Automation Parts

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.

F-Series System Meets Machine Safety Standards Mechan Controls has announced that the F-series electronic safety system has achieved the highest possible rating under EN ISO 13849-1, the international standard for machine safety. The F-series is a modular, multi-gate safety system that features a flexible control unit capable of monitoring up to 30 tamper-proof safety switches simultaneously. In tests recently conducted by TUV Nord in Germany, the system achieved a Category Four rating, with Safety Integrity Level Three and Performance Level E. The F-Series main control module has dual safety outputs and monitoring for external circuits, while each connected safety switch has both LED and volt-free contact indication at the control unit. For larger plants or where a complete production line is being monitored, the modular system can be expanded using Mechan's FX1 and FX2 extender units, which work alongside the FM1 master control module. The safety switches are robust, fully ...

Rockwell's Motion Analyzer mechatronics tool optimises design for the automation and machine-construction industry. Application data can be accepted by the 3D CAD software Solidworks via the interface, directly from the OEM's mechanical design. An estimation of the loading then becomes superfluous and a genuine computation of the drive load is possible. Based on these data, the tool suggests a suitable drive, taking into consideration local conditions such as the supply voltage and the siting level. Motion Analyzer is able to carry out a comparison of costs and performance for various drive technologies. This means that the user can select the variant most suitable to the machine's use. With the aid of the Motion Analyzer computation tool, the user can adapt the movement to the conditions in the mechanical system and optimise it for his specific application. There is an export function to the Logix controller so that the computed travel profile can also be executed later...

Rockwell Automation has introduced a mechatronic-solutions portfolio consisting of software tools, motion-control products and support. The portfolio provides a common forum where design input from mechanical, controls, software and electrical engineers can be more easily gathered and evaluated. This helps engineers to better collaborate and reduce machine costs and development time. Mechatronics is a collaborative venture between mechanical, electrical and control design engineers to optimise machine design. Mechatronics has traditionally proven challenging for machine builders to integrate into their design process, due to high costs and lack of easy-to-use tools associated with virtual prototyping. The mechatronic solutions portfolio features updated motion-analyser software used by machine builders to help select the best-suited drive-motor-actuator combination for their application, and now provides interoperability with Solidworks 3D CAD software. This interoperability helps...

Machine Building Systems Offers Item Base Plate Item has added a die-cast 'Base Plate 8, 40x40 M10' to its aluminium-profile machine construction kit, available from Machine Building Systems. An M10 foot is suitable for customers with uneven floors who require a knuckle foot with a generous amount of adjustment on a bench or a conveyor, for instance. This gives the longer threads some resistance to the side loads that they will meet. However, this leads to two problems, according to the company. First, the 40x40 profile most commonly used for legs has a bore at the tapping size for M8 and must be drilled and re-tapped out where this is feasible. Second, permissible thread pitch deviations under DIN standards, common in the male threads, often mean that the feet will bind in long tapped holes, no matter how accurate the tapping. The new base plate is intended to solve both these problems at low cost by having the M10 tapped hole for the foot aligned with any of the T-slots...

Keyence Launches CV-5000 Machine Vision System Keyence UK has announced the launch of the CV-5000 series machine vision system, which has a range of camera options available. These include a 310,000 pixel (4.7ms transfer speed), two-million pixel (29.2ms transfer speed) and a five-million pixel camera that transfers ultra-high-definition 2,432 x 2,050 pixel images in 61.2ms (16.3 transfers/sec). Inspection tool upgrades include a real-time shade-correction image filter, profile defect detection for irregular shapes, and an expanded colour extraction engine. Complete lighting control enables simultaneous use of up to eight LED light sources without separate wiring or PLC programming. The CV-5000 machine vision system includes: a range of high-speed colour and monochrome cameras; expandable controller architecture; ultra-high-speed processing; new colour extraction engine, ACE II; defect detection solutions; statistical processing; communication software; and multiple interface optio...

Migatronic has added two models to its range of super compact, mono-phase Delta welding machines, both of which can weld thicker plates than the three present Delta machines. The Delta 200 HP TIG/MMA machine features a pulse function and high output in the current range 5-200A, while the Delta 180 E MMA machine operates in the current range 5-180A. The increased power has no effect on the weight: Delta 200 HP weighs 10.7kg and Delta 180 E weighs 9.5kg. In addition to assembly and repair jobs, the two machines are also suitable for workshop use. With casings of aluminium and plastic available, the operationally reliable welding machines are both portable and sturdy. With the scratch ignition, the Delta 180 E MMA can also be used for simple TIG welding. The welding machine features hot-start, arc power functions and protection against fluctuations in the mains voltage, and the welder has the option of a plus or minus pole on the electrode clamp. The Delta 200 HP machine features ope...

Asia-Pacific To Lead Machine Safety Expansion The worldwide market for machine automatic safeguarding products is forecast to reach US $2504.3 million in 2012, increasing at a compound annual growth rate of 8.7%. A new market study by Venture Development Corporation (VDC), covering 27 types of machine automatic safeguarding products, finds the worldwide 2007 market for these devices to have been US $1647.1 million. Product categories covered in the study were: emergency-stop controls (two types); presence-sensing safety sensors (five technologies); programmable safety systems (safety PLCs) - both stand-alone and integrated with machine controllers; safety controllers/modules/relays (six types); safety interlock switches (10 types); and two-hand safety controls (two types). The worldwide market for these products is forecast to reach US $2504.3 million in 2012, increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7%. Via the implementation of these products users gain cost savings in...