Featuring a very compact design, the new controller has also been fitted with a microSD card that offers a large storage capacity. Its Embedded PC features a CPU, a number of IT connectivity solutions and optional interfaces, a direct I/O interface and power supply for Beckhoff I/O systems. It also automatically detects the connected EtherCAT Terminals (E-bus) or Bus Terminals (K-bus) as well as switches to the corresponding mode for convenient system management.

Its CPU has access to 1 GB internal DDR3 RAM and a 256 MB microSD card for its operating system. For additional operator data, the controller also offers a free microSD card slot.

The CX9020’s basic version offers two 10/100 Mbit/s Ethernet ports, a DVI-D interface and four USB 2.0 connections. Its multi-optional interface allows integration of added interface that includes PROFINET, PROFIBUS, Ethernet/IP, DeviceNet, CANopen, audio or serial interface (RS232/RS422/RS485).

Unlike the current ARM9 architecture, the controller’s ARM Cortex A8 processor features a hardware-based floating point unit, which makes floating point operations (LREAL, REAL) faster. When combined with Beckhoff’s TwinCAT automation software platform, the CX9020 system turns into a high-performance PLC and Motion Controller that can be utilized with or without visualization. The operating system of the CX9020 is Microsoft Windows Embedded Compact 7.

Motion Control Tips

The OCD optical encoders are based on a single turn sensor that features a highly Opto-ASIC, which offers a resolution of up to 16 bit per revolution. In addition, a maximum of 14 bit (16384 revolutions) can also be measured by a gear in multi-turn variants. Featuring a code disc built from dimensionally stable, break-proof plastics provides outstanding precision, dynamics and resolution.

Posital’s encoders comply with rigid electromagnetic compatibility requirements, as they feature protective circuits for interface connection and power supply. This enables the encoders to provide reliable operation even under harsh conditions. The encoders’ interface design has been extended to include TTL levels for the data outputs. Seamlessly combined with a vast input voltage range, common for the automation industry, the interface design covers almost all possible applications.

The encoders also feature a push/pull technology that allows it to be connected to standard I/O components from different controller manufacturers. Compatible with open collector variants, the robust encoders offer a protection class of up to IP66.

With suitable couplings or gear wheels, the encoders can be directly integrated into plants and machines. The encoders’ control unit enables users to set its position as well as the preferred zero position in the machine.

Motion Control Tips

Rotalink and Van Erp International have closely worked on the modular dosing control for the Blue Lagoon range, which is utilized in various products in multiple or single use. The design brief featured performance, compactness, fast time to market, low cost and reliability. To ensure the most efficient and reliable pump system, a number of ovoid gearbox and AC synchronous motor combinations were tested at Rotalink using its production and test facilities as well as its in-house design. The product development process featured simulated pumping trials with several dosing pumps provided by Van Erp International, expediting development timescales and reducing its own development burden. In this stage, Rotalink offered specific design advice to the engineers of Van Erp International that effectively optimized costs while enhancing the MTBF rating and overall pump performance.

Rotalink has also worked with Van Erp International in the development of other projects such as motorized valve mechanism for diverting spa and pool water for filtration as well as filter cleaning processes.

“Our working relationship with Rotalink is an important part of our philosophy to combine high quality and large scale production techniques with close contact to the World’s best suppliers,” said Ms. Dami Leifkins, Director of Sales at Van Erp International.

“Rotalink have helped us at every stage of product development and continue to add value with excellent support in the production phase.”

Motion Control Tips

The self-closing action is achieved through a spring-loaded device that activates about 1-1/2 inches from the closed position. This integrated device is designed to close drawers completely and keep them closed, eliminating the hazard of half-open drawers, while also keeping drawer fronts neatly aligned.

Model 3832SC offers a 100-lb. load rating, full extension and comes in even lengths of 12 to 28 inches. This product is RoHS compliant.

Accuride International
www.accuride.com

Motion Control Tips

The feature-rich MicroFlex e150 drive is expected to be popular among OEM machine builders as it offers a remarkably flexible platform for making new machinery designs.

“Machinery OEMs need versatile products, and these new drives have versatility in abundance – without needing to add hardware or choose configuration options,” said David Greensmith of ABB.

“The multi-protocol Ethernet capability and local intelligence mean that the applications potential is truly broad. And the processing performance is spectacular too – offering some 20 times the speed of one of our popular existing generations of smart drives – making it ideal for performance intensive applications such as high-speed labeling.”

ABB said that the new MicroFlex e150 drives are ideally suited for numerous machine automation applications, such as grinding or glue laying, metal cutting machinery (plasma/waterjet) and various common packaging automations that include form/fill/seal. The drives also feature multi-tasking programmability and two high speed registration inputs, making it suitable for speed-intensive applications like labeling.

In addition, the drives can also be fitted with a scalable PLC platform for automation applications, the AC500 PLC. The PLC communicates using a wide range of standard fieldbuses such as EtherCAT, which is an Ethernet based protocol.

Motion Control Tips

Dubbed as the Hawk Evolution, the new machine features the industry’s smallest footprint for the bag size that it will manufacture. Designed to operate for hundreds of millions of cycles, its maintenance free stepper motor enables the packaging system to make a bag measuring up to 18-inch long and 12-inch wide.

Its jaw drive mechanism is run by the double stack Kollmorgen stepper motor, which is used in various industries and best known for its reliability and long service life.

Since the drive mechanism for the jaws have very limited moving parts, only a small number of parts could wear out. The only part that would need routine replacement is the high speed bearings that are easy to change. All parts of the Hawk Evolution are off the shelf, which means they are available through various distributors.

The packaging system also features a motorized unwind — a DC motor turns the spindle where the roll sits. The motor helps reduce stress on the pull belts, feed the film off the roll and maintain a constant tension on the film, enabling a smoother movement of the film in the system.

Motion Control Tips

The axis’ main head moves left to right and up and down on the cross beam to make the table turn front to rear. All of the axes are driven by double-nut ball screws of high precision to stop thermal increase while machining. Offering an outstanding repeatability and positioning, the double pretension design also provides practically no thermal increase. Reducing any backlash, all ball screws are directly linked to the servo drive motors avoiding the need for belts or gears.

The linear motion guideways help achieve fast axis movement trimming on machining time and non-cutting time. The spindle traverse for the A/C axes is 70/150 rpm while for the X/Y/Z axes is 50/50/50 m/min.

Hi-Mold VMC’s main spindle is engineered for precision machining delivering 24,000 rpm, geared with precision-class angular bearings offering fast acceleration or deceleration. Even at the greatest rotation levels, the spindle maintains low vibration, reducing thermal transmission to the main spindle and therefore, promoting stability.

An optional 40,000-rpm main spindle is offered for high-quality machining of mold cavities and bases. To ensure that oil temperature remains constant and to reduce the growth in the spindle caused by heat distortion, it also gets a spindle oil chiller that can control the spindle temperature.

Motion Control Tips

Measuring 55 mm x 26 mm x 13 mm, this compact plug-in module seamlessly integrates the basic motor control functions with PLC and motion control features. Offering CAN/CANopen and an optional EtherCAT interfaces, the iPOS3602 MX offers a flexible solution ideal for decentralized/coordinated control of any linear or rotary brushless, step or DC motor.

The µ-sized pluggable servo drive can work in multi-axis, single axis or stand-alone configurations, while performing speed, position or torque control. Technosoft Motion Language (TML) and EasyMotion Studio makes tuning, drive setup and motion programming easy and simple, while its embedded intelligence eliminates the need for an external motion controller when executing complex motion.

In addition, the iPOS3602 MX can operate in different communication modes, such as TMLCAN, CANopen and EtherCAT (when offered with an EtherCAT interface board). This implies that it can be controlled through the appropriate masters when the CANopen/EtherCAT mode is chosen. If the TMLCAN mode is employed, the iPOS3602 MX operates like the usual Technosoft intelligent drive, which conforms to Technosoft protocol when exchanging TML commands through CAN-bus.

When operating as a standalone, the iPOS3602 MX plays the role of a master, coordinating both the motion application and the network communication/synchronization. However, if a higher level of coordination is required, aside from the mentioned masters, the iPOS3602 MX can also be controlled through a PLC or a PC using one of the TML_LIB motion libraries.

Motion Control Tips

Both sensors were found to have satisfactorily complied with the requirements of the maximum corrosiveness category C5-M, making them ideally suited for use in demanding ambient conditions on the coast or at sea.

Digital inductive sensors are primarily used to detect the rotor speed and the nacelle position, while measuring sensors are used to monitor the shaft deflection and the brakes. In accordance with ISO 6270, the inductive outdoor sensors were considered to have complied with the requirements of the highest corrosiveness category after they have been subjected to a 60-day or 1440-hour salt spray test and a 720-hour condensation-water resistance test. The results revealed that Baumer’s sensors offer a very long service life.

With special design procedures and high-quality materials such as V4A stainless steel, the inductive sensors can guarantee a high level of resistance. The unique proTect+ impermeability concept enables the sensors to be completely leakproof even after numerous temperature cycles. Reliable functioning can also be guaranteed despite countless day-night cycles. This implies that the sensors are low-maintenance, featuring an average service life of more than 100 years.

In addition, the sensors’ wide temperature range of between -40 and +70°C guarantees constantly reliable detection results and measured values, even at great temperature fluctuations or extreme temperatures.

Motion Control Tips

This new range of motors provides high reliability and performance to power applications that range from medical and data storage equipment to automation and semiconductor processing machinery.

Offered in three different lengths – 2.070 inches, 2.195 inches and 2.445 inches – the motors have the ability to deliver up to 16.8 oz-in peak torque and up to 9020 RPM of speed at continuous torque and rated voltages for standard motors. In addition, the motors’ voltage, speed, torque and current can be varied to meet the specific needs of various applications.

The standard features of the models include heavy gauge steel housing, neodymium magnets, two-pole stator, copper graphite brushes and silicon steel laminations. To promote long brush life as well as optimum concentricity, the motors’ commutators have been diamond turned after armature assembly. The windings are also resin-impregnated to provide increased reliability in incremental motion applications.

Meanwhile, the modular construction of the motors allow the assemblies to be customised with optical encoders, alternative brush materials, timing belt pulleys, cables, brakes, modified shafts, connectors and RFI suppression to satisfy various application demands. The motors can also be fitted with spur or planetary gearboxes as specified.

Motion Control Tips

Ideal for HVAC plant maintenance departments and service contractors, the Split uKIT is designed to accommodate shaft shoulders, slingers and other end bell protrusions. The halves of its split AEGIS ring are held together by a unique hinge, which permits the split AEGIS ring to be easily opened on one side. It is then closed and fastened together with an integrated adhesive-backed aluminium tabs, offering rigidity to the assembled ring.

The kit, which is ordered based on the frame size of the motor, includes the correct size split AEGIS grounding ring as well as the mounting hardware, such as washers, screws, four kinds of brackets and Allen wrenches, for use in various combinations for easy mounting of the ring on any IEC or NEMA motor faceplate.

AEGIS® rings prevent costly motor replacements/repairs, downtime and electrical bearing damage by channelling VFD-induced bearing currents safely to the ground. Its conductive microfibers are securely embedded in continuous circumferential rows in the ring’s patented AEGIS FiberLock channel, surrounding the motor shaft completely while providing harmful shaft currents with numerous discharge points. Creating the path of least resistance, this unique design effectively redirects the currents away from the bearings to the ground. To prevent breakage and minimize wear, the microfibers have been specially developed for exceptional flexibility and conductivity.

Motion Control Tips

Features of Nippon Pulse’s Green Drive include:

• Acceleration (peak) force of up to 600N for 40 seconds
• Effective stroke lengths between 10mm and 1540mm
• Cooling systems that can increase rated force up to 20%
• Rated force between 13N and 150N
• Position repeatability of ±0.05mm
• T-slots for easy and quick integration into applications
• Position sensors, temperature sensors, interpolation electronics
• Four different feedback output types: analogue SIN/COS, Digital Bus BISS-C, Digital A/B TTL Linedrive Incremental, and Absolute SSI
• Color coded quick connectors
• High-performance slide bearings

The Green Drive currently is available in two sizes, the G16x series and G25x series. The G16x series features a shaft (magnets) with a 16mm diameter and the G25x a 25mm shaft diameter. The G16x series is 66mm wide and high, while the G25x series is 88mm wide and high. Each has varying lengths depending on the required effective stroke.

Nippon Pulse will be highlighting the Green Drive at the ATX West tradeshow in Anaheim, CA in mid-February. Those interested in the Green Drive can visit booth #4348 to learn more about the actuator.

Nippon Pulse America, Inc.
www.nipponpulse.com

Motion Control Tips

Utilized in precision displacement and thickness measurements, the L-GAGE LH Series laser sensor has been developed to solve demanding requirements in measurement and quality control inspections on various materials such as metal, wood, ceramic, rubber and plastic parts.

The robust self-contained laser displacement sensor offers high-precision capabilities as well as a 1024 pixel CMOS linear imager that delivers a resolution of up to 1 micron, under normal conditions.

“The LH Series sensors are unique from traditional laser sensors due to the linear imager and its ability to be used on a wider variety of materials, reflective surfaces and colors,” remarked Dean Tyo, Chief Engineer for Vision, Measurement, and Instrumentation at Banner.

“Therefore, the LH allows operators to provide continuous non-contact measurements in a greater number of industries and applications that involve moving processes, stamped and machined parts, and soft or sticky parts.”

The features of the new sensor target thickness measurement or displacement with RS-485 serial communication outputs or high resolution 4-20 mA. The sensors can be employed in a network of up to 32 sensors, enabling it to perform multiple, simultaneous inspections.

The LH Series sensor is designed with an intuitive Graphical User Interface (GUI) that guides the user through setup as well as performance monitoring when adjusting the parameters of the sensor. Upon installing the LH, the GUI offers data acquisition tools to display the current measurements graphically. The GUI can also be set with parameters such as averaging, analog output scaling, sample size as well as other advanced features.

Motion Control Tips

“We are very pleased to add Kaman Industrial’s selling capability and the value added approach they brings to their customers to our already strong distribution channel.” said John Hegel, President of Minarik Drives.  “Kaman’s penetration into the user and OEM markets will open doors for us that had been previously inaccessible and will help us serve a greater cross section of business across the U.S.”

Minarik Drives is an independent company that specializes in low to medium power electric drive and power applications.  It has been a standard, and a leader, in the DC drive business for almost 60 years.  With design engineering and manufacturing headquartered in S. Beloit, Illinois, it provides standard and customized solutions at a globally competitive price.  More information about Minarik Drives is available at www.minarikdrives.com or by calling 815-624-5959.

Motion Control Tips

Using the newest advancements in manufacturing and materials technology, the 8540 Series provide significant improvement compared to the company’s similar sized, previous generation motors, making it perfect for high-tech applications in lab instrumentation, medical devices, precision automation machinery and data storage.

Measuring 1.18 inches (30 mm) in diameter, the 8540 Series are available in three different lengths — 2.114 inches (53.69 mm), 2.585 inches (65.66 mm) and 3.057 inches (77.65 mm). It provides double the torque rating offered by Pittman’s older generation motors.

The new motors are offered in eight standard windings that range between 9.55V and 48V. The company also offers customised windings to optimise the performance of a specific application.

The motors have been fitted with standard pre-loaded ball bearings to allow high speed, axial and radial shaft loading as well as higher temperatures. Equipped with a seven slot armature, the 8540 Series motors employs improved manufacturing techniques to enable it to deliver more balanced armatures that results to remarkably low vibration and audible noise characteristics. When operating at low speeds, the motors deliver low cogging, attributed to its optimised magnetic circuit design, making it suitable for position control in various servo applications.

Motion Control Tips

“The beauty of this limited angle torque is that it has absolutely zero cogging or detent which makes it ideal for stabilisation applications,” said Jim McNamara, Senior Applications Engineer at BEI Kimco.

“To have that kind of torque without cogging is quite unique to the market.”

A limited angle torque motor, the LAT40-48 motor features a rotor that has no preferred position. This feature helps the motor eliminate cogging, resulting to extremely smooth and consistent performance and making the motor ideally suited for applications that rely on uninterrupted operation, such as scanning, beam steering and stabilization platforms.

With a single phase winding, the new motor offers easy control, allowing a 30 degree excursion with no commutation. Featuring +/- 15 degree stroke and a peak torque of 21.5 Nm, the LAT40-48 motor utilises rare earth, high energy magnets to create 10.08 oz-in Watt power density.

Measuring only 100.0 mm in diameter and 100.0 mm in stack length, this Brushless DC Motor (BLDC) comes with fixed magnets and delivers all the advantages over brushed DC motors, which includes increased reliability, more torque per weight and watt (increased efficiency), longer lifetime, reduced noise as well as overall reduction of electromagnetic interference.

Motion Control Tips

Offered from the firm’s distribution partner Burster (www.burster.com), the new product is specifically designed to offer precise as well as convenient measurement of static including bi-directional rotating torques that range from 0 to 0.05 Nm and 0 to 200 Nm. The 8661 series full-scale accuracy stands at 0.05 percent.

The new device is ideally suited for various applications including electric motor test beds, precision micro-mechanics and bearing test stands. It also comes with an integrally mounted optical encoder option to offer added angular position measurement to 0.09° and a rotational speed feedback.

Supplied with shaft drive assemblies, the all-new 8661 series is offered in a selection of torque measurement ranges. Its adapters for mounting on the mechanical structure are also available for higher speeds and torque use.

Featuring 16 bit D/A converter, the high resolution sensor also offer film strain gauges. A selection of output includes 0 VDC to 10 VDC or USB, which is employed with supplied pc software, enabling users to read information directly in a dedicated GUI.

The sensor’s analogue output variant is said to be compatible with Burster including other manufacturer’s displays, while the USB version is aimed at portable field-based measurement. Meanwhile, its 3-LED display offers operational status information.

Motion Control Tips

The Kinetis K70 family is suitable for applications requiring advanced connectivity, a graphic LCD user interface and security functionality, without the increased power consumption and cost related to multi-chip designs.

The high-performance Kinetis K70 family allow graphics LCD displays with its one MB of flash memory, integrated graphics LCD controller and 128KB of SCRAM that drive LCD panels at eight bit QVGA resolution without the complexity and costs of adding frame buffer memory and external program.

It also allows users to conveniently manage graphics processing’s performance demands, while simultaneously managing real-time communication, control and connectivity functions commonly required by HMI applications.

Freescale’s PEG development suite enables designer’s to create multi-layered, high-color-depth GUIs that operate tightly with the real-time operating system of applications. In fact, they can even move current PEG applications to the Kinetis K70 family from a different architecture.

To enhance computing throughput, the 120/150 MHz MCUs deliver increased cache responsibilities and up to 150 MHz CPU speed.

The floating point unit of MCUs extend the range of data-acquisition-intensive applications such as audio processing, motor drive and digital filtering by increasing system accuracy and reducing computation time.

Featuring dedicated motor control peripherals, the MCUs also offer BLDC, fast 16-bit ADCs with programmable delay lock and fault control for driving stepper, multiple timers and PMAC motors with sensorless or sensor algorithms.

Motion Control Tips

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Steinmeyer
www.steinmeyer.com

Motion Control Tips

The module supports circular interpolation of two axes, linear interpolation of up to four axes, continuous orbit control and fixed feed control. Users only have to set the speeds as well as the positioning addresses from within a sequence program.

The auxiliary functions of the Melsec L series positioning module feature step operation, M codes, skip and target position change. Featuring a built-in mark detection interface, the series’ cam control and synchronous control can also be combined.

The module has been specifically designed to match a library of function blocks that are based on PLCopen motion control specifications. Offering single- and multi-axis functions, the library delivers a standard command set that effectively enhances the set-up, despite the complexity of motion tasks, leading to reduced maintenance, development and support costs.

Instead of using motion programming, the motion module employs parameter settings to simplify the system set-ups. A data table is used to execute the positioning control, while the positioning data is set with the help of functions such as offline simulation, automatic calculation of auxiliary arcs and speed simulation. Synchronous control can be implemented using parameter settings, while cams can be easily set without worrying of electronic cam controls.

Motion Control Tips

The EHA, unlike conventional hydraulic actuators, needs no hydraulic piping, therefore improving reliability and cutting costs.

The actuator uses Moog’s hydraulics and electrical expertise which are applied to aircraft flight controls for over 18 years. The company aims to transfer such expertise to industrial applications where redundant or failsafe operation and high forces are needed, delivering cost, environmental, and energy benefits.

Moog’s EHA technology offers high efficiency and reliability to machine-builders with reduced wear, space savings, and up to 40 percent weight savings. The integrated design increases reliability while long hydraulic lines and rotary couplings are avoided.

The actuator particularly caters to low duty-cycle or actuation-on-demand applications requiring high force density typical of hydraulic systems. Operating the electric system reduces energy consumption.

The self-contained actuator incorporates electric and hydraulic components such as hydraulic pump and valves, servomotor, accumulator, manifold, software and controller. Fluid is used to transmit power to the actuator from the motor, which rotates only when movement is needed, thus reducing wear and saving energy. Eliminating the risk of leaks and environmental contamination, the hydraulic components and fluid are placed within the assembly.

“The motion control industry is seeking new technologies that address the need for better energy efficiency and reliability at lower weight and size,” said Dr Sherif El Henaoui, Marketing Manager at Moog Industrial Europe.

Motion Control Tips

“VLM servomotors deliver exceptional value to machine builders who need good servomotor performance at the best possible price,” said Gene Matthews, Product Manager at Kollmorgen.

“These motors deliver high-torque-per-dollar by leveraging specially selected components and flying leads that help eliminate the need for intermediate cables, and by utilizing low cost feedback options,” he added.

“VLM motors complement Kollmorgen’s high-performance and high-flexibility global AKM(TM) servomotor product line by providing a lower priced solution built around a focused set of options.”

With 12 standard windings, VLM servomotors are offered in the most famous motor sizes and come in NEMA 23 and NEMA 34 as well as Metric mounting standards. The ROHS compliant servomotors also feature multiple shaft configurations to allow for seamless integration into almost any system.

Offering a rated speed of up to 6000 rpm, the VLM servomotors delivers up to 16 Nm peak torque and around five Nm continuous torque, while operating at 160/320 VDC or 120/240 VAC. The cable and multiple feedback options provide machine builders system configuration flexibility at no added cost.

Motion Control Tips

“UL recognition on high-performance step motors is a relative rarity, so machine builders who might otherwise benefit from this technology are sometimes faced with choosing between moderate performance steppers or other motor options that are less than ideal for the application. So UL recognition of Kollmorgen’s POWERMAX II step motors is significant in that it enables OEMs whose machines need to be UL-certified to improve machine operation with high-performance steppers, without having to re-submit their equipment to UL for re-certification,” explains Josh Inman, Product Manager.

Kollmorgen
www.kollmorgen.com

Motion Control Tips

It also offers more powerful communication, fault-tolerant and redundancy-related functions to its controllers as well as extended functionalities for the software tools.

In this latest version of the Simatic PCS 7, the data exchange between the PCS 7 engineering tools and the COMOS plant management software has been optimized while the engineering workflow was simplified. This provides users enhanced planning quality, and allows them to easily document the tracking of changes. Its built-in, scalable long-term archiving system, Process Historian, is now ideally suited for real time central archiving of process data from various projects.

Users can now quickly access reports and archive data for the purpose of enhancing assets and production. The standard Microsoft Reporting Service tool enables users to easily create and modify reports.

With regards to Profibus and Profinet communication, the PCS 7 Version 8 has also been improved in the areas of redundancy and fault tolerance, as well as for the controllers. The high-performance, fault-tolerant Simatic S7-400H controllers have been enhanced to offer not only new functions but greater performance as well. They feature an integrated two-port switch Profinet interface and an increased range of I/Os.

Meanwhile, the software tools’ functionality has also been extended in this version. The Simatic PDM has been supplemented with new export/import functions, while the Advanced Process Library now offers new blocks for starters and compact drives as well as motor management. In addition, its AdvES advanced engineering system now comes with an ISA 88 compliant concept.

Motion Control Tips

The Redimount system permits machine and component manufacturers to select the most compatible combination motors and gearheads fit for each application.

Ensuring absolute concentricity between the gearhead pinion shaft and the motor shaft, the system comes with a self-centring hub feature. This leads to eliminating the possibility of excessive wear on components during operation, according to the company.

Other key benefits of the Redimount gearhead mounting system include enabling gearheads and the mounting system to be stocked separately. As the gearheads and the mounting system are stocked separately, associated costs are also being reduced.

Another useful feature is that all of the Thomson Micron gearheads will be using an identical Redimount system. This will make sure that the components will always be compatible.

Redimount’s pre-assembled pinion rejects the need for the need for a pinion positioning process which is rather time-consuming. It also removes the frequent source of error that occurs resulting brought by the motor mounting.

With the Redimount system, the gearhead and motor can be mounted quickly in just a few steps.

Thomson’s linear drive units are supplied with the Redimount system on standard so that users may specify any servo motor less any additional expense.

The length of the drive block will remain unmodified as the Redimount adapter flange is tailored to the dimensions of the provided motor. This spares engineers from any mounting position problems on their subsequent motor replacements.

Motion Control Tips

This delivers more efficient prototyping and bench testing to packaging, converting, medical, printing and other machine builders as well as enable smooth transition from a bus type to another.

“Where most servo drive hardware and firmware support just a single motion bus, a single AKD servo drive supports multiple motion buses that would otherwise require two different sets of hardware and firmware. With a simple parameter change and a power cycle, machine builders can quickly and easily change the AKD’s communication protocol between EtherCAT and CANopen giving them a clear competitive advantage in getting new and better machines to market, faster,” said Josh Inman, Product Manager at Kollmorgen for North America.

Without the need for a separate option cards, the AKD servo can also support various Ethernet motion buses from the base hardware as well as feedback devices.

It currently supports feedback devices such as BiSS, Endat, Analog Sine/Cos encoders, Smart Feedback Devices (SFD), HIPERFACE®, incremental encoders, and resolvers. Aside from CANopen and EtherCAT motion buses, the AKD also supports PROFINET, Modbus/TCP, EtherNet/IP and SynqNet®.

AKD servo drives cater great operational flexibility and quality at reduced costs, increasing overall footprint associated with integrating option card, as these capabilities are available within the base product’s dimensions.

The servo drives also feature 120/240 VAC or 480 VAC operation, power ranging three to 24 Arms continuous current and at peak, nine to 48 Arms.

Motion Control Tips

The DynaMax 25 devices, which will be available in the UK from Mclennan Servo Supplies, will feature a low inertia copper foil rotor along with a rare earth neodymium magnet system. They will be offering a nominal torque of 35mNm, a starting torque rating of 400mNm, a nominal speed of 7700rpm and an acceleration response of 4ms.

Measuring 25mm in diameter, the motors will be available in either 12 or 24VDC. They are fit for applications where rapid start-stop, compact size and smooth speed performance are required.

Allied said that the DynaMax may also come with the optional OE22 2000ppr encoder –– a good match for high accuracy and high throughput positioning and robotics including electronic, semiconductor or medical equipment fabrication.

Encoder-less versions, which are efficient for precision pumps and valves, miniature actuators and specialised hand tools, are also available.

The motors are intended for long life operation, as their coreless design that provides zero motor cogging for speed regulation, high efficiency and low weight.

A range of planetary gearboxes yielding output torques to 4.5 Nm is also available for the series. Other options are custom winding and built-in spark suppression, customised shafts and mounting configuration, and alternative leads and connector interfacing.

Motion Control Tips

Molex said the Brad HarshIO Ethernet I/O Modules were effectively tested to start and operate in less than 500 ms with Rockwell controllers conforming to EtherNet/IP Quick Connect Class A and Siemens controllers conforming to Profinet Fast Start-Up requirements.

“As Ethernet flows from the office management level down to the factory floor, automation device manufacturers need to adapt products to the constraints of industrial applications,” said Eric Gory, Global Product Manager at Molex.

“When Ethernet is used to control sensors or actuators on robot tooling – such as on a welding robot – it is sometimes necessary to perform a quick change of tools. In the automotive industry, for example, manufacturers have defined that the swapped Ethernet field devices must be able to start and operate in less than 500ms.”

QC and FSU technologies allow the module to operate in less than 500ms meeting industrial applications requirements in factory automation and complex machines like in the packaging, printing, or textile industries.

Brad HarshIO Modules also support safety automation architectures through its separate power supplies to power the outputs (actuators) and the inputs (sensors). The HarshIO Ethernet power connector provides separate grounding isolation between the output ground and the input/logic ground.

Motion Control Tips

Interoperable and open data bus networks are becoming a significant part of monitoring pump systems. The company said the new products offer better integration of field devices and data communication.

The CIU and CIM help enable data communication through interoperable and open networks like LONWorks, Modbus RTU, Profibus DP, the Grundfos Remote Management system (GRM) and BACnet MS/TP wireless through GSM/GPRS.

Based on the standard functional profiles, the new modular concept is applicable for future needs. The open communication standards offer secure and flexible communication solutions that help protect and optimize investment, as a variety of pumps can be connected into the supervisory system.

The CIU and CIM communication interfaces are easy to commission and install. Meanwhile, the CIM model allows communication with E-pumps ranging from 11 kW to 22 kW, including the new Dedicated Controls for wastewater pumps. CIU wall-mounted models are also available to replace Grundfos products that do not feature and support the CIM add-on module, such as the smaller boosters and e-pumps.

Additionally, both modules feature integrated LEDs that help in the commissioning face as well as indicate the status of the connected communication network. Both models also enable the incorporation of pumps and pump systems into the PLCs, SCADA systems and other monitoring and controlling systems.

Motion Control Tips

Featuring Cognex Connect capabilities, the new wireless communication base station and module is offered for users with extended range cord free code reading applications. Aside from the traditional support for RS-232 and USB, Cognex Connect offers users the most flexibility for communication through Industrial Protocols such as Profinet, Ethernet, MC Protocol and others. The new series is the only industrial handheld ID reader to offer support to industrial protocols for both cordless and corded models, allowing for reduced installation costs, easy integration and remote access to diagnostics.

The DataMan 8000 series offers a long working range of up to 100 m and comes with a deep memory for reading codes when out of range or offline. Its base station features a spare battery charger built in as standard and is compatible with industry standard USB, Ethernet and RS-232 cables.

The unique modular design of the system enables readers to change from corded USB/RS-232 communication to Industrial Ethernet or to wireless and field exchangeable interface modules. Providing security for customer investment, the communication modules also offers the much needed flexibility that allow users to easily modify communication as well as deployment methods to satisfactorily meet future requirements. Meanwhile, the wireless model’s base station is equipped with independent communication ports for Ethernet, USB and RS-232 options. This makes the model the most versatile choice in the series.

Specifically designed for the factory floor, the rugged DataMan 8000 series employs two powerful algorithms, which enables it to deliver the most advanced code reading technology in the industry.

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Compliant with PLCopen and IEC 61131-3, the MotionPAC can be used in conjunction with AeroBasic programs or independently for full machine control. It also allows users to program in Function Block Diagrams (FBD), Ladder Diagrams (LD) or Structured Text (ST). Its integrated automation reduces commissioning and programming time by 30 percent to 50 percent, making it ideal for use in machine control program development.

Since it is integrated with the company’s A3200 motion controller, users can directly command coordinated, asynchronous, geared, blended or cammed motion from FBD, LD and ST. MotionPAC also allows users to specify moves as absolute or relative either in English or metric units.

Meanwhile, programmers can create shared Tags and variables that are referenced by Name in the A3200 tools, AeroBasic, Operator Interface, C or .NET programs. MotionPAC automatically handles memory management for all variables and Tags.

Its tools, which include user definable libraries (FBD, LD, ST or .NET), global Tag database, integrated axis manager for manual control and readout, virtual execution of the PLC and automatic memory management effectively increases programming quality and efficiency. Through MotionPAC, PLC and .NET programmers can collaborate seamlessly to deploy machine control applications. MotionPAC comes with standard fieldbuses, high-end data acquisition and drive I/O, which can also be shared with applications by Name.

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The S3000 safety laser scanners from SICK that integrates PROFINET IO interface is the preferred choice for protecting risky areas of robot work cells as well as assembly lines in constructing car body.

All of BMW’s robot and drive systems facilities in Munich and Regensburg are equipped with about 9,000 PROFINET devices integrated into each plant’s network.

BMW has significantly benefited from the integration of SICK’s S3000 safety laser scanners with PROFINET IO to its production network. Many laser scanners are used at the Regensburg facility for body construction as point-of-operation and guards-in welding robot cells.

The S3000 PROFINET IO safety laser scanners allow continuous and complete integration of the field devices. There is also no need for switching modules and sub-distributors having two integrated RJ45 ports with switching functionality.

Cabling effort is significantly reduced, as the entire data transmission is done via one medium within the same physical network.

Supporting the operation concept at BMW’s central plant, the S3000 enables configuration from a central operating computer to speed up commissioning. It also facilitates remote diagnosis and maintenance, allowing direct communication with the field sensor.

With remote diagnosis, the plants can maximise its productivity and availability. For preventive maintenance, it allows sensor to integrate into arrangements. Field sensors are protected from unauthorised modifications using an efficient tracing feature. Compared to classic safety laser scanner installations, the S3000 also reduces cost significantly.

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The new E3X-CRT & E3X-ECT open network fiber amplifier sensor communication units can communicate over “EtherCAT”, “CompoNet”, and other high-speed open networks, therefore reducing the amount of wiring and cabling. Programmable logic controllers and display monitors may be used for easy monitoring and configuration purposes. The communication units are designed with fiber amplifiers for applications.

Each unit consumes 720 mW of power at most in the normal mode and maximum of 530 mW in the eco mode.

Compared to standard devices, OMRON’s new E3X-HD fiber amplifiers are relatively easier to operate. Featuring a novel proprietary smart tuning function, they allow accurate adjustment of the sensor thresholds and light intensity, ensuring constant detection conditions. The tuning function is controlled through a press button. The setting visualization screen and symbolic indicators allow confirmation of the settings. These features make setting of configurations more efficient even for newly recruited operators.

Ensuring stability of detection accuracy, OMRON’s smart power control function senses and automatically compensates for deterioration for both LED light intensity and light incident levels.

With the GIGA RAY II lighting element, power consumption is reduced 25 percent, as compared to earlier OMRON models. Aside from a new circuit design, it also boasts 150 percent increase in power efficiency. The savings are achieved even without making any modifications in sensing distances or response time settings.

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Offering 32-bit Stellaris LM3S818 microcontroller, the new motor control kit also comes with DRV8312 motor driver to spin 6.5A, sub-50V three-phase brushless DC (BLDC) motors in just a few minutes. A low-cost solution, the Stellaris ARM Cortex-M microcontroller motor control kit is ideally suited for high-volume motor control applications, such as low-voltage fans, pumps, blowers, compressors and tools.

The motor control kit includes a Stellaris LM3S818 controlCARD module, which features a pre-programmed firmware required in flash memory to operate the company’s InstaSPIN-BLDC solution, together with other customer-developed applications, when connected into the DRV8312 motor driver base board.

Its controlCard module offers 64 KB flash, 50 MHz performance, eight KB SCRAM and six PWM generators, enabling developers to make complex motion control designs with a small footprint.

The Stellaris motor control kit’s DRV8312 motor driver eliminates the need for expensive external heat sink and deliver up to 6.5A. The fully-protected motor driver is reliable featuring cycle-by-cycle over-current, cross-conduction, over-temperature and under-voltage protection, reducing board space and design complexity while ensuring higher system reliability.

In addition, the kit’s 24V three-phase BLDC motor can continuously operate at up to 3.5A. Its supporting software includes InstaSPIN-BLDC software for reliable and fast motor start-up on any motor and StellarisWare® software with TI’s IQmath Library for fixed to floating point conversion.

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Offering extensive functionality with multiple I/O inputs, LVD can be operated in Velocity, Position or Current modes. The drive supports both DC and BLDC motors, and operates at a voltage ranging from 12 V to 48 V. Its selectable switching frequency allows the drive to support low inductance motors, effectively making it ideally suited for various applications, such as surveillance cameras, highly-sensitive medical applications and semiconductor wafer handling processes.

Its highly flexible tuning capabilities and space vector modulation current loop enables the LVD to deliver outstanding accuracy and performance. The drive also provides high sampling rates for the Position and Velocity loops, enabling increased accuracy and wider bandwidth.

Although the low-voltage drive measures just 117 x 83.5 x 21.5 mm, and weighs only 250 g, its compact scale does not mirror the power versatility that it can deliver. With switching frequency of up to 100 KHz and 12 Amps RMS peak current, LVD is one of the industry’s most potent low voltage drive, providing space efficiencies without sacrificing performance.

The Axis Manager of LVD, which is an easy to use drive commissioning software, features various control loops tuning, user friendly windows feedback and motor configuration, I/O setup window and comprehensive recording and monitoring features. It communicates with the drive through CANopen or RS232.

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The Profinet interfaces allow the Simatic HMI KP32F PN Key Panel to be easily integrated into networks without the need for extra hardware components like switches. The free configuration of the key functions, tactile feedback when keys are pressed, and the bright LEDs in one of five colors all contribute to make the new key panel user friendly.

Unlike conventional operator controls, the Simatic HMI KP32F PN effectively eliminates time-consuming and costly individual assembly as well as the wiring overhead. Thus, keys that are not currently required can be configured at any time. Designed with IP65 protection, the new key panel is suitable for use in rough industrial environment and in safety-related applications. It comes with four fail-safe inputs that can be connected with one or two emergency stop buttons in accordance with SIL 3 safety category.

The keys of the new Simatic HMI KP32F PN Key Panel can be configured to change colors to show the status of the machine or to flash LEDs to indicate operator interaction. The intensity of the keys’ LED backlighting can also be adjusted to suit ambient conditions, and ensure excellent readability even under difficult lighting conditions. In addition, slide-in strips can be employed for individual labeling of the keys.

The key operator panels are typically used in applications requiring deterministic transmission of operator commands.

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All of Tolomatic’s electric actuators feature built-in configurations that enable the ACS with Ethernet to simplify the creation of linear motion. Paired with Tolomatic’s ERD low-cost rod-style electric actuators, the ACS offers cost-efficient solutions for automation applications such as product diverting, sorting, pick-and-place, pressing and changeovers.

“The ACS Stepper Drive/Controller with Ethernet completes the actuation solution,” said Aaron Dietrich, Marketing Manager at Tolomatic.

“With Ethernet, the ACS is a unique entry-level automation solution that brings connectivity to the control systems that customers already have in place. This reduces costs and greatly simplifies the integration of low-cost electric actuators into the motion system.”

For infinite position capability, the ACS with Ethernet is capable of preconfigured moves or immediate move command. Each move features configurable motion profile parameters such as force, position, velocity, and acceleration/deceleration that are independent for every move. For better fault recovery and monitoring, the Ethernet connectivity also provides the control system with additional diagnostic and status information.

“With Ethernet connectivity, the ACS has a lot more flexibility in operating the motion control system. Additionally, Ethernet allows more information such as better diagnostics compared to digital I/O control schemes found in many low cost actuator applications. With Ethernet, faults are easily indicated and identified,” he added.

The ACS with Ethernet is available with a starter kit that includes two set-up manuals and configuration software.

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“The Atmel AVR UC3 C series delivers more processing power—in a smaller footprint—than any other microcontroller in our line card,” remarked Haakon Skar, Marketing Director of AVR UC3 Products, Atmel Corporation.

“The new series offers better performance and enables us to include this new FPU without negatively impacting the microcontroller power consumption. These new 32-bit AVR microcontrollers complement our already-strong line card of 8-bit AVR MCUs targeting the industrial control.”

Built specifically for high-speed communication with a true 5V operation, the Atmel UC3 C series comes with 64 + 4KB high-speed SRAM, a nine-layer databus and various high-speed communication peripherals that include dual CAN ports, a 100 Mbps Ethernet and a full-speed USB interface. In addition, an SDRAM interface in fitted in larger devices. Together with the layered databus, the split SRAM architecture enables the system designer to avoid clashes on high-speed communications.

Featuring the Atmel Peripheral Event System, the Atmel UC3 C series also comes with FlashVault code protection, which is a flash security technology that partially programs and locks the on-chip flash to create secure on-chip storage for software intellectual property and secret code.

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Unlike other competitive servo driven hydraulics, the machine’s two-platen clamp design allows it to directly apply pressure to the mold’s center rather than the corners, resulting to more consistent parts.

In a release, Milacro’s Hydraulic Platform Product Manager Brian Bish noted that the new Maxima Servo line combine the energy savings of various all-electric presses with its small footprint and two-platen’s center tonnage cylinder. The company also revealed that the energy savings offer a return on the initial cost premium for at least six months.

Instead of utilizing an induction motor that operates at a fixed speed, Maxima’s servomotors runs at varying speeds of zero to 3000 rpm in both directions and respond to work load with remarkably high resolution. This is attributed to its ability to control rotation by a fraction of an angle.

Moreover, the electro-hydraulic pump is replaced by an internal gear pump, which offers the advantage of running only when needed and requires less maintenance.

The Maxima directly provides clamping force behind the mold by centrally positioning the tonnage cylinder at the back of the moving platen, effectively concentrating uniform force at the mold surface and reducing platen deflection. Aside from reducing mold wear, this also enables superior force distribution across the parting lines of the mold for cleaner parts.

Offered globally from 310 tons to 4400 tons, the Milacron Maxima Servo is also available in hybrid version.

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Featuring a real time channel with a single input and output connection, the EasySlave can support cycle times as low as 31.25 usec.

Meanwhile, an IP core serves as a netlist for the Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA family. The core contains all of the Sercos slave connection’s functions, including the related software library for I/O devices.

“Sercos EasySlave can be integrated in an application with minimal effort in order to achieve various I/O activations,” said Peter Lutz, Managing Director of Sercos International.

EasySlave’s technical support is provided bySteinbeisTransferCenterfor Systems Technology (TZS). In addition, TZS provides an EasySlave evaluation kit that offers customers an easy and quick introduction to the Sercos slave development. The kit comes with a development board based on a Xilinx Spartan-6 XC6SLX9 FPGA. Using plug-in modules, the evaluation kit, which includes all other required documents and materials (power supply, Ethernet cable and documentation), can also be extended.

“The EasySlave evaluation kit makes Sercos III slave development easy. Steinbeis-TZS will be happy to provide assistance in the integration and commissioning of EasySlave,” noted Professor Reinhard Keller of Steinbeis-TZS.

Sercos International offers various EasySlave licensing models. Aside from the special prizes provided to Sercos member companies, a license-free bitstream IP core version with a limited functionality is also offered, under the product name EasySlave-IO.

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Delivering over twice the power of standard servomotors, the new HW series liquid-cooled servomotors also offer optimized dynamic performance. The Kent-based company has included the cooling jacket without significantly increasing the motor housing’s size, while improving the 190 frame models’ output power to 29 kW and the stall torque to 134 Nm. This means that the company has increased the power density by almost three-fold as compared to standard air-cooled servomotors with similar flange-size.

“In developing these liquid-cooled servomotors we have addressed a number of issues that were being raised by customers,” said Steve Jackson, Sales and Marketing Manager at SEM.

“In particular, where motors are used in precision applications, such as machine tools, they may wish to limit the heat that the motor generates and, in turn, maintain a steady ambient temperature. This will help to overcome problems associated with temperature fluctuations during operation of machines that may be working to micron tolerances.”

Compatible with the company’s current motors, the newest range of liquid-cooled servomotors are offered with standard flanges. In addition, customers can select various feedback devices, including precision encoders and resolvers.

The motor’s dynamic performance makes it ideally suited for use in high-speed positioning and packaging systems, punch presses and servo pump drives.

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With a built-in CPU, the FMC32 board also has the ability to register up to 256 steps as well as up to 32 operation patterns in an execution sequence in the internal memory of the board. Eliminating the need for an external PC, the FMC32 automatically processes those sequences and patterns. With the help of the built-in CPU, users can easily repeat the execution sequence automatically.

In addition, users can utilize a USB-to-4-wire serial conversion to simplify the writing as well as the saving of patterns and the execution of sequences to the board’s non-volatile memory.

Aside from the PCD2112 serial bus control chip, the FMC32 control board is also equipped with a NP3775E3 driver chip. The chip enables the board to drive a motor in both half-step and full-step execution modes.

Nippon Pulse’s FMC32 control board offers other features including a maximum current of 1.2 A, an input voltage of DC 24 V, a maximum output pulse frequency of 2.4 Mpps and two different operational modes, which are the stand-alone control mode and the PC control mode.

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Baumer HS35 encoders feature ultra-precise optical scanning system that provides unrivaled positioning with 60 arcsecond accuracy. They are also available in IP67, square wave and sine wave versions.

Offered for shaft diameters from 0.5 inches to 1.0 inches, the encoders can be customized through shaft insert adapters. The isolation shaft inserts offers electrical isolation from voltages of up to 2.5 kv, effectively preventing wear and corrosion. The ShaftLock system of the encoders features large diameter between ABEC5 bearings, allowing the shaft to endure high mechanical loads at up to 5000 rpm speed and 60 arcsecond accuracy.

The HS35 encoders’ robust design includes wall structures and extra durable castings that can withstand prolonged exposure to harsh environments. Lubricants, dual seals and a heavy duty powder coating on the bearing cover and housing protect the encoders from corrosion, enabling operation in almost all types of environmental conditions. In addition, the IP 67’s high performance impermeability seals protect the encoders from high pressure wash down.

Offering fully-programmable index, resolution and outputs, the HS35P allows customization and minimizes encoder inventories. Using user-friendly software, the encoder can be directly programmed through the supply line.

Baumer HS35 encoders are specifically developed to withstand extreme mechanical strain, making it ideally suited for motor and drive control in various heavy duty applications including wind power, oil and gas processing, metalworking, food and beverage processing, printing, material handling, packaging, wood/lumber processing, textile processing and solar/PV module manufacturing.

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Utilized in industrial manufacturing applications where low maintenance and exact measurement are crucial, the R-Series Model RD4 is a housing style that permits the electronics to be extracted from environments where it may be damaged by vibration, shock or temperature. Furthermore, the RD4 is also offered in a profile-style (RP), rod-style (RH) and flexible style (RF) for the entire R-Series output classes.

Matt Hankinson, Technical Marketing Manager at MTS Sensors, said “The detached electronics of the R-Series Model RD4 provide some unique advantages in manufacturing facilities where these conditions exist.”

“The sensing elements themselves are highly resilient and, since they are non-contact, require little to no maintenance. The electronics, however, can be more sensitive to harshest environments. By detaching the electronics, we give customers a way to further expand the already wide range of operating specifications that they couldn’t with more traditional solutions.”

The detached electronics housing model is compatible with Temposonics® R-Series advanced output protocols along with analog, CANbus, DeviceNet, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, Profibus and Synchronous Serial Output (SSI). Users of this housing style are those in the fluid power, linear actuators, steep fabrication, wood working and related industries.

“We are very happy with the reception this product launch has received among customers,” added Hankinson.

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A graphite/metal alloy, GRAPHALLOY is specifically developed to operate without lubrication, making it suitable for operations in environments with temperatures exceeding 750 degrees F (400 degrees C). A proven solution even for the most demanding plant maintenance as well as new equipment design, GRAPHALLOY is an excellent choice for applications where maintenance and service tasks are difficult or cumbersome.

Intended for use in standard flange and pillow blocks, GRAPHALLOY 845 Spherical Inserts eliminate the need to redesign or alter the equipment. These new spherical inserts are utilized in various high temperature applications such as ovens, conveyors, furnaces, dampers, glass lehrs, dryers and in other environments where grease and oil cannot be used. Stainless steel housing and metric shaft sizes as well as inserts are offered along with FDA accepted grades.

“Using GRAPHALLOY® 845 Spherical Inserts has proven time and time again that significant ROI, cost savings and reduced maintenance can be achieved, especially in difficult applications where high temperatures are a concern,” said Eben Walker, General Manager of Graphite Metallizing Corporation.

Offering dimensional stability and low coefficient of friction, GRAPHALLOY 845 Spherical Inserts do not soften even at high temperatures nor extrude under load.

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With a very compact design, the encoder measures only 50 mm in diameter and 20 mm deep. This makes the encoder easy to fit into tight areas where installation space is limited. In addition, its large through-hollow shaft eliminates the need for additional space at the shaft end, while enabling installation anywhere on the motor shaft.

The new series completes the company’s HDmag encoder portfolio, which excels through absolute reliability, non-contact magnetic sensing and maximum availability. MHAD absolute encoder unites high-precision incremental and absolute signals in a single device. Its additional incremental signal of up to 8192 steps per turn offers speed feedback while its current position will be output as absolute value with 16-bit resolution. The air gap and the large permissible tolerances on axial and radial tolerances allow for quick and safe installation of the encoder. Its LED serves as an installation aide as well as an activity indicator.

In its standard configurations the encoder offers IP67 protection, enabling it to withstand operating temperatures ranging from -40°C to +85°C. The encoder’s magnetic sensing technique and robust design delivers dependable operation not only in humidity and dust but also during severe vibration and shock.

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This wireless bridge connects industrial devices running EtherNet/IP, Profinet and Modbus TCP through cable-free links.

Aside from offering a wireless bridge between two separate points in an industrial Ethernet network, the system is also capable of connecting devices to an existing wireless infrastructure. The company said that this makes life easier for network designers and system integrators who need to make connections in awkward locations or hazardous areas, or in moving installations with undesirable cables.

The wireless connections are created using either WLAN or Bluetooth technologies. Although the WLAN approach offers users wider bandwidth due to its broader frequency range, the Bluetooth version, however, is more favored as it is more noise-immune and reliable. This is attributed to the ability of Bluetooth technology to easily switch between different frequencies.

“We see an emerging need in the market for industrial-quality wireless communication,” said Henrik Arleving, Line Manager for Remote Management Products at HMS.

“Wireless technology is nowadays very reliable and it is becoming more and more accepted on the industrial automation market. The Anybus Wireless Bridge provides a simple solution to complicated connectivity problems and is yet another step in our efforts to make industrial networking easier.”

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This new technology is set to be launched with a new product early next year.

“A dual-function sensor is something our customers have been asking for in a magnetostrictive linear positioning product for some time,” explained Matt Hankinson, Technical Marketing Manager at MTS Sensors.

“Currently, designers using an incremental encoder who want to add absolute position feedback must add an additional linear encoder or use a proprietary interface. The new dual sensor will provide both an incremental quadrature signal to the drive and an absolute linear position feedback for motion control with a single sensor.”

A linear motor, for instance, commonly utilize an incremental linear encoder to switch current in phases and drive the motor speed and position (drive commutation). The new solution provides a single sensor with dual channels an incremental signal for motor positioning, while the motion controller is provided with an absolute linear position feedback channel.

The new products operate at two levels. The changes in position are measured by the incremental interface while the sensor’s absolute position is communicated by the SSI output. Absolute positioning simply means that a need for calibration ever occurred. When combined with the non-contact sensor technology employed in all MTS Sensor products, this can significantly reduce maintenance and installation costs in these applications while optimizing productivity. Regardless of traverse speed, this inherently absolute position technology never lose track of its position.

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The new EL7201 servo terminal with resolver interfaces offers high servo performance in an exceptionally compact design. In addition, its integrated fast EtherCAT control technology, with PI speed control and field-oriented current, can support highly dynamic positioning tasks. Aside from the direct connection of a resolver and motor, a motor holding brake connection is also possible.

“The new EL7201 servo terminal is a true game-changer in the area of servo technology,” remarked Graham Harris, President, Beckhoff Automation.

“Small servo drives have been a popular technology for years and the EL7201 is a major evolution of this trend. Machine builders and manufacturers now have the option to control small servos with a 12 mm device.”

Permanent magnet synchronous motors, featuring a rated current of up to four A, can be connected to the new terminal as loads.

The new servo terminal provides maximum operational reliability, as it monitors various parameters, including undervoltage and overvoltage, overcurrent, motor load or terminal temperature.

Since it is fully integrated into Beckhoff’s TwinCAT automation software, the EL7201 servo terminal allows convenient parameterization. For third-party masters, parameterization occurs through the CAN over EtherCAT profile (CoE).

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After the product’s initial release in July, which provided connectivity to five networks, HMS now provides a complete solution for 11 major fieldbus as well as industrial Ethernet networks.

Aside from CANopen, Profibus, DeviceNet, Profinet and EtherNet/IP connectivity, the new Anybus Communicator CAN now has the ability to connect to ControlNet, CC-Link, EtherCAT, Modbus RTU, Profinet-IRT and Modbus TCP networks.

It allows easy and quick connection of CAN-enabled devices, such as frequency drives, actuators, sensors, barcode readers, HMIs, RFID readers and other types of industrial machinery, to a higher level network.

When asked about the new additions, HMS Product Line Manager Martin Falkman, said, “There is a great need to connect industrial automation devices running CAN to different industrial networks. The initial market response after the first release in July confirms this and the product is already being implemented on a wide scale.”

“The networks in highest demand so far have been EtherNet/IP and DeviceNet, but we have also seen an increase in orders from Profinet users. With the new release, we now realize the full Anybus promise of offering connectivity to any fieldbus or Ethernet network.”

Devices with a CAN 2.0 A- or B-based protocol can now be connected without the need for software or hardware changes to the CAN devices, allowing automation devices to be integrated into high-speed Ethernet/fieldbus networks without restrictions to the upper network.

The Anybus Communicator CAN package includes the Anybus Configuration Manager allowing visual CAN frame building without scripting or programming skills needed.

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