News » Product News Automation platform brings entire lines under one controller
Yamaha has announced in Japan that it has developed a robotic automation platform that, it says, will allow automated production lines to be built quickly at low costs. The platform includes a wide range of components – including controllers, Scara robots, linear conveyor modules, single-axis robots and “smart” cameras – that together form a portfolio of 91 components and 202 variants that will go on sale on 1 December.
Motor breakers combine two forms of protection
The Italian controls manufacturer Lovato has announced a new generation of motor protection circuit-breakers spanning ratings from 0.1–100A. The SM breakers provide both short-circuit and thermal protection, reducing the need for thermal overload relays and fuses, and saving space and wiring time.
Gateway connects devices to CC-Link IE Field
The Swedish industrial communications specialist HMS Industrial Networks has extended its Anybus CompactCom 40-series family of communication interfaces with a new version that allows any automation device to communicate on the CC-Link IE Field network. HMS says it now offers both embedded and stand-alone gateway systems for all of CC-Link’s communication formats.
Wireless IoT gateway is ‘smallest and most flexible’
The Canadian wireless IoT specialist, Sierra Wireless, claims to have developed the world’s smallest, most flexible and rugged programmable cellular gateway. The FX30 gateway provides an integrated embedded platform that will connect any machine to any IoT application or cloud, enabling fast, scalable and global deployment of IoT systems.
Vision system ‘speeds up with each camera added’
The machine vision market-leader, Cognex has announced a family of smart vision systems for multi-camera applications which, it claims, gets faster with each camera added.
System drives use new technology to boost performance
At its annual Automation Fair in the US, Rockwell Automation has announced a family of modular system drives that use a new field-oriented control technology called TotalForce which, it claims, will deliver superior motor control through precise, adaptive control of velocity, torque and position. The technology incorporates several patented functions designed to optimise the operation of systems and to boost productivity.
Linear axes are set up via a Web browser ‘in less than a minute’
The German motion plastics specialist igus has developed an easy-to-use, Web-based system for programming the movement of linear axes, that avoids the need for special software or apps.
Single-beam safety light barriers are ‘world’s smallest’
The German machine safety specialist Schmersal claims to have developed the world’s smallest safety light barriers with built-in evaluation functions. The single-beam SLB 240/440/450 barriers measure 28 x 32 x 72mm (or 91mm long for versions with connector sockets), and can be mounted quickly in confined spaces.
200 FA devices support CC-Link IE Field Network Basic
Mitsubishi Electric has announced in Japan that it is releasing more than 200 factory automation (FA) devices that support the CC-Link IE Field Network Basic open field network, which uses standard 100Mbps Ethernet communications. The devices will include programmable controllers, servo amplifiers, HMIs and inverters.
Compact VSD gets wireless comms option
Siemens has added a wireless commissioning and operating option to its Sinamics V20 range of variable-speed drives (VSD) which, it claims, are the smallest of their type on the market. A Web-server module mounted on the VSD allows users to access the drive from a laptop or mobile device via a secure WiFi connection.
Current-limiting MCCBs react ‘up to three times faster’
Rockwell Automation has announced a new line of current-limiting, moulded-case circuit-breakers (MCCBs) which, it says, react to circuit overloads two to three times faster than standard breakers. The Allen-Bradley Bulletin 140G breakers protect against overloads, short-circuits and ground-fault conditions.
Space-saving motor protection relays are Atex-certified
Siemens has announced a new generation of motor-protection relays designed to protect motors against overheating by measuring the temperatures at points at risk of overheating in a motor using PTC (positive temperature coefficient) thermistors integrated into the windings. The Sirius 3RN2 relays replace the earlier 3RN1 series and, with widths of 17.5 and 22.5mm, need less space in control cabinets.
Tuning-free VSD promises a 6% efficiency boost
Yaskawa has released a new range of general-purpose variable-speed drives that can control induction, permanent magnet (PM) or synchronous-reluctance motors without needing any tuning. The GA700 drives, which were previewed at the 2015 SPS IPC Drives Show in Germany, incorporate a “smart power saver” function claimed to boost the efficiency of induction motors by 6% at 20% speed, as well as improving the efficiency of PM motors by up to about 2%. Another function, called MPTA (maximum torque per ampere), minimises the current drawn, according to the load.
Industrial security appliance 'overcomes firewall limitations'
Rockwell Automation has announced an industrial security appliance incorporating new security technologies designed to protect plant-floor systems. It says that the Allen-Bradley Stratix 5950 overcomes limitations of most IT firewalls, which cannot protect against threats to industrial network traffic.
15,583 products include ‘fastest' small machine controller
Omron in Japan has announced a total of 15,583 controls products, in seven categories, forming a second wave of factory automation control devices built on a common design platform for unified product specifications. The products include many items for use in control panels – such as relays, switch-mode power supplies, pushbutton switches and terminal blocks, and power monitors – as well as a compact machine controller which executes Ladder Diagram (LD) instructions in 3.3ns, said to be the fastest in its class.
