October 2015
October 2015 (Complete Issue PDF)
Feature Articles
The Doomsday Clock is Ticking for Gearmotor Manufacturers
The secondhand on the Doomsday
dial ominously spins around the face,
slowly but ever so surely inching the
motor industry towards its inevitable
terminus:
Motor Management - Best Practices
Reducing losses and increasing profits by instituting a motor management plan is what this series of articles is all about. Here in Part I, we discuss how to create a motor inventory and establish repair-or-replace motor guidelines. Subsequent topics in this
three-part series will address (Part II)
motor failure policies and purchasing
specifications, and (Part III) repair
specifications and preventive and predictive maintenance, respectively.
Beyond Bearings Basics
There are thousands of sizes and
types of standard bearings. In many
applications, specifying a standard
bearing yields an effective result.
Technical Articles
Space Shuttle Rudder-Speed Brake Actuator
The U.S. Space Shuttle fleet was originally intended to have a life of 100 flights for each vehicle, lasting over a 10-year period, with minimal scheduled maintenance or inspection.
The first space shuttle flight was that of the Space Shuttle Columbia
(OV-102), launched April 12, 1981. The disaster that destroyed Columbia occurred on its 28th flight, February 1, 2003, nearly 22 years after its first launch.
Is Splash Lubrication Compatible with Efficient Gear Units for High-Speed Applications
A thermo-mechanical model of a splash lubricated one-stage gear unit is presented. This system corresponds to a first step towards the design of a hybrid vehicle gearbox that can operate up to 40,000 rpm on its primary shaft. The numerical model is based on the thermal network method and takes into account power losses due to teeth friction, rolling-elements bearings and oil churning. Some calculations underline that oil churning causes a high amount of power loss. A simple method to reduce this source of power losses is presented, and its influence on the gear unit efficiency and its thermal capacity is computed.
Departments
Motor Madness (Publishers Page)
This issue we take a long, hard look at motor efficiency, and you should, too. After all, electric motors used in industrial settings are the single largest consumer of electricity in the United States. Upgrading your electric motors is not only good for the environment, but itâ™s
also good for your bottom line. Sure, saving electricity lessens
the burden on our countryâ™s energy infrastructure. But it
also saves you money in the long run.
Global Industrial Outlook: Weathering the Storm (Voices)
We just returned from WEFTEC
â” the premier U.S. water and
wastewater management show. Our
recent discussion (Game Changer)
highlighted the negative impact of low
oil prices.
PRODUCT NEWS (Product News)
All about new Products
Hand in Hand with the Times (Events)
Out of the endless tide of
shows happening this time of
year, SPS IPC Drives may not
be the brightest blip on your
radar.
Calendar (Events)
Calendar of upcoming Events
Industry News (Industry News)
News From the gear Industry
Meet Mayhems Master (Power Play)
Power Play patrons may recall last
monthâ™s drop-in at the Museum of
Unworkable Devices â” a virtual and
pretty damn funny (www.lhup.edu)
âœcelebration of fascinating devices that
donâ™t work.â