Control Engineering articles from March 2005

Control Engineering archives from March 2005

Competition breeds control.(EDITORIAL)
March 1, 2005... Manufacturing activity remains strong well into the first quarter of 2005. Institute for Supply Management's PMI (purchasing manager's index) was at 56.4% for January, indicating that the U.S. manufacturing sector is still growing--for the 20th...

Ultra-precision nanotechnology.(VIEWPOINT)
March 1, 2005... Nanotechnology and its corresponding unit--the nanometer--are causing some major technical challenges for the controls community as they relate to ultra-precision systems. When I discussed this in my August 2004 column, I addressed accuracy,...

Bluetooth wireless modems ease data transfer.(EXCLUSIVE)
March 1, 2005... Industrial grade Bluetooth wireless data modems from Phoenix Contact are helping to simplify the movement of serial data around the plant floor. New PSI-WL series is an interoperable set of license-free Bluetooth standard radios that are Class...

Where have all the heroes gone?(SOAPBOX)
March 1, 2005... For centuries, engineers have created many of the innovations that we enjoy today. In the not-so-distant past, these engineers were regarded as heroes. To this day, we recognize Thomas Edison as a great inventor, the Wright brothers as the...

Automation, control heat up.(UPDATE)
March 1, 2005... A collection of indicators used to judge the health of the automation and control marketplace provided a decidedly warm glow this winter. Consider capital spending activity--the most important driver for overall automation and control...

No strings attached.(INSIGHT)
March 1, 2005... There are multiple emerging wireless network standards and systems with a menagerie of new names to learn, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiMax, and WiMedia. While it will be some time before the markets determine the winning systems, there...

CE subscribers pick eight Engineers' Choice Award winners.(NEWS)(Control Engineering)
March 1, 2005... Chicago, IL -- Three of the exhibitors at National Manufacturing Week 2005 were among eight winners of Control Engineering's (CE) second annual Engineers' Choice Awards, which were announced March 8 at the magazine's 18th annual awards...

Dalsa purchasing Coreco for about $72 million.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; Billerica, MA -- Dalsa Corp. and Coreco Inc. recently agreed to have Dalsa acquire all of Coreco's issued and outstanding shares for approximately $72 million in cash and stock, pending regulatory approvals. The two...

Demand for U.S. material handling equipment and systems (in millions of $).(NEWS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Demand for U.S. material handling equipment and systems (in millions of $) 1998 2003 2008 Industrial trucks 6,030 5,770 7,290 and lifts Conveying 5,500 4,425...

OMAC standards yield operational savings.(Open Modular Architecture Controls)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Orlando, FL -- The Open Modular Architecture Controls (OMAC) Users Group's guidelines and initiatives can deliver more than 50% savings according to end-users at OMAC's meeting on Feb. 3-4. These savings involve software security, machine tool...

Solutions shine at National Manufacturing Week 2005.(NEWS)
March 1, 2005... Chicago, IL -- Hundreds of innovative products were highlighted at National Manufacturing Week 2005, March 7-10, at McCormick Place. Here are some of the show's most significant exhibits: * Alden Products' Pulse Plus and Harting Electric's...

National Instruments buys Electronics Workbench.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Austin, TX; Toronto, Ontario, Canada -- To strengthen its graphical system design platform to further integrate design and test capabilities, National Instruments has acquired Electronics Workbench. The company supplies electronics design...

Precise newspaper sorting system wins Extreme Machine contest.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Tempe, AZ -- Tilt-Tray Sortation System and the engineering team that developed it at Automated Control Technologies (ACT) recently won the 2004 Extreme Machine of the Year Award after receiving the most votes from subscribers of Control...

Bosch Rexroth touts diverse technologies, application know-how at Summit.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Lohr a.M., Wurzburg, Germany -- Recent business successes with prospects for more of the same, plus multiple technologies united under one uniform control system, and deep application know-how in Bosch Rexroth Group's five divisions were...

Honeywell takes Experion on the road.(NEWS)
March 1, 2005... Phoenix, AZ -- Calling it the largest, most complex solution demonstration ever put together by the company, Honeywell launched the Honeywell Express--a semi truck that will travel around the U.S. and Canada over the next two years showcasing...

Comply or die.(Think AGAIN)(open modular architecture controls guidelines)
March 1, 2005... Every possible advantage: That's what manufacturing needs in many cut-throat global marketplaces. End-user manufacturers are setting and using guidelines and standards from the eight-year-old OMAC (open modular architecture controls) Users...

Machine retrofits and safety: many control and automation technologies have worked too well, actually past their prime, eclipsed by several generations of advances. When it's not broken, how do you know when it should be fixed to augment efficiency and safety?(Cover Story)
March 1, 2005... Controls and hardware on many machines continue to work for 10, 20 or more years, well past the time when cost-effective replacement parts or clear migration paths are readily available. And automation vendors have bent over backwards to...

Gauging Satisfaction: now in its second year, Control Engineering's Customer Satisfaction survey tabulates your opinions about the products you buy and the vendors that manufacture automation, control, and instrumentation equipment. This year's survey covers 13 new categories.(Customer Satisfaction Survey)
March 1, 2005... When it comes to making a decision to purchase equipment for automation and control systems, nothing is as valuable as the collective experience of your peers in dealing with vendors and their products. That's why Control Engineering created...

Delivering satisfaction.(Customer Satisfaction Survey)
March 1, 2005... The listings shown here ranking vendors across the categories included in this year's survey are based on overall satisfaction with product/manufacturer rated by respondents. Product/manufacturer overall satisfaction is derived from response to...

Is turnkey HMI right for you? Visualization operations seldom stand alone today. Integration with other plant information systems and increasingly complex tasks are making a total-solution approach a more common choice.(HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE)
March 1, 2005... "The cheese stands alone, the cheese stands alone." The phrase may have made sense in a childhood nursery rhyme, but when it comes to human-machine interfaces and visualization systems, the concept just doesn't apply. Once simple,...

Hannover Fair widens coverage: this world-class industrial exhibition expands to a record-high 11 'fairs-within-a-fair' during its April 11-15, 2005, run in Hannover, Germany.(SHOW PREVIEW)
March 1, 2005... Change is the only constant in business today, and tradeshows are no exception. With the incorporation of Interkama+ as an annual event--after its relocation from Dusseldorf and debut here in 2004--plus the addition of two other shows, Hannover...

Automation feeds the tap: growth in Missouri's Palmyra community necessitated addition of control valves, booster pumps, and a new control system for area water supply operations.(WATER DISTRIBUTION)
March 1, 2005... The community of Palmyra, near the Mississippi River in Northeastern Missouri, with a population of about 3,500 people, last underwent a major upgrade to its water treatment and supply facilities in the early 1970s. To address its needs for...

Networks busting out all over.(RESEARCH INDUSTRIAL NETWORKING)
March 1, 2005... It's not quite spring yet, but industrial networks seem to be popping up on plant floors like those proverbial flowers after April showers. Implementation of networking methods, fieldbus protocols, hardware, software, and related equipment...

Dual-processor SBC.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... SVME/DMV-183 dual-processor rugged 6U VME-bus single-board computer (SBC) features faster processors, additional operating features, and costs less than its predecessors. It features single or dual 1.5 GHz Freescale MPC7447A/7448 PowerPC...

Marquees in wide size range.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... EZMarquee series of marquees ranges in size from 1 line 10 characters to 4 lines 40 characters. They are enclosed in NEMA 12 extruded aluminum housings with NEMA ICS 2-230 level of electrical noise immunity. All models communicate over EIA-232...

HMI terminal with touchscreen graphics.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... Qterm-Z60 operator interface uses touch-screen graphics, comes with one switch-selectable serial port, and can communicate via EIA-232, EIA-422, or EIA-485. Unit has a QVGA, 320 X 240-pixel, 256-color, STN LCD and is viewable in most lighting...

Real-time enterprise solution.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... SoftFlow 4.0 upgraded solution for enterprise-connected, real-time industrial control is based on Microsoft Windows XP and RTX, a real-time extension from VenturCom. Single platform is said to deliver reliable, secure, real-time machine control...

Encoder with electronic reset.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... HMT25 multi-turn absolute encoder features electronic reset capability. Electronic reset can use system software for initialization to improve machine set-up time, especially in systems with space constraints. A timed pulse is sent through the...

DSCs offer 100 MIPS, 64-x higher PWM resolution.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... Three newly announced digital signal controllers (DSCs) combine real-time performance of DSPs with integrated peripherals and microcontroller ease-of-use to address motor control, digital power supply, and intelligent sensing applications. By...

Telemetry transport system.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... COE-8 (contacts over Ethernet) switch system provides a link between older systems that commonly use relay alarms, converts signals into IP messages, and re-converts them to relay closures at the other end. Technology reduces the need for...

DIN-rail-mounted wireless system.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... DIN-rail-mounted wireless system provides interference free, accurate link for monitoring and transmitting critical data. Solution uses license-free 902-928 MHz ISM band with spread spectrum frequency hopping technology. Transmitter and...

End-point security device.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... USB Port Protector end-point security product lets companies decide which USB devices can connect to its computers and which will be blocked. Device shields desktops and laptops by protecting their connections to USB devices without limiting...

Internal serial adapters.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... Internal USB to EIA-232 serial adapters are available in one- and two-port models. Devices are intended for mounting on a PC chassis, eliminating the need for external converters. All models are USB powered, capable of data rates to 460 kbps,...

Servo-amplifiers for smooth motion.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... Linear, three-phase, servo amplifiers for small- and medium-sized brushless motors are designed for applications requiring smooth motion, such as optical positioning, laboratory test equipment, and linear motion systems. TA305 and TA310 have...

Compact design check valves.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... Inserta ICS slip-in check valves can be inserted in manifolds, subplates, flanges, or integrated valve systems. Compact design is said to eliminate external leak points associated with line-mounted check valves. Devices control flow in or out...

Pre-insulated tubing bundles.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... Electric and steam traced pre-insulated bundled tubing provides process fluid freeze protection and temperature maintenance for a variety of analytical and process instrumentation applications, including impulse, process, and sampling lines....

Tool configures, monitors Ethernet.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... ISNMP software lets any OPC-client application configure and manage Ethernet networks. OPC 2.0 server lets HMI software packages monitor the industrial Ethernet infrastructure. Software provides SNMP data available from Contemporary Controls'...

Advanced regulatory control: adaption and feedforward: this article introduces two of the most commonly applied approaches to improving process control.(changes In Process Characteristics)(Changes In Operating Conditions)
March 1, 2005... Encompassing a number of techniques that address specific loop problems and fundamental design techniques, advanced regulatory control can be applied to deal with variable gains, variable operating conditions, external disturbances, and control...

Corrosion as a real-time process variable: transmitter technology evolution brings corrosion evaluation to the control engineer.(INSIDE PROCESS)(Linear Polarization Resistance)
March 1, 2005... Corrosion evaluation methods used by expert corrosion engineers often involve analysis of sacrificial samples (coupons) placed in the pipeline. These samples are precisely weighed prior to exposure to the process media, analyzed for metal loss...

Linear motion voice-coil motors.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... Seven models of linear motion voice-coil motors provide precision linear actuation over short distances or strokes. Motion force profile is constant and linear over the range of strokes and excitation levels. Sizes range from smallest (VM 1614)...

High-density, half-rack switching system.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... Model 7002-HD high-density, two-slot switching mainframe and cards offer instrument-grade switching at a price said to be 40% less than comparable platforms. Mainframe system supports up to 384 matrix crosspoints or 320 multiplexer channels in...

Push-wire connectors.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... AWG #10 push-wire connector is the latest addition to the Wall-Nuts product line. Connector is designed as an alternative to traditional twist-wire connectors. No twisting and taping are required. The technician strips the wire and inserts the...

Space-saving board/harness connector system.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... Harness-to-PCB connector system is said to cut installed costs and save board space compared to conventional pin and socket designs. Modular, landed contact system features only a plug assembly. Power and signal contacts are encased in a custom...

Intrinsically safe accelerometers.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... Two accelerometer series, 786 and 787, are now available with intrinsic safety certification. Devices may now be used where flammable or explosive materials are present without causing electrical sparks or hot spots strong enough to ignite...

Ferroresonant transformers.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... Ferroresonant transformers provide a stable power output (typically [+ or -] 3%) for input voltages that vary as much as [+ or -] 15%. Models are available for 50 Hz, 60 Hz, and 50/60 Hz, with output ratings from 50 VA to 5.0 kVA. Standard...

LCD workstation with detachable monitor.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... ARP-1715BW workstation is the latest addition to the line of ARP-1715, 15-in. all-in-one LCD panel computers. Product features a 15-in. LCD with 60-key/24-function-key membrane keypad and a modular computer unit that can be easily detached from...

Pick-up monitors motor speed.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... PU-E Series Hall-effect pick-up monitors motor speed in difficult-to-access applications. It operates from a 5 to 24 V dc level producing a sharp square wave output. Product family includes a Quadrature model to monitor both motor speed and...

Portable low-pressure calibration.(Products & software)
March 1, 2005... Low-pressure calibration system (LPC) for laboratory and industrial applications measures gauge and differential pressures with accuracy better than 0.035%. It provides reliable pressure control and programs the calibration of pressure sensors...

Troubleshoot RS-485 networks.(back to BASICS)
March 1, 2005... In spite of the proliferation of more modern alternatives, RS-485 technology remains the mainstay of myriad communication networks. Here's an eight-step recipe for checking common failures and making troublesome RS-485 networks work. 1....