Radwell International’s Blog

A servo motor is a rotary actuator or linear actuator that allows for angular position, acceleration and velocity. It has capabilities that a regular motor doesn’t possess. Servo motors work with sensors for precise control of movement. The controller is the most sophisticated part of the servo motor, as it is designed for precision.

Servo motors are a combination of specific parts, which include a DC or AC motor, and are suitable for use in a closed-loop control system. Servo motor applications include robotics, automated manufacturing and computer numerical control (CNC) machining applications.

The two types of servo motors have different uses. AC Servo motors can handle higher current surges and tend to be used in industrial machinery.

Beginning in the late 1800’s, Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla were involved in a competition which came to be known as the War of the Currents. The War of the Currents was a series of events related to the introduction of competing electric power transmission systems to the world in the late 1800’s. 

Both Edison and Tesla were able to develop, imagine or create inventions that are utilized in modern factory environments in some capacity even today. When we consider Industry 4.0 as a 4^th Phase of industrial growth, evolution and progress, it is difficult to dispute that both Edison and Tesla contributed to what is essentially the connected manufacturing environment of the modern age.

Thomas Edison is still considered one of the greatest inventors to ever live.

AC and DC are different types of voltage or current used for the conduction and transmission of electrical energy.

AC stands for alternating current. AC Drives are frequency converters designed to control the speed and torque of an electric motor. The speed is controlled by changing the frequency of the electrical supply to the motor.

The types of motors that ac drives control normally operate at constant speed. Enabling the user to control the speed of motor potentially gives the user benefits in terms of process control and energy savings.

DC stands for direct current. DC motor drives are a type of amplifier or power modulator that integrate between the controller and a DC motor.

Product lifecycle management, or PLM, is the process of managing the entire lifecycle of a product from inception through end-stage disposal. It is sometimes considered one of four information technology cornerstones for a manufacturer, alongside customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain management (SCM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP).

The PLM concept began in the mid-1980s when American Motors Corporation (AMC), intent on establishing a competitive advantage over the auto industry giants of the time, put its focus on using technology to speed the product development process. Although AMC was ultimately acquired by one of those giants, its innovations were integrated into modern manufacturing tech and have played an invaluable role there ever since.

What is an HMI?

HMI stands for Human-Machine Interface.

A Human-Machine Interface (HMI) is a user interface that connects a person to a machine. HMI can technically be applied to any screen that allows a user to interact with a device. It is most commonly used in the context of an industrial process.

A Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is an electronic device used to monitor or control production processes. It is a device that a user can program to perform a series or sequence of events. These events are triggered by inputs received at the programmable logic controller through delayed actions such as time delays.

Designing and fabricating manufacturing-related tools — dies, molds, patterns, jigs, fixtures and so on — in ways that maximize efficiency while also minimizing cost is commonly referred to as “agile tooling,” and it is an important trend for modern manufacturing.

Techniques used to create an agile tooling environment range from the traditional to the cutting-edge. These may include the following:

Like most companies, the story of Radwell International is one of humble beginnings. The company story began 38 years ago in Mount Laurel, NJ and has survived and thrived through many changes. Brian Radwell, too, has gone through his share of challenges, both personal and professional. To read the detailed story of Radwell, you can check out this blog post The Story of Radwell.

To truly understand the Radwell story, you have to understand a little bit about Brian Radwell's motivation, which stems from supporting his father who was the kindest man in the world according to many people within the company who knew him when he was alive. I had the rare opportunity to ask Brian Radwell a question about fear of failure and the family culture of giving back .

If you’re a manufacturing plant manager, what don’t you want to see out to the production floor? Probably a significant number of things, but near the top of that list would probably be a large group of workers congregating around a critical piece of machinery that should be running—yet isn’t. Rarely does such a sight have positive implications.

Video transcribed by Ryan Neuman for Radwell International