Industrial Factory Automation

Moeller Electric T rotary switches and P switch disconnectors are suitable for use as main, maintenance and emergency-stop switches that can be locked in the off position with up to three padlocks. Moeller Electric T rotary switches and P switch disconnectors are available in ten different basic switch types with several mounting forms and both standard and customised contact configurations. This makes them a compact, convenient, dependable and cost-effective solution for virtually any application involving uninterrupted currents of up to 315A. Both ranges are available in versions with 400/415V AC23A ratings from 6.5 to 132kW and with uninterrupted current ratings from 20 to 315A. They are suitable for use as main, maintenance and emergency-stop switches rated to IEC/EN 60204 and IEC/EN 60947 and can be locked in the off position with up to three padlocks. They are available in their own enclosures or for mounting in control cabinets, either on the door or rear of the panel with a c

Among the teams entering cars in the low-carbon fuel category are the University of Hertfordshire with a hydrogen-powered car and Oxford Brookes University with a parallel hybrid. Teams from across the world have entered the Formula Student competition, which is backed by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and takes place at Silverstone the weekend after the British Grand Prix This year, for the first time, there is a category for cars powered by low-carbon fuel. Formula Student is aimed at building future engineering talent and there are five different classes that can be entered. Those taking part design and manufacture a single-seater racing car. Among the teams entering cars in the low-carbon fuel category are the University of Hertfordshire with a hydrogen-powered car and Oxford Brookes University with a parallel hybrid. Robin McGill, Chief Executive of the IET, said: "Environmentally friendly fuels are the fuels of the future and it's for this very r

The PRTC210 pressure and temperature recorder is compact, portable and easy to use. New from MadgeTech, the PRTC210 is a pressure and thermocouple based temperature recorder with a 0.125in NPT fitting. The external thermocouple channel allows for insertion into a pipeline with a compression fitting, and the 0.125in NPT can be connected to a female fitting. This provides an instant temperature and pressure response of what is flowing through the pipeline. The PRTC210 accepts thermocouple types J, K, T, E, R, S, B and N and is available with pressure ranges of 0-2, 0-6.9, 0-21, 0-34.5, 0-69 and 0-345bar. The device can measure and record 21,844 readings per channel and has a battery life of up to 2 years. The PRTC210 is compact, portable and easy to use. It can be started and stopped directly from a PC, and its small size allows it to fit almost anywhere. As with all MadgeTech products, the data are downloaded and viewed using the MadgeTech software. The PrTC210 is priced at US $649

Simon Chipchase explains his company's pioneering methods for replicating threadforms for worms and worm gears. Worms and worm gears have been manufactured since ancient times In modern times the profile or tooth form of gearing has been standardised for most types of gears. Helical or spur gear teeth can be defined in terms of pressure angle and NDP (or module for metric units). Worm gearing has evolved along a different path where pitch, profile or form and proportions of tooth size and height are somewhat arbitrary and determined by the manufacturer and/or the method of manufacture. When equipment is maintained and worm gears are replaced as matched sets then the threadform may not be an issue. But if owners or users of equipment need only one element or need interchangeable spare parts then there is a need to duplicate the original threadform. The article discusses a method where a sample or artefact can be measured in order to quantify the tooth geometry. The worm, wormwheel o

The ProgRes C7 is suitable for any illumination technique in light microscopy and excels with high light sensitivity and natural reproduction of colours. The new ProgRes C7 from Jenoptik, equipped with instantaneous SXGA live image, mechanical shutter and 7Mpixel CCD sensor, records even the tiniest specimen structures in a precise and detailed fashion. The ProgRes C7 is particularly suited to macro shots in addition to microscopy applications. The instantaneous live image makes precise specimen positioning and focusing much easier. Thanks to the integrated shutter, it takes only a single shot to capture objects in motion and easily accommodates flash illumination techniques. Another advantage of the shutter is that it allows the camera to be triggered directly and precisely. Integration into automated process sequences or applications involving, for example, a motorised stage are made easy. The ProgRes C7 is suitable for any illumination technique in light microscopy and excels wi

YY, SY and CY flexible control cables are used as an interconnecting cable for measuring, controlling or regulation in control equipment for assembly and production lines. Anixter Components has added six new ranges of domestic mains and flexible control cables to its 2008/2009 product catalogue The range of mains cable includes industry standards such as 2192Y, 218Y and 318Y. The 2192Y range is available in 0.5 and 0.75mm2 conductor sizes and the 218Y and 318Y are available from 0.5mm2 to 2.5mm2. These provide power for many domestic appliances including lightweight portable appliances, such as radios and table lamps, as well as those supporting heavier loads such as washing machines, spin dryers and refrigerators. For industrial applications, there is a range of YY, SY and CY flexible control cables. These are used as an interconnecting cable for measuring, controlling or regulation in control equipment for assembly and production lines. The durable galvanised steel braiding on t

In vacuum circuit breakers or vacuum contactors, current making and breaking is performed in the entirely sealed vacuum chamber. So, they poses various features such as (1) Excellent arc-extinguishing ability, (2) Less contact wear, and long life, (3) Safety, no fire or explosion hazard, (4) Less maintenance, (5) Compact and lightweight. Then the vacuum circuit breakers and vacuum contactors have been becoming major switching apparatus throughout the countries around the world.In 1965, Toshiba put the first vacuum switching devices in the market. Since then, various efforts have been made to increase their application fields. Regarding switching surge, analysis of generating mechanisms, measurement of the switching surge, development of the surge suppressors have been achieved. Based on those results this application guide was compiled. Toshiba Low & Medium Voltage Vacuum Contactors are all "low surge type". As contactors are mainly applied for a motor switching, low s

Each AquaJelly is able to sense various aspects of its environment and function autonomously, but also has communicative faculties that enable it to co-operate with other members of the group. Festo and Effekt-Technik have developed a bionic jellyfish, known as AquaJelly, to demonstrate swarming behaviour. Each AquaJelly is able to sense various aspects of its environment and to function completely autonomously, but is also endowed with communicative faculties that enable it to co-operate with other members of the group and thereby behave as a system with a higher order of development. Festo has created the AquaJelly as part of its ongoing research programme into advanced automation. The company believes that by extending the principles of swarming behaviour to automation, many small autonomous or partly autonomous intelligent systems could work together to solve large-scale problems through strategic co-operation. The AquaJelly also provide a visually arresting demonstration of an

The Burkert 8201 pH measuring system's enamelled stainless steel finish provides nonstick performance for maximised hygiene while pH values are measured. The 'fit-and-forget' design of Burkert's 8201 pH measuring system enables the sensor to stay in process, even during CIP purification. This feature saves users both time and cost, by removing the requirement for sensor removal, cleaning and recalibration. The nonbreakable sensor also obviates the problems of fracturing with glass sensors. Its enamelled stainless steel finish provides nonstick performance for maximised hygiene while pH values are measured. The hygienic design and robust, glass-free construction of the sensor mean that the unit is particularly suitable for use in high- end hygienic processes; for example, in the production of foods and active ingredients where the pH value of liquid mediums is measured. The 8201 provides long service life in these processes and high levels of accuracy with its ability