For some 2.2 million patients in the United States suffering from a treatment-resistant neurological disease, needle-based interventions have the potential to provide a minimally-invasive surgical cure. For safety and accuracy, these procedures require visualization of the needle relative to the target and adjacent untreated tissue. This visualization is typically done using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). […]
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Pneumatics and electrics in harmony
Sound Machines 2.0 was developed to use automation for an artistic endeavor—to make music. Pneumatic cylinders make strings vibrate, while electric drives determine the harmony. Sound Machines 2.0 comprises five self-playing stringed instruments that combine to produce an intelligent, robot-controlled sound installation. It records any melody played to it, uses it to compose a new […]
10 considerations for choosing an air-driven ejector
By Josef Karbassi • VP Division Automation • Piab AB Industries including packaging, electronics, automotive, glass, and plastics are discovering the advantages of this low-cost option for vacuum systems. Air-driven ejectors are gaining pace as the vacuum source for suction cup handling equipment on robots and special purpose machines, such as case/carton erectors, de-stackers or unloading […]
The simple but necessary pressure gauge
By Josh Cosford, Contributing Editor A pressure gauge is a fluid intensity measurement device, without which, the amplitude of hydraulic or pneumatic energy would be guesswork. Pressure gauges are required for the set-up and tuning of fluid power machines, and are also indispensable in troubleshooting them. Without pressure gauges, fluid power systems would be both […]
Reservoirs help airbags inflate at the push of a button
Airbags usually fill with air at lightning speed on impact—within 20 to 50 milliseconds. Volkswagen equipped a Golf GTI with an airbag demonstrator to show what an airbag looks like inflated and how it works—without the accident. Festo developed the required compressed-air system that inflates the protective airbags at the press of a button. In […]
Compressed air fail: Using high pressure for low pressure applications
A newspaper printing plant had several printing presses that used low pressure air to help direct and manipulate the web of paper being printed. After years of operation, the small vane blowers that generated the low pressure air wore out. To save money on maintenance, rather than repairing the vane pumps, the maintenance personnel simply […]
Compressed air fail: Smart controller confusion drains profits
A health supplements manufacturer had just improved its compressed air system by adding a variable speed drive compressor to its system of fixed speed load/unload units. The VSD was sized so that it would carry the plant loading in all but the highest peak load conditions. If its capacity was exceeded, a fixed speed compressor […]
The 8 crazy animal robots you have to see to believe
Whether they use pneumatics, hydraulics, or some other type of motion control, robots are increasingly being modeled after the greatest designer of all—Mother Nature. Here’s a look at some of the most amazing designs you’ll see engineers working on today. 1. German robotic ape The focus of this project, from the German Research Center for […]
Proportional valve series provides frictionless operation
A new line of proportional valves is available from Humphrey Products Co., Kalamazoo, Mich. The ProControl proportional valves, like all Humphrey deigns, are two-port, normally closed, direct acting spring return type flow controllers. They feature an inert construction for a variety of multimedia uses and a frictionless flat-spring armature design that results in long, trouble-free […]
New valve family opens additional application possibilities
By Paul J. Heney and Mary Gannon Cincinnati-based Clippard Instrument Lab created its EV line of valves in 1973. The company’s workhouse pneumatic valves have seen a lot over their lifetime—video games like Pong have evolved into lifelike realty games and mobile phones the size of loaves of bread are now compact, thin devices that […]