Electronic valve
 CLIPPARD INSTRUMENT LABORATORY INC., CINCINNATI, OHIO. At just over an inch tall, and less than 3/4 in. in diameter, Clippard’s EM valve comes in two- and three-way configurations and uses the company’s special spider design. Several voltage options are available, as well as flow rates from 0.55 to 0.75 scfm. This design for long life is housed in a miniature body, and incorporates wire leads out the top, allowing body rotation for close-center mounting. In addition, the valve has higher flow, combining fast shifting speed, and high cycle life with the design flexibility to make the valve useful for demanding applications. Among them are air or gas control and pilot control.
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Spindle alignment tool
PINPOINT LASER SYSTEMS, PEABODY, MASS. Pinpoint has a new measuring and alignment system for lathes, turning equipment, spindles, and related machinery. This spindle alignment tool is said to be easy to use, versatile, and affordable for use right on the factory floor. Common applications include aligning lathes and turning centers, adjusting boring mills, aligning driveshafts, adjusting bar feeders, and many other industrial applications. This newest Microgage system provides information on runout, centerline offset, parallelism, concentricity, and other useful parameters that can guide machinery back to optimal alignment and improved profits. This tool can measure to a precision of 0.0001 in. or better and the laser allows for alignments over distances as great as 150 feet. The kit operates on batteries and all components are machined of solid anodized aluminum or stainless steel for wear resistance.
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Power converter for wind energy
AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR CORP., DEVENS, MASS. The PowerModule PM3000W is a fully programmable, flexible, and modular power converter developed specifically for wind power applications. The PM3000W is based on AMSC’s core capabilities in power electronics hardware and software, the design and licensing of wind turbines, knowledge gained in the deployment of thousands of PowerModule PM1000 converters in wind turbines, and the company’s experience connecting wind farms to power grids using its proprietary D-VAR solution. The PM3000W is highly scalable and designed for rapid integration into wind turbines with power ratings from 750 kilowatts up to 6 megawatts. The product has been engineered to withstand severe climatic changes and poor power grid conditions encountered at remote wind farms. It also supports low voltage ride through, or LVRT, and provides ground fault protection.
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Electronic hygrotherm
OMEGA ENGINEERING INC., STAMFORD, CONN. Omega’s new series of electronic hygrotherm senses the ambient temperature and relative humidity in an enclosure with electrical/electronic components and turns on a heater (or alternatively, a fan) at either set point, helping prevent the formation of condensation in the enclosure. The LED integrated in the adjustment knob on the active controller is lit when the connected device is in operation. This product weighs approximately 0.2 kg (7.1 oz) and is equipped for 35 mm DIN rail mounting. The ETF012 series is CE compliant. The price starts at $90.
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Washers and collars
 MISUMI USA INC., SCHAUMBURG, ILL. The company has expanded its lines of precision washers and collars for machine and equipment assembly. New precision and ultra-precision grades of washers are now available, many in configurable dimensions of thickness, inside and outside diameters down to 0.1 mm increments. Construction materials now include 1018 carbon steel, 1045 carbon steel, 2017 aluminum alloy, brass, 304/316/420 stainless steel, and 01 low alloy tool steel. Surface treatments are offered for application-specific uses and include black oxide, electroless nickel plating, low-temperature black chrome plating, and clear anodized. The shapes available include tapped, flanged, counterbored, countersunk, slotted, and screw tapped. Washer prices start at 60 cents apiece.
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Servo motors
AMETEK TECHNICAL & INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, KENT, OHIO. MCG brand ID Series brush-commutated dc servo motors incorporate higher inertia armatures to provide improved motor-to-load inertia matching capability for medium to high reflected load inertias. The low cogging torque and simple brush commutation technology of these motors contribute to smooth operation at all speeds. These motors in two frame sizes (NEMA 23 and NEMA 34) can power equipment for a range of industry applications, including factory automation and robotics, machine tools, material handling, medical, packaging, and printing and labeling, among others. Depending on model, standard motors in the ID23000 and ID33000 series can generate continuous torque from 0.212 Nm (1.88 lb.-in.) to 1.59 Nm (14 lb.-in.). Rated power ranges from 0.12 hp to 0.60 hp and speeds up to 6,000 rpm can be achieved.
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Higher resolution
RENCO ENCODERS INC., GOLETA, CALIF. One can improve system performance by replacing the company’s
size 15 Resolver with the new Renco R35i. The R35i now comes with a servo-groove mounting option, which allows direct fitment into an existing size 15 resolver pilot. With resolution up to 13 bits (8,192 CPR), the R35i eliminates conversion circuitry and reduces complexity. It uses a metal code disk for rugged environments and has a patented mounting process for installation.
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Pressure relief insert
THE LEE CO., WESTBROOK, CONN. The 281 zero leak PRI is a new pressure relief insert for thermal relief and low-flow hydraulic pressure relief applications where zero leakage is needed. Weighing 6 grams, the device handles typical flow rates from a few mL per minute for thermal relief applications, up to 250 mL/min for low-flow pressure relief applications. Working temperature is -65ºF to 275ºF and the cracking pressure is preset at the factory with capabilities ranging from 1,300 to 4,700 psid.
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Compact magnetic encoder
THE TIMKEN CO., CANTON, OHIO. According to the company, the M15 modular magnetic encoder provides more reliable feedback than optical encoders to keep motors and factory-automated equipment running longer, even in harsh environments. Encoders are used to provide data on the speed and positioning of rotating motor shafts and equipment. The M15 encoder is specifically designed to perform in dirty environments where conventional optical encoders frequently fail due to debris interference. Unlike optical encoders, which require precise alignment to operate, the M15 is easier to install because it uses magnetic technology that reduces complexity and also accommodates motor shaft tolerances. This technology eliminates interference from machine vibrations, delivering a longer operating life and more reliable performance. Potential applications include stepper-motor positioning and anti-stall feedback, dc brush-type motor positioning, and brushless dc and servo motor control.
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Wiring devices
 MARINCO ELECTRICAL GROUP, NAPA, CALIF. The company says its new series of specification- and hospital-grade NEMA wiring devices make for faster, easier assembly of electrical terminations. It also promises safer, more reliable, and maintenance-free connections compared with conventional screw termination systems. The new Clamp-Lock devices have terminals that overcome potential causes of device failure by using spring pressure, applying a consistent amount of pressure that automatically adjusts to prevent shifting of wire strands. Initially available in 15-amp and 20-amp straight-blade configurations, the patented Clamp-Lock design has color-coded cam levers to open and snap-close the chambers that accept the conductors. The Clamp-Lock system requires no tools for insertion and no retorquing is necessary because of the constant clamping force. Wiring assemblers strip the conductor using the molded-in gauge on the device, open the terminal to insert the conductor, and then close the cam lever using finger pressure.
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Vision platform
BROWN & SHARPE TESA, NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. This Hexagon Metrology company’s Tesavisio 200 non-contact video measuring machine is a high-precision, scalable system that can be reconfigured at any time. Its measurement range is 200 x 100 x 150 mm. The manual system is useful for smaller parts, shop floor measurement, and inspection applications in medical, stamping, aerospace, plastics, and more. The Tesavision 200 package includes a high-resolution color CCD camera (752 x 582 pixels) with manual focus and coarse or fine adjustment features. Linear encoders are mounted on each axis. The system has fixed lens options, as well as a manual zoom index that can be set to different zoom positions. The configuration also includes a computer and 19-in. monitor to view high-resolution images captured by the vision system. |
