Mechanical Components

The number of electric motors used within our everyday life is growing at an astounding rate, with industry analysts predicting this figure will continue rise. Chris Needes, Product Manager at Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Rencol, explains some of the innovative ways in which tolerance rings are currently being used.

When the leading Chinese wind turbine company Goldwind was awarded the contract to supply 33 turbines for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games the company selected SKF as the bearing supplier for this prestigious project.

Planetary gearboxes, the ideal solution for driving peristaltic pumps and the water industry………Jon Snaith of Brevini UK explains

Parker Hannifin has launched a new design of mechanically coupled rodless cylinder that offers production engineers the potential to improve the performance and flexibility of pneumatic systems. In particular, the new P1T rodless cylinder is believed to be the first of its type to eliminate almost entirely the problems of air leakage, while also providing exceptionally low levels of sticktion and break-away force, giving excellent low and high speed characteristics for use in a wide range of applications.

With the development of the roller energy chain more than 10 years ago, igus® has successfully designed a safe solution for the transmission of energy and data for cranes. Since then, energy chain systems have been proving their abilities in even the toughest of crane applications the world over. Since 2006, the numbers of large shipyard cranes being equipped with energy chains from igus® has run into double figures. In June 2008, the 375th ship-to-shore crane was equipped with an igus® energy chain®. So far, in the field of RTGs and RMGs the company has now equipped more than 2,500 cranes world-wide.

Plastic corrugated tubes used in robotic applications can bend and tear because they cannot absorb torsional movements very well. Energy chain experts igus® have already developed the Triflex R; a multi-dimensional energy chain system with complete freedom of movement in the X-, Y- and Z-axes. Now, there is a new universal module available called Triflex RS especially for robotic applications in cramped conditions. The system guides the energy chain close to the robot arm, and avoids any looping.

Ruland has extended its line of corrosion-resistant shaft collars to include 316 stainless steel, yellow zinc plating, and high-strength grade aluminium with an anodized finish.

The latest EU Directive 2002/44/EC stipulates the maximum permissible vibration thresholds for operators of electrical power tools. Schaeffler’s new Autobalancer for angle grinders cuts vibration by 50 per cent, improving operator handling and safety, whilst reducing grinding disc wear.

Nick Dowding, Applications Engineering Manager at The Barden Corporation (UK) Ltd, explains why magnetic bearings are proving a popular alternative to traditional mechanical systems and the challenges in protecting those systems.

Schaeffler UK has just published a free reference guide to its range of monorail guidance systems and accessories, including linear recirculating roller bearing type and ball bearing type guideway assemblies, as well as complete linear guidance systems with linear recirculating ball bearing units.