Industrial Technology

Adjustable gas springs reduce delivery times

WDS Components offers a range of adjustable gas springs that allow the end user to quickly adapt internal pressure to meet their application’s needs. Adjustments are made using a supplied Allen wrench, taking seconds to set the gas spring to the required weight. This flexibility reduces delivery time and keeps costs low as bespoke components are no longer required and the parts are available ex stock.

1st August 2016

Problem solving by design

Spirolox Retaining Rings, in their various different forms, solve problems for design engineers in many applications across numerous industry sectors. Simon Ward of TFC looks at typical design considerations for these products.

1st August 2016

Considerations in spring design and specification

Spring manufacture is of course a well-established technology, however in recent years manufacturing processes and changes in end use criteria have had significant impacts on the specification of these widely used and essential components. Consequently it is worth considering the key factors that need to be understood when engineers specify springs today.

1st August 2016

Environmental considerations in the selection of pneumatic cylinders

Making the correct choices and considering all aspects of the operating environment when specifying a pneumatic cylinder are crucial if an acceptable degree of reliability is to be achieved and costly downtime minimised, says Rebecca Hammes of Parker Hannifin.

1st August 2016

Reliable detection of medicine packages

Applications such as the fully automated warehousing modules for pharmacy picking systems from Gollmann show that light section sensors offer a number of advantages over camera-based image processing systems are not only in the price.

1st August 2016

Gearbox condition monitoring maximises machinery efficiency

With two in every three manufacturers unaware of the true cost of system downtime and mechanical failure, we asked the experts at Gill Sensors and Controls to explain how condition monitoring sensors help reduce downtime and associated costs, and improve the reliability of large manufacturing gearboxes.

1st August 2016

Collaborative robots meet machine tending needs

When door opening solutions specialist Assa Abloy was looking to automate a production line that was heavily reliant on manual labour, it turned to Active8 Robots. The result is not only the installation of an industrial robot cell, but also the integration of a number of collaborative robots as part of Assa Abloy’s pursuit of the factory of the future.

1st August 2016

Haptic accelerator pedals improved

TT Electronics has introduced new actuators for next-generation of haptic accelerator pedals. The actuators tackle the weak spots of systems currently available on the market, offering a sub 400g total weight, a significant reduction from the total weight of comparable pedals.

1st August 2016

Pedal force sensor saves hard work on electric bike

If you need a bit of help when pedalling up hill, or a more natural feel from your electric bike, then the Sparta with its pedal force sensing technology could be just what you’re after. We look at how the technology works.

1st August 2016

Pilz launches slimline, robust PSENmlock

Pilz is adding PSENmlock to its range of safety switches. PSENm-lock offers safety gate monitoring (also known as interlocking) and safe guard locking for the protection of personnel and processes to the highest levels up to PL e (of EN ISO 13849) in one device.

1st August 2016

Design Engineering

Adjustable gas springs reduce delivery times

Problem solving by design

Considerations in spring design and specification

Environmental considerations in the selection of pneumatic cylinders

Reliable detection of medicine packages

Gearbox condition monitoring maximises machinery efficiency

Collaborative robots meet machine tending needs

Haptic accelerator pedals improved

Pedal force sensor saves hard work on electric bike

Pilz launches slimline, robust PSENmlock