Abstract: Robot arms and methods of controlling robot arms. In an example, a hand control is located on a robot arm and provides translation and/or rotation control of actuators that may for example rotate in unison. In another example, a hand control on a robot arm is also provided at an end effector, which may control actuators in the robot arm for example by having the actuators rotate together or oppositely in unison. In a further example, a hand control situated on a robot arm between actuators controls upstream and downstream actuators with different control strategies. In a master slave example, actuators in a master robot control actuators in a slave robot, and the actuators may be provided at an angle and be arranged to hold position in normal operation when unpowered. Nonbackdrivability is also provided by providing sufficient friction between stator and rotor in actuators of a robot arm. In a Scara robot, a fixed part of a base is secured to a floor, while a moving end is supported by a bearing element.

Abstract: A magnetic brake for a motor uses the magnetic force on the surface of a flux concentrating rotor to pull a flexible brake spring or friction sheet into friction contact with the rotor. An electromagnetic stator pulls the flexible brake spring or friction sheet away from the rotor when it is energized. The brake spring may be a variable thickness around the circumference in a radial flux motor or radially in an axial flux motor and is thicker near where it is fixed to the housing. The brake spring may be split so it can clamp down on the rotor symmetrically. The OD of the brake spring may be closer to the surrounding stator near the fixed section of the brake spring so the air gap to the brake stator is smaller and the gap to the rotor and the ID of the brake spring is larger to allow the brake stator to pull on this area with greater force initially when it is energized to disengage the brake.

Abstract: A magnetic brake for a motor uses the magnetic force on the surface of a flux concentrating rotor to pull a flexible brake spring or friction sheet into friction contact with the rotor. An electromagnetic stator pulls the flexible brake spring or friction sheet away from the rotor when it is energized. The brake spring may be a variable thickness around the circumference in a radial flux motor or radially in an axial flux motor and is thicker near where it is fixed to the housing. The brake spring may be split so it can clamp down on the rotor symmetrically. The OD of the brake spring may be closer to the surrounding stator near the fixed section of the brake spring so the air gap to the brake stator is smaller and the gap to the rotor and the ID of the brake spring is larger to allow the brake stator to pull on this area with greater force initially when it is energized to disengage the brake.

Abstract: An actuator for high rotational speed applications using a stator which utilizes laminated features to reduce Eddy current losses in the stator. This construction allows high pole counts while providing the efficiency and high-speed benefits of a laminated construction. Laminated construction is very challenging for a high pole count lightweight motor, but embodiments of the device provide structural strength, and rigidity, as well as other benefits such as low manufacturing cost, high heat dissipation, integrated cooling channels, and light weight construction. Many of these benefits result from the use of a laminate sandwich of non-magnetic, heat conductive material, such as anodized aluminum, as a structural member of the stator.

Abstract: A magnetic brake for a motor uses the magnetic force on the surface of a flux concentrating rotor to pull a flexible brake spring or friction sheet into friction contact with the rotor. An electromagnetic stator pulls the flexible brake spring or friction sheet away from the rotor when it is energized. The brake spring may be a variable thickness around the circumference in a radial flux motor or radially in an axial flux motor and is thicker near where it is fixed to the housing. The brake spring may be split so it can clamp down on the rotor symmetrically. The OD of the brake spring may be closer to the surrounding stator near the fixed section of the brake spring so the air gap to the brake stator is smaller and the gap to the rotor and the ID of the brake spring is larger to allow the brake stator to pull on this area with greater force initially when it is energized to disengage the brake.