LINEAR SERVO AMPLIFIER
The 4-Q-DC is a 4-quadrant linear servo amplifier that is designed to control
motor speed, while driving or braking (in both directions), and producing very
little electrical interference. The amplifier is compatible with permanent
magnet dc motors up to 50W, and can supply 6 to 24V and 2A continuously. A
potentiometer or an analog voltage signal of -10 to +10V commands the motor
speed and direction.
Maxon Precision Motors, 838 Mitten Rd., Burlingame, CA 94010; FAX (650)
697-2887; www.maxon.com.
Filter integrity tester
The Palltronic® FlowStar Filter Integrity Test Instrument uses touch screen
technology to eliminate the need for a keyboard. The adjustable-contrast screen
displays test data both graphically and numerically. The instrument provides
testing of sterilizing grade filters in less than 10 min.--50 to 70% less time
than usual, the manufacturer says.
Pall BioPharmaceuticals, 2200 Northern Boulevard, East Hills, NY 11050; FAX
(516) 625-3610; www.pall.com/biopharmaceuticals.
Air drying blower
The new Super Air Knife uses compressed air to dry, clean or cool items like
food, parts, webs or conveyors. Air flows through multiple channels to a thin,
slotted nozzle, with airflow following a flat surface that directs it in a
perfectly straight line. The uniform sheet of high-velocity air pulls in
surrounding room air at amplification ratios up to 40:1. The sound level at 80
psig is 70 dBA. It is available in stainless steel for uses in food service,
corrosive environments, and high temperatures.
Exair, 1250 Century Circle N., Cincinnati, OH 45246; FAX (513) 671-3363.
Ferrule crimping tools
This new line of ferrules and ferrule crimping tools terminates stranded wire
into control panels and terminal blocks. The ferrules are available for wiring
applications from #26 AWG to #1 AWG, including insulated and non-insulated
ferrules, in single- or double-wire.
Panduit Terminal Div., 17301 Ridgeland Ave, Tinley Park, IL 60477; FAX (815)
485-5839.
Low viscosity encapsulant
TRA-CAST 521H01 is a low viscosity epoxy for microelectronic component
encapsulant and underfill applications. It was designed to have flow and wetting
properties for uses in underfilling components that require high adhesion and
low shrinkage and ionic content. It has a 6-hr. working life, and dries in an
hour at 100C, or as short as 5 min., with 24 post-cure hours at room temp.
Tra-Con Inc., 45 Wiggins Ave., Bedford, MA 01730; FAX (781) 275-9249; www.tra-con.com.
Lamp output meter
The International Light INS250 Integrating Sphere can measure the output from
a wide variety of lamps. It has a 10 inch diameter interior surface, and a
calibrated transfer standard lamp. When used with IL1700 Research Radiometer, it
can give readings in optical units, including a CIE match with over 90% accuracy
to characterize neon, glow, or colored lamps. It measures total flux or mean
spherical candle power, with readouts in lumens, candela, watts,
watts/cm2, watts/steridian, ft. candles, and joules.
International Light Co., 17 Graf Rd., Newburyport, MA 01950; FAX (978)
462-0759; www.intl-light.com.
Signal conditioner
The microcontroller-based Model 451 signal conditioner for LVDT and RVDT
transducers can be calibrated to the transducer without laboratory procedures.
Using the two push-button front-panel controls, it can be calibrated while
installed and operating. It features three modes of operation for example, scale
and gain--plus five excitation frequencies: 400, 1,000, 2,500, 5,000 and 10,000
Hz; and two excitation voltages: 1V or 3V rms.
Ectron Corp., 8159 Engineer Rd., San Diego, CA 92111; FAX (858) 278-0372; www.ectron.com.
Plastic manifolds
Plastic manifolds machined to customer specifications can be made from
Teflon, PVC, nylon, PEEK, clear acrylic, and other thermoplastics. These
manifolds are intended for a variety of instrumentation applications needing
chemical resistance, including gas or liquid distribution, flow meters, terminal
strips, and junction boxes.
Engineered Plastic Products Corp., 4655 North Elston Ave., Chicago, IL 60630;
FAX (773) 286-1443.
Cleanroom-certified linear motor
Germany's Fraunhofer Institute cleanroom certified LinMot®
industrial-grade linear motors fulfill Class 10 requirements with full speed and
Class 1 requirements with reduced speed, according to U.S. Federal Standard
209E. LinMot linear motors are designed for industrial applications and are
engineered to provide digital control and regulation; programmable path curves;
decentralized intelligence; and fieldbus coupling. These linear motors are
intrinsically free from mechanical play, gearing, or belt wear, and reportedly
provide long life, low-system cost, and simple handling by virtue of their
integrated sensing and bearings. The devices are a suitable replacement or
supplement to conventional linear motion technologies such as stepper motors,
servomotors, mechanical cams, pneumatic cylinders, and mechanical levers. They
are engineered for a variety of applications including textile machinery,
packaging machines, handling machinery, robotics, and laboratory automation.
LinMot, Box 521, Rogers, MN 55374-0521; FAX (800) 463-8708; www.linmot.com.
Anti-seize paste
Dow Corning 1000 Anti-Seize Paste, a blend of solid lubricants, powdered
metals, and corrosion inhibitors, protects threaded connections against
corrosion, cold welding, and seizure. It has a service temperature range from
-20 to 2,000F.
Dow Corning, Box 994, Midland, MI 48686-0994; FAX (517) 496-8026; www.dowcorning.com.
Fastening, Joining, and Assembly
Pick of the Issue
Solder tip cleaner
The Model ST1 battery operated, portable, solder tip cleaner uses two
rotating fybRglass wheels to clean off oxidation and hardened flux residue. It
can accommodate tip shapes including chisel, cone, spade and bevel. The ST1 unit
weighs 2 lb and is powered by a rechargeable Ni-Cad battery, or ac power.
Eraser Co., Inc., Box 4961 Oliva Dr., Syracuse, NY 13221-4961; FAX (315)
454-3090; www.eraser.com.
Wire wrapping
Spiroband is a flexible wire wrapping designed for easy identification,
protection, and stabilization of wire bundles. Available in more than eight
colors and various materials, it requires no tools, and can be close-wound or
spaced out, according to the rigidity of the bundle. Materials include:
low-density polyethylene, natural polyethylene, UV and weather-resistant
polyethylene, flame-retardant self-extinguishing polyethylene, nylon, and
Teflon.
Wieland Electric, 49 International Road, Burgaw, NC 284250759; FAX
910-259-3691; www.wielandinc.com.
Low residue solder paste
SolderPlus is a new, low-residue, no-clean solder paste that leaves a clear,
hard, non-corrosive residue that does not attract dirt or dust, the manufacturer
claims. It is formulated for application with air-powered or manual dispensers,
and is available in all standard alloys. It is packaged in 35, 75, and 150-gram
syringes.
EFD Inc., 14 Blackstone Valley Place, Lincoln, RI 02865; FAX (401) 333-4954.
Clamps
The Mono-Bloc clamp was designed to quickly clamp parts on a Bridgeport-type
mill. It is secured to a table with a cap screw, and has a clamping height range
of 4 to 12 inch, closed by tightening a T-wrench. The clamp arm is moved by a
precision worm and gear mechanism generating clamp pressure of 2,400 lb.
Mitee-Bite Products, 340 Route 16B Box 430, Center Ossipee, NH 03814-0430;
FAX (603) 539-2183; www.miteebite.com.
Laurie Ann Toupin on Software Tools
For comments on computer productivity tools, contact Laurie
at ltoupin@cahners.com
Pick of the Issue
3D solids from 2D CAD
Helix Capture allows design engineers to create solid models based on 2D
AutoCAD drawings. Starting from within the AutoCAD program, users are simply
prompted to select views for 3D generation. These views are automatically
transferred into Helix Modeling, which creates solid models using
AutoSOLIDTM and Gen3DTM functions. AutoSOLID uses
intelligent algorithms to build models from geometric information in the 2D
drawing. If cross-view inconsistencies are detected, Gen3D takes over to
complete the model.
Microcadam, 355 South Grand Ave., Ste. 2300, Los Angeles, CA 90071; FAX
213-613-2350.
Analysis software
EMpulseTM, a product addition to the Maxwell EM tool suite,
addresses a component's behavior that varies as a function of time and motion.
This software is a time-domain analysis package that solves coupled nonlinear
electromagnetic field, circuit, and motion problems using a time-step finite
element approach. Several special features include freely constrained large
motion and motion induced physics; user-controlled time step and solution
interval; automatic mesh handling; and the ability to define components as a
function of time, position, or speed. EMpulse is available as an upgrade for
current Maxwell 2D users or as a stand-alone product.
Ansoft Corp., Four Station Square Ste. 660, Pittsburgh, PA 15219; FAX (412)
471-9427; www.ansoft.com.
Viewer
According to the company, ST-Viewer for Windows NT 9/x is an inexpensive tool
for sharing STEP-based 3D models with CAD/CAM/CAE and PDM systems, part
libraries, and databases. The web browser "plug-in" implements the ISO STEP
standard for product model data. The Viewer works seamlessly with ST-Repository,
a new Internet compatible database management system developed by STEP Tools for
STEP data. The viewer can be ordered on-line from
www.steptools.com/
products/stviewer.
STEP Tools, Inc., 1223 Peoples Ave., Troy, NY 12180; FAX (518) 276-8471; www.steptools.com.
USB remote control
A USB remote for PC driven presentations has arrived. RemotePoint RF,
designed as an optimal remote user interface, is a Windows 95/98 computer input
peripheral. Using radio frequency wireless technology, it delivers a 100 ft.
cordless range without line-of-sight restrictions and fluorescent lighting
interference common to many infrared remotes. A pressure-sensitive 360-degree
mouse button and a patented ClickTriggerTM design give the presenter
point and click command of PC functions. The pointer requires no software. Just
plug the receiver cord into your USB or PS/2 port, install the provided AA
batteries, and you are ready to present that latest new design.
Interlink Electronics Inc., 546 Flynn Rd., Camarillo, CA 93012; FAX (805)
484-8989; www.interlinkelec.com.
Computer furniture
Space StationTM offers a leg-free work area that allows one to
move freely from one task to the next. The workstation, capable of supporting
both the user and necessary hardware, comes in 18 standard configurations with
30-inch deep tops and 8 configurations with 36-inch deep tops for those who work
with E-size drawings. A built-in drafting table is an available option on the
larger space station. Customers can request special heights, custom paint, and
laminates at no additional cost.
CADesk Company, Trumbull, CT 06611; FAX (203) 380-2822; www.cadesk.com.
Rick DeMeis on Electrical/Electronics
For comments on electrical/electronics, contact Rick at rickd@cahners.com
Pick of the Issue
Thin rotary switch
Building on the magnetic switch technology that won it recognition as a
Design News Best Product of the Year in 1998, the company introduces the
Rotor, a very thin flat-panel electronic rotary switch having a profile of less
than 0.080 inch thickness. The switch has been tested to over 2 million cycles,
which the developers claim is 200 times better than the average performance
duration of mechanical rotary switches. In the Rotor, turning the knob rotates a
magnetic field that rolls gold-plated balls over a printed circuit membrane to
open, close, or vary electric current. The patented design is sealed against the
environment, particulates, and liquids. Shock resistance is more than 200g and
temperature range is -40 to 85C.
DuraSwitch Industries, 333 S. Nina Dr., Mesa, AZ 85210; FAX (602) 844-1199.
Terminal block strips
Cage Clamp Compact 869 Series connects #28 to #12 AWG wires and has a current
rating of 24A with a rated voltage of 500V. The terminal block strips combine
the advantages of DIN rail-mounted blocks with small dimensions and direct
mounting. Attachment options include screw fixing and snap-in. Blocks are
assembled into multipole terminal strips with standard numbers of poles, or can
be custom assembled to length. Applications include electrical appliances and
small terminal boxes.
Wago Corp., N120 W19129 Freistadt Rd., Germantown, WI 53022; FAX (262)
255-3232; www.wago.com.
Low-profile connectors
PanelMateTM connector series features 1.25 mm (0.049 inch) pitch.
The family includes crimp and FPC receptacles and six intermating SMT headers.
The unshielded versions have profile heights down to 1.03 mm (0.041 inch) and
the shielded versions have heights as low as 0.98 mm (0.0386 inch). The headers
accommodate from two to 30 circuits. Features include blade-style pins, friction
locking windows, and angled mating lead-ins. Applications include tight
packaging in LCD panels, notebook PCs, and other portable electronics.
Molex Inc., 2222 Wellington Ct., Lisle, IL 60532; FAX (630) 969-1352; www.molex.com.
Demodulator
Model 4434-P is a digital signal processor (DSP), algorithm-based multimode
baseband demodulator for the PC/ISA bus. The device is capable of demodulating
baseband PM and FM subcarriers with a programmable subcarrier frequency range
from 250 Hz to 2.5 MHz with output filter rates from 1 Hz to 500 kHz. FM mode
supports all IRIG 106-93 CBW and PBW carriers. Applications include
communications and telemetry products.
SBS Technologies, 5791 Van Allen Way, Carlsbad, CA 92008; FAX (760) 438-0056;
www.sbs.com.
Charles J. Murray on Fluid Power
For comments on fluid power, contact Charles at designews@aol.com
Pick of the Issue
Quiet pumps
The fluid power pick of the issue is a product that addresses one of
industry's thorniest issues: noise. As OSHA standards grow more imposing,
manufacturers must lower decibel levels in the factory. And hydraulic pumps are
a good place to begin that effort. Bosch Silence pumps help address those
concerns. The pump's dual-flank, no-backlash tooth contact, along with a
modified tooth profile, results in a 75% reduction in pressure pulsation and a
dramatic decrease in hydraulic system noise. It offers a 6 dB(A) reduction in
sound pressure when compared to standard gear pumps, and is designed with a
reinforced drive mechanism so continuous pressure of 250 bar and pressure peaks
of 300 bar are now possible.
Bosch Automation Technology, 7505 Durand Ave. Box 2025, Racine, WI
53406-2025; FAX (414) 554-7117; www.boschat.com.
In-line single manifolds
In-line single manifolds may be used to mount to any 1/8 NPT port. Features
include electroless nickel plated brass, extra #10-32 threaded inlet port,
compact in-line design, and ability to couple with an EVB-3 booster to provide
increased flow. A 15490-20 Valve Pilot Adaptor may be installed in a cylinder
port to provide a complete system for efficient interface with electric or
electronic circuits. A 15490-10 In-Line Valve Manifold may be installed in any
1/8 NPT supply port and provides rigid mounting for an EC, EV or ET valve with a
#10-32 threaded outlet port.
Clippard Instrument Laboratory, 7390 Colerain Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45239.
Plastics, Metals, and Other Materials
Pick of the Issue
Elastomer
Keltan 2340 A, a new EPDM grade based on the company's
controlled-long-chain-branching technology, features the narrow molecular weight
distribution and high levels of branching. It's intended to satisfy physical
property requirements normally met by materials with higher Mooney viscosity.
Suited for continuous extrusion processing, injection molding, and compression
molding, 2340 A is targeted at a wide range of applications, including
windshield wipers, brake parts, and potable water seals. It can also serve as a
blending partner for high-molecular-weight EPDM in order to improve processing
or adjust compound Mooney viscosity.
DSM Elastomers, Box 480, Addis, LA 70710-0480.
Polymeric interface materials
T-Pli 200, a series of thermally conductive interface materials, now comes in
another color-coded version to aid thickness identification. The newest color,
yellow, indicates a 0.040-inch thickness, while a variety of other pastels
denote thinner sheets. The T-pli 200 series comes in 8 x 8 in. sheets with
pressure sensitive adhesive on one side.
Thermagon Inc., 3256 West 25th St., Cleveland, OH 44109-1668; FAX (216)
741-3943.
Steel plate
Hardwear steels are designed for through-thickness hardness while keeping
carbon, alloy and carbon-equivalent contents down to improve weldability.
Hardwear has a maximum sulfur content of 0.005% to enhance cold forming, and
these steels are calcium-treated for inclusion shape control. Plate thickness
ranges from 3/16 to 3 inches. Two grades are available: 400 F and 500.
Bethlehem Lukens Plate, Coatsville, PA 19320-0911.
Coating
Visgard, a scratch-resistant and thermoformable polyurethane coating,
features permanent anti-fog and anti-static properties. The patented coating's
anti-fog property is said to spring from a hydrophilic sheeting action that
causes condensate to spread invisibly. It's available cured on polycarbonate
sheet stock or as a two-part solution for use on acrylics, nylon, PVC, PETG, and
glass. Typical curing temperature is 105 to 135C, though higher and lower
temperatures are possible to meet substrate requirements. Applications include
lenses, ski goggles, motorcycle visors, and worker safety shields.
Film Specialties Inc., Box 731, 5 Homestead Rd., Unit 7, Belle Mead, NJ
08502.
Static resistant masking tape
HumiTape HT600 is an electrostatic dissipative masking tape designed to
protect finger contacts, connectors, terminals, and unsealed components on
electronic assemblies during the conformal coating process. Silicone free and
solvent resistant, it comes in 216-ft rolls in widths from 1/8 through 2 inches
with a total thickness of 3 mils.
Humiseal Protective Coatings, Woodside, NY 11377-0445; FAX (718) 932-4345.
High-heat elastomer
Keltan 7441 A is an ultra-high molecular weight, oil-extended EPDM that
reportedly produces compounds with a dynamic resilience similar to NR compounds
of a similar hardness. It's targeted at dynamic, high-heat applications, such as
engine mounts.
DSM Elastomers, Box 480, Addis, LA 70710-0480.
Karen Auguston Field on Power Transmission and Motion
Control
For comments on power transmission & motion control,
contact Karen at kfield@cahners.com
Pick of the Issue
Ball-less ceramic bearings
The BCCRIXM Series ball-less ceramic bearings are made of Zirconia, a
material that resists deformation, can survive high temperatures, and has
excellent resistance to chemicals. The bearings, which are lighter in weight
than conventional bearings, fit shaft size diameters ranging from 4 to 30 mm and
outer ring bearing outer diameters range from 12 to 62 mm. Typical applications
include those involving powder, dust, and muddy water, as well as speeds below
1,000 rpm.
Quality Bearings & Components, 125 Railroad Ave., Garden City Park, NY
11040; FAX (800) 0737-7436; www.qbcbearings.com.
Compact stepper motor
The Series 26M0448B-V 26 mm geared permanent magnet stepper motor measures
just 26 x 13.7 mm (1.03 x 0.54 inch) and weighs just 57g. By combining a
7.5-degree step angle motor with a compact gearbox package, the unit is capable
of producing output step angles from 0.125 to 3.75 degrees.
Thomson Industries, 2 Channel Dr., Port Washington, NY 11050; FAX (516)
467-9814; www.thomson.com.
High torque gearheads
Compact shaft output gearheads use the high-torque capability of harmonic
drive gearing. With the input or motor speed at 2,000 rpm, the rated output
torque ranges from 344 lb-inch (39 Nm) to 1,250 lb-inch (141 Nm) with peak
torque ratings of 470 lb-inch (53 Nm) to 3,290 lb-inch (372 Nm). The 80:1,
100:1, 120:1, and 160:1 ratio gearheads use a patented extended-contact tooth
profile that increases torsional stiffness and bearing life. Pre-loaded taper
roller bearings eliminate end float and radial play to ensure precision
positioning and support of the output shafts.
Harmonic Drive, 247 Lynnfield St., Peabody, MA 01960; FAX (978) 532-9406; www.harmonic-drive.com.
John Lewis on Power Transmission and Motion Control
For comments on power transmission and motion control,
contact John at jlewis@cahners.com
Keep in step
The effort to close the price vs. performance gap in the brushless dc motor
world continues to blur the distinctions between servo and step motors. By
adding such time-honored servo techniques as closed-loop control and automatic
torque-overload detection, Oriental Motor USA Corp.'s Alpha Step targets the
crossover area between servo and stepper applications.
Alpha Step, a two-phase, hybrid, geared step motor and driver package takes a
quasi-servo approach to correcting the motor-shaft position to keep the rotor in
step. A motor-shaft sensor, built into the motor, constantly monitors shaft
position and provides the driver with feedback. Under normal conditions the
driver runs in open-loop mode, just like an ordinary stepper. But when a
position deviation of >1.8 degrees occurs, a switch to closed-loop control
maintains synchronicity by changing the excited stator, winding to its maximum
torque position of approximately 1.8 degrees.
The newly designed internal resolver detects rotor position using smaller
hybrid step motor laminations. By correcting motor commutation when the rotor
position lags behind or moves ahead of the excited winding by >1.8 degrees,
the control scheme's high frequency response can electronically compensate for
mechanical play in high-compliance systems such as belt and pulley drives. With
no gain tuning required, says Nick Johantgen, engineering manager at Oriental
Motor USA, the driver is easier to use than traditional servo systems. He also
claims there is no hunting or "jitter" that servomotors sometimes exhibit when
trying to hold a position.
Up to 10,000 steps per revolution of microstep control provides smooth,
low-speed operation, says Johantgen. Input power options include single phase
115V ac, 60 Hz and 230V ac, 60 Hz; or three phase 230V ac, 60 Hz; or 24V dc.
Tapered, planetary, and harmonic gearheads are available for the motors. An
electronic brake that protects the load by holding its position during power
loss is available with most models. Holding torque values for the smallest (1.65
x 1.65 inch) frame size can reach a maximum of 41.5 inch-oz and up to 555
inch-oz with a harmonic gearhead on a 3.54 x 3.54 inch frame size.
Oriental Motor USA Corp., 2580 W. 237th St., Suite 102, Torrance, CA 90505;
FAX (310) 325-4146.
Semiconductor machine controller
The Bxi controller combines servo motion, logic, and Ethernet communication
to reduce intricate wiring and unnecessary integration effort. Measuring
approximately 10 x 3 x 8 inches (250 x 80 x 210 mm), Bxi presents semiconductor
process toolmakers a compact automation solution. It saves time because there is
no point-to-point wiring required no control panel to build, and no low-level
software to write. The company claims that the compact CE-compliant controller
offers significant gains in reliability and productivity. Its
AutocalibrationTM technology reportedly allows robots to precisely
locate tool points without operator intervention, and reduces robot replacement
and programming times from several hours to a few minutes. With eight internally
powered servo axes, an expandable 100 Mbit Ethernet I/O system, and an
object-based development environment, the controller's integrated feature set
enables it to control virtually all servo motor-driven wafer-handling equipment
such as multi-axis robots, notch-aligners, and pod-door openers.
Berkeley Process Controls, 1003 Canal Blvd., Richmond, CA 94804; FAX (510)
236-1186.
Eurocard controller
UMAC (Universal Motion and Automation Controller) is a modular PMAC system
built with a set of 3U-format Eurocards. The design combines electronics and
mechanics in one integrated package. The heart of the UMAC is a 3U-format Turbo
PMAC CPU board, with software capable of controlling 32 axes and thousands of
I/O points. This board is software compatible with other Turbo-PMAC versions,
supports all standard PMAC accessories, and permits completely new physical
configurations in modular form. The pack configuration packages a wide range of
boards that can individually slide in and out of a 3U rack, and is available
with 10, 15, or 21 slots. The UMAC communicates with the CPU board over a common
back plane board, the UBUS (Universal Bus), greatly simplifying troubleshooting
and providing plug-and-play versatility for a greater variety of system
configurations. The 3U Turbo PMAC motion controller board accepts a PC/104
compatible piggyback Pentium PC.
Delta Tau Data Systems, 21314 Lassen St., Chatsworth, CA 91311; FAX (818)
998-7807.
Shock absorbers
Designed for low-velocity conditions, LROEM Series adjustable shock absorbers
can control heavy loads at velocities as low as 0.1m/sec. The shocks are
available in button and non-button configurations. Strokes range from 10 to 25
mm. The series suits applications with impact velocities of 0.5 to 0.1m/sec and
is available in the company's 0.25, 0.35, 0.50, and 1.0 models.
Enidine Inc., 7 Centre St., Orchard Park, NY 14127; FAX (716) 662-1909.
Jean Young Gonzalez on Test, Measurement, and Control
For comments on test, measurement, and control, contact Jean
at jygonzalez@aol.com
Pick of the Issue
8-bit microcontrollers
PIC16C717, PIC16C770 and PIC16C771 8-bit microcontrollers pack a high
resolution 10- or 12-bit analog-to-digital converter, enhanced
capture/compare/pulse-width-modulation and an on-chip voltage reference in a
small 20-pin package. The PIC16C717 and PIC16C770 feature 2,048 x 14 bits of OTP
program memory and the PIC 16C771 features 4,096 x 14 bits of OTP program
memory. All three devices contain 256 bytes of user RAM. The devices have 5 MIPS
performance at 20 MHz, 16 I/O pins, a 4 MHz internal clock oscillator,
high-performance communication via I2C/SPI interfaces, one 16-bit timer, two
8-bit times, a watchdog timer and wide 2.5 to 5.5 operating voltage. The chips
provide a level of resolution previously requiring a stand-alone ADC, giving
designers the ability to discriminate smaller signal changes, an important
feature when interfacing with a variety of sensors. No external circuitry is
required for high precision measurement of analog signals.
Microchip Technology, 2355 West Chandler Blvd., Chandler, AZ 85224
Digital readouts
700 series digital readouts feature a highly visible green luminescent
display and offer user friendly, plain language dialogue prompts with 14-segment
characters. The 700 series offer special function keys, distance-to-go displays,
tool radius compensation, tool diameter entry, bolt hole circle/segment
calculator, linear bolt pattern calculator, edge and centerfinding function and
multi-point error compensation for milling, boring, and turning applications.
Heidenhain, 115 Commerce Dr., Schaumburg, IL 60173; FAX (847) 490-3931.
On-vehicle transducers
PMP 317 is a 3-wire, low power 1 to 5V dc pressure sensor designed for the
automotive on-vehicle test market. It can be powered directly from the vehicle's
dc supply, even during the start cycle. Its low power consumption adds
negligible load to the test vehicle's electrical system. The electronics are
encapsulated within a stainless steel body tube that is fully potted to help
thermally stabilize and reduce long-term effects of shock and vibration. PMP 317
operates at 5 to 10,000 psi, and ranges from -40 to 250F with low thermal error.
Druck Inc., 4 Dunham Drive, New Fairfield, CT 06812; FAX (203) 746-2494; www.druckinc.com.
Electro-optic liquid level switch
ELS-1100HTS is an ultra compact high-temperature electro-optic liquid level
switch with extended temperature durability and chemical compatibility for
liquid monitoring. The unit is reliable in hot water and oil applications to
212F, suiting it for on and off-highway liquid level sensing. Operating
temperatures range from -40 to 212F, with operating pressures from 0 to 150 psi.
Input power requirement is 5V dc and draws no more than 36 mA. Solid state
switching is completely self-contained in the sensor unit, which is less than
1.5 inch long.
Gems Sensors, 1 Cowles Rd., Plainville, CT 06062-1198; FAX (860) 747-4244; www.gemssensors.com.
Rotary table
RG precision rotary tables are suitable for angular alignment for test and
inspection; light intermittent duty indexing; part/specimen/sensor positioning;
and analytical instruments. Available in two accuracy grades and in sizes from 6
to 12 in. diameter, RG tables are worm driven with drive ratios from 45:1 and
180:1 and feature dual angular contact bearings and helicoil reinforced fixture
holes. These rotary tables offer 360 deg continuous rotation with carriage
rotation speeds to 40 rpm, repeatability to 0.2 arc/min and positional accuracy
to 3 arc/min. They offer load capacity to 200 lbs. axial and 90 lbs. radial,
input torque to 500 oz-in. and input shaft speed to 1800 rpm. Table options
include NEMA 23 motor mounts, 0.25 in. motor shaft couplings and hall effect
type home sensors.
Industrial Devices Corp., 3925 Cypress Dr., Petaluma, CA 94954; FAX (707)
789-0175; www.idcmotion.com.
Fiber-optic color mark sensors
R55F series fiber optic color mark sensors are compact, solid state devices
which can detect 16 levels of gray scale at up to 10,000 actuations per second.
Glass fibers models are suited for harsh environments, including printing and
food handling applications. Plastic fiber models tolerate repeated flexing, such
as in robotic end effector applications. Microprocessor programming is
accomplished with adjustments on the front panel, with manual or automatic
options. With a choice of red, green, or blue visible sensing beams, R55F
sensors respond to light and dark signals detect challenging color mark
combinations, including 20% yellow on newsprint. The units have bipolar outputs,
NPN (sinking) and PNP (sourcing), that switch 150 milliamps and integrated
circuitry that guards against reverse polarity, transient voltages and overload
conditions. R55F sensors operate in temperatures of -10 to 55C.
Banner Engineering Corp., Box 9414, Minneapolis, MN 55441; FAX (612)
544-3213; www.baneng.com.
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