The Machine Doctor’s Ramblings

Motion System Design published a good article on specifying VFDs.  Click here to check it out.

I realize that this has nothing to do with industrial machinery but this video is just amazing.  It shows the demolition of the tallest building ever to be imploded.  Just amazing!

(Click here to view video.)

(Click here to read the story behind the demolition.)

If you design with linear bearings this article from Design World magazine is worth reading.  Click here to view the article.

The last issue of Control Engineer magazine had several good articles that may be of interest to you if you work with control systems.

The first article is about using IEC 61131 based CoDeSys programming software.  (Click here to view article.)  I’ve used this software in several different versions and I think it is a really good product.

The second article discusses balancing the use of PLCs, PACs and industrial PCs. (Click here to view article.)

The third article discusses advantages of the different type of controllers (Click here to view article.)

There is also an article concerning a LinkedIn discussion of this topic.  (Click here to view.)

And lastly there is an article on Networked Safety systems.  (Click here to view.)

I hope you enjoy - or at least learn something.

Here are some screen shots of  the Fox pregame show showing the stage I designed.

I’ve never had so much fun watching a pregame show!

See my earlier post for the CAD rendering of this stage.

If you need a heavy duty slide and don’t need the accuracy (and cost) of a square rail bearing you might want to consider this new product recently featured in Motion System Design Magazine (click here).  It looks like it has great potential.

For more details on these slides click here.

I may not be going to the Super Bowl with the Packers but my work will be.

I have been working with a small company from Fond du Lac, WI named Northern Lights Productions for several months now.  They provide a number of unique products and services to the television and movie production industry.

Back to the topic at hand… Northern Lights is providing a stage for Fox’s coverage of the Super Bowl and I have provided the design and engineering for the stage.  The stage is currently being constructed in the parking lot of the new Texas Stadium out of a set of giant “Erector Set” modules developed by Northern Lights (with my assistance).  This past summer I helped them with engineering three large television stages used at the US Open Tennis Tournament using these same “Erector Set” modules.

This is what the stage structure looks like.  The entire stage will be wrapped with a Nylon covering.  You may never see the exterior structure of the set on TV but if you see the Fox commentators sitting at a desk with their back to the stadium they will be sitting on this stage.

I will post more info, and hopefully more pictures, as they become available.

Both Fox and the NFL Network have been using mobile stages provided by Northern Lights for their pre-game and half-time shows this season.  The stage is moved next to the field for the show then quickly dismantled and moved away from the field during the 90 second commercial break.  I am currently working with Northern Lights on a potential replacement for these mobile stages.  Hopefully the new stage will be ready for next year’s football season.

I’m proud to announce that Innalytical Solutions is celebrating it’s seventh year in full-time operation this week.  My how time flies by.

Thanks to all our customers who have provided some very interesting projects over that these last seven years.

Assembly magazine published a good article on troubleshooting vision systems in its latest edition.  Click here to view the article.

If you deal with vision systems I’m sure this article will be useful.

Sometimes I think that Lean is expected to be the answer to every question.  I think this recent article in Assembly magazine points out that we can’t stop with Lean.  Click here to view the article.

Please free to post your thoughts.