It’s time for another tech round-up, keeping you up-to-date on the latest product releases in markets as varied as sensors, actuators and engineering software.
Parker Virtual Engineer Motion Design Tool
Parker’s latest streamlines the process of designing and selecting products. In addition to quickly letting users enter specifications, it delivers customized specification reports, estimates on product lifespan, CAD models and a “Request for Quote” line for managing costs.
Users can simulate external forces, hosting options for different orientations and motion profiles. The program automatically generates solutions for these forces as the user gives application parameters, eliminating them if a given problem exceeds a solution’s capability. Finally, Virtual Engineer features a “My Projects” area for collaboration across locations and among teams.
Miki Pulley Step-Flex Shaft Couplings
Step-Flex couplings use a two-part elastomer element to address vibrational issues, placing the softer elastomer (green) portion between a stiffer, black portion and the aluminum alloy hubs so that it absorbs shock. This allows a small amount of misalignment during real-world motion while maintaining the torsional stiffness necessary to provide positional accuracy. The elastomer also protects against heat and electricity, buffering either from transferring between the motor and output shafts and halting any stray voltage.
The Step-Flex has applications in automated packaging and semi-conductor assembly, as well as lab and medical equipment.
Sankyo Automation RollerDrive Reducers
RollerDrive precision gear reducers use a screw-like input shaft to provide zero-backlash performance, consisting of an input shaft and turret (output shaft) with roller followers that come pre-loaded against the screw input.
The RollerDrive’s servo indexing table—available in 11 sizes and ratios—is capable of programmable motion via a lead cam with servo motor drive and rated to move medium to heavy loads. For projects requiring especially large torque capacities or slower speeds, a double reduction ratio of the internal cam may be required, as well as additional reducers.
SMAC LCA6 Linear Coil Motor
The LCA6 is a compact, 6mm wide, motor meant for precision applications such as biomedical dispensing, QC measurements and electronic pick-and-place. With its self-feedback system, it is able to do work and “course correct” in real time. Complementing this is SMAC’s Soft-Land technology, enabling the motor to move at high speeds with the precision necessary for handling sensitive components.
The LCA6 uses cross-ruler magnetic guides to maintain consistency within 1msec across repeated movements and where flat coils between the cross rollers increase rigidity, and reduce deflection load.
Balluff’s BFS 33M True Color Sensor w/ IO Link
This fiber-optics based color sensor broadens the color spectrum being analyzed by using a combination of a white LED sensor and the light spectrum database from CIELAB covering all possible colors, instead of the limited RGB spectrum.
The BFS 33M analyzes a very small spot of color quickly—1.5 kHz up to 400mm—thereby ignoring the textures and patterns on a surface that can distort readings. It can store up to 256 true color programs, and its sensory parameters/configuration can be set for best-fit or precise-sensing modes via its IO Link.
Honeywell’s Experion Batch – Visualization Technology
The Experion Batch is a set of digital tools intended for industries that depend on batch-based production, such as food processing, pharmaceutical and specialty chemical. The software uses distributed control capabilities to create a comprehensive timeline of tasks, requirements, upcoming events and potential obstacles along the production timeline.
It also creates more flexibility for maintenance personnel, allowing them to do things like take a unit controller offline for repairs without affecting others. It eliminates the requirement for a large, dedicated batch server while also giving users the flexibility to make adjustments and perform appropriate tasks sooner.
To find out more about digital control tools, check out How to Use the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) in Your Factory.