Omron has introduced Proximity Sensor with All-stainless Housing E2EF.

Metal Head for long-distance Detection that Withstands Harsh Environments Where the Workpiece Can Rub against the Sensor.

• Completely stainless-steel housing
• Long-distance detection equivalent to or greater than Proximity Sensors with Resin Heads
• Spatter-resistant Models with fluororesin coating are available

For details on this product click 'Proximity Sensor with All-stainless Housing E2EF'

Data Translation, Inc. announces the release of the DT8824-HV Ethernet module, extending ultra-accurate, high-stability measurements to high voltage ranges. The DT8824-HV features a standard full scale range of ±600V, with input gains of 1, 8, 16, and 32 to provide effective ranges of: ±600V, ±75V, ±37.5V, and ±18.75V. The DT8824-HV provides ±1000V galvanic isolation channel-to-channel on all analog input signals and to the host computer to protect signal integrity. This technology, ISO-Channel™, guarantees that all signals are protected from environmental and system noise.

Applications such as measuring battery stacks for bus vehicles, energy grid transfer from DC voltage to grid-ready AC voltage, and measurement of wind and solar equipment, have needed this capability to measure up to 600 volt ranges with appropriate isolation safeguards. Spiking caused by switching from discharge to charge at coasting puts energy back into the battery, further necessitating the need for isolation at these levels.

According to Fred Molinari, Prsident and CEO, "The DT8824-HV enables new measurement limits for alternative energy measurements without the constraints of older equipment, and furthers the new power grid formation taking place around the world."

For further details click 'Data Translation'

Water level in the boiler drum is one of the most important parameters to both measure and control. If the level is too low, overheating of the water wall tubes may cause serious accidents, resulting in expensive repairs, downtime, and injury or death to personnel. If the level is too high, boiler water carryover into the superheater or the turbine may cause damage resulting in extensive maintenance costs or outages of either the turbine or boiler. Controlling the water level requires sophisticated techniques as the level measurement must be accurate and transmitted to the control system.

Click 'Struggling getting reliable and continuous level signal in the steam drum?' to continue reading

MILWAUKEE, Aug. 27, 2012 — Machine builders can reduce control-system enclosure size, cut wiring time and simplify cabling when using the new Allen-Bradley Kinetix 6000M integrated drive-motor system from Rockwell Automation. The Kinetix 6000M drive-motor combines the high-performance Allen-Bradley MP-Series food-grade servo motor and Kinetix 6000 multi-axis servo drive technologies into a single, compact, on-machine package.

“Machine builders face a variety of challenges,” said Paul Sipe, marketing manager, Motion Business, Rockwell Automation. “They need to balance the goals of increasing machine flexibility by using more servo axes, while reducing machine size and assembly labor costs. Now, integrated drive-motor technology can help them achieve these goals.”

Moving servo drives out of the control enclosure and onto the machine delivers significant space savings, while reducing cabling. For example, replacing panel-mounted drives with the Kinetix 6000M integrated drive-motor system can reduce panel space required by up to 60 percent for a typical eight-axis system. Additionally, the number of cables exiting the control enclosure is reduced by as much as 75 percent because a hybrid/network cable daisy chain replaces the individual power and feedback cables needed for panel-mounted servo drives. Fewer cables help to reduce assembly time, the potential for wiring errors, and the time it takes to troubleshoot and repair a machine.Terminating servo motor power and feedback cables at panel-mounted servo drives can take about 20 minutes per axis. The Kinetix 6000M integrated drive-motor system allows machine builders to do this in approximately 30 seconds, helping to dramatically reduce installation time.