Canada/Mexico: one year, $79; two years, $119; All other countries: one year, $99; two years, SCANNING FOR IDEAS Temperature sensors use Pt-100 technology for accuracy Cyclonic action
Trang 1NEW ROLE FOR CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS: PROTECTING
EQUIPMENT, page 54 DIY FABRICATION
IS HOT, page 62 COPPER ROTORS BOOST MOTOR EFFICIENCY, page 70
Trang 2RS# 101
Trang 3© COPYRIGHT 2012 OMEGA ENGINEERING, INC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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Νο.
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Trang 4of these tables.”
The computers in the central room each feature more than $20,000 worth
of engineering-design software from Autodesk Inc., San Raphael, Calif
Pro-grams include Inventor, AutoCAD, Maya, and Revit The central room also
DIY fabrication studios let just about anyone make just about anything.
Authored by:
Leslie Gordon
Senior Editor leslie.gordon@penton.com Twitter @ LeslieGordon
M ACHINE D ESIGN, “DIY Manufacturing,” http://
hosts a hotline to the U. S Trademark and Patent Office through
popcorn popper.
The 17,000-sq-ft Detroit facility is clean, spacious, and airy Many dows face both outside and internally to each of the technology areas, helping make the TechShop a pleasant place to work The machine shop, one such area, houses a lathe, a vertical-milling ma- chine, and a Tormach four-axis CNC mill that can be fitted with various
win-“People use the mill all sorts of ways,” says Brick “For example, one designer
We helped him make a fixture so he could produce four or five parts at once
He now has a small business.”
Another technology area, the wood shop, features a three-phase table saw,
a big wood lathe, a router table, and a pair of CNC wood-router Shop Bots, Brick “They just provide two different options for different project sizes.” One
Ford Motor Co
and TechShop
Working with TechShop and other organizations, Ford is helping entrepre- neurs commercialize their creations For come up with potentially patentable ideas,
a three-month free membership to Shop Detroit And the company’s Motor what they create in TechShop It will pro- facturers, suppliers, start-ups, and research institutions in the automotive industry.
Tech-MANUFACTURING
for the
masses
SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 MACHINE DESIGN.com
Juan Martinez shows off the prototype of his cargo bike, which he built from the ground up with TechShop software and equipment.
A sheet-metal class shows users how to operate equipment Members learn layout techniques, how to and how to use the press brake At the conclusion of that class, these members will be authorized to set up and use the equipment on their own projects.
TechShop member Richard Jeryan
at The Henry Ford museum, just down the street from the Detroit TechShop.
The holes in the cards were cut out on TechShop’s The cards are used to program a Jacquard loom.
ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC
Visible in this
of an induction motor is its copper rotor
Use of copper rotors can let induction motors run efficiently provide the same amount of horsepower as conventional motors that sit sizes.
Better manufacturing techniques may let rotors cast from copper become a mainstay of superefficient motor technology.
The stringent efficiency levels now spelled out in NEMA Premium tables copper rather than the traditional aluminum Copper cuts down on the I2R losses by up to 40% and overall motor loss by 20%, though it increases the the size of the motor.
But until recently, copper rotors were tough to cast because of per’s higher melting point (1,083°C compared to 660°C for alumi-
cop-Authored by:
Trista Baldwin
Contributing Editor Edited by Leland Teschler leland.teschler@penton.com
Key points:
• Rotors made from copper conduct electrical current better than aluminum, thus run cooler with more efficiency.
• The process of die casting copper has become economical thanks to recent advances in modeling the casting process.
article/copper-shines-in-num), and a tendency to oxidize Now, breakthroughs in copper die cast- ing have made it more eco- nomical to mass pro-
Industry
could take a shine to
COPPERROTOR MOTORS
SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 MACHINE DESIGN.com 70
Access our Reader Service Web site to quickly find and request information on the products and services found
in the pages of M ACHINE D ESIGN
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70
VOLUME 84ISSUE 13SEPTEMBER 6, 2012
Space truckin’ with SpaceX
A private firm develops the first commercial
launch vehicle and transport capsule, then
proves they can carry payloads into space
Safety shock: Sensing ground
faults in industrial applications
Originally designed to protect people,
ground-fault sensing now helps
extend equipment life
Manufacturing for the masses
DIY fabrication studios let just about
anyone make just about anything
Industry could take a shine
to copper-rotor motors
New manufacturing techniques make it
possible to cast rotors in copper and bring
new levels of efficiency to induction motors
2
Trang 5*All prices are U.S published prices AutomationDirect prices are from the April 2012 Price List Allen-Bradley prices taken
from www.rockwellautomation.com/en/e-tools 2/20/12 Specifications may vary by dealer and configuration.
Prices subject to change without notice.
CHECK OUT OUR PRICES AutomationDirect Allen-Bradley
Trang 6For customized article reprints and permissions please contact: Penton Reprints, 1-888-858-8851, e-mail at reprints@pentonreprints.com or visit
pentonreprints.com.
Editorial content is indexed in the Applied Science Technology Index, the Engineering Index, SciSearch and Research Alert Microfilm copies available from National Archive Publishing Company (NAPC), 300
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Paid subscriptions include issues 1-18 Issue No 19 (OEM Handbook and Supplier Directory) is available at additional cost Rates: U.S.: one year, $139; two years,
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SCANNING FOR IDEAS
Temperature sensors use Pt-100 technology for accuracy
Cyclonic action extends life of hydraulic filter
4
Trang 7The Truth About Compressed Air!
Facts about Blowers
Energy conscious plants might think a blower to be a better choice due to its slightly lower electrical consumption compared
to a compressor In reality, a blower is an expensive capital expenditure that requires frequent downtime and costly maintenance
of fi lters, belts and bearings Here are some important facts:
Filters must be replaced every one
to three months.
Belts must be replaced every three to six months.
Typical bearing replacement is at least once
a year at a cost near $1000.
G Blower bearings wear out quickly due
to the high speeds (17-20,000 RPM) required to generate eff ective airfl ows.
G Poorly designed seals that allow dirt and moisture infi ltration and environments above 125°F decrease the one year bearing life.
G Many bearings can not be replaced in the
fi eld, resulting in downtime to send the assembly back to the manufacturer Blowers take up a lot of space and often produce sound levels that exceed OSHA noise level exposure requirements Air volume and velocity are often diffi cult to control since mechanical adjustments are required.
To discuss an application, contact:
EXAIR Corporation
11510 Goldcoast Drive Cincinnati, Ohio 45249-1621 (800) 903-9247
Fax: (513) 671-3363 email: techelp@exair.com www.exair.com/45/423c.htm
Compare these Blowoffs
Th ere are a variety of ways to blow the water from the bottles shown in the photo below, but
which method is best? To decide, we ran a comparison test on the same application using
four diff erent blowoff methods: drilled pipe, fl at air nozzles, Super Air Knife (each using
compressed air as a power source), and a blower supplied air knife (using an electric motor
as a power source) Each system consisted of two twelve inch long air knives Th e following
comparison proves that the EXAIR Super Air Knife is the best choice for your blowoff ,
cooling or drying application.
Th e goal for each of the blowoff choices was to use the least amount of air possible to get the
job done (lowest energy and noise level) Th e compressed air pressure required was 60 PSIG
which provided adequate velocity to blow the water off Th e blower used had a ten horsepower
motor and was a centrifugal type blower at 18,000 RPM Th e table at the bottom of the page
summarizes the overall performance Since your actual part may have an odd confi guration,
holes or sharp edges, we took sound level measurements in free air (no impinging surface).
Drilled Pipe
Th is common blowoff is very inexpensive
and easy to make For this test, we
used (2) drilled pipes, each with (25)
1/16" diameter holes on 1/2" centers
As shown in the test results below, the
drilled pipe performed poorly Th e initial
cost of the drilled pipe is overshadowed
by its high energy use Th e holes are
easily blocked and the noise level is
excessive - both of which violate OSHA
requirements Velocity across the entire
length was very inconsistent with spikes
of air and numerous dead spots.
Flat Air Nozzles
As shown below, this inexpensive air
nozzle was the worst performer It is
available in plastic, aluminum and
stainless steel from several manufacturers
Th e fl at air nozzle provides some
entrainment, but suff ers from many
of the same problems as the drilled
pipe Operating cost and noise level are
both high Some manufacturers off er
fl at air nozzles where the holes can be
blocked - an OSHA violation Velocity
was inconsistent with spikes of air
Blower Air Knife
Th e blower proved to be an expensive, noisy option As noted below, the purchase price is high Operating cost was considerably lower than the drilled pipe and fl at air nozzle, but was comparable to EXAIR’s Super Air Knife Th e large blower with its two 3" (8cm) diameter hoses requires signifi cant mounting space compared
to the others Noise level was high
at 90 dBA Th ere was no option for cycling it on and off to conserve energy like the other blowoff s Costly bearing and fi lter maintenance along with downtime were also negative factors.
EXAIR Super Air Knife
Th e Super Air Knife did an exceptional job of removing the moisture on one pass due to the uniformity of the laminar airfl ow Th e sound level was extremely low For this application, energy use was slightly higher than the blower but can be less than the blower if cycling on and off
is possible Safe operation is not an issue since the Super Air Knife can not be dead- ended Maintenance costs are low since there are no moving parts to wear out.
The Super Air Knife is the low cost way to blowoff, dry, clean and cool.
If you think compressed air is too expensive and noisy - read this The facts will surprise you!
Blowoff Comparison
Comp Air Horsepower
Required
Sound Level dBA
Purchase Price
Annual Electrical Cost*
Approx Annual Maintenance Cost
First Year Cost Type of blowoff PSIG BAR SCFM SLPM
Drilled Pipes 60 4.1 174 4,924 35 91 $50 $4,508 $920 $5,478
Flat Air Nozzles 60 4.1 257 7,273 51 102 $208 $6,569 $1,450 $8,227
Blower Air Knife 3 0.2 N/A N/A 10 90 $5,500 $1,288 $1,500 $8,288
Super Air Knife 60 4.1 55 1,557 11 69 $518 $1,417 $300 $2,235
*Based on national average electricity cost of 8.3 cents per kWh Annual cost refl ects 40 hours per week, 52 weeks per year.
RS# 104
Trang 8Piezos in motion: technology basics, motors, and more
The piezoelectrical effect is the ability of piezoceramic materials to generate an
electrical charge in response to squeezing or pressing mechanical force or motion
when electrified The effect is leveraged in piezomotors, which are being applied
in an increasing number of applications Learn more in this informative guide
from MICROMO, available at http://machinedesign.com/ebook
Nutating engine for UAVs
At the 2012 AUVSI Unmanned Systems show, an engineer from
Kinetic BEl explains the nutating-disk concept engine It has
the potential to provide twice the power density of two-stroke piston engines and four times the power density of four- stroke engines The positive-displacement unit has multifuel capability, low vibration and bearing loads, and a modular,
flexible design Learn more at www.
Disk-Engine-Delivers-H;Only- Engineering-TV-Videos.
engineeringtv.com/video/Nutating-Ethernet-cable white paper
Turck’s new white paper, “Ethernet
Cable: A Guideline to Implementing
Solid or Stranded Cables,” helps
engi-neers select cables for industrial
net-works Content includes
understand-ing Ethernet-cable classifications, their
uses, and installation guidelines to
ensure reliable performance and best
efficiency Download a copy at www.
askturck.com/docs/TURCK-Ethernet-Cable-White-Paper.pdf
Bearing App
Rexnord has launched Bearing Mobile
Pro, a new iPhone app that gives
en-gineers quick access to technical data
on ball and cylindrical bearings It also
offers interchange info for leading
manufacturers’ products and
techni-cal support via e-mail and phone Get
more details at www.rexnord.com.
Threadlocker data
A new two-page, at-a-glance
informa-tion sheet from Henkel provides data
on 21 Loctite threadlocker products
A properties chart lists strengths and
viscosities of primerless and
oil-toler-ant formulas, temperature-resistoil-toler-ant
grades, low-and medium-strength
products that disassemble with hand
tools, and high-strength formulations
The chart highlights general use,
MIL-Spec, food-grade, and health and
safety-rated products, and ers for plastic fasteners Download a copy of “Threadlockers Are Reliable and Removable” (LT-6540) at
threadlock-www.loctitethreadlockers.com.
PLC programming courses PLC Programming courses conducted
by Omron Automation and Safety
(www.Omron247.com) let attendees
complete basic, intermediate, and vanced courses in just seven business days The intensive hands-on sessions cover real-world design and trouble- shooting challenges Students learn to programs PLCs, develops HMI projects, set up networks, simulate system inter- actions, and configure motion control- lers, drives, and temperature controllers
ad-Piezo actuator catalog
PI Ceramic’s new 70-page Piezoelectric
Actuators catalog covers products such
as piezo-ceramic stack actuators, tilayer actuators that have been tested for more than 100 billion cycles, and low-voltage bimorph bender actuators
mul-It also details custom subassemblies and high-linearity materials, as well as drivers, controllers, and charge ampli- fiers that increase dynamic linearity
A tutorial explains operating and plication basics Download a copy at
ap-www.piceramic.com/piezo_news_more.
php?newsid=21&on.-prw
WATCH PRODUCT OVERVIEW AND TUTORIAL VIDEOS AT YOUR CONVENIENCE
AutomationDirect’s Learn Web site features free industrial control product overviews and tutorials Topics range from PLCs and HMI
to motion control and sensors Recently added Kickstart product videos include:
Buck-boost transformers — can
be used as an autotransformer to raise or lower supply line voltage
by a small amount; or as an isolation transformer
Watertight wiring devices — industrial-grade watertight plugs, connectors, and receptacles from Bryant are a must in harsh conditions
Cord grips — see the full line
of wire and cable strain reliefs, support grips, bus drop grips, and pull grips
Differential pressure transmitters
— precision engineered for accurate low differential measurement of positive, negative, and bidirectional pressures
The latest tutorial series gives pointers on configuring our multipurpose counter/timer/tachometer units
For a complete list of videos, visit
http://iearn.automationdirect com or www.youtube.
comlautomationdirect Become
a subscriber and get alerts when new videos are uploaded
SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 MACHINE DESIGN.com
6
Trang 91 Sod
5 Microchip Technology-based
solutions can support any
light-emitting-diode (abbr.) drive
methodology as well as add
ad-ditional capabilities beyond that of
traditional lighting solutions
8 Long-time auto-racing sponsor
11 “Heat of the Moment” was its
best-selling song
12 Beast of burden
13 Eight, in Madrid
14 Huck Finn’s transport
15 _, a plan, a canal, panama
16 Wood fastener
17 Microchip Technology’s lighting
solutions provide highly _
power conversion
19 Otherwise
20 English author A.A.
21, Fed aviation regulator
22 _, be all
25 Traditional light shape
26 Through its _®
microcontrollers, Microchip
Technology provides solutions
for the entire performance
range of 8-, 16- and 32-bit
microcontrollers, with a powerful
architecture, flexible memory
technologies, comprehensive
easy-to-use development
tools, complete technical
documentation and post
design-in support
27 Abate
30 Ritzy arena location
34 The latest info via the Internet
49 Orange juice option
51 This complete lighting unit can benefit from lighting-design technology from Microchip Technology
empha-a strong mix of peripherempha-als such
as liquid-crystal-display (abbr.) drives, PWM, ADC, comparators, timers and communication
63 52 Down athlete
DOWN
1 Weight of an empty container
2 American air gp.
3 Repeated musical phrase
4 Portuguese miracle site
5 Microchip Technology’s lighting solutions provide precise _
control, regulating the amount of visible light emitted
6 Part of information highway?
7 Fender bender
8 A _ Microchip Technology lighting solution provides significant flexibility and ability for expansion versus that of pure analog or ASIC implementation
9 Not that
10 North or South
12 Common Irish girl’s name
13 Former NBAer Shaquille
18 Shelves at foot of window, the English way
21 Enjoyment
22 Fencing sword 23.Number of players in the field in
as analog, _ and interface products
45 Of or pertaining to a mechanism that represents data by measurement of a continuous physical variable, as voltage
47 Melodious sound
48 Fix
49 Another state-of-the-art microcontroller peripheral, Microchip Technology’s programmable switch mode controller (abbr.) is an advanced, customizable high-speed 16-bit PWM module
50 _-daisy
51 Break in the action
52 New Rochelle, New York, college
53 Repetitive teaching technique
54 Organic compound
Solve your most
complex lighting
puzzles with
Intelligent Lighting & Control solutions from
Microchip can meet the technical needs of lighting engineers
with a large array of 8-, 16-, 32-bit PIC® microcontrollers,
analog, wireless, and human interface products Visit www.
microchip.com/lighting to learn more about our advanced
peripheral integration and support
Microcontrollers Digital Signal Controllers Analog Memory Wireless
The letters in the shaded boxes spell out the secret word that describes lighting solutions from Microchip Technology Inc The first 50 respondents with the correct secret word will receive a USB Flash drive wristband All entries will be entered in a contest for a chance to win an Apple iPad Contest
is open September 6, 2012 – October 31, 2012 Visit www.microchip.com/ lightingcontest to submit your secret code and for official contest rules
For assistance with clues, visit the lighting section of the Microchip website and look under Applications
Trang 10Where did ethics go?
When I was in engineering school, tests were never proctored When we took exams, the instructor never hung around in the room to watch over students and guard against cheating At the end of the exam, we all signed
an engineering honor-code statement saying we had completed the exam honestly There were only a few infractions of the code every year, and they were dealt with by a jury of students who had the power to bounce offenders out of engineering school
The ethics displayed at my school were probably no different than those at other engineering colleges Practicing engineers, in general, tend
to be highly ethical Civil engineers, for example, follow a Code of Ethics spelled out by the American Society of Civil Engineers that, among other things, directs them to put public safety and welfare above all other con-siderations
There is a more-broad-based organization in the U. S called the Order
of the Engineer, which promotes similar ethics It sprang up in the 1970s and is modeled after a Canadian organization having similar principles There are now local “links” on 278 U. S campuses
When someone joins the organization, they agree to be bound to a code of ethics that, in part, says they will “participate in none but honest enterprises” and “pledge to practice integrity and fair dealing, tolerance, and respect.”
You might wonder whether these are just empty words to the largely 20-year olds who take the pledge Do these kids just look at the whole ceremony as a good excuse to go drinking afterwards?
Not according to Order of the Engineer Executive Director Paula Ostaff
“They take it very seriously,” she says Someone taking the obligation gets awarded a ring, which they wear on the little finger of their dominant hand The ring is supposed to serve as a symbol of their obligation to the engineering profession and to the public “If they lose that ring, they or-der another immediately because it means so much to them,” says Ostaff.Now contrast this serious treatment of ethics to the behavior that has been on display in the financial industry For that we turn to Charles
H Ferguson, winner of an Academy Award for his documentary on the
financial crisis and author of a book called Predator Nation, in which
Fer-guson uses newly released court filings to show “the financial sector has become increasingly corrupt, with the widespread fraud that caused the housing bubble going completely unpunished.”
There is one particularly telling incident Ferguson details, which volves the investment bank Goldman Sachs In late 2006 and 2007, finan-ciers were increasingly waking up to the idea that housing could implode
in-So the firm was trying to sell off its risky mortgage-related assets but was having trouble finding customers “Smart people were already out of the question; only fools would do,” says Ferguson
Citing information from the U. S Senate Permanent Subcommittee
on Investigations report “Wall Street and the Financial Crisis,” he relates that, “A salesman pushing one of Goldman’s most-toxic offerings to a Korean client thought he could expand the sale, but wanted a better com-mission ‘as we are pushing on a personal relationship’ [i.e., I only screw
my friends if I am paid well for it].” Ferguson further relates that the man got the extra commission
sales-— Leland Teschler, Editor
RS# 107
SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 MACHINE DESIGN.com
8
Trang 11The engineer’s choice
FOR ADVANCED APPLICATIONS
THAN !# TECHNOLOGY AND
ITS HIGH EFlCIENCY ALSO
SAVES A WHOLE LOT OF
Trang 12EDITORIAL STAFF
1300 E 9th St Cleveland, OH 44114-1503
EDITOR
Leland E Teschler leland.teschler@penton.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Kenneth J Korane ken.korane@penton.com
SENIOR EDITORS
Leslie Gordon leslie.gordon@penton.com Stephen J Mraz stephen.mraz@penton.com
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Lindsey Frick lindsey.frick@penton.com Robert J Repas, Jr.
robert.repas@penton.com
INDUSTRY COVERAGE: AUTOMOTIVE, PACKAGING,
EDITORIAL PRODUCTION
Denise Greco Editorial Production Manager Randall L Rubenking Art Director
RS# 110 RS# 109
SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 MACHINE DESIGN.com
10
Trang 13DŽƟŽŶdĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐLJ &ŝďĞƌKƉƟĐƐ ůĞĐƚƌŽŶŝĐ^LJƐƚĞŵƐ нϭϱϰϬϱϱϮϯϬϭϭဒϬϬϯϯϲϮϭϭϮ;h^ ŵĐŐΛŵŽŽŐ"ĐŽŵ
RS# 111
Trang 14(The media always report this as a
“computer glitch” at launch.)
I suspect PowerPoint isn’t the problem at NASA, it’s the bureaucracy
Darrell Hambley
If you are conducting a meeting using Powerpoint (or any other software) please, please, PLEASE don’t read your powerpoint slides
to me I already know how to read
Use PowerPoint to illustrate your ideas, and layout the details be-hind your ideas on handout notes attached to each slide
Chris Gordon
I have never attended a Point presentation where the speaker didn’t read verbatim ev-ery slide It seems to be a consti-tutional weakness among those creating PPT shows If that’s how it’s being used, printed handouts
Power-of the same views would save time, eyestrain, and sleepiness
John Olstand
Grounding the GFCI
Don Heim pointed out in a letter (May 24) that a ground connec-tion might not trigger a GFCI even
if there is a ground fault in ing that uses nonconductive plas-tic water and drain pipes As you pointed out in your comment on that letter, if there’s no ground connection, then there’s no elec-trocution and the GFCI doesn’t trip While this is probably true, GFCIs are rather sensitive And although tap water is not gener-ally considered to be a good con-
plumb-Power to plumb-PowerPoint
PowerPoint is a just a tool that
can be used well or badly
(“Pow-erPoint Can Kill,” June 14) When a
mechanic does not correctly fix a
car, we don’t blame the tools; we
blame the mechanic The same is
true for PowerPoint If there are
any faults with a PPT
presenta-tion, the speaker is at fault, not
the software
The audience for these
presen-tations — other engineers,
man-agement, and customers — are
always short on time these days
They don’t have time for disjointed
communication or streams of
conscience The speaker should
concisely communicate his ideas
or project to the audience
Bul-let points are one effective way
to communicate clearly and they
help keep meetings on topic
Pow-erPoint is just one way to create
bullet-point presentation (Some
of us older engineers have even
used typewriters to create
bullet-point presentations.)
Brian Little
I got a good laugh when I read the
phrase “festival of bureaucratic
hyperrationalism” describing
Pow-erPoint presentations for NASA
It reminded me of a job I had on
a space program But PowerPoint
wasn’t the problem The real cause
of the difficulties was the
custom-er’s insistence that report formats
were more important than
techni-cal content
One of my tasks was to analyze
electronic circuits which were
poorly designed I was not allowed
to suggest improvements in my
report Instead, the report had to
show how good and reliable the
circuits were And it was
shock-ing to discover that “peer review”
consisted of a manager making
sure the paragraphs were lined
up in a rigid fashion This meant
some technical details were
de-leted so that each page would
look “professional.” The result of all
this nonsense was that spacecraft
got delayed on the launch pad,
a situation which cost millions
ductor, it’s likely to have enough conductivity to trip a GFCI even though it might not be enough to cause a shock It would, at least, tell you that your appliance or some other electric device had a ground fault Other readers have commented on a couple blog en-tries
of Nissan’s L. A workforce made the move with them That’s be-cause smart, prosperous people like engineers don’t want to live
in second-rate locations That’s why California has the sixth larg-est economy in the world even though it has some of the highest corporate tax rates in the U. S.What was the latest innovative breakthrough that came out of Tennessee? Has there ever been one? What was the latest break-through that came out of Califor-nia? Ever heard of an iPod, iPad,
or iPhone? Two lessons here: If you’re an engineer and willing to move to Franklin, Tenn., there’s probably a job for you there But
if you want to hire the best
peo-Don’t blame the tool
Readers are still ing on an editorial that talked about PowerPoint software
comment-They blame the speakers for less than compelling presenta-tions, not the tool used to cre-ate them Other readers com-mented on recent blog entries
SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 MACHINE DESIGN.com
12
Trang 15All the Tools you Need for Embedded
Measurements and Control,
in one rugged box.
The NI CompactRIO hardware platform can handle your embedded measurement and control applications, and do it in a way that outperforms other off-the-shelf systems so you don’t have to spend time developing a custom solution The range
of high-quality measurements, coupled with an extremely rugged design and the ability to modify the hardware using NI LabVIEW system design software, gives you all the benefits of customization with the convenience of an off-the-shelf platform.
©2012 National Instruments All rights reserved CompactRIO, LabVIEW, National Instruments, NI, and ni.com are trademarks of National Instruments
RS# 112
Trang 16LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Please include your name, address, and daytime phone number Letters may
be edited for brevity and to focus on essential points.
Mail: Letters, M ACHINE D ESIGN ,
1300 E 9th St., Cleveland, OH
44114-1503, Fax: 216-621-8469 E-mail, Editorial:
ple in the business, don’t locate
your headquarters where people
don’t want to live
Mitchell Bosler
Is your view of Tennessee base on
a bad experience or simply
anec-dotal evidence? Costs were
obvi-ously a factor in Nissan’s decision
California, which certainly has
many positives, is simply
becom-ing a place too expensive for heavy
manufacturing
Richard Gianotti
Lawyers aren’t the
problem
I’d blame the CEOs more than
the lawyers (“Why We Hate
Law-yers: R eason #16,258,” in the
blog A Skeptical Engineer, March
9) They’re the ones hungry for
cheaper imported engineers and
technicians Management just asks
the lawyers to fill in the details for
how they can legally go about it
You shouldn’t trash the lawyers erybody already hates them
Ev-Paul Ryan
At one company I worked at, job postings for U. S engineers to re-place foreign hires were posted on
an inside wall of the CEO’s office
That way, hardly anyone other than the CEO would see them
Keith Frantz
The video just shows a case of legal arbitrage and the CEO or manage-ment just assigned a workforce (in this case, lawyers) to find a way for the company to work within the law while sidestepping the intent
or spirit of the law for financial gain Or as the blog stated “It may
be legal, but it’s certainly slimy.”
John Lamber
CEOs have a fiduciary duty, not to mention a self-interest, to reduce
RS# 113 SEPTEMBER 6, 2012
MACHINE DESIGN.com
14
Trang 17COMMUNITY: element14.com
WEBSITE: newark.com
PHONE: 1.800.463.9275
LEARN MORE: newark.com/together
HOW MAY WE HELP YOU TODAY?
"The navigation and
ordering process are
easy to work Thanks."
– Richard, Newark element14 customer
COMPLETE ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS
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At Newark element14, all your engineering needs come together in one source—vast product range from world-class brands, fast online search, seamless purchasing tools, resources and services, one-on-one support, and a community of experts Here, you’ll fi nd simpler, smarter and faster ways
to do business
RS# 114
Trang 18SCANNING FOR IDEAS
Edited by Stephen J Mraz
Platinum fine-tunes
temperature sensor’s accuracy
Request free information vi
a our Reader Service Web site atwww.machinedesign.com/
rsc
The TS400 and TS500 temperature sensors
from Turck, Minneapolis (turck.us), use
platinum-resistance temperature
detec-tors and Pt-100 technology for quick and
accurate temperature readings
The sensor’s Pt-100 device uses a
plati-num wire patterned as a thin film so that
(The hotter the wire,
the higher its
resis-tance becomes.) The
sensors are accurate to
within 0.4°C at 50°C
The sensors are built
to handle harsh
operat-ing environments and
are relatively immune to
electromagnetic
interfer-ence The stainless-steel
housing carries an IP67
rat-ing The sensors can
with-stand vibrations up to 20 g
(9 to 2,000 Hz) and shocks of
50 g They are also protected
against short circuits and
re-verse polarity
Technicians can program
the sensors using
pushbut-tons, an LED display, and a
simple programming format
Operating range is –58 to 932°F
(–50 to 500°C) The units are
available with two switch points,
an analog current, and voltage
outputs The TS500 probe has
a housing and display that can
rotate; the TS400’s housing is fixed
in place Both can be directly or
remotely mounted
RS# 401
mounting sensor
Direct-Stabilizer
Compression fitting
mounting sensor
Remote-Stainless-steel housing
Remote cordset
Probe Thermowell
SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 MACHINE DESIGN.com
16
Trang 19YOU’LL CALL IT the most technologically advanced
process for customer-focused solutions in extruded aluminum.Sapa innovation turns visions into leading end-use products with advanced
engineering, technical competencies and unprecedented resources.
Sapa ALUMINOLOGY SM means finding answers to today’s toughest design challenges.
One Company, One Call, Unlimited Solutions
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RS# 115
Trang 20SCANNING FOR IDEAS
Cyclonic action extends
hydraulic-filter life
The new series of in-line filters
devel-oped by Bosch Rexroth, Charlotte,
N. C (boschrexroth-us.com), the
110 LE(N) Series, has a filter head
that uses the cyclone effect to keep
heavier particles away from the filter,
which keeps the filter from
becom-ing clogged as quickly as filters in
traditional designs This
ex-tends the life of the filter and
reduces maintenance
Incoming hydraulic fluid
gets diverted away from
the filter and toward the
outer wall of the aluminum
bowl, creating a downward
spiral or cyclone of fluid that
forces heavier contaminants
away from the filter and towards the
bottom of the bowl where they
col-lect Keeping larger particles from
clogging the filter lets the filter last 6
to 8% longer than those in
conven-tional in-line devices
A spring holds the six-layer,
glass-fiber-paper filter in place, which
prevents swirling fluid from
damag-ing it while keepdamag-ing the filter from
vibrating The filter bowl is shaped
so that fluid flows down and around
the filter with uniform pressure This
means all filter surfaces do the same
amount of work in removing
par-ticles The filter is rated for particles
ranging from 3 to 100 μm The filter
works in temperatures from –22 to
212°F Maximum operating pressure
is 1,595 psi
A differential-pressure
contami-nation sensor measures how dirty
the filter is When the filter needs to
be changed, the sensor activates a
mechanical maintenance indicator,
as well as an electrical indicator on
top of the housing When
techni-cians replace the filter, a spring lifts
it off its centering pivot inside the
bowl, which simplifies the task
RS# 402
Contamination indicator
Mechanical/ optical indicator
Earning signal
Input
Filter spring
Filter Filter head
Output
SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 MACHINE DESIGN.com
18
Trang 22REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK
PEEPING SUBMARINE:
Brush motors get
commands from a smartphone
An underwater remotely operated vehicle using
an Android-based smartphone or iPad as a
con-troller lets those on the surface garner close-up
views of life under the sea The HydroView, from
Aquabotix Technology Corp., Fall River, Mass.,
provides a way of capturing photos or live videos
that stream to a PC, an iPad, or an Android-based
smartphone
The HydroView weighs less than 10 lb The
unit’s topside box uses localized Wi-Fi
technol-ogy that communicates wirelessly with the
operator’s handheld device The box connects
to the submersible via a cable tether A bank of
LED lights surrounds an HD camera that streams
video to the operator so he or she can see
ex-actly where to maneuver the submersible
Ease-of-use was foremost in the de-sign Operating the submersible is like playing a video game, giving the vehicle’s controls a familiar feel
The sub operates on
The sub is powered by three propellers, one
on either side and one at the rear Each is run by
a brush-dc A-max motor designed and
manu-factured by maxon precision motors inc., Fall
River, Mass The A-max motor was chosen cause it generates high torque in a 26-mm pack-age Torque is more important than speed when designing for underwater use because of water’s inertia against the propellers
be-However, smooth, low-vibration operation was even more important than high torque The motors are sealed for work underwater, so any vibration in the motor shaft could cause leaks, damaging the motors, control board, and cam-era And the long shafts needed on the motors would amplify any vibrations, making the prob-lem worse Making the long shafts part of the motors minimizes additional vibrations
The HydroView remotely
20
Trang 23The vehicle maneuvers through the water using the
speed-controlled side motors Right and left
move-ments are made by adjusting left and right motor
speeds The third motor in the tail controls vehicle
pitch
Forward motion maxes out at about 5 knots, and the
sub is rated for depths down to 150 ft The side
propel-lers have reversed pitches, so the motors run in
oppo-site directions This eliminates any twisting torque from
the motors and helps stabilize the vehicle in the water
The on-board controller runs under Linux and can
be programmed in a variety of languages, including
C and C++ The iPad version uses the Cocoa
environ-ment while the Android and PC versions can be
pro-grammed using Java
Because the sub is controlled like a video game,
almost anyone can begin using it fairly quickly
Move-ment translated through a user’s control panel using
gestures or accelerometers simplifies operation
The HydroView is 14.6-in wide, 19-in long, and
7-in tall and comes in safety orange and black
Op-tions include a 300-ft cable, hovering control software,
extended battery operation, and deluxe pontoon
lights. MD
Software builds a motorcycle
“canopy”
Motorcycle-accessory company Roof For Two
in Boston used 3D design as well as simulation software to design a canopy that mounts on
a motorcycle to shield riders from inclement weather The roof targets motorcycle riders in India, which has the largest percentage of mo-torcycle riders in the world Relying on open-air transportation in that country is dangerous during monsoon season, when riders risk low visibility and harsh weather conditions dur-ing everyday travel SolidWorks Professional, Simulation, and Flow Simulation from reseller
Fisher/Unitech, Troy, Mich., provided the
en-gineering software
The collapsible, detachable roof was signed to be pulled over a motorcycle in a few seconds The mount is made of several metals including steel and aluminum Roof For Two designers used the SolidWorks programs to define the shape of the canopy and prepare it for fabrication
de-Says cofounder and head of product opment for Roof For Two David Chen, “When taking on a project like this, it’s important to weigh all factors, including airflow This con-sideration made SolidWorks Simulation a criti-cal tool for determining how the roof would stand up to wind and rain while remaining safe to use.”
devel-SolidWorks Flow Simulation helped ers determine how air flows around different parts of the canopy to keep the design aero-dynamic SolidWorks Simulation let design-ers test stresses and the impact of load on the mounts to check if reinforcements were needed In addition, the design software let
design-engineers ize the product in 3D, crucial to fine-tuning the overall concept. MD
visual-With controls similar to a video game, the HydroView provides
simple operation from an iPad screen Streaming video lets the
user know where to maneuver the sub when it’s underwater.
Resources:
Fisher/Unitech, www.funtech.com
The Roof For Two canopy is
currently in beta testing and is expected to go to market in Spring
2013, www.rooffortwo.com
SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 MACHINE DESIGN.com 21
Trang 24An additive process developed
mainly by NASA Langley
Re-search Center materials engineer
Karen Taminger uses an electron
beam and solid wire feedstock to
fabricate structures out of
aero-space alloys such as aluminum
and titanium The welding
indus-try has used a similar technique
for years, but merely to join parts
together The idea is that the new
technique, dubbed electron-beam
free-form fabrication or EBF3, will
let astronauts on extended
mis-sions build replacement parts
rather than relying on spare parts
that must be carried with them
EBF3 generates no waste and
builds parts better than can be
done in cast iron and similar to
wrought iron The process, which is
said to be fast and economical, can
also change microstructures and
chemistries as well as build
compo-nents such as sensors into parts
The challenge is to build an
additive machine small enough
to take on space flights, yet
versatile enough to handle
dif-ferent types of materials while
making a single part A
proof-of-concept EBF3 machine has been tested in zero gravity and found
to work well The next step is to build smaller machines that can
be tested on the International Space Station. MD
Trang 25A raindrop can weigh 50 times more than
a mosquito, yet the insects manage to fly
through downpours And they don’t
maneuver around the drops; they
actually get hit by them For
com-parison, if you scaled such an impact
up to human size, it would be like a
person getting hit by a moving car
To see how the insects survive these
air-borne crashes, researchers at the Georgia
Institute of Technology filmed
mosqui-toes flying through simulated rain with
high-speed cameras
The first finding was that the small
insect’s relatively low mass and strong
exoskeleton lets it absorb the impact of
being hit by a falling raindrop In fact, the
insect doesn’t resist the impact but gets
stuck to the lower edge of the falling drop
and “goes with the flow.” It then uses its
wings and legs, and the drag they create,
to rotate off the water drop A mosquito
typically falls less than 10 in while stuck to
a raindrop
Researchers hope to apply their findings
to the design and control of microdrones,
small flying robots used by the military and
Trang 26REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK
Heat-indicating markers
verify metal preheats
Technicians and welders from
High Steel Structures Inc.,
Lan-caster, Pa., wanted to ensure the
welds on the Woodrow Wilson
Bridge were done right The
bridge, which replaces an
outdated drawbridge, will
carry six lanes of traffic, plus
shoulders, for more than a
mile and at least 70 ft above
the Potomac River
Preheating the metal was one
of the critical steps in making
proper welds on the bridge, some
of which stretch for 120 ft And
on-site DOT inspectors can be
sticklers for accuracy and proper
procedure
To verify the preheat temperate
and ensure metals are properly
prepared, High Steel welders use
surface-temperature
measure-ments tools from Tempil, South
Plainfield, N. J The Tempilstick, a
crayonlike waxy stick, can be used
to mark metal Each stick is rated
with a specific temperature
Tem-pilstick markings heated to that
point permanently change color
Welders on the bridge use sticks
rated 1 through 12, corresponding
to 100 through 1,200°F, a common range for heating and straighten-ing steel girders Each stick is accu-rate to within ±1° DOT inspectors
readily accept a Tempilstik mark that has changed color
as verification that the girder was properly preheated be-fore welding began MD
RS# 118 SEPTEMBER 6, 2012
MACHINE DESIGN.com
24
Trang 27Photo courtesy of Trevor Wrayton at the Virginia Dept of Transportation
RS# 119
SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 MACHINE DESIGN.com 25
Trang 283D printing with soil
In a research project, architects at the Institute for Advanced
Architec-ture of Catalonia in Spain employ an on-site fabrication robot that uses
soil as the main building material to create edifices such as scaled-down towers and arches A robot dubbed the Stone Spray mixes soil with a so-lidifier and sprays it on surfaces to create the structures Stone Spray can construct intricate solid structures at almost any location
Stone Spray works much like a 3D printer, making objects by
building-up layers of material The device’s mechanical arm sprays the mixture from
a nozzle Once the material dries, the resulting object resembles a chunk
of corral but is said to be as strong as concrete
Interestingly, the robot can build in almost any direction, creating
mul-The robot can construct objects outward from vertical surfaces
RS# 120 SEPTEMBER 6, 2012
Trang 29QFSGPSNBODFDBOCFDPNQSPNJTFE (03& Ë 8JSFBOE$BCMFT PGGFSUIFCFTUTPMVUJPO
scratch using materials from the local environment Should the current
concept be expanded on, constructing buildings in the future could be as
simple as having an architect upload designs to a machine for building
Stone Spray currently needs little energy to operate and could be run
with solar power to make it even more eco-friendly. MD
RS# 121 SEPTEMBER 6, 2012
Trang 30“Innovation distinguishes between
a leader and a follower.”
As the leading manufacturer of OEM pumps and compressors, our innovation in design and technology has helped our customers create new innovative products and become leaders
in their marketplace
For more information on how Thomas innovation can help you lead your industry, go to gd-thomas.com/md9
Improving Lives through Innovation TM
RS# 122
Trang 31Improving Lives through Innovation TM
JADE SERIES BLDC PUMP
An Illustration
in Innovation
New innovative models
1410 and 1420 miniature Jade Series diaphragm BLDC pumps combine durability and performance.
Offshore wind turbines
have problems that
include high construction
and maintenance costs
and the risk of toppling in
high seas or strong winds,
especially for floating
turbines These problems
can be eliminated or
reduced by using
vertical-axis wind turbines
(VAWTs), say researchers
at Sandia National
Laboratory.
A research team there
concluded that VAWTs
are less complex and use
fewer assemblies than
horizontal-axis wind
turbines (HAWTs) So
construction and
main-tenance costs should be
less Regular maintenance
is also easier because
major VAWT components
sit near the bottom of the
structure With HAWTs,
technicians must carry
replacement components
and tools while climbing
up into the nacelle
VAWTs have a
lower center of
gravity than HAWTs,
so they are more
stable when floating
and less likely to topple in rough
seas or high winds VAWT towers
also support much less weight
than those for HAWTs, incurring
lower fatigue which could extend
the life of VAWTs
But there are downsides VAWTs
have curved blades that are
com-plex and not easy to manufacture,
especially for large turbines with
blades over 900-ft long
VAWT blades also cyclically load
the drivetrain as each blade passes
through the upwind and
down-wind position So as they spin,
VAWT blades create two torque
and power pulses
The resulting torque ripple can prema-turely wear out drivetrains HAWT blades, on the other hand, gener-ate smooth torque and power curves
VAWTs also rely on mechanical braking, which is more difficult
to maintain and less reliable than the aerodynamic braking used
on modern HAWTs HAWT blades can change their pitch, letting the blades use the wind to slow down their rotation and bring the blades
to a full stop
Over the next few years, Sandia researchers will be developing new blade designs and construc-tion methods for VAWTs. MD
RS# 123 SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 MACHINE DESIGN.com 29
Trang 32REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK
10 YEARS AGO — 2002
Brush motors go deep: The Hugin 3000 AUV
(Autono-mous Underwater Vehicle) dives 10,000 ft below the
ocean’s surface with help from motors and gearboxes
from maxon precision motors The unmanned sub
cruises the ocean bottom gathering topographical
in-formation for the oil, mining, and telecommunications
industries
Powering the AUV is an aluminum oxygen fuel cell with NiCd backup bat-teries The vehicle travels up to 4 knots for about 50 hr, while running a host of sophisticated surveying equipment
C&C Technologies, Lafayette, La., and
Norway-based Kongsberg Simrad,
teamed up for the vehicle’s hardware and software Maxon RE 25, 25-mm precious metal-brushed motors, power both rudder and dive-plane assemblies Maxon’s GP 26 planetary gearheads provide speed reduction of 33:1, allow-ing for smooth underwater motion
30 YEARS AGO — 1982
Educational ant experiment readied for space shuttle: Two Camden, N. J
high-school students prepare an experiment that tests the ability of
a canister and its cargo
to survive vibrations of
a space launch Both cargo (carpenter ants and cameras for observ-ing the ants) and can-ister survived the test
The ant experiment, scheduled to go into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle, is the focal point of an
education program sponsored by RCA
and designed to interest students in science and engineering The test was conducted at RCA’s Astro-Electronics plant in Princeton
50 YEARS AGO — 1962
Robot for handling rockets which are
powered by nuclear engines can lift a ton, yet is coordinated
enough to thread a nut onto a bolt An 85-ton prototype, called Beetle, has been created to do this type of work Beetle’s movements are con-trolled by a man encased
in a 50-ton cab with thick walls made of lead and leaded-glass windows, each 2-ft thick and providing radiation resistance equal to the lead Besides the windows, the operator has television cameras for looking to the rear and around corners
foot-General Electric Co., working with the Air Force, built the Beetle MD
SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 MACHINE DESIGN.com
30
Trang 33Actuatorline has all the precision you need – and won’t keep you waiting
For data sheets, application guides and
white papers, visit our Technical Resource
RS# 124
Trang 34REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK
EXPANSION
Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions, a
div of Ametek/Precision Motion
Control, Hollis, N. H., is expanding
to provide rapid-prototype services
on Kerk leadscrew assemblies,
spline and guide rails, as well as
RGS and ScrewRail linear actuators
Haydon Kerk manufactures tronic instruments and electrome-chanical devices
elec-Minnesota Rubber and Plastics,
Minneapolis, has expanded its Reynosa, Mex., facilities with new component and assembly capabili-ties The Reynosa facilities provide complete plastic injection molding, assembly, and packaging for large OEM customers
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS
In-Position Technologies LLC,
Chandler, Ariz., will distribute the complete line of products
from Dunkermotor, Elgin, Ill The
products range from linear to fractional-horsepower brushed and brushless-dc motors and intelligent servomotors used in motion-control and machine-automation applications
Henkel Aerospace Structural Adhesives and Surface Technolo- gies, Rocky Hill, Conn., has named Hisco, Houston, as an authorized
distributor Hisco is an owned, specialty distribution company serving the aerospace, defense, electronic assembly, renewable-energy, and medical-markets
employee-ISO CERTIFICATION
Ameridrives Couplings, Erie, Pa.,
and TB Wood’s, Chambersburg,
Pa., have received ISO 9001:2008 certification for Quality Manage-ment at facilities in Erie, Pa., and San Marcos, Tex Compliance is in the area of design, manufacture, and contract maintenance and service of flexible and rigid cou-plings and other related mechani-cal power-transmission devices, including universal joints
Ameridrives and TB Wood’s manufacture couplings used in markets including oil and gas, renewable energy, mining, metal-forming, marine, material handling, food processing, packaging, and off-highway
RS# 125 SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 MACHINE DESIGN.com
32
Trang 35UAVs Soar with Flat Cables
Cicoil flat cables can include power, signal, data
and video conductors in one compact, lightweight
package, saving valuable space and weight on
UAVs And the silicone jacket operates in extreme
conditions, including temperatures from -65°C to
+260°C, and it also cushions the conductors against
vibration and turbulence.
Save Space with Custom Flat Cables
Cicoil custom cables solve many critical space,
weight, and assembly issues Packaging many
conductors using flat cables provides solutions in
high performance, tight-fitting military and aerospace
applications And Cicoil’s unique cable forming
capability means cables can take virtually any shape,
eliminating costly flex circuits or wiring costs.
Bring on the Heat and Cold!
Cicoil delivers exceptional reliability under a broad
range of temperatures Our cables retain their
electrical properties and flexibility in temperatures
from -65°C to +260°C They also withstand exposure
to high levels of ultraviolet, radiation and ozone
with no adverse effects.
Approved by NASA for space flight, Cicoil flat cables exceed outgassing specifications for vacuum and space use They provide very broad temperature capability, ranging from -65°C to +260°C, and also deliver exceptional resistance to radiation and ozone.
Certified for Space Travel
Cicoil flat cables are used extensively within a variety of modern guided missiles and their delivery systems Their flat profile saves space and weight, while a seamless silicone encapsulation provides incredible shock absorption When one launch can make the difference rely on Cicoil.
Every Launch Counts - Rely on Cicoil
Go to Cicoil.com and see how easy it is to design
the specific cable you need Combine signal, power,
tubing, video into a single high-flex flat cable, then
get an instant engineering drawing and price for
your own cable! Plus Cicoil will deliver your custom
flat cable in one week or less Check out this great
design tool at Cicoil.com.
Online Configurator
Perform in temperatures from -65°C to +260°C
Enables compact, lightweight assemblies
Flexible silicone flat cables fit in tight spaces
Complete assemblies, including any connectors, made in-house
AS9100 certified quality
The Clear Choice PH: 661.295.1295
Cicoil® High Flex Flat Cables
www.Cicoil.com
Cicoil cable assemblies are used in thousands of mission-critical aircraft, ground- and air-missiles, guided ordinance, and space applications Our AS9100 certified quality system ensures that each cable assembly is rigorously tested to perform
in the toughest places Precision in-house cable production and assembly capabilities allow us to respond quickly to prototype or production needs
Ready Cables
This 120mm guided projectile sustains 10,000 Gs of force when fired Cicoil Flexible Flat Cable was selected to provide robust electrical connections due to its resiliance and space- saving attributes.
Visit our website or call to speak to an engineer.
RS# 126
Trang 36FlexiForce sensors
incorporated into drug delivery systems ensure successful delivery of the medication as well
as accurate positioning of the device.
'UXJ'HOLYHU\
0RQLWRULQJ'HYLFHV
phone: 617.464.4500 toll-free: 800.248.3669 email: marketing@tekscan.com web: www.tekscan.com/flexiforce
8CNWCDNG(QTEG(GGFDCEM
)RUFH6HQVLWLYH
,QVROHV
The sleek design of FlexiForce
sensors is perfect for insole designs such as the one shown, enabling a natural stepping motion
Sensors provide force
feedback to detect balance
problems and prevent falls.
For the second time, Simrit’s
Tillsonburg, Ontario, Canada,
facility was honored with a 3M
Supplier Excellence Award for its superior performance in 2011 The award is based on 3M’s TQRDC Supplier Metrics (Technology/Quality/Responsiveness/
Delivery/Cost) Simrit, Elgin,
Ill., part of Freudenberg-NOK
Sealing Technologies, is a
sealing specialist for industrial applications
The FIRST organization
has presented an award of
appreciation to Clippard
Instrument Laboratory Inc.,
Cincinnati, for contributing to the kit of parts used by schools participating in the FIRST Robotic Challenge over the last
12 years Clippard is a Golden Sponsor, donating $100,000 in products and other benefits The FIRST Robotic Challenge helps inspire the next generation of engineers
ACQUISITIONS
Altra Industrial Motion Netherlands BV, a subsidiary of Altra Holdings Inc., Braintree,
Mass., has acquired Lamiflex do Brasil Equipamentos Industriais Ltda Headquartered in Sao Paulo, Lamiflex manufactures high-speed disc couplings Altra
is a multinational designer, producer, and marketer of a mechanical power- transmission products
Rockwell Automation Inc.,
Milwaukee, has agreed to purchase the assets of the medium-voltage drives business
of Harbin Jiuzhou Electric Co
Ltd., China Jiuzhou served as
Rockwell Automation’s contract manufacturer for the past seven years Rockwell Automation
is a provider of industrial automation and information. MD
Awards recognize companies for achievement and performance
in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development Agilent
is a measurement company in the area of chemical analysis,
AWARDS
Frost & Sullivan has given
Agilent Technologies Inc.,
Santa Clara, Calif., the 2012
Europe Frost & Sullivan
Customer Service Leadership
Award for Calibration Services
Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practice
RS# 127 SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 MACHINE DESIGN.com
34
Trang 37!" #$%#$ %% &'" #$%#$ %(
RSM2800 Specifications:
)! *! $ + , )
+ ! /
% * 2) 034( **
5 + )"
5% 5,
) + )
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The RSM2800 Magnetic Encoder counts turns,
measures angles down to the last degree, and
remembers shaft positions without power
Don’t try this with other encoders: * / *
Trang 38We’ll work hard to keep your plant buzzing using the most advanced sensing technology…all from
a single-source partner We’ve stayed busy as a bee for over half a century developing innovative products that take the sting out of applying sensors Our sensors are crafted using state-of-the-art components and the latest technologies
to ensure precision, reliability, and functionality
In addition, we offer a wide selection of accessories to meet all your application needs
Go to www.sensing.net/buzz1 or give us a buzz
at 330.486.0001 and we’ll devote a swarm of technical experts to go to work for you
EVERY PLANT NEEDS A PARTNER TO
KEEP THINGS BUZZING
Pepperl+Fuchs Inc.
Twinsburg, Ohio
330.486.0001
Trang 39%VSBCJMJUZWT%JTUBODF°*UμT/P -POHFSB%FDJTJPO
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Advanced light-grid systems offer object
identification by shape The objects,
such as this car door on a conveyor hook,
may even include openings Object
identification prevents accidental
triggering by an empty hook.
Automation light grids
Automation light grids take many forms and cover applications from
simple to complex Sizes range from a few inches to several feet, and
reso-lutions from 2 to 100 mm Nearly every sensor manufacturer offers some
form of light grid
A light-grid transmitter stacks multiple infrared LED light emitters in
parallel within a single housing Likewise, the receiver combines a
num-ber of single-point phototransistor light detectors into another separate
ject counting, edge guiding, elevator and doorway monitoring, leading-edge
detection, and overhang detection Major benefits of using switching light
grids are low cost, simple installation, fast operation, and easy configuration
Measuring light grids differ from switching light grids in that they can
return the discrete size of an object by the number of beams the object
breaks For example, a typical application might sort shipping containers
on a conveyor by height Multiple outputs can be programmed for
dif-ferent sizes or heights Alternatively, more advanced height data may be
transmitted by communication interfaces such as IO-Link, Ethernet,
Profi-bus, or DeviceNet
Advanced light-grid systems can identify objects through shape, even
if the object contains gaps and openings For example, distinguishing a
car door hanging from a conveyor hook versus an empty hook
Measuring light grids tend to need PC software for configuration,
mak-ing installation more complex Common applications include object sizmak-ing
and profiling, product guiding and positioning, height measurement, and dimensional inspection MD
Pepperl+Fuchs (www.pepperl-fuchs.us)
supplied information for this column.
Edited by Robert Repas
For information on another application of specialized light grids, scan this code or go to:
http://machinedesign.com/
curtains-0617
article/safety-behind-light-housing The end result is a special variant of the single beam sensor:
a thru-beam sensor containing a grid of light beams
The operating principle of a thru-beam light grid is similar to that of a single-beam sensor But output options, parameterization methods, and interface types vary greatly among sensor models complicating the selection pro-cess Fortunately, most automa-tion light grids can be divided into two general types: switching and measuring
Switching light grids are the most basic They are well suited for applications where single-beam sensors prove unreliable or where there’s a need for a defined cover-age area Like single-beam sensors, they offer only one or two discrete outputs that indicate the presence
or absence of a target Common plications include parts ejection, ob-
Trang 40Three landmark achievements have made the past couple of months some of the
best in recent memory when it comes to space exploration Space Exploration
Technologies (SpaceX) sent a privately launched payload to the International Space Station (ISS), supercharging efforts to commercialize space Not only did SpaceX engineers develop the capsule, Dragon X, they also designed and built the launch vehicle and its rocket engines (For more on SpaceX, check out the article “Spacetruckin’ with SpaceX” in this issue.)
More recently, NASA landed Curiosity, a 1-ton planetary rover, on Mars Granted, the landing scheme might have seemed a bit Rube Goldbergish, but it worked Now Curiosity will be driving around Mars for at least four years filming, exploring, and looking for signs of past or current water
In a less-flashy program, NASA had its Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) testbed taken up to the ISS in July It contains an experi-mental software-defined radio that researchers will use to develop, test, and demonstrate new commu-nications, networking, and navigation capabilities
in the actual environment of space
Overseas, the Chinese, Europeans, and Japanese have space agencies with programs of their own The Chinese, for example, are planning manned missions to the moon, with long-term plans for sending astronauts to Mars The Japanese and Europeans are exploring the Earth, including its magnetic field and weather patterns, and are ac-tively involved with the ISS
These are all remarkable displays of engineering and technology which should advance our knowl-edge of the solar system as well as make future space-exploration missions less expensive and risky With any luck, governments and private enterprise will continue to explore and exploit outer space, and not for espionage or defense.Some people complain that the money spent on NASA isn’t worth it They cite problems here on Earth that could better use the $19 billion in taxpayer money that goes to NASA annually That does seem like a lot of money But consider that Americans spend more than $5 billion a year on ringtones for their phones And we shell out $30 billion a year on porn and $45 billion each year on our pets On Valentine’s Day this year, Americans spent $15 billion on cards, chocolates, flowers, teddy bears, and jewelry, up from $14 billion last year
I don’t know about you, but I’m willing to eliminate ringtone spending all together, cut the number of pets in half, or at least go for less-expensive ones, like the once-famous pet rocks, and cut way back on my Valentine’s Day and porn budgets if it would give NASA a steady stream of funds Granted, I would want NASA managers to keep a firm hand on the budget, not go to too many
“conferences” in Hawaii or Paris, and worry more about space exploration than political correctness MD
Stephen J MrazSenior Editor
With any luck, governments and private enterprise will continue to explore and exploit outer space, and not for espionage
or defense.
RS# 131
SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 MACHINE DESIGN.com
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