News » Product News Micro-PLC is ’70 times faster and 10 times smaller'
California-based Maxim Integrated Products has announced a modular micro-PLC platform with a footprint that, it claims, is 10% the size of traditional PLCs, as well as needing 50% less power and running much cooler. The company also claims that the PLC’s digital outputs can process data 70 times faster than traditional designs, allowing faster production throughputs.
Tool bridges gap between IR cameras and thermometers
Flir Systems has released a device that, it says, will bridge the gap between single-spot infrared thermometers and thermal cameras. The TG165 Imaging IR Thermometer allows users to see invisible heat patterns, to measure temperatures and to store images and measurement data.
High-speed vision system has two USB 3.0 ports
National Instruments has announced a compact, high-speed vision system with two high-bandwidth USB 3.0 ports, making it compatible with low-cost USB3 Vision cameras. The NI CVS-1459RT system is based on a quad-core Intel Atom processor and synchronises with automation devices to trigger camera and lighting devices via onboard I/O.
Datalogging software captures and stores PLC data
The German automation specialist Deltalogic has announced a software-based datalogger that can read and store data from a variety of PLCs made by Siemens and Sigmatek.
Ethernet modules are tailored to protocol before despatch
The Swedish industrial communications specialist HMS Industrial Networks has announced a system that allows equipment manufacturers to tailor their products to support specific industrial Ethernet protocols by installing the required protocol – Profinet, EtherCat, EtherNet/IP or Ethernet Powerlink – before delivering a product to the customer.
Laser shaft alignment tool helps to set up machines rapidly
Fluke has announced an easy-to-use, laser-based shaft alignment tool that performs complicated alignment calculations automatically, thus helping to align machines quickly. The Fluke 830 tool is said to eliminate the difficult calculations and guesswork associated with traditional straight-edge or dial indicator alignment methods, and to reduce repair time, unplanned downtime and the need for replacement parts.
Secure remote machine access takes 15 minutes to set up
A Danish communications specialist, Secomea, has developed a M2M (machine-to-machine) communications system which, it says, provides secure remote access to machines and takes just 15 minutes to set up. The system provides simple, but secure, access to remote devices including PLCs, HMIs, drives, I/O blocks, and even USB and serial devices.
IP67 Ethernet switches mount onto machines
Rockwell Automation and Cisco have jointly developed an Ethernet switch designed to be mounted directly on machinery. The rugged, IP67-protected Allen-Bradley ArmorStratix 5700 is a Layer 2 managed industrial Ethernet switch that can be mounted onto a machine or application, reducing the size and cost of control cabinets, and shrinking machine footprints.
Wear-free linear encoder offers 5µm resolution
Baumer has announced a bearingless linear encoder for measuring distances with a resolution down to 5µm. The MIL10 encoder uses a non-contact, wear-free magnetic sensing method with an almost unlimited service life.
Sercos module carries Ethernet and safety data on one cable
Rexroth has developed a PC plug-in card that simplifies machine automation by carrying Sercos, Ethernet/IP, TCP/IP and safety functions on one Ethernet cable. The Sercans master-module can combine real-time, non-real-time and safety communications on a single cable.
Washable robot targets food and pharma applications
Denso Robotics has announced a washable six-axis robot with a sterilisation-resistant surface that is suitable for use in the pharmaceutical, food, electronics and medical industries. The company has also developed an automated, vision-based feed-control system.
Motor and inverter tester works under dynamic conditions
HBM has developed a system for measuring the performance and efficiency of electric motors and inverters that, it claims, is the only one that can record both electrical and mechanical parameters under dynamic conditions.
Controller’s architecture ‘breaks barriers’
National Instruments has announced an industrial controller for advanced applications in harsh environments. The four-slot CompactRIO performance controller is supported by the latest (2014) version of NI’s LabView software and by its Linux Real-Time OS (operating system), allowing engineers to use a single environment to develop a system while taking advantage of the enhanced hardware performance.
3D camera helps robots to pick items from bins
Sick has released a 3D camera with a wide field of view, designed to help pick large stationary objects in robotic applications. The ScanningRuler combines 3D and 2D measurements and allows fast, accurate picking of machined parts piled randomly in bins or baskets, without needing to move either the camera or the container.
Dry-running sliding material ‘has the lowest friction’
US-based Quadrant Engineering Plastic Products has developed a dry-running sliding material which, it claims, has the lowest coefficient of friction (COF) available. The company developed the Tivar HPV material to minimise backsliding issues in production environments with high speeds, temperatures and loads, or where aggressive cleaning agents are present.
