Automation Parts

Orchid Offers Miniature DC Motor Controller Orchid Technologies' low-cost, miniature, brushless DC motor controller is claimed to pack a large amount of power into a tiny electronics package. The miniature controller is designed to drive 48V brushless DC motors up to 1,400W. Small physical sizes make it possible to develop high torque and operating speeds when overall product size and weight are application limited. The company claims that it combined cost-sensitive engineering with precision power electronics to craft an efficient, high-performing, three-phase power-output stage. Working closely with silicon vendors, Orchid selected FET output-stage devices while matching drive and sensing technology characteristics. It selected an ST7MC microcontroller as the brains of the brushless DC motor controller. The ST7MC's feature-rich complement of flash program store, static RAM, Eeprom, a patented motor controller, timers, analogue-to-digital conversion circuitry and robust pr...

Photonic Offers Variable-Focus Laser Diode Modules Photonic Products is launching a range of variable-focus industrial laser diode modules. Constructed to withstand harsh conditions and satisfy challenging industrial applications, Photonic's new range of variable-focus industrial laser diode modules offers the high performance and the high boresight accuracy of less than 0.25 degrees of the existing range of standard industrial laser modules with the added bonus of user-adjustable focus for greater flexibility and fine tuning. The range is designed to be a complete original-equipment-manufacturer (OEM) laser solution for heavy-duty manufacturing processes such as micro-machining, marking, cutting, drilling, welding, forming and soldering, along with other industrial laser uses where quality, durability and robust performance are critical. The industrial modules are encapsulated in a hard-coat-anodised case with a scratch-resistant sapphire window to protect the lens. They are...

Intertronics Offers Ultra-Light-Weld GA-111 Gasket Intertronics has introduced a moisture-resistant gasketing resin from Dymax for sealing electrical conduit boxes, appliance housings and critical electronic assemblies and devices. The ultra-light-weld GA-111 is a UV/visible light-curable form-in-place (FIP) gasket developed for applications requiring a low-compression set, a tack-free surface and durable, reliable sealing. It is a soft gasket material with high adhesion to metals, while providing a barrier to prevent the absorption or penetration of air, dust, moisture, liquids and gaseous substances. Peter Swanson, managing director of Intertronics, said: 'This new gasketing material can be dispensed into intricate and complex configurations with the benefit of inline curing, which allows for increased production speed, greater output, lower processing costs and reduced inventories. 'The Dymax GA-111 is a one-part resin, requiring no mixing. 'It is low out-gassing, cu...

Schurter Offers Overvoltage Protection Components Schurter is offering overvoltage protection components to add a third protective element to fuses and filters. This makes it possible for users to obtain all components required for the electrical protection of their electronic appliances from one source. The company now offers radial leaded varistors, also referred to as metal oxide varistors (MOVs), which help to protect electronic circuits against surge transients, such as those that can be caused by lightning strikes and the switching of contacts and inductive loads. Varistors are suited to a variety of applications including switching mode power supplies, ballasts and motor protection used in areas such as industry, telecommunications and medical technology, as well as in consumer goods. There are different types for various application fields available: AVTS for secondary protection, AVTP for primary protection and AVTT for three-phase applications. The varistors, all approved...

Fox Offers Miniature SMD HCMOS Crystal Oscillators Fox Electronics is offering its integrated SMD HCMOS temperature-compensated crystal oscillators (TCXOs) and voltage-controlled TCXOs (VCTCXOs) in miniature 3.2mm x 2.5mm package sizes. The 3.3V Fox923CH and Fox923CEH series of oscillators eliminate the need for supplementary external circuitry to obtain a HCMOS output. Suitable for timing requirements in applications such as radio-frequency-identification (RFID) readers, utility metering, wireless telecommunications, GPS, data transfer and test and measurement equipment, these new oscillators offer tighter stabilities than traditional oscillators. Stability is +/-2.5ppm over the -30C to +85C operating temperature range, +/-0.3ppm over the 3.3V (+/-5 per cent) supply voltage and +/-0.2ppm over the 15pF load change. The series offers an input current (IDD) of 6mA, an output symmetry of 40 per cent to 60 per cent over a frequency range of 9MHz to 32MHz and typical phase noise from -1...

Tyco Offers Sigma-Link Copper-Cabling Solutions Sigma-Link from Tyco Electronics's Amp Netconnect business unit is a range of pre-terminated high-speed copper-cabling solutions designed for ease of installation in office networks and data centres. The Amp Netconnect Sigma-Link system offers all performance and link classes including Category 6/Class E, Category 6A/Class EA and Category 7A/Class FA to support current applications at speeds of up to 10Gbit/s over copper cable. The Class FA version has been developed to support future applications at up to 40Gbit/s. The system is fully standards compliant and is suitable for equipment cabling in data centres. Performance of the Sigma-Link system is ensured by factory testing of all cable assemblies. Traceability of the far end is achieved by an integrated plastic optical fibre, which facilitates identification after installation. The system is fully compliant to TIA/EIA 942 and EN 50173-5, which are specific data-centre standards....

Rapid Offers Preferential Pricing For Big Spenders Rapid Electronics, a UK distributor of electronic components, cables, connectors and electrical products, is offering preferential pricing options for high-spending industry customers. For customers who are about to place a bulk order or who have a large bill of materials, Rapid could arrange special pricing that is better than their existing terms and can be held for a three-month period. Additionally, if customers have the potential to spend GBP10,000 or more per annum, they could become a key account holder at Rapid. Key account holders will be assigned a dedicated account handler who can assist with cross-referencing competitor or manufacturer part numbers, source new products, set up schedule and forward orders and arrange preferential pricing.

NI Offers Reduced-Price Retraining Programmes National Instruments (NI) UK and Ireland has announced a programme to support engineers who have recently been made redundant by reducing the cost of NI Labview training and certification. For GBP395, engineers can take two training courses and a certification exam. For example, they could take Labview Basics I and II and the Certified Labview Associate Developer (CLAD) certification exam, which, with the current reduction, would be a saving of more than GBP1,800. Individual scheduled training courses at Newbury can be taken for GBP195. The NI retraining programme for redundant engineers provides reduced-priced Labview certification that will increase engineers' software development skills and help to boost their career potential with an additional professional qualification. Successful certification will see engineers join a growing band of more than 3,000 certified professionals worldwide. Achieving certification through exams h...

XP Offers JHM Low-Power Isolated DC/DC Converters XP Power's JHM ultra-compact low-power isolated DC/DC converters are available in 3 and 6W board-mounted variants and packaged in an industry-standard 24-pin DIP package. They conform to the international medical-equipment safety standards UL / IEC 60601-1 and CSA-C22.2 No 601.1. The units provide 3,000V AC input to output isolation for up to one-minute - meeting the secondary-isolation requirements for BF and CF applications - and 5,000V AC isolation of up to 10 milliseconds for defibrillation proof compliance. Any medical appliance that may involve patient-contact needs to provide isolation from hazardous voltages and have an extremely low leakage current. The JHM series features a small leakage-current of 2uA and low 20pF input to output capacitance. It provides a reliable and cost-effective solution for designers of medical equipment. The JHM series comprises of 20 models. The 3 and 6W units are available in +12V DC or +24...

Reel And Shaft Offers Stacker Truck Cradle Reel And Shaft Handling (RaSHCo) has designed a stacker truck cradle for offloading finished reels from both shafts of slitter rewinders at the same time. The system is easy to install and operate and is safer and faster than traditional methods. The stacker truck cradle slides easily into place under the finished product reels, then gently pulls them from the shafts as the operator reverses the truck. The hydraulically powered cradle then rotates the reels to vertical so they are ready for loading onto a pallet. A separate vertical reel lifter mounted on a customised air hoist, hanging from a swing-jib crane, allows the operators to offload the reels of up to 95kg, quickly and with virtually no effort.

Resultancy Offers Business Process Health Check Resultancy is offering business performance improvement services for manufacturing companies on a no success, no fee basis. The company's Success-as-a-Service business model (also known as the Consultancy 2.0 model) offers manufacturing businesses a risk free and self-financing method for beating the recession through competitive transformation. Up until now, many businesses have viewed the deployment of management coaching and business consultancy services as an expensive luxury. Many manufacturing executives have either had unsatisfactory experiences of working with coaching and management consultancy firms, or know of executives who have. This situation is hurting businesses who could benefit from practical help and advice but are lacking confidence in the profession's track record to make a positive difference. Resultancy has built a team of multi-disciplinary coaches and consultants who differentiate the brand of professi...

Chronos Offers High-Speed Bagging Range The Chrono-Fill PTK, a very fast bagging line for pre-made open-mouth bags, is now available from Chronos Richardson. The PTK range offers high-speed bagging at rates of up to 40 bags/min and features a modular design form. Packing speeds of up to 1,500 bags per hour are available with the PTK-1700 series; while the dual spout system on the PTK-2700 offers capacities of up to 2,400 bags per hour. This bagging system can be deployed for any pre-made open-mouth (pillow or gusseted) bags made of paper, plastic or woven polypropylene. The result is a system for bulk material bagging of food, animal feed and pet foods, as well as materials from the chemical and construction materials industries. PTK bag-filling systems achieve high hygienic standards through the use of field-proven technologies for continuous reliable bag transfer. They also feature a bag-separating system and are designed for quick change-over to accommodate different bag dimen...

Wolfram Research Offers Consulting Service Wolfram Research has launched a consulting service called Wolfram Solutions, which is said to provide solutions for business problems and technical computing needs. With technical skill, vertical industry prowess, deep management experience and focus on customer priorities and goals, Wolfram Solutions is claimed to deliver the power of technical computing to help improve efficiency, quality and results and to spearhead innovation. Wolfram Solutions consultants are said to be experienced in modelling, simulation, data analysis, image processing, high-performance computing, parallel computing, delivering technical computing over the web and other technical computing fields. According to the company, which manufactures Mathematica, its experts offer performance tuning and enhancements for existing software, while also conducting research, development and deployment for new software. For one customer, Dolphin Measurement Systems, Wolfram Solut...

MTS has released absolute linear-position sensors, which are now available as versions approved for installation in hazardous areas. The explosion-proof versions of the Temposonics R- and G-Series position sensors are suitable for use in a potentially explosive atmosphere containing flammable gases (groups IIA, IIB and IIC) and dusts. An independent test body certified the sensors in compliance with the European ATEX directive 94/9/EC. With above-ground applications, the position sensors meet the requirements of instrument categories 3D (Zone 2) and 3G (Zone 22). When the sensors are operated in these zones, although the atmosphere presents the corresponding explosion risk, there is no hazard of inflammation. The transducers are available with rod- or profile-shaped housings and analogue, CAN, SSI or Start/Stop interfaces. The maximum surface temperature is 135C in a gas-containing atmosphere and 100C if dust is present in the environment. Various protection types preclude the pos...

JW Winco has announced that it is now offering GN 602 series Ergostyle zinc die-cast adjustable levers. These RoHS-compliant hand levers are suitable wherever parts have to be clamped in a confined space or in a particular lever position.The slightly arched shape of the lever is designed to provide the operator a comfortable and safe grip. The insert is connected to the lever via serrations, which can be disengaged. Pulling the lever upwards disengages the serrations, allowing it to be swivelled to the ideal clamping position. When the lever is released, the serrations automatically re-engage. Available in a variety of sizes, the levers come in tapped, blind bore and threaded stud types. The handle is zinc die-cast and the insert, screw and spring are steel with black oxide finish. A matte black, pebbled finish is offered as well as orange, red and silver. Special colours are available upon request.

PVL Offers MFS Plastics Level Switches Pressure Vacuum Level is offering Riko's MFS plastics level switches. The switches have a gland at the cable entry point to prevent the ingress of moisture. A fitting enables a plastic tube to be fitted over the gland, enabling the level switch to meet the requirements of IP65. Each switch can be configured for normally open (NO) or normally closed (NC) contacts by removing and reversing the float. Riko MFS level switches are compact, lightweight and need little maintenance. All wetted parts are white polypropylene or black nitrile, plastics that are not-conductive and are resistant to chemical attack and to the growth of bacteria and algae when used in float-switch applications. The precision plated reed switch contacts are sealed in an inert gas to prevent arcing. All Riko MFS level switches have unsinkable foamed floats, of nitrile (Buna-N) in the case of the nitrile models, and are available with straight or tapered threads, in versions fo...

Small Force Sensor Offers Mounting Options Designed for tension or compression force measurements where space is tight, RDP Electronics' Model 3124 sensor can be mounted in an existing system within a restricted work area. It suits applications when space is limited, such as fluid power transfer, hydraulic piston monitoring or structural development tests It can be directly mounted to the side of a hydraulic cylinder. Side-mounted cable connections allow cable assemblies to be supported without affecting movement of the cell during tension or compression loading. Ease of mounting and affordability make these cells well suited for simultaneous testing of multielement systems. Contained in a compact, small-diameter carbon steel housing the Model 3124 is available in ranges from 20 to 125kN.