Industrial Technology

Casting a logo within a logo

The outstanding properties of rigid polyurethane, of fluidity at moulding, strength when set and variety of finishes, are proving invaluable in enclosures for scientific, medical and laboratory instrumentation. Add to these parameters the economic production of small quantities, even prototypes and one offs, and the material presents a very attractive package to markets where ergonomics and style are important but modest quantities are the norm.

19th November 2008

Heater efficiency increased

Rittal has increased the efficiency and thermal output of its enclosure heaters by incorporating the latest technology and optimising the design.

19th November 2008

Spelsberg brings Bimed cable glands to the UK

Spelsberg, best known for supplying a range of electrical enclosures and junction boxes, has announced that it will now offer the entire range of Bimed cable glands in the UK. Spelsberg's enclosures are well known for their built in high quality push-fit entry seals, whereas the Bimed range has been introduced to offer more mechanical cable retention and higher IP ratings where required.

19th November 2008

Custom cases designed quickly

Surtech Distribution can now offer customers the facility to design their own enclosures or modify standard Surtech products using specialist CAD software. This is the first time that a distributor has offered such a service. Customers get exactly what they require, resulting in tremendous benefits including a reduction in time to market. The CAD system's 3D imaging capability also allows customers to see and approve their designs before placing an order.

19th November 2008

Mixed signal oscilloscope family sets a new standard

The new Yokogawa DLM2000 Series is a new family of mixed-signal oscilloscopes (MSOs) that the company says represent a major step forward in terms of price, performance and ease of use.

19th November 2008

Auxiliary thoughts

Auxiliary contacts for contactors play a big role in determining the reliability of control systems: in safety related applications, using the right type of auxiliary is essential. Nevertheless, says Steve Rickard of Moeller Electric in the November 2008 issue of Industrial Technology, most designers pay far too little attention to the characteristics and performance of auxiliaries.

19th November 2008

First GigE cable for energy chains

At the last Vision trade show, GigE (Gigabit Ethernet) - as an alternative to FireWire, USB, and CameraLink - was referred to as the new future standard. The first camera manufacturers have already presented camera specific cables for the consumer market. However, the industrial market for visual automation demands that the Ethernet cables tolerate high mechanical loads. Igus has developed the world's first GigE cable for continuous dynamic use in energy chains to meet this need.

10th November 2008

Triflex RS for compact cable guidance

Plastic corrugated tubes used in robotic applications can bend and tear because they cannot absorb torsional movements very well. Energy chain expert Igus has already developed the Triflex R - a multi-dimensional energy chain system with complete freedom of movement in the X-, Y- and Z-axes. Now, there is a new universal module available called Triflex RS especially for robotic applications in cramped conditions. The system guides the energy chain close to the robot arm, and avoids any looping.

10th November 2008

RWTH Aachen tests vibration behaviour of energy chains

Energy chains are used in production equipment, robots and tooling machines to guide and protect cables and hoses. Sometimes vibration can occur on the support channel and at the towing arm during the movement. The laboratory for tooling machines (WZL) and business operations RWTH Aachen carried out a study: "vibration investigations on energy chains". The results were that the E6 energy chain from Igus stood out due to minimum vibration and maximum smooth running.

10th November 2008

The largest plastic energy chain in the world

Energy chain expert Igus has developed the largest ever plastic energy chain in the world for offshore applications on offshore oil drilling platforms. The new E4.350 is wear-resistant, maintenance-free and resistant to seawater and mineral oil. Its material is naturally corrosion-free and the high-performance plastics from which it is made of are lighter and less expensive than comparable stainless steel energy chains.

10th November 2008