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  • PC-Controlled Water, Light, and Audio Installation

    Font dels Colors fountain in Andorra’s capital city is automated and synchronized using PC-based control system. PC-Controlled Water, Light, and Audio Installation Font dels Colors fountain in Andorra’s capital city is automated and synchronized using PC-based control system. Terry Persun Stage Events Jun 12, 2025 Fluidra S.A. creates impressive installations involving water, light, and music, including the Font dels Colors fountain. The company relies on PC-based control from Beckhoff, whose openness and flexible approach to creativity open up a whole host of possibilities for designers. Fluidra’s technical skills and Beckhoff’s expertise in automation technology are at the heart of spectacular water displays such as the twin fountains in Plaça de Catalunya (Barcelona), the fountains in La Pedrera Park (Argentina), and the Vadistambul shopping center fountain (Türkiye). These projects contain PC-based control technology from Beckhoff, including TwinCAT 3 PLC/NC PTP and TwinCAT 3 HMI Server as software, plus EtherCAT Terminals and EtherCAT Box modules—which can be installed in a decentralized configuration—acting as the I/O level. The lighting technology is integrated using technology including EL6851 EtherCAT Terminals (DMX master). A CP2216 multi-touch built-in Panel PC allows technicians to control the system as required, call up status messages, and respond to alarms. Developed by Fluidra in collaboration with architects Pere Cervós of Pere Cervós Arquitectura and Ricard de Deus of Causa Estudi Arquitectura, alongside the construction company Locub S.A., the Font dels Colors water display combines an impressive installation with light and music located next to the Gran Valira river and the Puente de París bridge in the heart of Andorra’s old town. This attraction transforms the city promenade into a living work of art that captivates tourists. Another special feature of the project is its innovative, sustainable approach in which the water for the cascades is taken from the river and then reused. Precise synchronization PC-based control allows all the components of the Font dels Colors and other projects to work in perfect synchronicity—from the lighting effects and background music to the dynamic choreography of the water jets and pumps. Fluidra makes full use of Beckhoff’s extensive modular I/O portfolio, which covers everything from simple digital inputs and outputs to motion control and AM8000 servomotors. The communication options with DMX management systems are a key advantage; Fluidra uses these for programming and operating the water installations, for example. Photo: The lighting scenarios and motion sequences created using 3D DMX software are converted into precise, synchronized control signals for the nozzles, pumps, and LED lights, working on the basis of a PC. Fluidra uses its 3D software to create the sequences for its water displays, from the jets and illumination features to the sound system. The control data for the light and water jets is then output via what are known as DMX control universes. These sequence programs are installed on a separate DMX player, which is included in every system. The sequences are transferred to the CP2216 Panel PC via an EL6851-0010 EtherCAT Terminal (DMX slave) and EtherCAT, and are executed in TwinCAT 3 PLC/NC PTP—in other words, converted into control signals for the various components, including the servomotors. Any components with a DMX connection can be integrated directly via additional EL6851 EtherCAT Terminals (DMX master). To allow intervention in the sequences on site, DMX control channels required for this purpose were created for each device in TwinCAT 3 HMI. Operators can also access the system remotely and respond quickly to an alarm message by email. Conserving water resources The solutions from Fluidra and Beckhoff don’t stop at aesthetics and technology, however. Both companies are also committed to using ecological resources sustainably. For this reason, Font dels Colors has implemented a water cycle that significantly reduces consumption and ensures efficient use of the valuable resource of water. In addition, UV filters and disinfection systems have been installed to maintain high levels of water quality without the use of harmful chemicals. According to the experts at Fluidra, this integrated approach involving technological and ecological innovations is setting new standards for planning and constructing water systems. Combining aesthetically appealing water displays with ecological responsibility points the way toward a more sustainable and exciting future for urban spaces. For more information: Fluidra Beckhoff Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

  • The Surprisingly Clever Water Technology Behind Camp Snoopy's River Raft Ride

    This interactive boat ride only requires one main pump for multiple, dynamic water features that spray at different heights in varying sequences. The Surprisingly Clever Water Technology Behind Camp Snoopy's River Raft Ride This interactive boat ride only requires one main pump for multiple, dynamic water features that spray at different heights in varying sequences. Edited by EE Staff Theme Parks Dec 15, 2025 For nearly a century, Charles Schulz’s beloved Peanuts characters have captivated American audiences, propelling a once regional newspaper comic strip into a multibillion-dollar franchise, spanning movies, TV specials, merchandise, and attractions. Now, Camp Snoopy at Carowinds, an amusement park located on the border of North and South Carolina, takes the franchise a step further by offering guests a fully immersive Peanuts experience built around a lineup of interactive themed rides and attractions. Camp Snoopy’s latest attraction, Charlie Brown’s River Raft Blast, brings more to the park than simply thrills and excitement. Designed by leading aquatic design and engineering firm Martin Aquatic, the attraction features a track-based interactive boat ride developed by German manufacturer Mack Rides set within a sprawling 10,420-square-foot, 208,103-gallon basin. Dispersed throughout the basin, Peanuts-themed water features activate as rafts pass, delivering a sequence of sprays and splashes that ensure no two rides feel the same. Engineering Innovation River Raft Blast is unique in how its water features are supplied and controlled. Instead of drawing water directly from the ride basin using a series of submersible pumps, Martin Aquatic chose to supply each feature from a single, centralized manifold fed by one main pump. This configuration would normally have supported a static design, limiting each themed water feature to producing only a constant stream of water. However, by installing a new low-power, fast-acting proportional valve called the SplashValve beneath each Peanuts character, each is able to operate as its own dynamic water feature, spraying water at different heights and in varying sequences. Park ride photos courtesy of Six Flags Entertainment. “By specifying SplashValves instead of distributed submersible pumps,” says Martin Aquatic Technical Director Diego Cordova, “we’re not splashing guests with water pulled from the fountain basin. All of that water is coming directly from the filtration system, so we know it’s been thoroughly treated before it comes in contact with the guest.” Developed by aquatic technology firm SplashBotix, the SplashValve employs a servo-actuated three-way valve capable of directing water to the nozzle, to the basin, or to varying proportions of both flow paths, allowing for dynamic on/off sequencing and spray height control. The valves enable designers like Martin Aquatic to produce a simpler, more streamlined water feature design that uses lower voltage, lower power submerged equipment while maximizing both guest engagement and safety. Park ride photos courtesy of Six Flags Entertainment. During the design phase, members of Martin Aquatic and Six Flags Entertainment’s creative group worked with SplashBotix at its Austin, Texas test pool facility to mock-up each feature prior to specifying the SplashValve as part of their solution. “The SplashBotix test pool has become an extremely valuable tool for us,” says SplashBotix Program Director Ronn Garland. “Designers need a space where they can experiment in a production-like environment and verify that they’re taking the right approach. Conducting real life mock-ups of each themed effect is a critical step in proving out the creative vision.” The River Raft Blast also relies on a SplashBotix Main Control Panel (MCP) pump room controller to automatically control and synchronize the pumps, valves, and water treatment system supporting the main basin. The MCP is a PLC-based controller that takes inputs from various sensors and field devices and controls pumps such that the system’s regenerative media filter and chemical feed systems are able to effectively treat the water as it cycles between the basin and the surge tank. MCP and SplashValve photos courtesy of SplashBotix by ARM Automation. Using the MCP, ride operators can easily turn the basin on and off from its 10” touch screen HMI rather than having to independently operate the pumps and water chemistry systems manually. They can also glean various insights from the MCP about the status of the ride basin, including everything from equipment faults and alarms to visualizations reflecting the basin’s water level, temperature, and more. Since opening in July 2025, Charlie Brown’s River Raft Blast has been enormously popular, providing guests of all ages with yet another new and exciting way to engage with the Peanuts universe almost 75 years after its inception. More than just an exciting water attraction, however, the ride demonstrates how modern technologies are making it possible for theme park engineers to push the envelope in developing exciting new guest experiences without compromising on safety or ease of operation. For more information: SplashBotix Martin Aquatic Mack Rides Carowinds Read more about water features >>> Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

  • These Robot Bugs Inspired by Nature Mimic the Real Thing

    Creating new designs includes a wide view of the possibilities long before nailing down the details. These Robot Bugs Inspired by Nature Mimic the Real Thing Creating new designs includes a wide view of the possibilities long before nailing down the details. Terry Persun Museums Sep 23, 2025 Cool Stuff Entertainment Engineering Magazine is based on the concept of technology transfer where an engineer reading an article about one industry will instantly transfer that information to whatever project or projects they might be involved with in other industries. We’ve also heard this called cross-industry innovation. Well, Festo has been doing something similar only using nature as the crossover point and then cross-industry innovation. It’s pretty cool and we thought we’d bring some of their thinking to you. In a talk given by Dr. Elias Knubben, Head of corporate bionic projects at Festo, we learn some important elements about how creativity is being used to advance automation. EE pulled some of the key points from a video produced by Wired UK. Here’s what we got from the talk: Festo has a small team that explores technology through the window of nature. They’ve created butterflies and dragonflies, but also ants that work together as a team, and have recreated what resembles the tongue of a lizard. Many of the capabilities designed using nature as a model have seen their way into industrial products including control systems and robot end effectors. To create innovative products, the small team that works with Dr. Knubben goes for concept first. They look for something innovative, fascinating, educational, and inspiring. These elements are necessary so that the project gets everyone’s attention, gets everyone involved. Each member must bring confidence and the courage to fail to the project even as early prototypes are created, even when they are requesting funding. Ultimately, though, the risk is shared. From this point, the whole team can come together. By working in interdisciplinary teams that literally work side by side, each person can come at a possible solution from a different angle. Using biological role models for inspiration, the team gets started as quickly and easily as possible. Once started they are able to incubate their ideas and then put several methods into place at the same time. During the project phase, Dr. Knubben’s team constantly zooms in and out to come up with iterations and variants on a particular project. To do this, Festo incorporates generalists to keep an eye on the big picture and specialists to dive deeply into the technical details such as creating the circuit boards, writing code etc. Together, the team has the freedom and the playground to work on any project. In the end, the results are not simply to mimic nature, like an ant or kangaroo but the algorithms used to get there, the principles of operation that are now available for other industrial automation devices. Because Festo is involved with a wide variety of industries such as electronics, automotive, life sciences, process control, food processing, and others, the company is continually employing cross-industry innovation to move their products into the future. Much of the innovation for this forward motion comes from nature. Something Fun A fun display created by Festo for a recent tradeshow uses a Rube Goldberg approach to take viewers through the history of automation. Rube Goldberg takes a simple process and represents it using a complex and convoluted series of chain reactions. Called the Incredible Machine, the Festo display starts with moving the wings of a butterfly as a metaphor for the butterfly effect: the concept in chaos theory where a small change in conditions leads to vastly different outcomes in a complex system. Watch the video below and see just how significant one small event can become by moving through a variety of technologies in various industries only to end similar to how it began. *All photos courtesy of Festo. For information: Festo: https://www.festo.com/us/en/ Adaptive Shape Gripper: https://www.festo.com/us/en/p/adaptive-shape-gripper-id_DHEF/?q=robotic%20grippers~:festoSortOrderScored Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

  • Hi-Tech Cameras Used to Shoot TV Drama

    Japanese drama uses multiple Blackmagic cameras and DaVinci Resolve Studio for grading. Hi-Tech Cameras Used to Shoot TV Drama Japanese drama uses multiple Blackmagic cameras and DaVinci Resolve Studio for grading. Terry Persun Film and TV Jun 19, 2025 Blackmagic Design recently announced that the ABC TV and TV Asahi network drama series “It's a Wonderful Teacher!” was shot on Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 12K and Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro digital film cameras. Additionally, DaVinci Resolve Studio was used for grading the series. “It's a Wonderful Teacher!” is a television drama produced by ABC TV starring Erika Ikuta. The series depicts the struggles of a young high school teacher, Rio Sasaoka, from Generation Z. In the show, Rio experiences so much stress in her second year of teaching that she considers quitting. However, by addressing challenges in modern education and building relationships with her students, she gradually grows as an educator. According to cinematographer Akiyoshi Konno, who was in charge of shooting the series, "Since the story is set in a high school, there are more than 30 cast members in the classroom scenes. Because of this, we used a multi camera setup. The main camera was the URSA Mini Pro 12K, while the B and C cameras were Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pros. We divided the classroom in half, first shooting one side of the students and then moving to the other." Konno continued, "It's rare to be able to shoot a TV drama in RAW in Japan, but since the goal was to achieve a cinematic look, I decided to shoot in 24P Blackmagic RAW. I personally own Blackmagic Design cameras, so I was already familiar with their ease-of-use and excellent color quality. Additionally, for a multi camera shoot, the Pocket Cinema Camera was an affordable option, which was also a key factor in choosing it." The series was filmed using SIGMA 18-35mm and 50-100mm cinema lenses. Practical lighting techniques, where light sources are visible within the frame, were also incorporated into the production. DaVinci Resolve Studio was used for grading. After completing the first episode, Konno attended the grading sessions to discuss skin tone adjustments and color emphasis. “Additionally, I created a LUT combining ARRI and Kodak LUTs in DaVinci Resolve and used it during the shoot," said Konno. Konno said that one of his favorite features of Blackmagic Design cameras is their easy-to-use false color function. “Given the time constrains of a TV drama production, it was incredibly useful for fine tuning colors and monitoring lighting levels,” he concluded. For information: Blackmagic Design: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/ DaVinci Resolve: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve “It’s a Wonderful Teacher: https://japan-programcatalog.com/en/program/itsawonderfulteacher Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

  • Martial Arts Smart Training Vest Technology Aims to “Revolutionize” Combat Training

    The vests provide athletes and instructors with “data-driven insights on striking power, reaction time, stamina, and overall performance." Martial Arts Smart Training Vest Technology Aims to “Revolutionize” Combat Training The vests provide athletes and instructors with “data-driven insights on striking power, reaction time, stamina, and overall performance." EE Staff Sports Jul 31, 2025 Cool Stuff Century Martial Arts, a manufacturer of martial arts equipment, is acquiring 2020 Armor, who makes smart training technology for combat sports. Also from EE: Reimagining Sports Swimwear 2020 Armor is known for its impact-tracking vests and real-time performance analytics . The vests provide athletes and instructors with “data-driven insights on striking power, reaction time, stamina, and overall performance,” according to the company. As part of the acquisition, 2020 Armor’s technology will be incorporated into Century’s training equipment to provide real-time feedback and measurable improvement metrics for martial artists of all levels. “This acquisition aligns perfectly with our vision of combining traditional martial arts training with modern innovation,” said Michael Dillard, CEO of Century Martial Arts. “... we’re excited to integrate its advanced analytics into our products, empowering martial artists with tools that enhance their training like never before.” The integration of 2020 Armor’s technology into Century’s products is expected to roll out in the coming months, with “further innovations on the horizon.” How do the smart vests work? The smart vests are designed by “martial arts experts,” according to their website. They’re made from marine-grade vinyl and use technology to track performance metrics among other features. The vests, which can be linked with an app, provide stats on power, stamina, and reaction time, and also allow students to train using games. The 3.5 lb. vests use patented sensors built into them with ten different degrees of sensitivity. They can be charged with a USB Mini-B port for six hours of battery time, and they also have Bluetooth connectivity. Watch the video below to see the vests in action: SOURCE: Century Martial Arts Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

  • Carbon Fiber Foam Core Pickleball Paddle

    Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport for three years in a row. Find out how engineers are designing paddles for maximum performance. Carbon Fiber Foam Core Pickleball Paddle Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport for three years in a row. Find out how engineers are designing paddles for maximum performance. Joe Gillard Sports Jun 16, 2025 Body Helix, a pickleball equipment provider, announced the upcoming launch of their FLiK F1 with TerraCoreXC pickleball paddle which the company says employs their “Gen 4 Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) foam core technology.” The paddles, which are designed for “controlled power and spin,” are slated for release in July, and are USAP-approved. TerraCoreXC Technology TerraCoreXC is the name given to the paddle technology Body Helix says is a patent-pending Gen 4 EPP foam core that “shatters the limitations of traditional polypropylene honeycomb cores.” The core is built using a bonding process. Conventional cores, according to the company, can suffer from rapid breakdown, dead spots, and harsh feedback. For precision, these paddles are designed for a longer dwell time paired with a proprietary high-friction peel ply surface. The paddle also has an area of fiberglass on top of the 4 layers of carbon fiber for “added pop” and for providing power, says the company. Engineered for Excellence The paddle design is a 16.5" x 7.5" elongated shape with a face that features four layers of Toray T700 carbon fiber which the company says gives it its strength-to-weight ratio, and has a central fiberglass area for “added pop.” The handle is made from a solid polyurethane. “This precise layering provides the perfect balance of stiffness for power, flexibility for feel, and surface texture for spin, while the fiberglass layer adds a crucial element of dampening and enhances durability, creating a truly robust and high-performing paddle face,” explained Body Helix founder and head of R&D Fred Robinson in a blog post about the technology. The company says that it utilized player feedback in designing the paddle. “The FLiK F1 with TerraCoreXC is the culmination of over a year of research and player feedback,” said Robinson. “We’ve engineered a paddle that solves real player complaints - a paddle with power that doesn't "break in" while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in pickleball technology.” Body Helix says players eager to experience TerraCoreXC can try the Sandbox F1XC , a limited-edition Sandbox version, while awaiting the official launch. For more information: Body Helix Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

  • Personal Transport Vehicle Uses Plastic Bearings

    The iglide® self-lubricating, maintenance-free plastic bearings are being used in the design and development of a single-passenger, urban commuting vehicle. Personal Transport Vehicle Uses Plastic Bearings The iglide® self-lubricating, maintenance-free plastic bearings are being used in the design and development of a single-passenger, urban commuting vehicle. IGUS (originally published in 2013) Cool Stuff Jun 4, 2025 The Personal Transport Vehicle, Ground (PTV-G), is the brainchild of Redbud Technology LLC out of Union Grove, AL. The design uses an articulated steering geometry where the inclined steering pivot is positioned just behind the occupant, and as a result reacts like a high-performance, two-wheeled motorcycle. iglide plastic plain bearings are used in both the independent rear suspension and in the rear wheel lean-and-tilt mechanisms. The bearings are ideal for the harsh, dirty operating environment of the vehicle since they will not corrode and require no maintenance or external lubrication. The low cost and easy installation of the bearings is also an important benefit. In conjunction with the company's Y.E.S. (Young Engineers Support) Program, igus donated bearings at no cost to a group of students working on the project. The vehicle’s subsystems are being assigned to high school seniors and community college and university programs as special projects in order to encourage a younger generation to participate in the study of science, engineering, and manufacturing technologies. Photo: Rendering of the ongoing REDBUD™ PTV-G™ project Redbud is committed to projects that serve as educational resources to advance the knowledge of those who study and practice design, engineering, and manufacturing in the US. They seek to establish relationships with educational institutions and seasoned mentors to foster new learning models. igus’ Y.E.S. Program has a similar mission: to foster the mechanical design ideas of students with a passion for engineering, while at the same time educating them on the merits and benefits of plastic components. Redbud Technology is actively evolving the design and engineering of an urban PTV-G™ based on the plan form of a delta trike. The REDBUD™ PTV-G will serve as an educational resource to help technical high school, community college, and university students develop and analyze advanced single passenger commuting concepts, which includes fundamental 3D CAD/CAE/CAM, design, innovative engineering, and economical manufacturing, assembly, and lifecycle maintenance. For more information: igus Y.E.S Program Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

  • Testing Dirt Bikes is a Tricky Application, Requiring Specialized Components

    A specially-made through-hole slip ring delivers all the right measurements. Testing Dirt Bikes is a Tricky Application, Requiring Specialized Components A specially-made through-hole slip ring delivers all the right measurements. Edited by EE Staff Sports Jan 6, 2026 Rotary Systems is often tasked with improving upon existing slip ring designs. In one such case the company facilitated the design and production of a slip ring encoder made specifically for dirt bike testing. Images and gifs courtesy of Rotary Systems. Testing dirt bikes can be a tricky application, so when a leading producer of measurement and testing equipment requested that Rotary Systems, Inc. (RSI) engineer and manufacture a specialized slip ring they took on the challenge. The testing customer needed a product that allowed a dirt bike motor to measure temperature and calculate drivetrain efficiency. This application required a compact slip ring needed to fit around the shaft of an axle. One of RSI’s specialties include through-hole slip rings which meant that their engineers had the experience and expertise to design the product in-house. How a slip ring encoder works In a basic sense, the slip ring encoder receives power directly from the motor and in exchange transmits data to the customer’s computers onsite. The testing customer is then able to detect extreme changes in temperature and, if the shocks are overloaded, the company can remedy the situation quickly. Working with other engineering teams to develop the best solutions is what keeps RSI at the top of their game. In this particular application the company’s engineering team worked hard to develop a product that withstood extreme environments like the rugged terrain of the motorcross trail, in order to ensure data was transferred as efficiently and safely as possible. For more information: Rotary Systems Slip Rings Other cool sports and racing articles >>> Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

  • Advertise | Entertainment Engineering Magazine

    Advertise with Us Why Advertise with Entertainment Engineering Magazine ? It's human nature to be curious and seek entertainment — that's why Entertainment Engineering exists in the first place! Here at Entertainment Engineering , we connect with our readers' insatiable curiosity to drive engagement, while providing an editorial package that focuses on content that is educational and valuable to our audience's jobs. The result is a publication that isn't just relevant, but fun, too! By prioritizing our readership, we guarantee a highly-engaged audience to our advertisers. We'd love to talk to you about how we can highlight the coolest and most innovative applications of your products to an audience that is enthusiastic, engaged, and interested in your product. To request our media kit, please message us below First name* Last name* Email* Company name Any specific inquiries you have? Submit 5 Ways to Attract a Design Engineer’s Attention The Entertainment Engineering Philosophy 1. Show Them Something Interesting - Entertainment Engineering incorporates the FUN design elements in editorial that focuses on the latest movies, games, amusement park, and more. 2. Teach Them Something They Don’t Know - Entertainment Engineering digs into TECHNOLOGY to find out what new unique electrical, mechanical, fluid power, materials, software and computer products are being used behind the scenes. 3. Excite Them About the Possibilities - Entertainment Engineering provides the platform to get an engineer’s CREATIVE processes flowing, allowing them to consider how the product they’re reading about will fit with the project they’re working on—we call it Tech Transfer. 4. Deliver Them to A Place of Information - Entertainment Engineering opens deep links pertinent to the page an engineer is reading, giving them the chance to deepen their learning and have access to the companies and products their interested in. 5. Repeat The Process - Entertainment Engineering provides the right formula of Technology, Creativity and Fun to attract an engineer month after month.

  • Bed of Nails Museum Exhibit Lifts with Ease

    Lifting a Bed-of-Nails in a museum display demanded reliable performance, long product life, and simple integration. Bed of Nails Museum Exhibit Lifts with Ease Lifting a Bed-of-Nails in a museum display demanded reliable performance, long product life, and simple integration. Museums Aug 12, 2025 On a Bed-of-Nails lift table application, the question facing engineers was, “How much do you trust your linear bearing technology?” CW Shaw Inc, a designer and fabrication firm that specializes in bringing interactive, fun and educational museum exhibits to life was posed with this question. For linear ball-bearings, any slight contamination of the bearing cages can lead to breakage, stalling, or total machine failure, which results in a low rate of confidence when lying on a spiky table. After considering the design, load, environment, and necessary long-term operation, CW Shaw opted for Simplicity pillow block housings to guide the support rails on the Bed-of-Nails lift table for a museum exhibit. To demonstrate the full effect of the exhibit, the lift table needed to be raised and lowered by 3-inches, handle loads up to 1,000 lb (for safety), and move at a moderate speed of 5-feet per minute. Potential contamination was a major factor CW Shaw considered. Any trace of dust or particulate posed a risk of system failure, raising safety concerns. Therefore, CW Shaw sought a linear motion system that would not fail under contamination (dust and carpet fibers). Since most museums operate on fixed budgets, CW Shaw also held maintenance-free operation as a crucial design prerequisite, which is why the company designers turned to Simplicity linear plain bearings and pillow block assemblies. The Linear Pillow Block Solution Simplicity products from PBC Linear became a proven solution when requiring maintenance-free, worry-free linear motion. Designed and refined for over 25 years, Simplicity technology has been successfully applied in some of the most extreme environments: temperature extremes, high contamination, and shock and vibration. The bearings travel using a proprietary Frelon liner which transfers the load and glides over dust and other particulate without damaging the shaft. Also, since the pillow blocks are precision designed with no rolling elements, Simplicity pillow block housings will never catastrophically fail, allowing for reliable and safe linear guidance of the support rails. Two Simplicity pillow block assemblies were installed at each end of the lift table to support the load and guide the lift rails. CW Shaw noted no problems in performance and, over time, has implemented the design for several nail bed exhibits throughout the country. For more information: PBC Linear Plain Pillow Block Free Product Sample CW Shaw Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

  • Axceleron LED Lighting Fixtures

    The Axceleron LED lighting fixtures bring unprecedented flexibility to theater, museum, convention center, and industrial/commercial settings. Axceleron LED Lighting Fixtures The Axceleron LED lighting fixtures bring unprecedented flexibility to theater, museum, convention center, and industrial/commercial settings. Terry Persun Stage Events Jun 16, 2025 Aquarii, Inc. offers customized LED lighting solutions as showcased in their Axceleron, broad application LED down light fixture. Axceleron is a tested and recognized ETL, DLC, LM79, and LM80 down light designed for facilities that need an energy efficient fixture for high performance or round-the-clock lighting. Four wattages are available up to 150W. At 150W, Axceleron delivers up to 15,000 lumens, with color rendering indexes (CRI) of up to 90. By mating a state of the art LED printed circuit board and heat sink, the unit manages thermal loads without the need for fans, making it the ideal light for environments that require quiet operation. Customers can select one of four different color temperatures—from 3,000 to 5,000 degrees Kelvin. The units can be mounted in pendant, flush mount, C-clamp, yoke or recess configurations, making it easy for them to fit into any new or existing building. Six different lens configurations include 14, 18, 28, 36, 70 or 110 degrees, allowing facilities to select the angle that suits their specific application. Photo: Aquarii LED light. By using an 8-bit to 16-bit processor that is RDM ready, the Axceleron emulates the smooth dimming curves of incandescent without any visible dimming steps while using only one channel for control. Users have the option of on/off operation, 0 to 10V dimming, or operation of their Axceleron fixtures using DMX—but with fewer addresses to manage per unit. While off-white and black are standard offerings for the outer housing, essentially any color, pattern, image, or logo can be provided to match the color palette or theme of the facility. Axceleron provides outstanding durability, is designed for maximum service life, and requires virtually no maintenance. Eliminating bulb changes and the hazards of servicing fixtures in difficult locations can greatly increase the savings beyond those found with its energy efficiency. Adding to the savings, Axceleron comes with a 10-year warranty. For more information: Aquarii Inc Home Aquarii LED Products Aquarii LED Controls Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

  • Amusement Ride Animatronics with Minimal Maintenance Requirements

    It’s important to have devices that easily integrate with your present system. Amusement Ride Animatronics with Minimal Maintenance Requirements It’s important to have devices that easily integrate with your present system. Terry Persun Theme Parks Jul 9, 2025 A well-known theme park required an additional electric actuator and motor that was compatible with the drives and controls it was currently using. The application was to reliably support and move a large and heavy animated prop nearly 280 times per day while providing minimal maintenance requirements. The engineering team from Tolomatic was able use the company’s online sizing software to quickly specify the correct actuator and motor and provide a STEP file to the customer the same day the request arrived. Also from EE: Here's How Jurassic World Rebirth Captured the Nostalgia of Film The animated prop moving solution included the Tolomatic B3W electric linear belt drive actuator, which not only fulfilled the customer’s load requirements, but supplied consistent, smooth operation, easy integration using Tolomatic’s “Your Motor Here” program, and provided the long life the customer was looking for. Once selected, the theme park designers were able to use the same motors throughout the park to effortlessly integrate the new attraction into their system. Photo courtesy of Tolomatic The company’s B3W actuators offer a maximum stroke of 100-inches (2.5 meters) with an operating speed of 2.5-3 inches per second (63-76 mm/sec). As a belt drive actuator, the device is capable of accommodating very heavy loads as well as handling high bending moments with consistently smooth operation. The B3W linear belt drive actuators incorporate an enclosed recirculating bearing system eliminating the need for external load guidance. The device comes in three body sizes, incorporates a wide urethane-steel belt that delivers greater thrust with no stretch, and offers strokes up to 574-inches (14,579 mm). Alternate belt materials and extended stroke lengths are available. For more information: Tolomatic Previous Facebook LinkedIn Copy link Next

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