Control Engineering articles from April 2006

Control Engineering archives from April 2006

Influence and satisfaction.(Editorial)
April 1, 2006... We've asked and you've told us about your applications and your solutions. You've told us what you make and buy. You've told us that you buy or specify products in an average of 13.5 product categories, and that you spend an average of $767,800...

Terminal blocks in three types.(product EXCLUSIVE)
April 1, 2006... New line of XB IEC terminal blocks from Eaton Corp. includes screw type, spring cage, and insulation displacement connection (IDC) technologies. All have a dual bridge shaft with the same shape and common accessories to reduce inventory and...

Accelerometer is field-configurable.
April 1, 2006... SCM5B48 isolated accelerometer input module from Dataforth Corp. provides excitation to piezoelectric sensors with built-in microelectronic amplifiers known as ICP or IEPE sensors. Module provides a constant current excitation to the sensor,...

Alarming DCS improvements.(technology UPDATE)
April 1, 2006... Distributed Control System (DCS) technologies have focused recent advancements on improved integration with alarm diagnostic middleware. These improvements allow for easier system deployment, improved performance visibility, better network...

A & C shares up nicely, 4Q05.(market UPDATE)
April 1, 2006... The Control Engineering share price index notched an impressive performance during 4Q, up 6% on average. Even more impressive has been the continuation of gains so far in 2006--up 12% more through mid-February. This portfolio of...

Color sensors help with transmission manufacture.(APPLICATION UPDATE)
April 1, 2006... A German transmission manufacturer is using new color area sensors in a pilot application for inspecting colored sealing plugs. Dustproof and splashproof devices can learn and save as many as 16 color samples without programming and complete up...

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.
April 1, 2006... It seems like all I read about is the threat of globalization. People and companies are worried about losing jobs and opportunities. China and India are the bad guys and we the victims. Wrong! Global competition is not a bad thing; it is...

Root out rootkit problems.(IT & engineering INSIGHT)
April 1, 2006... Rootkits have been in the news recently after Sony used rootkit technologies for music-CD copy protection. Rootkit defines a set of techniques and methods for software to hide its presence from the operating system, system administrators, and...

Security--the latest, high-tech 'layered look'.
April 1, 2006... Geismar, LA -- Tight physical- and cyber-security together with safety are not inimical to flexible and effective process-controls. The "layered look" of clothing appropriate to wintry, northern climes is a good metaphor, because one can add or...

Subscribers select eight 2005 Engineers' Choice Award winners.
April 1, 2006... Control Engineering subscribers selected eight Engineers' Choice Award winners among 45 winners of the 2005 Editors' Choice Award, one per product category. Announced at a March 21 ceremony during the Industrial Automation Show at National...

U.S. oil import costs (average annual $/bbl. crude-oil) 1990-Nov. 2005.(NEWS)
April 1, 2006... U.S. oil import costs (average annual $/bbl. crude-oil) 1990-Nov. 2005 [GRAPHIC OMITTED] As energy costs rise inexorably over time, investments in energy efficiency have play a major role in global competitiveness. Some pundits don't...

Control Engineering appoints editorial director.(Renee Robbins )(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Oak Brook, IL -- Renee Robbins has been named as Control Engineering's editorial director. In this role, Robbins will manage the content direction for the publication and its increasingly rich online offerings to ensure that Control Engineering...

ODVA network standards 'blossom' in sunny Phoenix.(2006 CIP Networks Conference & 11th Annual Meeting)
April 1, 2006... Phoenix, AZ -- ODVA's been a hotbed of activity, with six related network protocols now under its purview, so balmy Arizona was an appropriate venue for ODVA's the association's recent 2006 CIP Networks Conference & 11th Annual Meeting. Below...

Explosive RFID-tag growth projected in next 5 years.(NEWS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Waltham, MA -- Over 1.3-billion radio frequency identification (RFID) tags were produced in 2005, and by 2010, that figure will soar to 33 billion, reports market research firm In-Stat. The company says that production will vary widely by...

WBF, ISA announce intent to affiliate.(World Batch Forum)(Instrumentation Systems and Automation society)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Research Triangle Park, NC -- WBF (formerly known as the World Batch Forum) and ISA, the Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation society, have announced their intent to affiliate. The goal is to further their common mission of promoting...

Venezuelan chemical plant upgrades.(NEWS)
April 1, 2006... Foxboro, MA -- Invensys Process Systems has been selected by Tripoliven C.A. of Venezuela to implement upgraded replacement controls for all four plants in its manufacturing complex. Tripoliven manufactures phosphoric acid, sodium...

Are you an engineer who can write?
April 1, 2006... Oak Brook, IL -- Are your written proposals winning you customers and praise? Do you--or would you--enjoy talking to industry leaders about the changes taking place in automation? Would you like to be an important member of an industry-leading...

By the numbers.
April 1, 2006... 32.1739 ft/[sec.sup.2] is g, the acceleration produced by Earth's gravity. By international agreement, the value for 1 gravitational unit is 9.80665 m/[s.sup.2] = 386.087 in/[sec.sup.2] = 32.1739 ft/[sec.sup.2]....

Grow past 'not made here' bias.(manufacturing industries)(Editorial)
April 1, 2006... Go on. Admit it. You still have a little bit of "made here" favoritism on the inside, even if it's not politically correct in today's worldwide marketplace. All things equal--or even unequal--you tend to give some extra mental weight to a...

Bioterrorism Act: burden or benefit? Tracking and tracing requirements may be cumbersome; but creative application of the law can yield unexpected results, improving uptime, optimizing manufacturing, and increasing profits.(Cover story)
April 1, 2006... The event that has come to be known as 911 changed forever the American way of life. Around the world, in an instant, people recognized their vulnerability to catastrophe. In its wake grew new policies, procedures, and laws to attempt to...

Beyond the third dimension: new capabilities expand CAD's versatility, to speed design and lower cost of automation-and-control system development.(AUTOMATION DESIGN)
April 1, 2006... It's hard to imagine anyone using the old drafting table and instruments to design anything today, but Tegron LLC used to employ labor-intensive techniques to create and revise drawings to automate customers' industrial processes. Under...

System integrator certification catches on: the Control System Integrators Association's audit program makes progress, sharpening and testing skills, beyond engineering to business.(INTEGRATOR UPDATE)
April 1, 2006... It's been five years since the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) began auditing its members to assess their compliance with the organization's Best Practices and Benchmarks Guidelines (Control Engineering, May 2001 and April 2002)....

Operator interface terminals: demand for advanced display features, communication options soars as older OIT-related technologies stumble.(operator interface terminals )
April 1, 2006... If "eyes are windows to the soul," as the French poet, Guillaume de Salluste Du Bartas rhapsodized back in 1578, then operator interface terminals (OITs) are surely windows to the process--continuous, batch, or discrete. And although it may...

Machine-to-machine data capture: tracking a device through its lifetime with M2M allows a company to determine product performance, customer needs, and behaviors, and respond more promptly ... and profitably.
April 1, 2006... Stakes in the evolving machine-to-machine (M2M) era are enormous. Some analysts estimate that nearly 50 billion devices around the world can benefit from M2M communications. That figure is nearly 10 times Earth's population. These figures,...

Building an automated assembly system: machine builder Demco Automation relies on built-in modularity, distributed controls, and plug-and-play design to help cut machine commissioning time by up to 70%.(INSIDE MACHINES)
April 1, 2006... Manufacturers rely heavily on automated assembly machinery to meet two critical production requirements: speed and cost-efficiency. However, with today's extreme customization and shortened product life cycles, machine flexibility also rates...

Reviewing connector systems: secure electrical connections increase automation system reliability.(INSIDE MACHINES)
April 1, 2006... Although electrical connectors are often thought of as a relatively minor component of industrial assembly and automation and control systems, their ability to perform reliably in these environments is critical to production uptime and quality...

Next-generation frame grabbers.(inside machines: PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2006... PicPort-Express-CL Series of latest generation frame grabbers features standard support for high-performance cameras, with high-speed Camera Link receivers (85 MHz) and interface boards that simplify connectivity using Power-over-Camera Link....

Linear actuators for OEM applications.(inside machines: PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2006... PROmech Series linear actuators come assembled and tested, and includes linear bearings, drive screw, thrust bearings, motor mount, coupling, and motor. Designed for OEM instrument manufacturers, the devices are a pre-engineered positioning...

Dual-output encoder.(inside machines: PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2006... Dual-output option for HS35 Series hollow shaft encoder provides redundant encoder signals to ensure maximum control system reliability. Two sets of internal electronics send identical isolated output signals to two separate connectors. If one...

Integrated motion, distributed control.(inside machines: PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2006... Allen-Bradley CompactLogix 1768-L43 controls up to four axes of motion in a small, modular footprint for material handling, packaging, metal forming, and similar applications requiring speed, motion synchronization, and information-sharing...

Valve for high operating pressures.(inside machines: PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2006... VP60 proportional valve has an expanded input pressure range. Originally specified at 170 psi, the valve now can handle input pressure of 230 psi, allowing a flow-rate increase from 125 to 175 cfm. Device is suited for applications requiring...

In-line rotary torque sensor.(inside machines: PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2006... Torkdisc rotary sensor system is a compact in-line rotary torque sensor for spindle qualification testing of machining centers and other torque measurement applications that require a robust torque transducer where axial space is limited....

Inductive proximity, position sensors.(inside machines: PRODUCTS)
April 1, 2006... Line of small, square and rectangular inductive proximity and position sensors are is designed for tight-space robotic, conveyor, and material handling applications. Low-profile sensors range in size from 4-mm square to 20-mm rectangular and...

Ups and downs of customer satisfaction: Control Engineering reader survey gauges satisfaction with products in categories last examined in 2003. In some areas, changes were significant.(Customer Satisfaction Survey)
April 1, 2006... Over the past two years, Control Engineering has conducted reader surveys to determine user satisfaction with the principal product categories covered by the publication. To make these surveys more manageable, we split the total 29 product...

Respondents rate vendor satisfaction.
April 1, 2006... Vendor rankings on these pages--across categories included in this year's survey--are based on overall satisfaction with a product and/or manufacturer rated by respondents. Product/manufacturer overall satisfaction is derived from response to...

High-cycle brake motors.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... Low-inertia, high-efficiency, high-cycle brake motors have cast aluminum footless frames for increased thermal dissipation. DC brake with integral rectifier provides for faster action than traditional spring-set brakes. Design is suited for...

Debug interface devices.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... Two, new USB 2.0 JTAG debug interface devices, demonstrated at the recent Embedded Systems Conference in San Jose, CA, are available for ARM, Xscale, and PowerPC processors. The usb2Demon and usb2Sprite function identically except for speed, to...

Finite element method software.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... Flux Version 9.2 finite element method-based CAE software packages for analyzing and designing electromagnetic and electromechanical devices, applications, and processes feature PC-based functionality in a common interface for the company's...

Stainless-steel enclosures.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... STX Series enclosures come in 304 stainless steel, with some models offered in 316 stainless steel. Enclosures are available in IP65/NEMA 12/4/4x-rated models from 12 x 8 x 6 in. to 47 x 31 x 12 in. (h x w x d) and in IP55/NEMA 12 double-door...

Miniature sensor connectors.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... Series 707 M5 miniature sensor connectors and cord-sets have only 6 mm (0.24 in.) OD of the plug and come in 3- and 4-position versions. Connectors are rated at 125 V and 1 A per contact. Cable connectors are PUR overmolded and offer IP 67/68...

More drive power in half the size.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... High-power platform for VLT 5000 Series, VLT 4000 Series, VLT 6000 HVAC Series, and VLT 8000 Aqua Series variable-frequency drives (VFDs) replaces three of the largest units in the 380-500 V ac range in each series and adds an additional higher...

Real-time application platform.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... PlantState Suite 5.0 for real-time profit improvement in the process industries now includes a number of embedded capabilities, previously available only as separate products. Included are an event historian; OPC server; APC studio for...

PLC programming software.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... DirectSoft5 PLC programming software for the DirectLogic line of PLCs is 32-bit Microsoft Windows certified and contains a number of new features to make ladder-logic programming faster and easier. These include IBoxes, modularized instructions...

Piping system trap stations easy to replace.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... V2-LB and V2-RB high-performance trap stations are suited for use with the company's VCCM condensate manifolds or other trap applications. Station combines two bellows-sealed isolation valves with the company's QuickTrap 2-bolt universal...

Customized hand-held panels.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... Hand-held panels are customizable to meet the varying requirements of machine applications. Features include CAN terminal with alphanumeric 4 x 20 LCD and 24 keys (12 numerical and 12 function), an E-stop button and 2 enable buttons,...

Detect, control machine vibration.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... Machining Point Control servo system enhancement detects and controls machine vibration at the machining point. Acceleration rate sensor simultaneously detects acceleration rate at the machine in three axes. Output is transferred by the CNC...

Video server is DIN-rail mountable.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... Vport 3310 video server is an industrial grade 1-channel device that adopts the high-performance MPEG4 compression algorithm and can be DIN-rail mounted. Standard model features 24 V dc redundant power inputs and IP30 protection. Extended...

Gateway automatically forwards data.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... AS-i/Profibus gateway in stainless steel supplements the AS-i standard with diagnosis and maintenance functions, such as detection of duplicate addresses and integration of the earth-fault and EMC detectors. User can access data directly on the...

Weld QC monitoring system.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... PSQ 6000 ultrasonic and current/voltage adaptive control quality monitoring system provides non-destructive testing for medium-frequency applications, such as automotive welding and assembly lines. Adaptive current/voltage control mode measures...

Software for manufacturing/business issues.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... Informance 7 portfolio of manufacturing intelligence software addresses business issues for manufacturing efficiency and supply-chain performance. Suite includes enterprise solution module that lets users analyze manufacturing data spanning...

NIR analyzers for process control.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... Antaris II near-infrared (NIR) analyzers offer a common platform for method, procedure, and data transferability of analytical quality control methods along product development and scale-up processes. Antaris MX and EX FT-NIR address the needs...

Miniature dc/dc converters.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... A100EHI Series 1 W DIP converters provide miniature packaging and ultrahigh input/output (I/O) isolation at low cost. Features include 6,000-V dc isolation, high efficiency, and single and dual outputs. All are packaged in a miniature 24-pin...

USB analog input module.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... USB-1408FS analog input module features 14 bits of resolution, factory calibration, and 10 times the accuracy of the USB-1208FS 12-bit model. Device provides 8 single-ended or 4 differential analog inputs, 14-bit resolution in differential...

Precision compact imaging.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... Remote RadEye HR high-resolution detachable x-ray sensitive camera head is intended for very small space radiation imaging applications. Camera contains a 2-D CMOS photodiode array with 22.5 [micro]m pixel size, an intrinsic resolution of 22...

Liquid handling pumps.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... Cheminert Model M6 and M50 liquid handling pumps are designed for precision handling of liquids and gases. They produce bi-directional pulseless flow with a range of more than six orders of magnitude (10 nl/min to 10 ml/min for the M6 pump; 50...

Software radio transceiver.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... 7140-430 software radio transceiver blends Pentek's GateFlow 4954-430 high-density, narrowband digital downconverter (DDC) FPGA IP core with its 7140 software radio transceiver PMC module. Device uses the core, implemented in a Xilinx FPGA, to...

Rack-mounted automation controller.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... SCADAPackER automation controller, first rack-mounted system in the SCADAPack family, provides flexible solutions for applications requiring high-speed control and monitoring. Product meets a wide range of I/O requirements. It offers native DNP...

High brightness, compact package.(PRODUCTS & software)
April 1, 2006... Visible LED unit combines high brightness LEDs with 3-D packaging technology into a single-source assembly. Lednium Series features a 10-W package with 120[degrees] viewing angle for an array of amber, blue, green, red, or white LEDs. Wide...

Heat exchangers.(PRODUCT & LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
April 1, 2006... Air-to-air and air-to-water heat exchangers remove heat from sealed electronic enclosures, panels, and cabinets for indoor and outdoor applications. Ten times more efficient than air conditioning, with no maintenance. Nema 12 units are stock...

A.C. Current Sensors loop-powered.(PRODUCT & LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
April 1, 2006... The 420 Series A.C. Current Sensors combine CT and Transducer functions in one compact unit. These sensors are metal cased to resist RFI and generate a 4-20 mA signal proportional to the amperage input. Units rated to 5000 volts A.C. and never...

Free 2006 NI measurement and automation catalog.(PRODUCT & LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
April 1, 2006... Featuring new product information, comparison charts, key specifications, and information on: * NI LabVIEW 8 Distributed Intelligence * PCI Express M Series * PXI Flexible-Resolution Digitizer * USB Data Acquisition Modules...

Precision encoders.(PRODUCT & LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
April 1, 2006... EPC's 76-page full color catalog features the full line of Accu-Coder[TM] Brand incremental and absolute encoders, designed to meet a wide variety of industrial positioning, counting, motion and motor control needs. Expert cross reference...

Full-line signal conditioning catalog.(PRODUCT & LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
April 1, 2006... 240 page catalog of Instrument Class[R] industrial signal conditioning, data acquisition and data communication products that protect and condition critical signals from RTDs, Thermocouples, Load Cells and other sensor devices. Includes DIN...

New 2006 product catalog.(PRODUCT & LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
April 1, 2006... Details Sealevel Systems, Inc. diverse selection of serial and digital I/O products including Ethernet, USB, Low Profile PCI, PCI, PC/104, PCMCIA, and CompactFlash interfaces. Choose from RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485 asynchronous and synchronous...

New Vaisala Humidity Transmitter.(PRODUCT & LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
April 1, 2006... The new Vaisala HUMICAP[R] Humidity and Temperature Transmitter Series HMT330 is optimized for HVAC and demanding industrial applications. The series offers a unique graphical trend display with one year of historical data. It continues the...

AC Power Distribution & Control System.(PRODUCT & LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
April 1, 2006... AC Power Distribution & Control Systems domestic/int'l configuration systems; OEM's & system integrators. Product is rack mounted & provides: circuit breaker protection, EMI/RFI filtering, spike/surge protection, remote power on/off,...

TURCK connectivity catalog B2004.(PRODUCT & LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
April 1, 2006... With over 780 pages of industrial connectivity products including molded cordsets, receptacles, splitters, junction boxes, raw cable options and technical specifications--this is the most complete offering of connectivity products ever. And...

Design guide for optical encoders.(PRODUCT & LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
April 1, 2006... This Design and Specifying guide provides a comprehensive summary of optical encoders and their accessories. The guide includes design examples with special attention to operation in extreme environments. Absolute and incremental encoders,...

AutomationDirect[R] catalog.(PRODUCT & LITERATURE SHOWCASE)
April 1, 2006... AutomationDirect's complimentary catalog and new addendum offer over 5500 industrial automation products for a wide range of applications. The 1750-page catalog features product descriptions, technical data, and photos for PLCs, AC...

DC-injection lets motors do the braking.
April 1, 2006... Much is made of increasingly dynamic performance available from electric motors (and drives), and rightly so. The other side of the equation is ability to stop all that speed and acceleration efficiently, when needed. External braking is the...