By Ron Marshall for the Compressed Air Challenge A manufacturer of computer hard drives recently designed and installed a cutting edge compressed air system made up of premium efficiency components. The company installed six lubricant-free screw compressors, including one VSD. For air quality, premium efficiency heated blower style dryers were selected and came equipped with […]
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Intuitive operating concepts
Intuitive operating concepts are already successfully established in everyday life: voice controlled mobile phones, tablet PCs operated with swiping motions, and game consoles and televisions commanded by gestures. As part of the Bionic Learning Network, companies have been working for some years on innovative intuitive operating concepts for the automation sector. Where buttons are pressed […]
ΊΪΑΟ³ΤΉΟ servovalves use flux capacitors to enable high frequency response
One of the biggest difficulties in dealing with pneumatic motion control applications is the compressibility of air. Hydraulic fluid is also compressible, but the bulk modulus of liquid is so high that the compressibility is both very low and easy to calculate and control. On the other hand, air compresses inversely proportional to pressure, meaning […]
Compressed air fail: Gray cloud has a silver lining
By Ron Marshall for the Compressed Air Challenge A plastic film manufacturer chose to purchase a very efficient VSD-style lubricant-free compressor and heat of compression dryer for a new plant expansion. The unit was designed to supply partial loads very efficiently by turning down the speed of the air end, with a proportional reduction in […]
Festo unveils its latest bio-creations
Iβve written extensively in the past about how German-based Festo AGβs Bionic Learning Network has developed some stunning robots based on nature. From elephants to kangaroos and birds to jellyfish, itβs been a great process to watch. Today, the company finally unveiled what theyβll be showing off at next monthβs Hannover Fair, and instead of […]
9 transformational trends manufacturers need to be aware of
The term βfuturistβ normally brings to mind something along the lines of Johnny Carsonβs old Carnac the Magnificent routine. But I was pleasantly surprised to hear futurist Jack Uldrich present at this week’s National Fluid Power Association Annual Conference in San Diego. Uldrich stressed that there are about a dozen transformational trends that are changing […]
Robots learn to pick the harvest
Supermarket customers prefer to purchase shiny red peppers and perfect apples. To ensure that fruit and vegetables arrive at the market ripe and without bruises, they are carefully and laboriously harvested by hand. Machines could work more quickly, but how does a machine find the fruit often hidden under leaves and then manipulate it? How […]
CCEFP Update: MEMS technology helping to create micro-pneumatic valves
Reducing size and energy consumption is paramount in most any-market application today, particularly in orthoses, which require compact power and control. To this end, a novel miniature proportional valve for controlling airflow in pneumatic systems is being developed at the University of Minnesota. The valve is expected to require two orders of magnitude, less power […]
Compressed air fail: Wasted heat
By Ron Marshall for the Compressed Air Challenge An automotive parts manufacturer had an audit done on their compressed air system. The auditor placed data loggers on their system and did careful site observations of conditions in the compressor room and the plant. The processing equipment in the plant created a very dusty environment, so […]
Compressed air fail: Compressor not contributing due to piping challenge
By Ron Marshall for the Compressed Air Challenge A spring water bottling plant had a compressor room filled with a complicated piping to connect their four compressors to the two main areas of their plant. The plant personnel had learned a long time ago that supplying the main plant with excessive pressure increased the power […]
