Intech Power-Core Engineering Blog

The difference between injection molded plastic gears and machined plastic gears

Alexander Bartosch — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 12:45:00 GMT

The Difference between Injection Molded Plastic Gears and Machined Plastic Gears

In the past, OEMs used plastic gears in only a handful of applications. This was because of the uncertainty around their reliability or operational life owing to their response to temperature, chemicals, and moisture, among other application-specific variables. This was largely complicated because the Lewis equation commonly used to calculate traditional metal gears does not apply to plastics. This lack of polymer-specific calculations and material data sheets that don't explain material properties in operating conditions caused many engineers and designers to avoid plastics.

Replacing Cracked Track Rollers - An ElliptiGO Gets Smoother & Quieter

Farrah Afsari — Fri, 15 Jul 2022 19:04:25 GMT

A customer, Tim ONeill, recently reached out to Intech looking for a small quantity of flat track rollers (Intech FT1-1.500 track rollers) to replace the failed OEM Load Wheels on his ElliptiGo. After Tim received his rollers and was able to install them on his ElliptiGO bike he had some great things to say about the Intech product: "I finally got time to install the Intech rollers today, and what a difference. They are much quieter and smoother than the previous (original) rollers. Riding the ElliptiGO is now a different and more pleasant experience...quiet and smooth and better than before.

Small, Greaseless Cam Followers Rise to the Occasion in Robotics Applications

Alexander Bartosch — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT

Have you ever run into issues trying to select small cam followers for your application? If the answer is yes, you’re not alone. Certain design constraints may be limiting your choices. You might be asking questions like: “Can I access the cam followers easily for lubrication?” “Will my cam followers wear out aluminum rails?” “Can they stand up to washdown?”

Quiet Gears Improve Patient Comfort and Imaging Quality in Medical Equipment

Alexander Bartosch — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT

If you have a medical exam or procedure that involves X-rays, mammography units or robotic surgery equipment, the last thing you want to hear is grinding gear noise. Noisy or vibrating motion systems are off-putting for patients and can compromise their comfort during an already stressful medical test. Not only that, motion chatter in the drives that move imaging equipment can also produce fuzzy images that aren’t suitable for diagnostic purposes.

Sealed End-Cap Design Boosts Cam Follower Durability in Washdown Applications

Alexander Bartosch — Thu, 27 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT

If you’re designing for packaging or processing machines in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical or electronics industries, then you might want to reach for cam followers that can endure frequent washdown cycles, resist contamination and corrosion and exhibit long wear life. At Intech, we offer several high-performance, greaseless iCam® Follower options for these environments. These options include:

Long-Lasting, Lubrication-Free Guide Rollers Enable Flexible Automation for Genomic Research

Alexander Bartosch — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT

When it comes to life science and laboratory instruments, your choice of motion components can make a big difference in terms of performance. As a testament to this fact, a biotechnology company that specializes in detection and imaging equipment outfitted one of its automated liquid handling systems with Intech polymer guide rollers. Compared to previous motion components, these guide rollers have unlocked a number of benefits, including long, wear-free service life, which has helped improve the speed and performance of the dispensing system.

Power-Core™ Gear-Drive Overcomes Belt-Drive Challenges in Frozen Food Slicing Applications

Alexander Bartosch — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT

Slicing operations in frozen food applications are demanding, to say the least. They involve a constant switch between sub-freezing processing operations and hot washdown cleaning cycles, exposing components to thermal extremes. The nature of the cutting operation itself is also harsh and repetitive in nature, subjecting components to high shock and vibration loads.

Precision Track Rollers Beat Metal and Plastic To Hold Up 1,280-Pound Glass Door

Alexander Bartosch — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT

High-quality sliding doors are expected to open easily and quietly—a motion that largely depends on high-quality track rollers. Unfortunately, many materials used in door hardware fall short. For example, metal track rollers will wear out the aluminum rails typically used in sliding door installations. These rollers are also noisy. On the other hand, ordinary plastic rollers lack dimensional stability and can fail when exposed to real-world static and dynamic loads, temperatures, moisture or chemicals. Another challenge for sliding door applications is the weight of the door itself.

Explore The Ways Our Large Diameter Gear Integrated Bearings Shine in Difficult Environments

Georg Bartosch — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT

When the design calls for a large bearing—for example, to support a large outer diameter (OD) ring gear—choosing a sturdy yet lightweight mechanism with the properties and stability for reliable performance can be tough. Finding an appropriate bearing that can operate in cleanroom, food processing or vacuum environments, with all their hygienic requirements, can be an even greater challenge.

Greaseless Cam Follower With Hybrid Design Excels in Washdown Applications

Alexander Bartosch — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT

The wrong type of cam follower or roller can lead to contamination issues, frequent maintenance and reduced service life—especially in washdown applications. This is an especially important concern now that washdown chemicals have become more caustic under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). In these environments, even traditional all-metal stainless steel cam followers are subject to corrosion and accelerated metal-to-metal wear, leading to premature failure.