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Versatile Transport System: Turbocharge conveyance

THK's Versatile Transport System is a high-mix production solution that will keep your production line moving. Its linear motor drive enables high-speed operations, and processing can be performed directly on top of the system's freely recirculating sliders. This highly precise, modular system has many unique features, including easily adjustable stop positions, flex layouts with path splitting and parallelization, and easy addition/subtraction of extension pieces.
View the video.

Tech Tip: How to keep heavy loads balanced

Some Thomson smart linear actuators have a position-based synchro-nization option to help manage unbalanced loads when using multiple units. The system adjusts the speed of each actuator to keep them starting, moving, and stopping synchronously, regardless of their respective load distribution. So useful. So smart.
Learn all about this feature.

Micropositioning stages ensure high accuracy

PI now offers fast delivery of the L-511 linear microposi-tioning stage, which is designed for applications requiring minimum incremental motion down to 20 nm and drive forces up to 22 lb. The L-511 can be combined to form XY or XYZ motion systems and integrated with rotary stages for enhanced flexibility. Features high-load recirculating ball bearings for exceptional durability, even under demanding, repetitive cycles. To enhance positioning accuracy and automation throughput, this stage integrates non-contact, direction-sensing optical reference point switches located at mid-travel.
Learn more.

Robots think and act on the fly at moving assembly line speeds

Inbolt and FANUC are launching a manufacturing breakthrough enabling FANUC robots to tackle one of the most complex automation challenges: performing production tasks on continuously moving parts at line speeds. With Inbolt's AI-powered 3D vision, manufacturers can now automate screw insertion, bolt rundown, glue application, and other high-precision tasks on parts moving down the line without costly infrastructure investments or cycle time compromises.
Learn more.

Best high-speed rotary bearing in THK history

THK has developed its best-performing, high-speed rotary bearing ever: the High-Speed, Double-Row Angular Contact Ring BWH. This rotary bearing has balls aligned inside a cage between the inner and outer rings and is part of the THK Rotary Series, along with the cross-roller ring. The main features of this product are its ability to receive loads in all directions as well as its high rigidity and rotational accuracy, which are equal to that of cross-roller rings. By adopting a new structure to change the rolling elements from rollers to balls, this product achieves the greatest high-speed performance ever offered by THK.
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Elevating tables: Precise vertical positioning in tight spaces

As semicon-ductors and optical components become smaller and more sophisticated, the TZ Series of precision elevating tables from IKO International provides exceptional vertical positioning accuracy in a compact size. This unit features a unique wedge mechanism guided in the vertical direction by a pair of IKO C-Lube Super MX linear motion rolling guides arranged in parallel to achieve highly precise positioning with exceptional rigidity. An optional linear encoder provides full closed loop control to achieve positioning accuracy as high as 0.005 mm, with repeatability of +/-0.001 mm.
Learn more and get all the specs.

This cobot is all about safety around people

The COBOTTA PRO from DENSO Robotics is a lightweight, high-speed collaborative robot designed for communication between workers and robots while maximizing productivity. It delivers a blend of productivity and safety for both simple tasks and multi-step processes like assembly and inspection work. The 6-axis unit operates at speeds up to 2,500 mm per sec when no workers are near and slows or stops when people approach. Two models available: PRO 900 (max payload 6 kg) and PRO 1300 (max payload 12 kg). Many more functions and features.
Learn more.

Powerful, pull-type clapper solenoids handle myriad jobs

New powerful, low-profile, pull-type clapper solenoids are available from Magnetic Sensor Systems (MSS). Applications include valve control, locks, starters, ventilators, clamping, sorting, appliances, tools, HVAC, brakes, clutches, switches, mixing, fire suppression systems, door controls, detent latches, and more. The S-16-264 Series of 17 Pull-Type Clapper Solenoids have ampere turns (windings) adjusted to meet the specific force and duty cycle requirements of your application. They provide up to 130 lb (578 N) of force.
Get all the specs for these solenoids and other options.

Tech Tip: Belt, screw, or chain-driven actuator?

Bishop-Wisecarver provides a quick, very useful guide to help you evaluate the right drive strategy for your system: belt, screw, or chain-driven actuator. Each drive type has unique advantages and limitations, so evaluating all your options will help you find the most suitable actuator setup for your specific application needs.
Read the Bishop-Wisecarver blog.

Ultra-precise linear stage -- down to 0.005 microns

PI, a global leader in precision motion control and nanoposi-tioning, now offers fast delivery of the L-511 linear micropositioning stage, which is designed for applications requiring minimum incremental motion down to 20 nm, drive forces up to 22 lb, and multi-axis configuration options. The L-511 can be combined to form XY or XYZ motion systems and integrated with rotary stages. A variety of drive and encoder options (stepper and servo motors, rotary, and linear encoders) enable ultra-fine sensitivity. Applications include: metrology, laser processing, semiconductors, biotech, optical alignment, and advanced automation.
Learn more and get all the specs.

Choosing the right stepper motor: PM or hybrid?

According to the experts at Lin Engineering, there are two primary types of stepper motors to consider: permanent magnet (PM) and hybrid. But which is right for your application? Both types have their advantages and disadvantages, and the choice ultimately depends on your specific requirements.
Read this informative Lin Engineering article.

New PTFE-free linear guide for precise positioning

The new drylin WWP linear guide from igus features a PTFE-free locking carriage. Engineered from lubrication-free, high-performance polymers and aluminum, the guide offers a lightweight, hygienic, and low-maintenance alternative to complex mechanical and electronic adjustment systems. It is significantly more compact and lightweight than conventional recirculating ball-bearing systems. Applications include interior components in vehicles, aircraft, and furniture.
Learn more and get all the specs.

Heavy-duty gear units for mixing and agitating systems

MAXXDRIVE industrial gear units from NORD DRIVE-SYSTEMS are an established drive solution for heavy-duty applications. In addition to conveying, lifting, and driving, they also play an important role in mixing and agitating systems. MAXXDRIVE units feature a compact, one-piece UNICASE housing that delivers long service life, easy maintenance, and quiet operation. Their robust design handles high axial and radial loads, achieves output torques up to 2,495,900 lb-in., and powers up to 8,075 hp.
Learn more.

What are non-captive linear actuators?

According to PBC Linear, their new non-captive linear actuators are different from the more common external versions of lead screw-driven linear actuators because they allow the lead screw to completely pass through the motor. This fundamental difference offers advantages for designs that have limited space available or for engineers looking to shrink the overall size of their design package.
Read the full PBC Linear blog.

Güdel introduces Swiss-quality tracks for cobots

Güdel Inc. is highlighting new technologies at Automate 2025 booth #2418 that demonstrate its unmatched ability to solve automation engineering challenges. One is the Cobomover, a 7th-axis linear track purpose-built for collaborative and lightweight robots. Designed and manufactured in Switzerland, this unit extends the working range of robots up to 5 m, allowing them to operate multiple workstations and perform a variety of tasks without manual repositioning. Compatible with over 60 cobots and small traditional robots.
Learn more and get all the specs.

Novel nuclear rocket fuel coating test could accelerate NASA's Mars mission

From back: Brandon Wilson, Bryan Conry, Pavel Shilenko, and Emily Hutchins gather around the Ohio State University Research Reactor before performing irradiation testing of the coated surrogate particles using the INSET furnace. [Credit: Maria McGraw/Ohio State University]

 

 

 

 

By Liz McCrory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

A team from the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), joined by university students, recently traveled to The Ohio State University Research Reactor to conduct a novel experiment on nuclear thermal rocket fuel coatings -- one that could help propel NASA's astronauts to Mars faster and more efficiently.

"Our experiment aimed to test a fuel coating technique and evaluate if it can withstand the intense environment of a nuclear thermal rocket," said Brandon Wilson, an R&D staff member in ORNL's Nuclear and Extreme Environment Measurement group. "Testing materials at exceptionally high temperatures is a first, and a crucial step, toward helping NASA mature and qualify nuclear fuels for manned space exploration using nuclear thermal propulsion technology."

Nuclear thermal propulsion, or NTP, is a potentially game-changing technology for NASA's crewed missions to Mars in the 2040 timeframe. NTP engines use a nuclear reactor to heat hydrogen to ultra-high temperatures and then expel the heated hydrogen through a nozzle, which generates thrust and moves the rocket through space more efficiently than a traditional chemical rocket. In effect, NTP engines could drastically reduce transit times to Mars while reducing overall mission costs and the effects of radiation and zero gravity on astronauts.

However, developing and testing materials to withstand conditions unlike anything else on Earth has remained a challenge.

ORNL has pioneered a technique to coat fuel and reactor core materials in zirconium carbide, which can protect these critical components from hydrogen infiltration and corrosion without impacting the reactor's neutronics. To test this coating under the combined effects of high temperature and high radiation, researchers in the lab's Nuclear and Extreme Environment Measurement group designed the In-Pile Steady-State Extreme Temperature Testbed, or INSET, which is a specialized, high-temperature furnace designed to operate within a nuclear reactor.

A second iteration of INSET is now the only available technology that can rapidly heat materials from room temperature to 2,200 C in about five minutes while allowing for quick handling after neutron irradiation. Developed at ORNL with significant design contributions from University of Tennessee graduate student Emily Hutchins, INSET 2.0 is a cost-effective option for conducting multiple experiments both inside and outside a reactor. Because of its versatile design, INSET can be used to evaluate any research reactor with a port diameter greater than 8 in., offering unmatched versatility for high-temperature materials testing.

Pavel Shilenko, a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy West Point, prepares an experiment at the Ohio State University Research Reactor. [Credit: Brandon Wilson/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy]

 

 

 

 

Through funding provided by the Nuclear Science User Facilities Super Rapid Turnaround Experiment program, INSET was used to perform irradiation testing of coated surrogate particles at The Ohio State University Research Reactor. There, four different nuclear thermal rocket fuel sample surrogates coated in zirconium carbide were placed in INSET and irradiated for two days under repeated temperature cycling.

The experiment team included Wilson, Hutchins, and Bryan Conry, an ORNL post-doc research associate, as well as Pavel Shilenko, a cadet at West Point. Hutchins and Shilenko were the primary operators of the experiment, setting up the INSET furnace and recording data throughout the two-day test.

In late spring, the team will conduct post-irradiation analysis at ORNL to assess the coatings' performance and its ability to protect the fuel under operational conditions.

"The findings from this experiment will represent a crucial step in advancing nuclear thermal propulsion technology for future human space exploration," said Wilson.

UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the Department of Energy's Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. For more information, go to energy.gov/science.

Published April 2025

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