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Bill Walton – a 7 foot tall anomaly
from the annals of basketball history
who wears tie-dye shirts, listens to the
Grateful Dead and, according to his
own outlandish proclamations, hasn’t
taken an indoor shower in 35 years – is
well-known for looking at average accomplishmentsand being overcome
with extreme fits of emotion.
What was once targeted specifically toward the machine tool and metalworking industries, IMTS 2014 in Chicago spent a
great deal of time and resources on automation, controls, mechanical components, self-diagnostics and an increase in productivity on the shop floor.
It's not a show title that rolls off the tongue, but the Industrial Automation North America and MDA NA @IMTS 2014 show nevertheless may well be one to remember.
Most of you probably think you know what
IMTS is about—machine tools, cutting tools, and various manufacturing processes. And if you stick to the North, South and West halls, you’ll be mostly right. But there’s a substantial group of exhibitors in the East building that are dedicated to automation, motion control and mechanical components.
All major manufacturers of 3-phase
AC induction motors offer "inverter-duty" or "inverter-ready” models, but while these motors have inverter-rated insulation to protect the windings, the bearings--their most vulnerable parts--are too often ignored.
Many of you probably think of IMTS as
just a machine tool show. Of course, it’s hard not to. With the majority of the show focused on metalworking equipment, tooling and supplies, there’s no doubt that IMTS is a machine
tool show. But this year, the show has partnered with Hannover Messe to include IANA—Industrial Automation North America.
While safety functions have been integrated into drives packages for some years now, the current trends are very exciting, from many angles. Today,
a full complement of safety functions can be implemented at the front-end of a system design on all types of production machines, including printing, packaging, converting,
materials handling and other equipment used throughout American industry.