News » Product News IE4 motors can replace low-efficiency machines directly
At next month’s SPS IPC Drives show in Germany, Siemens will be launching two ranges of IE4 “super premium” efficiency induction motors that are around 14% more efficient than IE1 machines and 3% more efficient than IE3 motors.
Three-axis servodrive can slash cabinet space by 69%
The Austrian manufacturer B&R Automation claims that a three-axis servodrive that it is launching at next month’s SPS IPC Drives show in Germany will be the most efficient servodrive available with integrated safety functions. The Acopos P3 drive has a power density of 4A per litre of space, and a sampling time of just 50µs for the entire controller cascade, resulting in “previously unobtainable dynamics and precision,” according to B&R.
Microcontroller will offer safety functions for the same price
At next month’s SPS IPC Drives show in Germany, Siemens will be unveiling significant additions to its Simatic family of industrial controls, including failsafe versions of its basic S7-1200 controllers which, it says, will be unique in offering safety functions for a similar price to a standard microcontroller.
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.
