February 2010

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ServoBelt Action On Mike Everman’s Blog

February 18, 2010 in Linear Motion, Mike Everman's Tech Stuff by Joe

ServoBelt continues to get bigger and better. To see its latest capabilities in action, check out these new videos and photos on Mike Everman’s Technical Interest blog.

Pulsejet Engineering

February 17, 2010 in Mike Everman's Tech Stuff by Joe

An update on Mike Everman’s work on pulsejets just went up on his Technical Interest Blog. The post includes a detailed photo gallery showing a successful adaptation of  Mike’s “Pocket Jet 2″ two-pipe geometry into a triple-pipe pulse jet.  More on Mike’s pulsejet work over the last couple of years can be found here.

Mike Everman’s Technical Interest Blog

February 12, 2010 in Mike Everman's Tech Stuff by Joe

Mike Everman has started a new blog about his personal engineering projects and cutting-edge Bell-Everman developments. The blog features videos and technical write-ups on topics as diverse as robotics, propulsion systems, and precision clockwork. Check it out here.

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Product Pipeline Revealed At ATX West

February 10, 2010 in New Products by Joe

Here at the ATX Show, we’ve been fielding a ton of questions about our upcoming products and ways to push the envelope with our current products. So we thought we’d reveal a few things that we have in pre-production or testing.

ServoBelt Gets Heavy. A heavy-duty version of our ServoBelt linear axis is coming soon. Called the SB10, it’s capable of handling accelerated loads up to 750 lb, versus 150 lb for the original ServoBelt under typical load conditions. The extra load-bearing capability is evident throughout the SB10’s construction, right down to a beefier belt with a 10-mm tooth pitch–or double that of the original ServoBelt.  SB10 opens up a bunch of new application possibilities for ServoBelt technology, including heavy-duty transport systems for SCARA robots and industrial gantries.

Moving In A New Direction. We’ve just completed design work on a new Z-axis drive, the DDZ, which features a unique bearing design. Prototyping of this new axis is just getting under way, so check back for updates and photos.

Running Colder. We routinely cycle test our motion stages in a range of thermal conditions, using our environmental test chamber. And from that testing, we know exactly how well our ServoBelts and other stages perform at  temperatures down to a chilly  20 C. Some users, however, are up against much colder temperatures. One asked what happens to ServoBelt at sub-zero temperatures.  We’re going to find out more in the coming months with a battery of temperature tests down  to  -40 C.  Stay tuned for the results.

Affordable Precision Motion At ATX West

February 8, 2010 in Events, Linear Motion, Rotary Motion by Joe

This week at the ATX West Show in Anaheim, we’re showing a line-up of our latest automation systems, including innovative linear and rotary stages for precision motion applications that would otherwise require expensive linear or direct-drive motors. Here’s a look at some of the systems on display:

  • ServoBelt Rotary. ATX marks the first showing of our newest stage, which puts ServoBelt’s proven belt technology to work in rotary applications. With its large through-hole and geometric accuracy of  2.5μm TIR or better  at any point on the stage, the ServoBelt Rotary can take the place of  pricey direct-drive motors. Resolution for this new stage is 16 arc-sec with a repeatability of ±40 arc-sec. A ring encoder is optional. Full specs are available here.
  • ServoBelt Linear. We’re running our  ServoBelt linear axis technology in configurations that show the versatility of this cost-effective alternative to linear motors. Among the displays are a 3-meter dual-carriage version and a Cartesian pick-and-place robot built around a pair of ServoBelts. Read more about the ServoBelt Linear here or download the technical specs.
  • Direct Drive Rotary Stages. Intended for easy integration into metrology and light mechanical applications, our DDT rotary stages will be shown in several sizes that highlight this stage’s low-profile, large through-hole and accuracy. The DDT100S, for example, measures just 50 mm high and 100 mm across.  It offers a geometric accuracy of 1.5mm TIR or better anywhere on stage.  Download the specs here.
  • KAOS OEM. With the lowest profile and lowest moving mass in its speed and accuracy class, this two-axis cartesian servo stage offers fast accelerations–up to 2g continuous and over 5g peak–with a minimum investment in linear motor force. Its low profile makes this servo stage is easier to package in your system, and your payload is more closely coupled to the linear bearings for excellent stiffness and shorter settling times. Read more about the award-winning KAOS here or download the technical specs.
  • LowBoy ServoNut. This affordable low-profile ball-screw drive targets metrology and light- to medium-heavy mechanical processes and offers geometric accuracy of 10μm TIR or better at any point on the stage. Axial repeatability is 2μm with 1μm encoder. The LowBoy ServoNut is highly configurable with a range of chassis and stage mounting options. Read more about the LowBoy Servo Nut here.

All these systems and more are up and running under full power, so you can see them in action if you stop by our booth (#4550). Or check back this week for more updates from the show.

Get The Scoop On Bell-Everman

February 1, 2010 in New Products by Joe

Welcome to Bell-Everman News, the best place to stay informed about our precision motion control technologies. Every week, we’ll post updates on our latest products, application developments, and events. We’ll also feature highlights from Mike Everman’s engineering blog. So visit us often, or use the form at the bottom of the page to subscribe to our monthly email newsletter.

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