News » Product News Circuit-breakers target the global market
Rockwell Automation has announced a family of MCCBs (moulded-case circuit breakers) and control-circuit and load-protection devices that will be available in more than 80 countries around the world. The products meet global certifications – including CE, CSA, CE and CCC – and many are IEC-compliant.
Integrated servomotors operate from DC supplies
The Danish specialist in integrated servo and stepper motors, JVL, has announced an integrated servomotor aimed at mobile and remote applications such as robotic vehicles and remote positioning systems. The MAC402 motor operates from 12–48V DC supplies, such as batteries, and can deliver up to 400W rms (1,200W peak) at speeds of up to 3,000 rpm.
Two-way adapter links Android devices to RS-232
US-based Acces I/O Products has produced a circuit board that allows Android devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to communicate directly with RS-232 devices. The two-way Android-232 data port allows external hardware to control the Android device, or the device to control external hardware.
Ferrite magnet motors are 3% more efficient than Nema Premium
The Californian motor manufacturer NovaTorque has announced 7.5hp (5.6kW) and 10hp (7.45kW) versions of its electronically commutated permanent magnet motors, which it claims are 3% more efficient than Nema Premium induction motors.
PWM servodrives ‘outperform linear drives’
The Israeli company ACS Motion Control has developed a range of switching PWM (pulse width modulation) servodrives that, it says, cost less than linear servodrives, but offer better performance, as well as being smaller and more robust. The NanoPWM drives deliver sub-nanometer position jitter performance, and nanometer following errors when moving at low speeds.
Adaptor plugs field devices into wireless networks
Yokogawa has announced the first in a series of multi-protocol wireless adaptors that will allow wired field instruments and sensors to be used as ISA 100 wireless devices. The first two models are aimed at wired Hart and RS-485 Modbus devices, and the company is planning to release further models that comply with other wired field communications standards, including Foundation Fieldbus and Profibus.
Micro-PLC can handle small standalone machines
Rockwell Automation has announced a micro-PLC for small standalone machines and remote automation projects, such as stretch wrappers and compressors. The 20-point Allen-Bradley Micro820 PLC has embedded Ethernet and serial ports, a micro-SD memory slot, a 5kHz PWM (pulse-width modulation) output, analogue and four thermistor inputs, and recipe management functions.
Magnetic encoders deliver 0.08-degree accuracies
Pepperl+Fuchs is claiming a breakthrough in rotary encoder technology with a range of magnetic absolute rotary encoders that deliver accuracies of up to 0.08 degrees with single-turn resolutions of up to 16 bits, and multi-turn resolutions of up to 39 bits. With a sampling time of less than 80µs, they also offer dynamics that “push the boundaries of what has previously been possible,” according to P+F.
EtherCat-based motion controller handles up to 32 axes
The UK-based controls manufacturer Trio Motion Technology has announced an EtherCat-based motion controller that can handle up to 32 axes of servo or stepper drives, and 1,024 I/O. The MC4N-ECAT Motion Coordinator supports an expandable library of EtherCat digital drives and I/O modules, and can be mounted alongside compact EtherCat servodrives. A plug-and-play design detects and configures systems automatically.
Digital PC-HMI link stretches to 100m
B&R has developed a new version of its Smart Display Link technology that allows HMIs to be located up to 100m away from their PCs. This is the third generation of the technology, which supported PC-HMI separations of up to 40m when it was launched in 2004.
Rack combines eight-axis motion control with an IPC
A British company has come up with an all-in-one motion control system which integrates an industrial PC, a touchscreen HMI, an eight-axis motion controller with servo or stepping motor drivers, and a 90–240V power supply, all in 19” rack. MotionLink claims that the Servostep PC is the first integrated system of its type.
Rockwell releases its first machine-mounting controller
Rockwell Automation has announced its first machine-mounting safety controller, promising that it will simplify system architectures and save panel space. The Allen-Bradley Armor GuardLogix PAC (programmable automation controller) is a multi-use controller in a hardened package that can be installed directly onto a machine.
Dual-role instrument can test motors and drives
New ways of testing motors and drives could emerge following the launch of an instrument that combines power analysis with oscilloscope-style time-based measurement. Its developer, Yokogawa, describes the PX8000 as “the world’s first precision power scope”.
Plug-in modules add extra outputs to power supplies
The Japanese automation manufacturer Idec claims to have produced the first industrial power supply that offers a series of optional DC-DC converter modules to provide multiple voltage outputs from a single PSU. The 21mm-wide modules clip onto the side of the PS6R switching power supply to provide a choice of DC voltages, including ±5V, +12V and ±15V.
AC systems drives are based on standardised modules
The Finnish drives-maker Vacon has announced a range of AC system drives that will allow systems integrators to offer their customers in heavy industries a variety of standardised drive modules.
