News » Technology News Carbon fibre rope heralds the 1km elevator ride
The Finnish elevator manufacturer Kone has developed a lightweight carbon-fibre-based lifting rope that will allow elevators to travel through heights of up to 1km – twice as far as is possible at present. The UltraRope hoisting technology will also result in energy savings of up to 45%.
Novel insulation allows motors to operate twice as long at full power
Japanese researchers have developed a new insulating material for motor coils that allows a motor to operate at maximum power for more than twice as long as conventional insulation. The new material also improves the motor’s efficiency by about 1%.
Software bridge links robots and machine tools
Researchers in the US have demonstrated an open-source software technology that collects and communicates real-time information from manufacturing processes and factory-floor equipment supplied by a variety of vendors.
Integrating EV motor with charger saves time and cuts costs
Swedish researchers have integrated an electric vehicle’s motor and inverter with its battery-charging circuit in a way that reduces charging times from eight to two hours, and cuts the EV cost by around $2,000.
Hybrid aircraft drive ‘could scale up to 100-passenger planes’
An aircraft powered by a serial-hybrid electric drive system has been shown at the Le Bourget air show in Paris, France, this week, with the claim that it could cut fuel consumption and emissions by up to 25%, as well allowing quiet takeoffs.
Sensor is ‘first’ to monitor grease in running bearings
Schaeffler has developed a technology that, for the first time, analyses lubricating grease in rolling bearings while they running. The FAG GreaseCheck sensor monitors the condition and quantity of the grease and sounds and alarm if levels fall too low.
Magnetic bearings are on a roll
Schaeffler has developed an active magnetic bearing technology that uses rolling bearings to support large shafts if the power fails and the magnetic levitation effect is lost. In the past, most large-diameter magnetic bearings have relied on plain bearings to act as back-ups but, following a failure, these usually need to be replaced or repaired.
Compact rival to cable drums has a novel twist
The energy chain specialist igus has come up with a novel, space-saving way to pay out and rewind working cables, tubing and other media over distances of up to 14m, without needing sliprings.
Inductive coupler carries IO-Link signals and power through the air
Balluff has developed a contact-less inductive coupler that can transfer energy and IO-Link signals across an air gap of up to 55mm. The bidirectional coupler can be used where fixed wiring of sensors and actuators would be difficult, or subject to wear caused by fatigue – for example, on rotary tables and interchangeable tools.
Ceramic spindles offer advantages over steel
Maxon motor has produced a pair of spindle drives with the option of wear-proof ceramic spindles that, it claims, offer many advantages over steel spindles or costly ballscrews.
Sercos releases IO-Link mapping guide
Sercos international has published a guide that will help automation engineers to integrate sensors and actuators with an IO-Link interface into a sercos system. It has also released an updated specification for the sercos III real-time Ethernet-based bus.
Software helps to find MEPS-compliant motors
ABB has launched an on-line tool and an iPad app that help to select motors to meet minimum energy performance standards (MEPS). The Optimizer tool assists users to compare motor running costs and to obtain documentation on the motors.
Electric ship propulsion could cut fuel bills by 10%
GE has developed an electrically powered marine propulsion system that, it believes, could result in fuel savings of up to 10% compared to conventional azimuth propulsion systems, as well as lower emissions. It says the development “could change the way the maritime industry views propulsion technology”.
Wear-free rotary encoder is ‘first non-contact system’
Turck claims to have developed the first high-resolution, non-contact universal encoder that is immune from magnetic fields and free from wear. The encoder has separate inductive sensor and positioning elements that are are encapsulated (to IP69K) and work together without making contact.
Programmable light tower ‘will revolutionise the market’
Balluff believes that it will revolutionise the light tower market with the first system that can be adapted freely to almost any requirement without complex hardware reconfiguration. The software-configurable Smart Light, which can include up to 20 360-degree LEDs arranged vertically, can do much more than simply signal predefined operating states using three colours.
