Cable Guide enables dynamic cable reorientation.
January 14, 2005 - RoundAboutâ„¢ cable directing device gives draw wire transducers flexibility for connecting displacement cable to applications. Two precision-positioned pulleys provide 2 dimensions of tracking, while third dimension is provided by bearing-mount housing with cable-actuated rotation mechanism. Product eliminates requirements for flexible mounting bases or re-location of position transducer. It installs in minutes and provides millions of cycles.
(Archive News Story - Products mentioned in this Archive News Story may or may not be available from the manufacturer.)
Original Press release
SpaceAge Control, Inc.
38850 20th Street East
Palmdale, CA, 93550
USA
RoundAboutâ„¢ Cable Guide Eliminates Cable Alignment Hassles
Device Allows Dynamic Cable Re-Orientation for Draw Wire Transducers
PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA USA -- The patent-pending RoundAboutâ„¢ cable guide gives draw wire transducers unparalleled flexibility in connecting the displacement cable (draw wire) to applications. Offering rotational capability in two axes and linear capability in one axis, the RoundAboutâ„¢ cable guide enables 2D and 3D dynamic tracking capability that previously has not been available. The product installs in minutes and provides millions of cycles of use.
The RoundAboutâ„¢ cable guide is a simple yet elegantly-designed cable-directing device that allows SpaceAge Control cable-actuated position transducers to follow motion dynamically in 3D space. The product uses two precision-positioned pulleys to provide two dimensions of the tracking capability. The third dimension of tracking capability is provided by a bearing-mount housing incorporating a cable-actuated rotation mechanism (a cable interface surface). The product eliminates the need for specific pulleys to be mounted to provide 2D and 3D motion tracking and gives dynamic tracking capability. The product eliminates requirements for flexible mounting bases or re-location of the position transducer.
The cable guide's versatility derives from its ability to track one dimension of motion in 3D space. Designers and test engineers can exploit the unique flexibility of this RoundAboutâ„¢ feature when introducing displacement measurement sensors in their applications, or in designing new applications based on the feature. For example, three or four RoundAboutâ„¢-equipped position transducers can be used to create a local, medium-accuracy coordinate measurement machine. The product functionality can be viewed in this animated GIF file.
Similar designs do not allow for dynamic motion nor for full 3D range of motion, a limitation induced in most cases by the use of a single pulley. Some similar designs rely on the cable moving over non-rotating surfaces resulting in friction and wear that reduce the unit's lifetime and accuracy. The RoundAboutâ„¢ cable guide incorporates a 2nd pulley, a housing mounted on a precision bearing, and a cable-interface curve on the housing the rotates the housing dynamically to the correct orientation. These design attributes give the product unsurpassed flexibility to track 3D motion with cable-type actuation.
To learn more about the product, view the RoundAboutâ„¢ cable guide data sheet. The RoundAboutTM cable guide is offered on the Series 160/161/162 and Series 6 product lines.
Designed initially for draw wire type transducers, the RoundAboutâ„¢ cable guide concept can be applied to any wire rope, cable, and similar applications such as winches, aircraft control cables, and rigging apparatus. The cable guide can be used on new and retrofit draw wire transducer applications as well as an independent accessory. The miniature-sized cable guide can also be used to provide ease-of-mounting for box-style and low-mounting-flexibility position transducers.
A complete data sheet is available at http://spaceagecontrol.com/s021s.htm.
The RoundAboutâ„¢ cable guide is the latest in a series of SpacAge Control draw wire transducer innovations since 1968 including:
• Miniature and subminiature position transducer for demanding, space-constrained applications
• AccuTrak™ grooved drum for enhanced repeatability
• DirectConnect™ sensor-to-drum technology giving zero backlash, no torsion springs, and no clutches
• Patented Universal Base offering 2-axis rotation capability
SpaceAge Control designs and manufactures miniature position transducers (displacement sensors) and air data products used in a broad array of demanding applications ranging from medical devices to factory automation equipment to manned space vehicles. The ISO 9001-compliant company was started in 1968 and is located in Palmdale, California USA.
Editorial Contact
Tom Anderson, Application Development Manager
SpaceAge Control, Inc.
38850 20th Street East
Palmdale, CA 93550 USA
661-273-3000 Ext. 102, 661-273-4240 (fax)
mailto:email@spaceagecontrol.com
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