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Mechatronics Aberdeen Group launches mechatronics study—your chance to participate Readers are invited to participate in a study Aberdeen Group is conducting to find out how companies manage the complexity of bringing mechanical components, control design, and embedded software together as one system. Participants will receive a complimentary copy of the report ($399 value). Fieldbus standards SEMI accepts EtherCAT as a communication standard for semiconductor processing equipment; IEC grants approval Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) has approved EtherCAT for SEMI applications and has accepted EtherCAT as a SEMI standard. EtherCAT, according to EtherCAT Technology Group (ETG) member Beckhoff Automation, is already used in a wide variety of semiconductor and flat-panel-display manufacturing applications. In similar news, ETG says the industrial Ethernet protocol has become an IEC standard. Cooperative agreement KW-Software inks sole-source deal with Yaskawa Yaskawa Electric America announced that they have signed a contract with KW-Software, making KW the sole supplier of the IEC software for Yaskawa’s MP2000 series of machine controllers. The company says making KW-Software an integral part of Yaskawa’s Automation Solution leverages a "global standard" for customers. Machine vision NI introduces its first smart camera for industrial applications National Instruments (NI) introduced the NI 1722 and NI 1742 Smart Cameras to provide engineers and scientists with high-performance systems at a low cost. Smart cameras combine an industrial controller with an image sensor and integrate with vision software to offer on-camera image processing.
Engineering Education Festo supports mechatronics training center Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) in Brentwood, NY, in partnership with Festo Corp. unveiled a new Advanced Mechatronics Training Center. The center incorporates advanced, high-tech manufacturing and process control equipment providing world-class training capabilities. The hope is to create greater awareness among students, school systems, industry leaders, workforce development agencies, economic development agencies and government officials about the variety of career paths that exist in the manufacturing field. Robot standards Motion controller adds IEC standard robot programming According to Bosch Rexroth, the company’s latest IndraMotion MLC controller combines motion and logic with robotic control on a uniform IEC platform. The new MLC lowers automation costs considerably, and is capable of up to 64 axes of control with the ability to handle up to eight robotic kinematics simultaneously. Motion control Automation solution provides four-axis motion control Baldor Electric launched a new version of the company’s 'all-in-one' motion automation solution supplied in a rugged, ready-to-use packaged form. the company says its NextMove-ESB2 offers control for servo and stepper motor axes, together with onboard I/O and fieldbus connectivity. It expands servo control capability from three to four axes. Proximity sensors Harsh-duty sensors have extended proximity-sensing range Turck has incorporated its Uprox+ technology into its line of M8 miniature picoprox proximity sensors to provide compact housings with sensing distances that far exceed ferrite core sensors, especially while sensing non-ferrous metals. The sensors feature welded stainless steel housings for use in harsh duty environments.
Security Hypervisor technology makes even PCs secure Computers running Microsoft Windows operating systems are notorious for high “hackability.” Other desktop operating systems have similar vulnerabilities as well. These vulnerabilities make securing sensitive information and protecting PC-based control systems particularly difficult. Green Hills Software introduced a hypervisor system that the company claims can virtually eliminate security problems in PC-based systems. Program debug Development software helps debugging Express Logic released its first host-based embedded development tool: TraceX. The software helps embedded developers visualize and better understand the behavior of their real-time systems (RTOSs). The software, the company says, can help developers discover, analyze and correct some of the most difficult system problems by logging records of events. Development tools Platform helps teams ‘know their code’ Solidware Technologies introduced a new release of its flagship product: SWaudit 2.0, a software project auditing platform that helps teams and management to “know their code.” SWaudit 2.0 interfaces to industry-leading development and test tools to collect data from across projects in development and deploys its patent-pending Adaptive Analysis technology to identify failure-prone code.
Compact Drive Powerful miniature motor drive Technosoft introduced the IBL2401 compact intelligent minidrive based on the company’s MotionChip DSP Control Technology. The company says the drive measures only 58 x 44 x 16 mm and weighs just 60 grams while incorporating motion controller, drive and PLC functionalities. It controls brushless, step, dc or linear motors up to 25 W. Motor selection Motor sizing software developer starts Google group Copperhill Technologies started a VisualSizer Group through Google Groups in order to increase interaction with all engineers using any version of the company’s VisualSizer generic (manufacturer independent) servomotor sizing & selection application for motion control engineers. Frameless motors Ultra-thin ring motors get faster The latest additions to Applimotion’s ULT Series direct drive frameless low profile motors contain special magnet configurations for high speed applications. The new motors have double insulation for high voltage applications. |
ARC on Collaborative Production Systems Craig Resnick of ARC Advisory Group talks to Peter Welander about Collaborative Production Systems, a new model for integrated manufacturing.
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