Control Engineering articles from July 2003

Control Engineering archives from July 2003

Change engineers.(Editorial)
July 1, 2003... The world of the control engineer has remained remarkably constant for much of this century. Certainly there have been many new innovations, tools, and technologies that have spurred change in the profession over the years, but the control...

OPC Foundation's Data eXchange spec released. (News).(open connectivity in industrial automation foundation)
July 1, 2003... Phoenix, AZ--OPC Foundation recently released its long-awaited Data eXchange (DX) specification and sample code. Reflecting 18 months of work that began on Sept. 11, 2001, at the ISA Show in Houston, OPC DX allows data to be transferred between...

Schneider settles patent infringement lawsuit against Opto 22. (News).
July 1, 2003... Paiatine IL Temecula, CA--Schneider Electric reported May 29 that it has settled out of court its patent infringement lawsuit against Opto 22. "Schneider Automation, Square D and Opto 22 announce the settlement of their patent lawsuit in...

Implementation of Temperature Control Loops by Hardware Type. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Implementation of Temperature Control Loops by Hardware Type (% of new loops implemented by users in 2002 and projected for 2005) 2002 2005 Temperature 56.2% 48.4% controllers...

Process industry products, services to reach $786 billion by 2010. (News).(industrial construction trends)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Basel, Switzerland--The worldwide market for plant-related products and external services in the process industries is projected to grow from $563 billion in 2000 to $631 billion in 2005 and $786 billion by 2010, according to a new study,...

Sensors Expo 2003: DVT, MillenialNet show solutions. (News).(color sensor and wireless networking devices introduced)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Rosemount, IL-Numerous innovative solutions were exhibited at the recently concluded Sensors Expo 2003 at the Rosemount Convention Center, including: * SpectroCam color machine vision sensor from DVT (Norcross, GA), which combines the...

Honeywell hosts users' group symposium. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Phoenix, AZ- Approximately 540 technology users and 500 staffers attended the Honeywell Users Group (HUG) Americas Symposium on June 9-13 with the theme of 'Creating Value through Networking." The user-focused event had an international flavor...

Emerson launches field communicator for HART, FOUNDATION fieldbus devices. (News).(Emerson teams with Trebing & Himstedt Prozessautomation GmbH & Co. KG to use Profibus networks)
July 1, 2003... Austin, TX--Emerson Process Management has introduced its 375 Field Communicator, which supports all devices using HART or FOUNDATION fieldbus digital communication protocols. The 375 allows users to configure and maintain instruments and...

Anadigm brings electronic design to PID control. (News).(proportional integral derivative (PID))(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Campbell, CA--Anadigm has released an electronic design automation (EDA) tool that automates development of analog 'proportional, integral derivative" (PID) control loops. The company reports that its AnadigmPID tool reduces to minutes the time...

GE Fanuc acquires Mountain Systems. (News).(GE Fanuc Automation Americas Inc. acquired Mountain Systems Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... Charlottesville, VA; Green Bay, WI-GE Fanuc Automation Americas Inc. recently acquired Mountain Systems inc., which provides advanced manufacturing execution systems (MES) for a variety of industries, including consumer packaged goods, food and...

ODVA says EtherNet/IP named a semiconductor industry standard. (News).(Open DeviceNet Vendor Association)
July 1, 2003... Boca Raton, FL -- The Open DeviceNet Vendor Association (ODVA) announced that the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) organization has accepted EtherNet/IP as a standard in its Sensor Bus Network Communications Standard...

Semiconductor sales expected to increase. (News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2003... San Jose, Calif.--The worldwide semiconductor industry is projected to grow 16.8% in 2004, and it will likely have a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.8% through 2006, according to a new 2003-2006 midyear forecast by the Semiconductor...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2003... * An incorrect Web address was listed for the Control and Information System Integrators Association (CSIA) in "Internet resources for the control engineer," Back to Basics, Control Engineering, June '03, p. 68. CSIA's correct web address is...

Software 'bridge' improves CNC efficiency during retrofit. (Integrator Update).(new computer numeric control of lathe improves performance)
July 1, 2003... To prevent frequent breakdowns and reduce downtime, Pressed Steel Tank (West Allis, WI) recently upgraded an obsolete CNC lathe with assistance from system integrator Nova Systems Inc. To help the retrofit succeed, Nova turned to Roy-G-Biv...

Keeping safe; tech transfer.(Editorial)
July 1, 2003... Your job requirements likely include keeping present processes safe from electronic intrusion, and considering every advantage that could help speed time to market--such as technology transfer agreements. "During my first 28 years in the...

Free at last! How to use wireless on the plant floor: wireless is blossoming in many control and automation applications thanks to more reliable technologies, safer implementation methods, and unifying standards. (Cover Story).
July 1, 2003... Reducing dozens or hundreds of wires and cables to one or two makes most control and automation engineers nervous enough. Dropping to no wires at all would probably drive many of them crazy. In fact, wireless technology is still so alien to...

Loop tuning fundamentals: PID loop tuning may not be magic, but its intricacies do lie somewhere between science and art. The following proven tuning tips will help you craft your processes. (How To).(proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller usage)
July 1, 2003... A control loop is a feedback mechanism that attempts to correct discrepancies between a measured process variable and the desired setpoint. The controller applies the necessary corrective actions via an actuator that can drive the process...

Automating your packaging lines: good planning and modular design along with the latest in motion control, machine vision, and software methods result in smaller machines, quick changeover times, and production efficiency.(related article: Variable-speed operation upgrades cleaning-swab packaging line)
July 1, 2003... Though it's not a new development for the large variety of packaging machines that produce myriad packaged products, automation now offers a whole new level of packaging productivity. Much of prior automation was limited to an architecture...

New technologies make inroads. (Focus Flowmeters).(Flowmeter types and suppliers)
July 1, 2003... Magnetic flowmeters are most widely used, while mass and turbine flow technologies are gaining importance. Meanwhile, reliability and need for easy calibration rose significantly in importance with buyers from 2001 to 2003. These are among...

Intelligent humidity measurements. (Products & Software).
July 1, 2003... General Eastern Instruments, a business unit of GE Industrial Systems, Optica Series uses a chilled mirror hygrometer to provide long-term precision humidity measurements. With NIST traceability, the Optica Series can be used as a transfer...

ESD monitoring tool for ICs. (Products & Software).
July 1, 2003... Octopus ESD monitoring system from Credence Technologies monitors electrostatic discharge (ESD) exposure to individual ICs during each step of their handling operations. The fully integrated, real-time monitoring system is now part of the...

Text/graphical panel. (Products & Software).
July 1, 2003... G303 text/graphical panel uses the company's new G3 hardware platform. Teamed with Crimson configuration software, the platform features ease of use as well as communication and computational capabilities. Device features up to five serial...

HMI for micro-controllers. (Products & Software).
July 1, 2003... Intec Automation's microCommander v1.3 software uses familiar drag-and-drop techniques to develop controller and graphical HMI applications for Z-World single board micro-controllers. Application development tools in microCommander include PID,...

Compact, drainable flowmeter. (Products & Software).
July 1, 2003... F-Series line of Coriolis flowmeters are significantly improved to be more compact and drainable than before. Enhancements broaden the application of these mid-tier devices in the food and beverage industries for precise flow and density...

3-camera vision system. (Products & Software).
July 1, 2003... Multiple camera inputs in one compact form factor is a key feature of NI CVS-1454 Compact Vision System from National Instruments. Three IEEE 1394 (FireWire) ports allow use of cameras with different speeds and resolutions to meet application...

Servo motor position controller. (Products & Software).
July 1, 2003... Icon PID position controller is designed to work seamlessly with the Icon H-bridge module. When used with a brush dc motor and a quadrature encoder, the two devices form a versatile, low-cost position control module for medium-and low-current...

Server software. (Products & Software).
July 1, 2003... Control Technology's CTServer software provides a direct, Web-based link between the factory floor and enterprise systems, such as MRP (material requirements planning), CRM (customer relationship management), documentation, and quality...

CNC vision measuring. (Products & Software).
July 1, 2003... Quick Vision CNC vision measuring systems are up to 3x times faster than previous models, for non-contact measurement of IC chips, IC packages, hybrid chassis, lead frames and precision-machined, molded, and similar parts. Features include...

Transducer for natural gas use. (Products & Software).
July 1, 2003... Type 950XP explosion-proof I/P (current-to-pressure) transducer is approved by Canadian Standards Association (CSA) and Factory Mutual (FM) for use with natural gas. Device converts an electrical current signal to a proportionally linear...

5-mm ground terminal block. (Products & Software).
July 1, 2003... The 5-mm wide WK 2.5 SL/35 DIN Rail Ground block, a "2.5-mm 2 block" offers the narrowest screw clamp grounding solution, the company says. Standard marking strips do not need to be broken when marking complete rail assemblies, reducing...

Wireless data collection. (Products & Software).
July 1, 2003... Smart Transceiver, XE900M, and Base Access Point, XE924M, communication module form a low-cost wireless data collection system for up to 128 discrete nodes located within a 150-ft (indoor) radius. XE900M combines a microcontroller and 900-MHz...

Hi-res, low cost digital camera. (Products & Software).
July 1, 2003... MegaPlus ES 1020 high-resolution compact digital camera captures mega-pixel images at 48 full frames per second. This series has a more compact frame than its predecessors and comes in both monochrome and Bayer color versions. Unit features...

HART protocol I/O modules. (Products & Software).
July 1, 2003... Four 8-channel analog I/O modules with HART protocol are specifically designed for seamless compatibility with Rockwell Automation's Allen Bradley ControlLogix and Honeywell's Experion PKS. Modules maximize I/O performance by combining...

Data acquisition. (Products & Software).
July 1, 2003... Transaction Express from Entivity is a global data port that allows controls engineers and IT professionals to gather and modify data within Entivity data tables. VLC (Visual Logic Controller) 6.1 will be the first Entivity product to include...

Choose the right programming language. (Back to Basics).
July 1, 2003... Which language should you choose for use with your programmable controller? Among the five languages defined in IEC 61131-3, generally ladder diagrams or ladder logic is most widely applied in North America. Other languages have practical...