New Products

Machine Vision Hardware

The new Vision hardware from Beckhoff (Savage, MN) includes area scan cameras, C-mount lenses, multicolor LED illumination, and complete vision units. Whether used as components or an entire machine vision system, the Vision product portfolio meets industrial requirements perfectly. Whether implementing individual components or an entire machine vision system, engineers can tailor an ideal solution for their unique applications with these new products. Cameras: The IP65/67, EtherCAT-enabled area-scan cameras generate high-quality image data via monochrome and color Sony CMOS sensors with up to 24-megapixel resolution and GigE Vision transfer rates of 2.5 Gbit/s. Lenses: The robust, industrial C-mount lenses ensure ease of use and high availability, along with an innovative robust locking mechanism, VIS to NIR AR coating, up to 2 μm resolution, and models for camera formats of up to 1.2" (19.3 mm image circle). Lighting: The IP65/67, EtherCAT-enabled multicolor LED illumination, in panel, ring, and bar configurations, produces highly controlled illumination for consistently high-quality images. Incorporated current-based controls allow precise operation even in spectrally adjustable pulse mode.

Visit Here

Smart Manufacturing Data Platform

Renishaw’s (West Dundee, IL) new Central manufacturing connectivity and data platform is poised to transform the productivity, capability, and efficiency of manufacturing operations. The new data-driven manufacturing solution brings the power of connectivity to the machine shop floor, resulting in highly efficient, productive operations with optimized processes, reduced downtime and minimized waste. Renishaw Central collects metrology, status, and alarm data from connected devices across the shop floor. Devices include additive manufacturing systems, on-machine measurements systems, shop floor gauging, and co-ordinate measuring machines. With insight into the process performance of each workstation, manufacturers have a better understanding of where to take corrective measures. In unattended processes, the status of devices can be monitored remotely. If any errors occur, they are detected and displayed within the Central platform’s dashboards or other third-party applications. The platform operates on-premises, allows shop administrators to own their data, and ensures that process control is automated without depending on an internet connection.

Visit Here

Cloud-Based Operating System

Weidmuller USA (Richmond, VA), a provider of Smart Industrial Connectivity products and solutions, has introduced a new open operating system, u-OS, that is uniquely engineered for industrial IoT and automation applications. The innovative u-OS system debuted at the 2023 PACK EXPO in Las Vegas and its features include: u-OS is made for maintenance — easy cloud-based diagnostics and fleet management for your remotely deployed devices; it offers seamless integration — merge proprietary and third-party apps effortlessly using containerization; it is future-proof, built on open standards like Linux, OPC-UA, and Docker; it offers universal compatibility by supporting multiple fieldbus protocols; as well as provides easy scalability by expanding and adapting with cloud-based device management. An added feature is that the CODESYS APP, a leading IEC61131-3 programming tool used in machine building and system integration, is fully integrated into the u-OS platform. This enables anyone, from newcomers to automation experts, to harness the power of CODESYS, which provides a robust and user-friendly environment tailored to the user’s needs.

Visit Here

Positioning Stages

New compact three-axis, Yaw, Pitch, and Roll Stages from Optimal Engineering Systems, Inc. (Van Nuys, CA) feature four motor options to meet the precision and speed of travel requirements of an application. The YPR-10-15-60 Series of Three-axis Yaw, Pitch, and Roll Stages are the integration of a 60-mm diameter rotary stage (upper axis) capable of 360 degrees of continuous operation, and two goniometers (middle and lower axes). The middle stage has a range of +/- 15 degrees and the lower stage has a +/- 10 degrees range. Depending on the levels of precision and speed of travel requirements, four motor options are available. The -01 option is Stepper Motor driven and has knobs at the back of the stepper motors for manual adjustments. The stepper motors with a 10 micro-steps per step motor driver have a repeatability of +/- 0.01 degree and travel speeds of 30 degrees-per-second (roll stage) and 14 degrees-per-second (pitch and yaw stages). Option -02 is driven by Three Phase-Servo Motors, and option -03 is DC Servo Motor Driven. The servo driven stages offer the highest precision and travel speeds. The -04 option is Stepper Motor Driven with Quadrature Optical Encoders for position verification. These three axis stages are the ideal choices for: Optics, laser scanning, drilling, and machining, reverse engineering, inspection, assembly, measurements, tracking, and positioning.

Visit Here

Digital Valve Controller

Emerson (Marshalltown, IO) has announced the Fisher™ FIELDVUE™ DVC7K Digital Valve Controller featuring the Device™ technology with embedded computing and analytics that convert raw data into actionable information locally with Bluetooth® capability, within the device. This means maintenance personnel can receive the data via their phone, tablet, or computer wirelessly without having to be in a control room at the plant location. The new valve controller technology improves the performance, reliability, and uptime of both on-off and control valves — and by extension an entire process plant or facility — in a wide variety of process industry applications, and provides the information required to create streamlined work processes. The DVC7K interprets data to create an optimized path to action by combining patented technology, experience-based algorithms, and continuous real-time analytics with flexible connectivity and easy integration. It uses powerful, real-time, and onboard edge computing to analyze issues and create actionable information, providing real-time awareness of valve health by analyzing data locally via its on-board diagnostics.

Visit Here

Magnetic-Inductive Flow Meters

AutomationDirect (Cumming, GA) has added Endress+Hauser Picomag series magnetic-inductive flow meters to its growing line of flow sensors. Picomag series flow meters offer reliable measuring and monitoring of conductive liquids such as drinking and industrial water with a minimum conductivity of 10 μS/cm. These magnetic-inductive flow meters allow simultaneous measurement of flow, temperature, and volume, and provide two selectable I/O points that can be configured for analog current or voltage output, pulse or switch outputs, IO-Link connection, or status inputs for a totalizer reset. The large colored TFT display auto-rotates based on orientation and configuration parameters can be called up by simply knocking on the device. Picomag flow meters are configured and monitored with a Bluetooth^® wireless interface on Android and iOS devices via the free SmartBlue App. With a wireless connection distance of up to 32 feet, Picomag is ideal for installation sites that are difficult to access. The flow meters are UL Listed, CE marked, and RoHS compliant.

Visit Here

Vision Sensor

The In-Sight SnAPP vision sensor by Cognex (Natick, MA) brings the power of machine vision to everyone. With guided setup and pre-trained AI, In-Sight SnAPP allows manufacturers to quickly and easily automate inspections, no experience needed. Leveraging innovative vision technologies, these user-friendly sensors solve a wide range of error-proofing tasks to improve quality control. In-Sight SnAPP Apps address a range of error-proofing tasks, from simple presence/absence detection to multi-point inspections. These sensors perform one job at a time but can solve a variety of different applications. Within the intuitive user interface, you can easily switch between applications to respond to changes on the line or create new jobs to automate more steps in your production process. This keeps your business agile, while reducing costs and eliminating manual errors. Powered by AI and image-based analysis, In-Sight SnAPP vision sensors exceed the capabilities of conventional, laser-based sensors to offer higher accuracy and higher performance for any detection task. Its two key features include an anomaly detector that can run anomaly detection and find variable defects and features, like stains, scratches, and debris as well as a 2-Class classifier that performs binary classification and inspections with known or consistent anomalies.

Visit Here

EtherCAT TAP Software

Hilscher North America (Lisle, IL) has released its EtherCAT Tap software application for netFIELD OnPremise edge gateway and other supported netX-based hardware. This innovative software solution provides seamless IIoT integration for both new and legacy machinery. The netFIELD App EtherCAT Tap enables manufacturers to passively extract valuable process data from existing machines on EtherCAT networks without impacting operations and equipment controls. The application is compatible with any EtherCAT network, achieves success without interference to existing network or PLC controls, and its simple setup can be completed within minutes. This containerized software is easy to deploy and manage, and it includes a built-in, feature-rich configuration app that is accessible via web browser. No additional software tools are required for deployment. The extracted, raw EtherCAT data can either be automatically enriched with semantics during the capture process, or manually reconstructed. Semantic information can be directly input via the EtherCAT network information (ENI) file — provided by TwinCAT or any other compatible engineering tool. After configuration, data of interest can be sent via MQTT to the desired monitoring or analytics application. This passive data capture tool enables condition monitoring and data analytics applications to improve the performance of legacy machines and plant operations — with zero impact on installed equipment.

Visit Here

Linear Servo Motor

The GVCM-095-064-01 Linear Servo Actuator from Moticont (Van Nuys, CA) combines high precision and high force in an easily integrated package. This linear voice coil servo actuator, also called a moving coil motor, features: zero cogging, high speed, high acceleration/deceleration, and high-precision accuracy and repeatability when operated in a closed servo loop. The precision ground 0.1572 +/- 0.0003 inches (3.993 +/- 0.008 mm) diameter shaft guided by a linear bearing in the extended position is 2.500 inches (63.5 mm) long. It can tolerate a side load to 2 lb (9.0 N) and has 1.500 inches (38.1 mm) of travel with a high-force-to-size ratio of 24.4 lb (108.6 N) of continuous force and 77.1 lb (343 N) of peak force at a 10 percent duty cycle. The shaft has a 4-40 UNC 2B x 0.38 deep thread for backlash free connection to a load. When the shaft is extended the coil end extends beyond the housing 0.750 inches (19.05 mm) and the housing and coil ends each have two 10-32 UNF-2B threaded holes on 1.00 inches (25.4 mm) bolt circles for easy installation. Quiet, efficient, smooth motion of this clean, low inertia brushless motor makes it the ideal choice for assembly, clamping and work holding, sorting equipment, medical devices, optical focusing, antenna positioning, shutters and doors, testing, slide actuators, valve actuation, and wafer handling.

Visit Here

Telescoping Linear Actuators

Rollon (Hackettstown, NJ) has introduced its TLS Series of telescoping linear actuators. The new series is designed to maximize productivity for applications where space is limited — especially for applications with minimal vertical clearance, such as between the machine and ceiling, or horizontally between machines. TLS actuators integrate seamlessly into multi-axis systems and are available in two- or three-stage versions. Their design enables long stroke lengths with minimal closed lengths. The series features a synchronized drive system, requiring only a single motor to achieve motion. Additionally, these actuators are equipped with a built-in automated lubrication system, ensuring a prolonged lifetime while requiring minimal maintenance. The TLS series is available in four sizes: 100, 230, 280 and 360, with a maximum speed up to 6 m/s and acceleration up to 20 m/s. Their combination of high stroke to closed length ratio and synchronized drive system powers designers to easily optimize their machine footprint or floor layouts.

Visit Here