Automation Equipment
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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers
Better HVAC Drives
November 5, 2010 4:37 am | Product Releases | CommentsFirmware version 3.50 is now available for Danfoss’ (Milwaukee, WI) VLT HVAC Drives, and provides on-board BACnet communication to maximize installation, expansion, and modification flexibility. A “Smart-Start” functionality allows for faster commissioning of the drive and motor.
Marking Lasers Of All Types
November 2, 2010 12:10 pm | Product Releases | CommentsLaser Research Optics (Providence, RI) offers a full line of OEM-quality replacement CO2 laser optics, including lenses and mirrors, for popular industrial marking lasers. Laser Research’s products are optimized for use at 10.6 µm with 25 to 200 watt marking lasers. They feature <0.
Tool Holding Gets Flexible
November 1, 2010 8:10 am | Product Releases | CommentsHeimatec (Prospect Heights, IL) has announced its newest development, a flexible tool adapter system that allows a standard ER output live tool to accept various adapters for different applications. This allows users the ability to have quick changeover of tools on almost any lathe, using a single live tool, according to the company.
Better Linear Positioning
October 28, 2010 10:41 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe Linear Positioning Stages from H2W Technologies (Santa Clarita, CA) use a moving magnet voice technology to provide a high resolution (from 50 nm), zero cogging, high reliability, and a long service life. The stages can be mounted horizontally or vertically, and are ideal for short stroke positioning applications, according to the company.
Backup Your Transformers
October 14, 2010 12:21 pm | Product Releases | CommentsThe new Thomas & Betts (T&B — Memphis, TN) Hi-Tech 38kV Trans-Guard OS Short Backup Current-Limiting Fuse provides the greatest risk reduction of disruptive transformer failure. The system is designed for use in 26.4 to 34.5kV distribution while significantly reducing fault energy and offering high interrupting capability for protection against ever-increasing available fault currents.
Even More Efficient AC Motors
October 13, 2010 9:38 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe Baldor Electric Company (Fort Smith, AR) has recently added additional designs to its Baldor Reliance Super-E line of efficient motors, which will be compatible with almost any configuration for specific applications, according to the company. The Super-E motors include 26 premium efficient ratings designed for the heating, venting, and air conditioning industry; more than 50 washdown, paint-free, and all stainless premium efficient ratings; and more than 70 premium efficient unit handling ratings.
Compact Manual Motor Controllers
October 13, 2010 9:38 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe Bryant line of manual motor controllers (MMC) is now available from AutomationDirect (Cumming, GA). The controllers are UL-listed as “suitable as motor disconnects” due to a compact design that uses thermoset bodies to provide high resistance to electrical arc tracking. AC-rated silver alloy contacts extend life and increase conductivity.
A UPS That Survives In Extreme Temperatures
October 13, 2010 9:36 am | Product Releases | CommentsFalcon Electric, Inc. (Irwindale, CA) has announced a new line of SSG-RP Series Ultra-Wide Temperature UPS, with models from 1kVA to 3kVA, which are designed to operate reliably in temperature environments beyond standard UPS products (-22° to 149°F). The LCD display has been replaced with a high-temperature display, internal components have been upgraded, and special batteries with a wide operational temperature range have been incorporated.
Fully-Integrated Sortation
October 12, 2010 12:27 pm | Product Releases | CommentsAccu-Sort Systems, Inc. (Philadelphia, PA) has a full spectrum of intelligent and integrated sorting systems, which can be used to modernize and lower the cost of sortation. The system works with all major systems integrators, according to the company, including tilt tray conveyors, cross-belt conveyors, and more.
Glow-In-The-Dark Cables
October 12, 2010 12:26 pm | Product Releases | CommentsNorthwire Technical Cable (Osceola, WI) has introduced its ElectriGlow Photoluminescent Glow-In-The-Dark Cables, Power Cords, and Retractables, which are the first industrial photoluminescent glow cables, according to the company. They are ideal for power, industrial networking, control, communication, and more.
Video Release: Engineering A Versatile Positioning Mount
October 12, 2010 12:26 pm | Product Releases | CommentsProduct Design & Development Editor David Mantey discusses the new Versatile Mount with Sprinter Marking’s John Bishop. The Versatile Mount was engineered to provide manufacturers with a flexible, changeable mount for a variety of positioning applications. Despite its compact size (1-3/8” x 2” x 2”), the company claims it can support substantial weights when secured.
Handle 15 Systems At Once
October 11, 2010 10:37 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe TransferLine — a flexible, individually-adaptable modular system that can handle up to 15 processing stations — is available from Schleuninger (Manchester, NH). The mechanical, pneumatic, and electrical interfaces are designed to accommodate quick and simple retrofitting and installation of add-on modules.
Create Bags Of Any Type
October 4, 2010 9:05 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe r2b Horizontal Form Fill Seal Bagger from WeighPack (Lachine, QC Canada) can create a wide variety of bags to integrate bag-making, filling, sealing, and printing into one automatic process, which can reduce labor and film costs. The r2b uses laminated roll firm stock, which can be used to create an array of bags, including: flat-bottom, stand-up, 3-sided seal, 4-sided seal, and with or without zipper closures.
Brakes Get Bigger
September 21, 2010 10:58 am | Product Releases | CommentsTwiflex Limited/Hilliard Corp. (South Beloit, IL) is offering its grinding mill braking systems, which have wrap-around motors that measure 38’ in diameter by 45’ in length. The braking system is designed to provide both static and dynamic braking function, and the system can operate in two modes, stopping from full speed in an emergency or providing inching functions in the event of bearing lubrication or power failures.
Faster Tube Cleaning
September 14, 2010 10:20 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe semi-automated Saflex 2000 from NLB Corp. (Wixom, MI) makes tube bundle cleaning more productive — according to the company — by cleaning four times as many tubes in a given period as manual water jetting. The system can clean two tubes — ranging between 4mm and 15mm — at once, and operates at pressures up to 40,000 psi.
Modular, Customizable IT Cabinets
September 13, 2010 7:58 am | Product Releases | CommentsA new IT cabinet with an extrusion-based modular design, advanced cable management, and convex perforated doors is now available from Optima EPS (Lawrenceville, GA). According to the company, the modular design allows users to customize the cabinets for specific requirements, in addition to integrated ground points plus removable sides, panels, and doors.
Multi-Profile Feeding
September 9, 2010 8:34 am | Product Releases | CommentsDallas Industries (Troy, MI) offers a new control package, the ProfileSelect Feed Control, a press feed technology that matches the speed of feed advance to the available feed window and press speed equipment. The smooth profile uses software accel/deval (sinusoidal) motion, the standard profile matches standard (trapezoidal) accel/decal, and the accel profile has a fast initial strip movement.
Faster, Safer Robotic Tooling
September 7, 2010 6:43 am | Product Releases | CommentsSAS Automation (Xenia, OH) offers the Semi-Automatic Tool Changer for accurate, repeatable mounting of robotic end-of-arm tooling, which quickly mounts a tool to the robot’s arm. The changer can automatically connect multiple ports, including air, vacuum, and electric, greatly reducing set-up time.
Water-Proof Cabling
September 2, 2010 12:32 pm | Product Releases | CommentsHeyco Products, Inc. (Minotola, NJ) now offers the Right Angle Strain Relief Cord Grips, which bend electrical cable without damage after insertion, an assembly method that saves time and money, according to the company. The design provides liquid-tight integrity even in the open position, and acme threads on the body prevent skipping and speed installation.
Industrial-Strength Embedded PCs
August 30, 2010 7:17 am | Product Releases | CommentsSiemens (Atlanta, GA) has announced that an embedded PC is now available for its Simotion P320-3 motion control applications, which provides maintenance-free motion control. The embedded PC is free of wear from moving parts, such as hard disks or fans, and its compact size allows for maximum flexibility for applications that require a compact size.
Swedish-Designed Oil Separators
August 27, 2010 10:20 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe oil smoke and oil mist separators from 3nine USA, Inc. (Tulsa, OK) are based on centrifugal separation, making it possible to achieve a high degree of purification in a compact size. The Lina separator was specially designed for small, enclosed machines, with a diameter of 19” and a height of 33”.
Get In The Flow With Magnetics
August 27, 2010 10:17 am | Product Releases | CommentsBunting Magnetics Co. (Newton, KS) has developed the Center-Flow Bullet Magnet, which reduces the pressure drop through the housing, and can be cleaned in seconds, according to the company. The design maintains a 15 psi rating for all types of dilute-phase pneumatic or gravity-flow conveying lines, plus a one-piece gasket that improves sealing along the production line.
Inverters Get More Torque
August 20, 2010 7:02 am | Product Releases | CommentsHitachi America, Ltd. (Tarrytown, NY) has announced the WJ200 series of inverters, which are sensorless vector (SLV) drives capable of 200 percent or greater torque across the speed range. According to the company, speed regulation at low speed has been dramatically improved, and fluctuation is half that of previous models.
Better Gears Make Better Robots
August 17, 2010 7:06 am | Product Releases | CommentsToshiba Machine (Elk Grove, IL) has developed TH-A Series rigid gears for its SCARA 6-axis robots, providing quicker acceleration/deceleration, a longer life span, and easier maintenance. With the new gears, axis one and two of the TH-A combine to provide a near 360° working area. The TH-A’s arms are constructed of aluminum casing, and span from 650mm to 1,200mm.
Braking With Oil
August 12, 2010 9:00 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe Posistop oil shear coupler brake from Force Control Industries (Fairfield, OH) is an ideal replacement for electric brakes, according to the company. The system mounts to the working end of a standard C-face motor, eliminating the need for a special brake motor, allowing them to be used in virtually any application in which electrically-released brakes are used, including palletizers, conveyors, hoists, loaders, and more.
