News » Product News 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.
Nano-PLCs offer remote control via 3G networks
The French automation manufacturer Crouzet has announced a range of nano-PLCs that includes models designed to connect to the Internet via 2G, 3G or Ethernet. The em4 PLCs, which can be controlled remotely, are the same size as Crouzet’s Millenium 3 logic controllers, but have twice the memory capacity and cycle times that are up to five times faster.
Customisable cyber-security system needs no downtime
Belden has announced a new generation of cyber-security systems for industrial control systems which, it says, offer a “unique” level of flexibility and customisation and will allow network managers to upgrade live systems easily, with minimal configuration and no downtime.
Cell-based medium-voltage drives offer design flexibility
Siemens has announced a series of medium-voltage drives in which low-voltage cells are linked together to build the MV power output. This allows the Sinamics Perfect Harmony GH150 drives to be scaled for output voltages from 4–7.2kV and output ratings up to 13.3MVA.
Three-channel encoders are ‘the world’s smallest’
Avago Technologies claims to have developed the world’s smallest three-channel reflective optical encoders, for use in miniature, low-power motion control systems. The AEDR-87xx devices are aimed at applications such as stepper motors, actuators, piezoelectric drives and portable medical appliances.
