Control Engineering articles from August 2004

Control Engineering archives from August 2004

Pin-up controls.(Editorial)
August 1, 2004... As we gear up for our 50th anniversary celebration next month, we decided to start the party a little early with a special gift to subscribers--a super-sized poster depicting key advances in control, automation, and instrumentation over the...

Expectations high for IMTS 2004.(News)
August 1, 2004... Chicago, IL -- More than 85,000 people visited the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) two years ago, and organizers say attendance may top 100,000 this year. IMTS 2004 will be held on Sept. 8-15 at McCormick Place in Chicago....

Siemens to appoint new president-CEO, board chairman.(News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Munich, Germany -- Siemens AG reports that it has begun a "generation change" in its top management. The firm plans to replace Heinrich von Pierer as president and CEO with Klaus Kleinfeld, and appoint Pierer as the company's supervisory board...

Fluid Automation Systems added to IMI's Norgren group.(News)
August 1, 2004... Littleton, CO -- IMI plc reports that it's buying Fluid Automation Systems (FAS) and will add FAS to IMI's Norgren group. FAS specializes in miniature solenoid valves and customized solutions. Norgren supplies motion and fluid control...

Omega Engineering wins lawsuit against Raytek.(News)
August 1, 2004... Bridgeport, CT -- Omega Engineering Inc. reports it recently won its patent infringement lawsuit against Raytek Inc., a subsidiary of Danaher Corp. The jury found that Raytek infringed two of Omega patents continuously since 1998, and awarded...

Emerson's SIS promotes safer process plants.(News)(safety instrumented system)(Emerson Electric Co.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Austin, TX -- Emerson Process Management's new smart safety instrumented system (SIS) extends PlantWeb digital plant architecture to allow customers to implement safer process plants. It employs digital intelligence and diagnostics from sensor...

Manufacturing's toughest challenges: research indicates that the most difficult issues facing manufacturers today are only beginning to be addressed, and the approaches vary widely. One thing is clear--optimizing existing production operations and standardizing plant IT systems with truly open solutions are paramount considerations.(A Supplement to Control Engineering Magazine)
August 1, 2004... Most discussions about manufacturing today center on shortages--of jobs, qualified employees, cash and material resources, markets, time. One thing there is no shortage of, however, are opinions about the day-to-day factors serving up the...

Ametek buys Taylor Hobson Holdings.(News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Paoli, PA -- To expand its high-end analytical instrument platform, Ametek Inc, reports that it has acquired Taylor Hobson Holdings Ltd. (Leicester, U.K.) for approximately [pounds sterling]51 million. Taylor Hobson is joining Ametek's...

Invensys to automate pulp mill in Brazil.(News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Foxboro, MA -- Veracel Celulose S.A. has awarded Invensys Systems Brasil a multi-million-dollar automation contract to supply Foxboro I/A Series automation systems, advanced process control applications, and associated services for Veracel's...

Mesh sensor networking demand increases.(News)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... San Diego, CA -- Demand for wireless sensor networking in manufacturing is increasing largely because of users anticipating increased reliability and scalability of mesh networking, according to a recent study by ON World Inc. With thousands of...

Metso plans layoffs, outsourcings.(News)
August 1, 2004... Helsinki, Finland -- Metso Corp. reports that it's planning to layoff or outsource as many as 1,300 employees at its Metso Paper division's Nordic and North American operations to reduce expenses and regain profitability. Approximately half of...

Buyer's Guide, purchasing study now available.(News)
August 1, 2004... Oak Brook, IL -- The 2004-05 edition of Control Engineering's Control & Automation Buyer's Guide, including an article on a major study of purchasing habits, is included as a supplement with this August 2004 edition of Control Engineering. ...

Power of one.(Editorial)
August 1, 2004... Neighborhoods, project teams, and meal planning... diversity works great with these and so many other things. Having a diversity of industrial software architectures, however, offers few advantages to manufacturers or to their stakeholders....

Intelligent data access = profitable operations: properly linked, scalable, and aggregated information architectures help employees make good business decisions by providing useful information, not mounds of data.(Cover Story)
August 1, 2004... Deployment of standards-based, digital fieldbus networks has been steadily replacing combinations of proprietary local- and remote-I/O networks over the past decade, ushering in the plant floor information age, where flattened, streamlined...

Real-time manufacturing database architecture: today's control engineer has access to computing power not envisioned a little more than a decade ago. Comprehension of basic manufacturing database architecture can significantly benefit design, development, and manufacturing process requirements.(Information Control)
August 1, 2004... In 1988, I lead a project team that developed one of the first manufacturing information systems to use a relational database. It recorded nylon spool production information for DuPont. The essential architecture was an Allen-Bradley PLC 2/30...

Machinery purchases expected to increase: greater efficiency, speed, productivity and flexibility lead the reasons why companies will invest in new packaging machinery this year. Servo controls grow in popularity.(Market Forecast)
August 1, 2004... New packaging machinery investments will reach about $5.479 billion this year, up slightly from 2003, reports the annual Purchasing Plans Study from the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (www.pmmi.org). The study is based on 424...

Case machine rolls with integrated motion: integrated motion control increases machine flexibility, decreases labor costs and reduces inventory at packaging machine builder.(Applications in Action)
August 1, 2004... Within the sea of packaging machine builders, T-ROC Equipment (www.TROCequip ment.com), Kansas City, KS, is swimming profitably against the tide. T-ROC differentiates itself by meeting customer needs with an innovative fanfolding machine for...

Problem-solving packaging machine throughput: sometimes simple fixes will make dramatic improvements in uptime and throughput on a packaging line.(Automation Theory)
August 1, 2004... Let's face it: Throughput is what matters in the packaging industry. Whether you are an OEM, a system integrator or an end user, the more stuff per minute, per day or per year that goes through your packaging machines, the more dollars end up...

Proximity sensors shine on the shop floor: varied sensing methods differentiate available proximity sensors and the types of applications to which they are suited.(The Expert Speaks)
August 1, 2004... Sensing the presence or absence of objects, checking liquid levels in clear containers or counting cans moving down a conveyor are everyday tasks for discrete sensors on the factory floor. Noncontact proximity sensors form one branch of...

Automation ideas, all in one venue: the Allen-Bradley Automation Fair brings 100 exhibitors, 49 technical sessions, 20 hands-on labs and six tutorials to Orlando on Oct. 27-28.(Automation Fair)
August 1, 2004... This year's Automation Fair will provide hundreds of solutions to specific automation challenges as attendees sharpen their skills in technical sessions and labs, while brushing up on the newest technologies shown by exhibitors. Two specific...

I/O system.(Product Developments)
August 1, 2004... The Allen-Bradley[R] ArmorPoint[TM] line comprises a modular, industrially hardened system of adapters, I/O modules, power supplies and backplane bus extenders. All products in the ArmorPoint platform are IP67-rated, which means that they are...

Mounting bracket.(Product Developments)
August 1, 2004... The OMH-RL2-H hinged mounting bracket facilitates adjustability for photoelectric sensors in many different mounting situations. Said to eliminate the need for custom brackets, the OMH-RL2-H is designed for use with the co.'s Series 23, 25, 28,...

Enclosures.(Product Developments)
August 1, 2004... A variety of nonmetallic versions have been added to the co.'s line of enclosures. The Premier Series of enclosures is constructed of fiberglass and features poured polyurethane seamless gaskets, providing watertight and dust-proof seals. The...

Photoelectric sensors.(Product Developments)
August 1, 2004... Osiris photoelectric sensors feature multiple-mode technology that allows a single sensor to perform the functions found in as many as five different sensors. Capabilities including diffuse, fixed-field, diffuse with background suppression,...

Monitoring relay.(Product Developments)
August 1, 2004... The DPA53 Series is a new phase-monitoring relay with relay output that detects undervoltage and improper phase sequence or phase loss. Featuring a DIN-rail-mountable housing that measures 17.5 mm, the relay is capable of monitoring phases,...

Controllers.(Product Developments)
August 1, 2004... The latest generation of PacDrive controllers covers a range of capabilities, starting with a 1-GHz version to a solution reported to be economical enough to use with price-sensitive equipment. The line ranges from the PacDrive C200, which is...

Touchscreen interface.(Product Developments)
August 1, 2004... The HMI520H is a 6-in. touchscreen HMI that offers an alternative to the co.'s 5.7-in. STN display. The HMI520H offers a 256-color, 5.7-in. TFT display and numerous capabilities, including Ethernet capabilities, compact flash, macro scripting...

Packaging equipment meets all OMAC guidelines.(Product Developments)
August 1, 2004... A new family of tray-, pad- and case-packing and film-overwrapping machines from Sentry Equipment & Erectors (www.sentryequipment.com) is the first designed in the U.S. around the OMAC Packaging Guidelines, which Procter & Gamble recently...

Motor driver.(Product Developments)
August 1, 2004... The SND-100, a two-phase nano driver, is a newly enhanced, economy version of the co.'s INS200. The newest member of the NanoDrive[TM] line of stepper motors and drivers, it's a uni-polar, constant-current 24-VDC stepper driver that was...

Intelligent control panels.(Product Developments)
August 1, 2004... Featuring an integrated, Pentium-compatible 266-MHz CPU, the CP67xx and CP77xx Series control panels use standard operating systems such as Windows CE and XP Embedded. Robust, equipped for flexibility and adaptable to customer requirements, the...

Mini inductive sensor.(Product Developments)
August 1, 2004... The Bi 1-EH03 sensor offers a 1-mm sensing range on mild steel without the need for an in-line amplifier. An LED located near the cable entry confirms operation. The three-wire, 10-30 VDC sensor features integral circuitry that protects it...

Printhead controller.(Product Developments)
August 1, 2004... The FoxJet[R] Marksman Pro is a flexible smart controller that's designed for compatibility with a range of Ethernet networking systems and high-resolution printheads. It operates on a user-friendly Windows XP system and can be configured to...

DC speed controls.(Product Developments)
August 1, 2004... Models 123D and 13DV DC controls operate on input voltages ranging from 12 to 36 VAC. They provide output currents ranging from 150 mA to 5.5 amps; 10 amps with suitable heat sink. The controls share the same operating capabilities and features...

Motion control system.(Product Developments)
August 1, 2004... The PACSystems[TM] DSM314 motion controller can control up to four axes and is capable of solving complex single- and multiaxis motion control applications, in combination with some of the co.'s programmable automation controllers and PLCs. The...

PID controller.(Product Developments)
August 1, 2004... Based on an innovative modular architecture, the MLC 9000+ bus control module links up to 32 loop control modules to a variety of network protocols, all within 8 in. of panel space. In addition, the module is said to be the first multiloop PID...

Contrast sensor.(Product Developments)
August 1, 2004... The KT5 contrast sensor with bar-graph display enables users to inspect and adjust parameters in the field. The sensor detects reflectivity, reads the set switching threshold from the device and assesses the predicted detection reliability....

Ultrasonic sensor.(Product Developments)
August 1, 2004... Designed for use in hazardous locations, the RPS-409A-IS is an intrinsically safe ultrasonic sensor. It can detect presence, proximity, level control, volume and distance, and it can cover ranges from 4 in. to 18 ft, depending on the model. The...

Cryogenic servo motors.(Product Developments)
August 1, 2004... The Cryogenic Series of brush-less servo motors with resolver feedback is available in a standard size 23. Specifically engineered for motion control applications in extremely cold conditions, the motors are suitable for operation in...

When to upgrade, migrate, or replace: with so many aging industrial control systems in place, psychic powers aren't needed to know that major changes are in your future. Here's a guide to choosing the most practical and cost-effective options when a change is required.(Systems Management)
August 1, 2004... Improvement of control systems (such as PLCs, DCS, HMIs, and peripheral systems: drives, analyzers, and gauging systems) involves two distinct types of activities. One set of activities can be performed off-line without disruption to...

Test, measurement device purchases on the rise.(Focus: Test & Measurement)
August 1, 2004... 'Entropy happens! Therefore, follow-on maintenance and calibration is critically needed on a scheduled basis. Belts fray, sensors drift, and performance declines (not unlike our human analog)," explains Bill Southard, president of DST Controls,...

Fail-safe PLC secures rail, barge traffic.(Application Update)
August 1, 2004... Rails over a drawbridge are a critical control point for: freight trains that can take more than a mile to stop, barges partial to having enough bridge clearance for passage, and engineers that like to ensure all bridge interlocks are in place...

Nanotech potential.(Academic Viewpoint)
August 1, 2004... One of the hottest high-tech words today is nanotechnology. It is so popular that many companies are adding the prefix nano to their names. The real questions are: "Do we really know what nano is all about?" and "What are its implications in...

Pistol-grip IR thermometers.(Products & Software)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... Infrared thermometer family adds three new models to meet the needs of electrical, maintenance, HVAC/R, and automotive applications. Models 63, 66, and 68 feature pistol grips for easy handling and a single-dot laser sighting system for...

Exclusive: NEMA-4X rated industrial wireless keyboard.(Products & Software)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... DW-5K keyboard/pointing device from Ikey claims to be the first wireless unit with full-sized 116-key functionality that is industrially hardened and NEMA-rated. With a 30-ft RF range, integrated HulaPoint pointing device, 24 function keys, and...

PMC expansion board complements baseboard.(Products & Software)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... PCI mezzanine card (PMC) expansion board is designed as a companion for Pentek's digital signal processor base-boards for VME. Model 9220 incorporates three 64-bit/66 MHz PMC module sites, each accepting standard modules for a variety of...

Brushless dc speed control.(Products & Software)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... BX Series brushless dc speed control system now includes high output power models of 200 and 400 W. Motors come with quiet GFH gearheads or in a round shaft version. Electromagnetic brake models are also available and allow a load to be held in...

Temperature, signal transmitter.(Products & Software)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... TMZ PC-programmable Modbus temperature and signal transmitter delivers high-input resolution and digital measurement accuracy. Unit accepts a direct signal from an array of sensors and analog devices, including RTD, thermocouple, ohms, mV,...

Miniature linear motors for small-stage applications.(Products & Software)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... LEU Series ironless core, brushless linear motor produces up to 26 lb of peak force with an overall width of 18 mm (0.71 in.). Units come in two coil heights: LEU-15 (15 mm) and LEU-30 (30 mm). Six coil sizes are available, supported by four...

Power supply meets NEC Class 2 requirements.(Products & Software)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2004... ML95.100, latest addition to the Mini-Line power supply family, is a 24-28 V dc, 95-W NEC Class 2 power supply. It delivers 95 W of power while limiting output below the maximum allowed by the NEC. Product completes the manufacturer's family of...

Test, measurement software.(Products & Software)
August 1, 2004... TestPoint version 5.1 test and measurement development software now supports hardware functions on Keithley A/D converter boards, National Instruments USB modules, and NIDAQ version 7.0. Available with a USB security key, the product also has...

RFID smart label printer/encoder.(Products & Software)
August 1, 2004... R4Mplus RFID smart label printer/encoder combines smart label encoding and verification with thermal/thermal-transfer printing to help comply with emerging RFID supply-chain requirements. Device encodes information on thin, ultra-high-frequency...

Intrinsically safe PDA.(Products & Software)
August 1, 2004... i.roc X10-Ex industrial PDA is light-weight, ruggedized, and ergonomic. It comes in three versions: ruggedized, gas zone 2/dust zone 22, and gas zone 1/dust zone 21, and has compact external dimensions based on Windows Mobile with an integrated...

Current Transformers, Transducers & Accessories.(Product & Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2004... Current Transformers, Transducers & Accessories Catalog 2011-170 page catalog featuring split-core and solid-core current transformers, potential transformers, electrical transducers for AC and DC applications, signal conditioners,...

DASYLab V8--no programming required.(Product & Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2004... The latest release of this easy-to-use software package for Windows-based data acquisition continues to provide powerful data acquisition, analysis and control features without programming. DASYLab Lite, Basic, Full and Pro editions include...

Operator interface terminals.(Product & Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2004... QSI Corporation manufactures rugged handheld and panel-mount operator interface terminals for OEMs, for vehicle and industrial applications. Products include character and graphics terminals that are program-mable, customizable, CE certified,...

Design guide for optical encoders.(Product & Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2004... This Design and Specifying guide provides a comprehensive summary of optical encoders and their accessories. The guide includes detailed design examples with special attention to operation in extreme environments. It includes absolute and...

Your new foundation for programming Siemens S5 PLC's.(Product & Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2004... FasTrak SoftWorks recently released the new PLC WorkShop for Siemens S5-Performance Series. With cutting edge technology, this full 32-bit Windows application has added many new features developed using. Net technology, including NT security,...

The ABC's of managed Ethernet switches.(Product & Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2004... Just the essentials on a single sheet of paper Contemporary Controls offers a fact sheet that covers the things you need to know. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * The advantages of management-and what you can monitor, control and predict...

Electrical design software demo CD.(Product & Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2004... Multi-media demo CD-ROM illustrates the functions of Promis-e electrical control system design software. Trial version also included. Powerful AutoCAD add-on has schematic design functions including auto ID assignment, auto cross referencing...

General Purpose Relays.(Product & Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2004... Kuhnke's relay catalog summarizes general purpose relays and introduces some of the latest innovations in the relay field. Highlighted is Kuhnke's Modular Family of relays which include Universal 10A, tube type, Ice Cube and PCB Interface...

Precision encoders ...(Product & Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2004... EPC's new 104-page catalog features in depth descriptions of Accu-Coder[TM] Brand Encoders from Encoder Products Company. The catalog features a full line of incremental encoders, as well as EPC's new absolute encoder series, to meet a wide...

A.C. Current Sensors Loop-Powered.(Product & Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2004... 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 500 volts A.C. and never...

AC Power Distribution & Control System.(Product & Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2004... ACPower 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,...

Automation Solutions brochure.(Product & Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2004... Aerotech is pleased to announce the availability of our new brochure Automation Solutions for the Automotive, Machine Tool, Assembly, and Packaging Industries. The 40-page, color brochure presents Aerotech's multitude of motion control and...

2004 full-line signal conditioning catalog.(Product & Literature Showcase)
August 1, 2004... New 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...

Pneumatic valve choices.(Back to Basics)
August 1, 2004... Valves are at the heart of pneumatic control systems, with directional and proportional control valve varieties serving as major choices. Directional control valves (DCVs) are arguably the most frequently used valves. They control the direction...

Control & Automation Buyer's Guide.
August 1, 2004... Welcome to your comprehensive resource for thousands of control and automation products and connection to more than 7,000 manufacturers in these areas. Products are grouped according to more than 700 categories and subcategories--including...

2004 purchasing study: research in 26 product categories show automation spending trends, most-preferred vendors, and average cost per unit among Control Engineering subscribers.(Control & Automation Buyer's Guide)
August 1, 2004... To gain a better understanding of industry buying power, Control Engineering and Reed Research Group surveyed Control Engineering subscribers about purchases across 26 product categories to determine numbers of units purchased in the past 12...

Omega Engineering.(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2004... Exceeding Your Expectations: Since its inception in 1962, OMEGA has grown from manufacturing a single product line of thermocouples to offering more than 100,000 state-of-the-art products for measurement and control of temperature, humidity,...

AutomationDirect.(Advertisement)
August 1, 2004... AutomationDirect, originally founded as PLCDirect in 1994, has grown quickly from a tiny PLC company to a well-recognized name in the industrial automation market. As the first industrial controls company to successfully use a direct sales...

Honeywell Process Solutions.(Advertisement)
August 1, 2004... Honeywell Process Solutions (HPS), a division of Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions, is headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., serving the process and hybrid industries including refining, oil and gas, pulp and paper, mining, minerals and...

National Instruments.(Advertisement)
August 1, 2004... Since 1976, National Instruments has revolutionized the world with the concept of virtual instrumentation on the manufacturing floor. Virtual instrumentation helps engineers to develop their own custom measurement and control applications using...

Wonderware and ArchestrA business units.(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2004... Wonderware and ArchestrA are business units of Invensys Systems Inc. Wonderware is the world's leading supplier of industrial automation and information software. Founded in 1987, Wonderware pioneered the use of the Microsoft Windows...

B & R Industrial Automation.(Advertisement)
August 1, 2004... B & R Industrial Automation is a technology leader in the development and manufacture of Integrated Automation Solutions. Founded in 1979, B & R specializes in a complete range of innovative Programmable Controls, Industrial PCs, Operator...

Yokogawa Corporation of America.(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
August 1, 2004... Since our establishment in the United States in 1957, Yokogawa Corporation of America has become a leading manufacturer and supplier of test, measurement, field instrumentation, process control and information products for North America....

SEW-Eurodrive.(Advertisement)
August 1, 2004... A History of Driving Performance: SEW-Eurodrive is recognized the world over for innovative, modular mechanical gear drive technology. With over 70 years of experience in the power transmission industry, SEW-Eurodrive delivers reliable, fully...

Product index.
August 1, 2004... Check this section for the category of product you need. Beside each category is the page number in the PRODUCT LOCATOR section (white pages), where you'll find the companies that make that particular item. For added information, go to...

Product locator.(Directory)
August 1, 2004... Consult this section for the type of product you need, listed alphabetically. Under each product is a list of the manufacturers that make it. Once you've chosen potential suppliers, turn to the SUPPLIER LOCATOR (yellow pages) for added contact...

Supplier locator.
August 1, 2004... Use this section to find contact information for suppliers. Find many more at www.controleng.com/buyersguide and www.ianmag.com A Aaeon Electronics Inc. www.aaeon.com Aalborg Instruments & Controls LLC www.aalborg.com ...