Automation Parts

Press Ensures Safe Operation For Assembly Company Tox Pressotechnik has provided a press system designed to meet a series of ergonomic and safety needs, for an assembly company with handicapped employees. Vebo Werkstatt Olten eventually installed a Tox Press type CEB, consisting of a press frame of C-shape, a pneumo-hydraulic drive system, a Tox Powerpackage EKSD and a base frame. The press is equipped with a safety control, a swivelling control panel and a pedal switch, protective sheathing and a safety light grid. For universal use with most tools, the throat of the C-frame press is 200mm and the tool aperture is 200mm. The pneumo-hydraulic Powerpackage cylinder Tox EKSD generates a maximum press force of 130kN at 6bar compressed air. The 100mm total stroke of the cylinder and the real powerstroke of 10mm ensure that the punching, forming or pressing-in/pressing position are attained at a very high speed and the press-force stroke is realised in a sensitive way. In order to limit

Factory Master Used For Pipe-Assembly Manufacture B and D is using the Factory Master system in the manufacture of fabricated pipe kits and assemblies, which are used on RR commercial, military, marine and power-generation jet engines. The integrated system can handle complex BOMs, purchase ordering and production procedures, enabling it to keep track of the entire process. The Material Requirements Planning Report (MRP) allows customers to ascertain what is currently available and what is going to be available against sales orders. Factory Master enables: bulk purchasing of common components; greater proactivity; reduced 'fire-fighting'; time saved identifying and ordering requirements; and forecast of results in shorter lead times.

Hepcomotion Develops Actuators For X-Y-Z Systems Hepcomotion has developed a range of actuators, enabling it to supply X-Y-Z systems for industrial and scientific tasks such as pick and place, automated assembly, inspection and product labelling. According to the company, X-Y-Z linear motion systems are widely used throughout industry. For many applications, using the same type of linear actuator in each of the axes is an adequate solution. However, with manufacturing economics focusing on greater productivity, X-Y-Z systems are increasingly being specified to automate vital processes. Their speed of operation is often greater and their duty cycle much longer. The new actuators have been developed to address these different needs so that each axis operates optimally and contributes to the overall efficiency and longevity of the system. This concept still allows X-Y-Z systems to be constructed using standard, off-the-shelf components but accommodates the specific characteristics of

Small-Scale Machine For Micro Injection Moulding Engel has developed a small-scale electric injection unit with a 15mm screw diameter, suitable for micro injection moulding. Using an E-max 50/50 or an E-victory 50/28, it is now possible to achieve shot weights of less than 1g and part weights down to 0.1g with a high level of reproduction accuracy, according to the company. Two new drive variants with injection speeds of 330mm/sec (standard) and 550mm/sec (high) are available for the screw diameters (15/18/20mm). The optimised screw geometry, in combination with a specially designed feed opening throat, enable the trouble-free processing of standard pellets with improved plasticising and reproducibility, even with this small diameter.

Beko Oil-Vapour Monitor Gains TUV Certification Beko's Metpoint OCV oil-vapour monitoring system for chemical and pharmaceutical production processes has been certified by TUV Nord in accordance with the requirements of ISO 8573-1, Classes 1 to 4. According to the company, even 'oil-free' components give no guarantee for 'oil-free' compressed air, owing to the contamination of the ambient air/intake air. In most cases, a certain residual oil content cannot be entirely avoided in standard applications. The precise monitoring of the oil-vapour content, which is possible at any time, is important. In particular, in critical production processes in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, in food production and surface coating, the analysis and control of compressed-air quality is a crucial factor, according to Beko. The network-compatible Metpoint OCV offers constant monitoring down to the range of a thousandth mg/m3 and features a touch-screen display and 24/7 pr

IMTS 2010 To Feature CNC Control Developments Fanuc CNC America will showcase advanced CNC control developments at IMTS 2010, along with industry solutions to meet strict automotive, aerospace, medical, heavy industry and job-shop requirements. The company, which will be found in Booth S-8919, will present the new model 30i-B Series CNC Control, the 0i-D/0i-DMate Control with newly enhanced functionality, the new 35i-B CNC Control for transfer-line machines, new five-axis volumetric error compensation and various industry solutions. The new Fanuc CNC 30i-B Series Control is an upgrade from the 30i-A Series. The 30i-B Series offers enhanced features and functions, with advancements in operability and maintainability including a USB memory port, enhancements in the dual safety check, a new punch press and laser functionality. For advanced machining with high accuracy, the 30i-B provides advancements in high-speed five-axis capabilities, with architecture and software algorithms to re

Unison Launches All-Electric Tube Benders At Mach Unison launched a range of all-electric tube bending machines, ideal for most small- to medium-diameter applications involving high-precision small batch sizes and expensive materials, at Mach 2010. Incorporating a real-time Ethernet control system architecture and a new release of programming and control software, the machines are said to enhance the shape-forming capability and flexibility of servomotor-controlled bending. The new UK-built Breeze machines bend faster, exploit advanced multi-axis synchronisation capabilities to support sophisticated roll forming, improve the tool adjustments that can be employed during the bending cycle to generate ultra-precise part shapes and offer a visual collision-checking programming feature as standard. They also feature an open architecture that can be adapted to integrate an application-specific capability or to build work cells. An all-electric architecture provides tube benders with performa

Hydrocarbon Fluorimeters Monitor Oil-Spill Extent Chelsea's range of hydrocarbon fluorimeters is being deployed in the Gulf of Mexico to monitor the extent of the oil spill. Originally designed for military use, these reliable, robust, high-sensitivity fluorimeters have previously been used to detect crude and refined oils in a range of environments. The UV Aquatracka and the Uvilux submersible fluorimeters monitor the concentration of refined (360nm) or crude hydrocarbons (440nm) in a range of coastal, oceanographic and freshwater applications. They have been designed to be deployed independently, as well as from submersible vehicles, diver held, moored, profiled or as part of a flow-through system. These robust, compact, lightweight instruments are suitable for shallow and full ocean depth. They are also suitable for long-term deployment and will be used to monitor the extent of the pollution caused after the oil slick has dispersed. The UV Aquatracka displays real-time, live

Veolia Filters Aid Effluent Wastewater Treatment Glen Water has selected Hydrotech Discfilter technology from Veolia for a project that is providing final effluent wastewater treatment and a sludge disposal solution in compliance with EU Directives. The Hydrotech Discfilter is considered to be a flexible technology that uses a series of segmented discs to support a woven media (polyester or stainless steel). The Hydrotech Discfilter was selected for use on the Omega scheme due to its modular design and compact layout. Under normal operating conditions the Hydrotech Discfilter will remain stationary. The influent enters the inside of the unit via a central drum, which houses a series of paired filter elements that remove particulate solids from the influent. As the water passes through the woven filter, solids are captured on the inner face of the element. Accumulation of these captured solids reduces the hydraulic throughput, which results in an increase in head loss over unit. At

TURCK has announced Cat 5e Ethernet cables that are Gigabit capable and are particularly suitable for harsh environments. The cables incorporate incorporate flexlife cable jackets, which are resistant to abrasion, crushing forces and chemicals. The Ethernet cables are available with four or eight conductors (two and four pair counts). The cables may be specified with straight or right-angle RJ45 or M12 connectors, accommodating diverse application requirements.

Aker Delivers Floating Platform To Statoil Aker Solutions has designed, engineered and assembled a semi-submersible platform for the Gjoa oil and gas field offshore Norway that is expected to help significantly reduce carbon emissions. With a topside weight of 22,000 tonnes and hull dry weight of 15,000 tonnes, the Gjoa deck measures 110m long and 85m wide. The platform's highest point is the flare tower at 143m. More than 500 Aker Solutions engineers have been mobilised to design the platform, from Oslo, Norway, and Mumbai, India. During the final assembly at Stord, peak manning reached 3,000 skilled operators. Installation of the mooring system, transportation and installation of the Gjoa platform is carried out by Aker Solutions' subsidiary Aker Marine Contractors.

PFC And FV Technology For Research And Development GYS, a welding gear and battery charger manufacturer, has invested in Power Factor Correction (PFC) and Flexible Voltage (FV) technology across a range of MMA for its research-and-development centre. PFC technology offers the user a range of benefits, including a reduction in power consumption. The requirement for less power also allows the user to weld at higher levels on a lower power supply. Using GYS's PFC-equipped MMA machines will allow high-duty-cycle welding at 160A (sufficient for 4mm rods) on a regular 13A power supply. Normally, a 160A machine without PFC is capable of welding only 3.2mm electrodes at 125A using a 13A fused plug. Inside electrical cables, energy travels at various frequencies. In the UK, we use energy at 50Hz, but up to 25 per cent of that energy travels at either higher or lower frequencies called diffractions. Mathematical models show that all of these diffractions add to each other for certain fre