Effective lubrication is one of the key prerequisites for the reliable operation and long service life of industrial machinery and equipment. Despite significant advances in lubricants, lubrication systems, and condition monitoring techniques, lubrication-related failures remain a major cause of damage to bearings, gearboxes, and hydraulic systems.

Universal motor oil can also function satisfactorily as hydraulic oil. However, if universal motor oil is used as hydraulic oil solely because of its high viscosity index (VI) – that is, because of its stable kinematic viscosity regardless of temperature changes – then this is not the right solution. This is, of course, related to the additives that increase the viscosity index.

The development of miniature 3D-printed and soft pneumatic actuators enables lightweight, flexible and safe solutions for use in robotics and biomedical applications. Proportional and digital pneumatics are further developing towards Industry 4.0, with reinforcement learning methods improving the adaptability of control systems.

A design workflow for a hydraulic valve manufactured using metal additive technologies is presented. The method combines parametric modelling, CFD analysis, topology optimisation and multi-criteria evaluation. Fifteen control spool bore positions of an NG10 valve were assessed according to pressure drop, …

In this article on the maintenance of hydraulic equipment, we will discuss the difference between monograde and multigrade hydraulic oils. Hydraulic oil differs from all other lubricants because it must primarily fulfil two main functions: energy transmission and lubrication. In addition, it must prevent foaming, release entrained air bubbles, be thermally, oxidatively …

Hydrostatic machines are devices that transfer power using pressurized hydraulic fluid within a closed circuit, relying on positive displacement pumps and motors. They convert mechanical energy into fluid pressure and back into mechanical torque. Simulation of such machines still requires highly skilled engineers…

In modern manufacturing, competitiveness is no longer determined solely by production quality, but by a company’s ability to manage a complex combination of orders, deadlines, materials, machines, people and other limited resources quickly and reliably. This is precisely where traditional ERP systems often reach their limits…

Modern industrial manufacturing, characterized by high degree of variability and dynamically changing production demands, encourages the development on flexible, adaptable, and reconfigurable automated machinery. Those industrial trends are reflected directly onto the curriculum of contemporary education programs in the fields of automation and robotics…

Varnish deposits represent one of the key, yet often overlooked, causes of reduced reliability in modern hydraulic and lubrication systems. Their impact does not manifest as sudden failures, but rather as a gradual degradation of performance, which can lead to valve sticking, reduced efficiency of control components, and unplanned equipment downtime…

Hydrostatic machines are devices that transfer power using pressurized hydraulic fluid within a closed circuit, relying on positive displacement pumps and motors. They convert mechanical energy into fluid pressure and back into mechanical torque…