional automation. This database can hold a large archive of recurrent content, ready for insertion into a project with a single keystroke.

While legacy CAE systems function as standalone tools for a single discipline, database-centric systems support multiple disciplines on the same platform so electrical, fluid power and instrumentation and process control engineers can share data, even work collaboratively. Users can transfer data in real-time to mechanical engineers or controls software developers or send it via their company's enterprise system to the sales, purchasing, production and service departments. Furthermore, these powerful CAE systems can store and reuse vast amounts of recurrent data, encouraging companies to standardize as much product content as possible to maximize productivity, ensure error-free outcomes, shorten order turnaround times, and better manage costs through the entire order fulfillment process.

This white paper discusses how a new generation of CAE tools built on a powerful central data backbone has been shown to deliver overall engineering cost savings by measurably improving data quality, design efficiency and time-to-market.

This white paper explains why understanding how various motion control technologies, mounting methods and design factors impact rigidity is key to implementing actuator solutions that provide the ideal level of control and performance.

ENI Petroleum is an Italian multinational oil and gas company with around 78,400 employees at sites in 77 countries. ENI operates in the oil and gas, electricity generation and sales, petrochemicals, oil field services construction and engineering industries. It has oil and natural gas production of almost two million barrels per day, with exploration and production efforts at sites throughout North American, Africa and Asia.

One of these production locations is an oil well platform called the "Devil's Tower" that is located just off the coast of Louisiana in the Mississippi Canyon region of the Gulf of Mexico. The platform rises 5,610 ft. above the sea bed. Until 2010, it was the deepest production truss spar in the world. Drill ships perform periodic operations within close proximity to subsea pipelines that transport oil and gas to and from the production platform.

In this white paper, you will learn how a new data concentrator system allowed the control room and drill ships to communicate at a distance of more than 100 km, providing security in case of an incident while avoiding costly shutdowns.

Storing and transmitting the data used to function, RAM is a critical component of any computer. However, due to the variety of options available, picking the right specifications for your system can be an extremely time consuming task. In this white paper, Ian Bacon, computer design engineer at CCS-Inc, has compiled a checklist of essential criteria one should consider when beginning their next project.

1. Which types of sensors does your machines use?

2. How are they most often connected to the I/O?

3. Do you employ machine vision?

4. Which type of vision system do you use?

5. What is your machine builder industry?

6. What is your job function?