Motion Control Technical Feature Resources

Understanding Sensors for Motion Control and Manufacturing

by Kristin Lewotsky, Contributing Editor

POSTED: 09/29/2020

By leveraging a variety of modalities, industrial sensors monitor everything from axis position to fill level in bottles.

Time-Sensitive Networking, Eventually

POSTED: 08/28/2020

Time-sensitive networking (TSN) --a set of extensions to Ethernet standard IEEE802.1 defining protocols and requirements for deterministic, real-time industrial communication

IO-Link: Reducing Costs and Increasing Efficiencies

by Emmet Cole, Contributing Editor

POSTED: 07/30/2020

Promising simplified connections between fieldbuses or industrial Ethernet networks and sensors and actuators on the factory floor, IO-Link has...

Delivering Enhanced Insights and Remote Access, IIOT Adoption Skyrockets

by Kristin Lewotsky, Contributing Editor

POSTED: 06/26/2020

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) leverages data, analytics, and connectivity to improve equipment performance, supply chain management, productivity, and...

Bringing Closed-Loop Functionality to Stepper Motors

by Emmet Cole, Contributing Editor

POSTED: 05/27/2020

Stepper motors are exquisitely simple devices that have found several uses in automation applications.

Motion Control Supports Industrial-Scale Additive Manufacturing

by Kristin Lewotsky, Contributing Editor

POSTED: 04/29/2020

From prototyping to production, modern 3D printing can produce parts with nanoscale features or meter-scale sizes.

Special A3 Report: Signs of Hope for Manufacturing Amid the Coronavirus Crisis

by John Gallagher, Special to A3

POSTED: 03/27/2020

The Association for Advancing Automation asked former Detroit Free Press Business Columnist John Gallagher to examine the state of manufacturing

A3 Special Report: How Robots and Automation are Fighting Covid-19

by Keith Shaw, Contributing Editor

POSTED: 03/26/2020

As the world continues to fight the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, robots and automation are playing a critical role...

Implementing Safety in a World of Motion Control and Motors

by Laura Moretz, Contributing Editor

POSTED: 03/12/2020

Improving safety with motion control and motors is a continuing concern for those who work with machinery and design it.

Motor Types: What You Need to Know

by Leah Zitter, Contributing Editor

POSTED: 02/13/2020

Motors are everywhere, running from pumps, drive compressors and conveyors to fans, blowers, drills, and mixers.

How to Specify a Controller for Your Motion System

by Kristin Lewotsky, Contributing Editor

POSTED: 01/31/2020

With a variety of options, OEMs need to understand how application characteristics map to controller types in order to choose

VFDs: The Next Best Thing to Motion Control

by Kristin Lewotsky, Contributing Editor

POSTED: 12/17/2019

For applications with budget constraints, VFDs can provide surprisingly good performance at an affordable price.

How to Specify Gearboxes for Motion Control Systems

by Kristin Lewotsky, Contributing Editor

POSTED: 11/21/2019

This article discusses how to properly specify a gearbox. For a tutorial on gearbox types and when to use them,

AVGs and AMRs Bring New Levels of Efficiency to Logistics

by Kristin Lewotsky, Contributing Editor

POSTED: 10/29/2019

Intelligent components and sophisticated controls lead to high-functioning automated vehicles that are dramatically improving logistics and manufacturing.

How to Select the Right Encoder for Your Motion Axis

by Kristin Lewotsky, Contributing Editor

POSTED: 09/23/2019

Feedback plays an essential role in motion control. Servomotors and, increasingly, stepper motors leverage encoder feedback for precise control.