October 26, 2007
Free Resource Kit: Getting Started with NI Tools for Mechatronics Applications
Download this mechatronics resource kit to learn how you can use NI tools to integrate mechanical design, control design, simulation, sensing and actuation, signal processing, and electronic design. Download the resource kit now>>
Free Mechatronics Resources from Microchip!
Download free application notes, reference designs, source code, web seminars and more! See design examples and learn how to add intelligence to your next design! Visit Microchip’s Mechatronics Design Center today!>>
Freescale motor controller microprocessors available at Digi-Key
From Digi-Key, Freescale microcontrollers offer solutions for controlling variable speed and multi-phase motors. The MC908MR series of flash-based microcontrollers has a 6-channel PWM on chip providing a 3-phase motor solution. For complex speed, position, and torque control, the 56F8300 family is the ideal solution.
CUI - AMT Encoders
AMT VersaPak comes standard with an onboard dip switch with 16 selectable resolution options ranging from 48 to 2048 PPR. It also includes an index pulse, TTL voltage, and operates between -40 °C and 100 °C. The encoder is available in two mounting options: AMT102 is radial (straight orientation) and AMT103 is axial (right angle orientation).
More>>
SOLIDWORKS
SolidWorks® Office Premium - a complete 3D product design solution, providing your product design team with all the mechanical design, verification, and data management, and communication tools that they need in one package.
More>>
Oriental Motor
The BLU Series consists of models with an output rating of 1/38, 1/19 or 1/8 HP, all combining an energy-saving, slim, compact brushless DC motor with panel-installation type driver.
Keystone’s New Product Supplement Features
PTFE (Teflon) & Diallyl Phthalate insulated terminals for assured connections. New Micro-Pins & Jacks for most PCB uses. 8 pages, full-color, tech-spec’s, drawings, charts, photos!
More>>
|
Behind Mechatronics' Overnight Success |
Richard Comerford
Editor, Electronic Products
Many electrical engineers may have just caught the buzz about a discipline  called mechatronics, and have heard that it’s going to change their lives. There are good reasons why that’s likely to be the case, and I’ll go into them. But first, I’d like to make clear that many years of hard work have gone into making mechatronics an overnight success.
It was back in 1994 when the term “mechatronics” first came to my attention. Based on some initial research, I wrote an article entitled “Mecha—what?” to explain to EEs what was beginning to happen. In it, I stated that this new discipline was “the synergistic combination of precision mechanical engineering, electronic control, and systems thinking in the design of products and manufacturing processes.” Through no fault of my own, the statement became the official definition of mechatronics adopted by the Industrial Research and Development Advisory Committee of the European Community, and it still seems encapsulated the basic concepts behind mechatronics today. More>>
|
|
|
|
Mechatronic Blog |
Steve Meyer
President, Solid Technologies |
 |
|
Mechatronics - Why Should You Care?
Because whatever the term “mechatronics” might mean to you, it affects so many aspects of our daily life. We’ve all seen commercials with a production floor full of welding robots making automobiles. Certainly automotive manufacturing would not be possible without numerically controlled machine tools, robots and much more. And the automotive manufacturers continue to advance the field of automated manufacturing resulting in higher quality products at lower costs. Blog & Give Us Your Feedback>> |
| |
 |
|
Features
|
 |
 |
The Continuing Evolution of Mechatronics
Perhaps the best example of this is the modern automobile and its increasing number of control systems. According to a 2000 report from The Competitive and Sustainable Growth (GROWTH) Programme, a European research group, "The demand for ever-increasing safety and comfort, from ABS brakes to electric seats, has increased the number of electric motors in a typical car to 40. Future cars may contain upwards of 100 electric motors. More>> |
|
|
|
 |
|
Integrate Test with Design and Analysis
In the traditional design process of parts and assemblies, engineers produce models, analyze their behaviors under operating conditions, and pass physical prototypes “over the wall” for test engineers to evaluate in a pass-fail mode. Any problems that come to light are “thrown back” for design changes that, though necessary, come at the cost of additional prototypes and development time. More>> |
|
|
 |
|
Machine Tool Motions
Main drives are predominantly closed-loop controlled, electric synchronous, and asynchronous motors. Their applications include kit or housed motors for use in turning, milling and grinding machines as well as in machining centers. The traditional spindle drives with housed motors – mostly air-cooled – are also popular as main drives. In comparison with motor spindles they are less costly when considering the secondary costs of both systems.
More>> |
| |
|
|
 |
|
Mechatronic Tool Round Up
Quicklinks covering a variety of resources and tools to help with your designs. More>> |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Project Mechatronics - Brought to you by:
 |
|
ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS part of Hearst Electronics Group is the largest publisher of product information to the electronics industry. Its directories, e-newsletters, web sites, magazines, webcasts, inventory access tools, and databases are invaluable resources for engineers involved in product design. Hearst Electronics Group is part of Hearst Business Media (HBM), an operating group of the Hearst Corporation. EP Website>> |
| |
|
|
 |
|
DESIGN WORLD Design World Magazine and Design World Online represent the fastest growing print and online community serving the OEM design engineering market. DW Website>> |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
You are currently subscribed to receive Design World. All rights reserved. Information subject to change at anytime.
|
|
| Manage eNews Subscriptions |
|
|
|
|
|
