News » Product News Thermal cameras ‘offer new functions for entry-level class’
Flir has announced of series of entry-level thermal imaging cameras which, it claims, exceed the capabilities of rival products in many ways, and offer functions not seen previously in this class of camera. The true thermal imaging cameras do not simply take spot temperature measurements or use blended techniques.
Power quality portfolio senses and mitigates problems
Rockwell Automation has announced a series of power quality identification and monitoring products and services designed to help identify power irregularities and to mitigate their impact.
IP67 integrated stepper drive supports EtherNet/IP
US-based Advanced Micro Controls (AMCI) has released an integrated stepper motor, drive and controller with IP67 protection and rugged M12 connectors.
Coatings protect bearings against electrical erosion
The British bearing manufacturer, Revolvo, has developed a range of ceramic-coated, deep-groove ball and cylindrical roller bearings, which are protected against the damaging effects of electrical erosion in rotating equipment such as traction motors.
DIN rail supplies are ‘narrowest and most efficient’
The power supply manufacturer TDK-Lambda has invested more than $5m to develop a new generation of DIN-rail-mounting power supplies that, it says, includes the narrowest and most efficient models on the market. It believes that that the new supplies will help it to more than triple its current 3% share of the $400m European market for DIN rail supplies by 2017. By then, the market is expected to be worth $465m, and TDK-Lambda hopes to have 10% of the business.
Voltage regulator chip boosts DC-DC conversion efficiency
The Californian chip-maker Maxim Integrated Products has developed a high-voltage regulator for industrial DC-DC converter applications which, it says, will reduce heat dissipation, improve reliability, cut space requirements by up to 50% and external component counts by 75%.
Safety system links up to 32 sensors and meets PLe
The German sensor company Sick has developed a technology that can cascade up to 32 safety sensors and switches from different manufacturers on a loop almost 1km long, while meeting the PLe performance level. The Flexi Loop system is said to offers new levels of scalability, diagnostics and I/O connection capacity in a compact space and at a competitive cost.
Smartphone app operates control relays remotely
Eaton has launched a smartphone app for monitoring and controlling its easy800 control relays. The easyRemote display app allows users with Android phones to view the relay’s text and functions and to operate it remotely.
Software brings HMI visualisation to mobile devices
Invensys has announced the availability of software that will allow users of its Wonderware InTouch HMI software to access shopfloor data via a Web browser running on a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet, or a laptop or desktop computer.
‘First’ composite axes are lighter and more dynamic
The German motion technology specialist Schunk claims to have produced the first standard linear motor axes to be made of reinforced carbon composites (RCCs). It says the rigid modules are about 58% lighter than comparable aluminium modules, and deliver more dynamic movements with rapid accelerations.
Tough PLC simplifies control in extreme environments
ABB has announced an “extreme conditions” PLC that is protected against high and low temperatures, high humidity, low air pressure, salt mist, hazardous gases, and shock and vibration. It says that AC500-XC PLC can cut system-building costs by eliminating the need for protective enclosures, special seals, shock absorbers and EMC protection.
Modular HMI mounts in a standard 22mm hole
The Japanese HMI and communications specialist, Prof-face, has announced a modular controller and operator interface which installs in standard 22mm round holes – the same size used for switches and indicator lights. The LT4000M series combines a 3.5” or 5.7” display with a DIN-rail-mounting controller.
Rotary drive ‘sets new standards for performance’
Festo has announced a cost-effective semi-rotary pneumatic drive with twin pistons that, it says, offers good precision, stiffness and loadability. The DRRD actuator uses an innovative bearing system to handle high loads with high accuracy.
Single-axis motion control chip is ‘world’s cheapest’
Trinamic Motion Control, the German developer of motion control technologies, has developed what it claims to be the world’s lowest-cost single-axis motion control chip. The TMC4210 motion controller IC, which costs just over $2 in quantities of 1,000, performs real-time position and velocity stepper motor calculations, simplifying the design of software to implement motor control on host microcontrollers.
Four-core vision system is ‘fastest of its type’
Omron has announced a compact vision system which, it claims, is the fastest of its type, resulting in shorter machine cycle times combined with precise operation, even in difficult operating conditions, such as poor lighting, and out-of-focus, rotated or overlapping target objects.
