Control Engineering articles from May 2005

Control Engineering archives from May 2005

Fanning the flames.(EDITORIAL)(Editorial)
May 1, 2005... With the main fires of the fieldbus wars largely extinguished following the formation last February of an international cooperative team consisting of the three main fieldbus organizations (Fieldbus Foundation, HART Communication Foundation,...

Power supplies in metal, plastic housings.(product EXCLUSIVE)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Rhino PSM Series industrial grade switching dc output power supplies have a sturdy steel case to withstand harsh environments and are applicable worldwide with autoselect inputs for 115 V ac or 230 V ac and international agency approvals....

DMC reader handles high volume of data in small housing.(product EXCLUSIVE)(data matrix code)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... "dualis DMC" (data matrix code) reader is designed to reliably read and decode ECC200 data matrix codes, then transmit decoded information from the reader via IEC-232 communication. Two-dimensional DMCs such as this have become a primary means...

Sometimes a database is enough.(IT & engineering INSIGHT)
May 1, 2005... With all the new information technologies available, it is important to remember that the simplest solution to a problem is often the best solution. Two projects recently reinforced this lesson for me. Both projects started with complex,...

Take a systems approach.(academic VIEWPOINT)
May 1, 2005... In the United States, control engineers typically are not educated in control engineering departments. Instead, they obtain degrees in such disciplines as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, or chemical engineering. ...

Siemens' Franke sizes up global automation market.(NEWS)(Ralf-Michael Franke)(Siemens Industrial Automation Systems )(Interview)
May 1, 2005... Hannover, Germany -- At Hannover Fair in April 2005, Control Engineering spoke with Ralf-Michael Franke, who was recently named president of Siemens Industrial Automation Systems division of the Siemens Automation and Drives Group,...

U.S. shipments of PC/104 motherboard modules.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The global market for "stackable" form factor boards in embedded and real-time applications is expected to grow to just over $204 million in 2008 from $140.5 million in 2004, despite some architectural shifts within this technology, according...

Hannover Fair 2005: 'less is more' = successful formula.(NEWS)
May 1, 2005... Hannover Germany -- Visitors have voted with their feet. Despite changing to a five-day fair format (one day shorter than last year), Hannover Fair 2005 reversed a recent trend of falling attendance, while exhibiting an air of confidence and...

IEC accepts Ethernet Powerlink standardization proposal.(NEWS)
May 1, 2005... Winterthur, Switzerland -- The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has accepted Ethernet Powerlink (EPL) as a publicly available specification (PAS), which puts the real-time, industrial Ethernet protocol on track for approval as an...

Freescale offers first ZigBee-compliant platform.(NEWS)(Freescale Semiconductor )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Austin, TX -- Freescale Semiconductor reports that manufacturers can now use ZigBee technology in sensing and monitoring applications with what it says is the world's first single-source, ZigBee-compliant platform. TUV Rheinland of North...

IEEE forming council on electronic design automation.(NEWS)(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... New York, NY -- To coordinate electronic design automation (EDA) activities, enable new initiatives, foster interdisciplinary research, and recruit talent, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) Technical Activities Board...

Honeywell buying Zellweger Analytics.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Northford, CT; Uster, Sweden -- To enter the large and growing hazardous gas detection market, Honeywell International reports that it plans to buy Zellweger Analytics. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval, and is expected to close...

Industrial robotics growth to be fueled by medical, drug applications.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Palo Alto, CA -- Because of increasing demand from medical and pharmaceutical applications, the industrial robotics market in North America is expected to grow at a 7.8% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from revenues of $394 million in 2004...

Siemens buys Flender Holding for [euro]1.2 billion.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Munich, Germany -- Siemens reports that it's expanding its industrial drive business by acquiring Flender Holding GmbH from London-based Citigroup Venture Capital (CVC) Equity Partners for 1.2 billion euros, pending approval by antitrust...

Dynisco buys Viatran from Invensys.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Franklin, MA -- Dynisco LLC recently reported that it's acquiring Viatran Corp. from Invensys plc. Viatran supplies pressure transducers and transmitters to the oil and gas, test stand, fluid power, and food and beverage industries. Terms of...

ISA considers standards compliance program.(NEWS)(Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Research Triangle Park, NC -- ISA--the Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society is studying the feasibility of a new program to document compliance with specific ISA standards. The society presently serves the professional development...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
May 1, 2005... * An incorrect company name was listed in the "System I/O includes DeviceNet, Profibus gateways" item and with its photo in "Networks Busting Out All Over," Control Engineering, March '05, p. 74. The correct name is Turck. [ILLUSTRATION...

APC, Rockwell launch UPS for industrial control.(NEWS)(American Power Conversion Corp)(Rockwell Automation Inc.)(Uninterruptible power supplies)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... West Kingston, RI -- American Power Conversion (APC) and Rockwell Automation have introduced a jointly developed, uninterruptible power system (UPS), Allen Bradley Bulletin 1609 Industrial AC UPS, which is designed for use in factory...

Sensors Expo 2005 to focus on growth, diversity, wireless.(NEWS)
May 1, 2005... Chicago, IL -- To help users make the best use of a sensors market expected to surpass $15 billion by 2008, the upcoming Sensors Expo & Conference 2005, June 6-8, at McCormick Place, will explore the latest trends in an information-packed...

Distributed intelligence puts processing power where it's needed.
May 1, 2005... The Perils of Processor Overload Machine design engineers are increasingly replacing mechanical motion systems with servo-based axis control to yield higher speeds, more productivity, and greater reliability. But as designers shift more of...

By the numbers: to quench engineers' numerical thirst.
May 1, 2005... 12-60 high-school and middle-school girls were introduced to engineering in each of dozens of hour-long engineering courses taught by two graduate-level students in New York in January 2005. Women's Initiative, a growing MIT group dedicated to...

React proact: anticipate. Make better business decisions faster--with the industry's only combined production and performance management software solution.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... In business, expensive stuff happens. By the minute. So why be reactive when you can be proactive? Quickly predict problems before they appear. And exploit opportunities before they vanish. Look to Wonderware--the only software provider that...

Spring into expansion.(Editorial)
May 1, 2005... Creation reaffirms life, faith, and industry. With the need for hope in human endeavors, we tend to rejoice with rebirth and growth. Now that spring's in full swing, I'm really looking forward to summer. (Maybe I'll reconsider after a few more...

Flat panels: thin is in; They're flat, compact, lightweight, use little power, display crisp images, and they're economical.(Cover Story)
May 1, 2005... They're everywhere! In your living room, at the ATM, on your desk, and most especially as part of your automation and control system. Taking form most commonly as LCDs (liquid crystal displays), flat panels have finally made it to the big time,...

Change: the new normal; Control Engineering's subscribers report they're coping and more secure in their jobs after nearly a decade of mergers, layoffs, accelerating technical advances and shifts, and outsourcing challenges.(READER SALARY SURVEY)
May 1, 2005... It's often said, though first by Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky, that people can get used to anything. Control and automation engineers and other technical professionals are no exception, despite their conservative,...

Advanced regulatory control: decoupling; When processes have multiple loops that upset each other, isolation is required to better see what's going on.(INSIDE PROCESS)
May 1, 2005... Feedforward control systems act to isolate the controlled variable from influences that would otherwise disturb it. When a process has multiple loops and the various control loops upset each other, use of a reciprocal system that isolates the...

Flowmeter fits into tight spots.(inside process PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2005... V2-Municipal flowmeter features built-in flow conditioning to maintain accuracy with minimum upstream/downstream straight-run piping requirements to reduce installation and plant ancillary equipment costs. Device has an advanced differential...

Level sensors for viscous liquids.(inside process PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2005... NLS pneumatic level sensors feature a minimum number of moving parts and are designed for operational reliability and long life (more than 50,000 switch operations). Engineered for use in high viscosity liquids, they are suited for process...

Steam system condensate recovery.(inside process PRODUCTS)
May 1, 2005... Pivotrol PTF-HP pressure powered condensate pump features full warranty coverage at 300 psi operation. Engineered for steam system condensate recovery in rapid-cycling process environments and elevated pressure and temperature conditions, the...

Monitoring and control of batch processes: multivariate statistical monitoring technologies can be applied to batch systems to help process operators and engineers identify abnormal operation and improve product consistency through automatic control.(INSIDE PROCESS)
May 1, 2005... For many years, chemical and process industries have successfully employed statistical process control (SPC) as a tool for monitoring and maintaining the consistency and operation of process systems. Traditional SPC approaches involve plotting...

ATEX-compliant pressure regulator.(inside process Products)
May 1, 2005... Type-550X miniature electropneumatic I/P, E/P transducer converts a variable signal (current or voltage) to a proportional pneumatic output. Device features a compact housing, accessible ports, and easy adjustment to make it suitable for tight...

Valve for water, wastewater applications.(inside process Products)
May 1, 2005... [H.sup.2]O Type 374 valve is designed for water and wastewater applications. Available in sizes from 3/8-4 in., it is manufactured with a PVC body and PTFE/polyethylene blended ball seat to provide corrosion protection. Features include compact...

Wireless: simple, safe, secure, successful; Industrial wireless solutions are multiplying like rabbits, and several standards efforts are seeking the most useful methods for control and automation. Here's how users on the plant-floor and in the field are applying wireless with fewer headaches and better results.(REAL-WORLD SOLUTIONS)
May 1, 2005... Everybody's doing it. You can too. First, try to ignore all the billowing hype, sunshine pumping, prophecies of doom, and other nebulous and/or extreme baloney presently latched onto wireless. Forget about all the cell phones, laptops,...

Automation stars in a supporting role: how a system integrator made a famous Hollywood ship sail using motion and hydraulic controls.(INTEGRATOR UPDATE)
May 1, 2005... Working against a looming deadline, the production company for the movie "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" was informed that the special-effects coordinator needed a new control solution--fast. Commander Productions' Dan Sudick...

Machine vision: looks well beyond inspection.(RESEARCH MACHINE VISION)
May 1, 2005... Depth and diversity of applications show machine vision's strength beyond its dominant use for inspection. Also, overall purchases are expanding. About 35% of respondents expect machine vision purchases to increase over the next year, with...

Interface tool for .Net applications.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... .Net Application Program Interface (API) tool provides a set of classes that supports the development of Microsoft Windows-based .Net software applications for communicating to Galil controllers. Tool may be downloaded at no charge from...

Sensor line for metal detection.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Uprox + sensor line precisely detects materials, such as iron, steel, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, and brass, at significant distances without a reduction in the rated sensing distance of the sensor. Patented multicoil system replaces the...

Equipment features TEDS functions.(Products & software)(Transducer Electronic Data Sheet)(HBM)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Range of equipment with transducer electronic data sheet (TEDS) functions includes force, pressure, and torque transducers based on strain-gage full bridges and inductive displacement transducers. TEDS uses an electronic format to transfer...

Frameless motor for low-voltage use.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Model 000-0358 brushless dc frame-less motor is designed for low-voltage applications where a high acceleration, high-torque motor is required at low speeds. At 48 V, it operates at 200 rpm and delivers 600 oz-in. of torque with 80% efficiency....

Relay, analog/digital wireless modems.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... HopNet wireless I/O modems feature bidirectional transmission and use the company's patented frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) technology. Line of four relay modems includes HNIO-091R and HNIO-241R that operate at 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz...

True-absolute rotary encoder.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Model A18 true-absolute rotary encoder features opto/magnetic electronic technology and resolution of up to 12 bits. Mini-encoder performs in a variety of position-sensing applications for measuring angles and distances in very small envelopes....

Simulation solution for processing plants.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... UniSim simulation solution is a family of software and engineering services designed to improve performance throughout the life cycle of a processing plant. It is said to help oil and gas processors, petroleum refiners, and power and chemical...

Ultra-bright, low current LEDs.(Products & software)(Light emitting diodes)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... TLM X 100X LEDs in red, soft orange, and yellow are designed to meet increasing demand for aluminum indium gallium phosphor (AllnGaP)-based, ultra-miniature SMD (surface mounting device) LEDs. Devices feature small size of 1.6 mm X 0.8 mm X 0.6...

Encoder for large motor feedback applications.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... HS45 large-bore hollow shaft encoder is intended for large motor feedback applications. It accepts motor shafts up to 1 5/8 in. in dia (1 7/8 in. optional) and provides data for position and velocity control. Model incorporates the feedback...

Protective 'coats' for robots.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Robosuit all-enveloping suit coated with DuPont Dow Hypalon chlorosulfonated polyethelene protects vital parts, reduces maintenance, and increases automation uptime. Developed by Charles Tur, founder of Roboworld, the product is intended to...

Sensor with 25[degrees]-wide measuring angle.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... New 5-beam wide-angle sensor features wide area triangulation sensing capability. Device offers a 25[degrees]-wide measuring angle and comes in three detection ranges from 4 to 300 cm. Sensors are part of the company's lineup of lead-free parts...

Bar-code grading for vision inspection systems.(Products & software)(Systech International)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Tips Sentri machine vision inspection solutions now have On-Line RSS bar-code grading capabilities. Said to offer manufacturers state-of-the-art inspection system calibration, system conforms to ISO/IEC-15416 and 15426-1 requirements. It also...

Digital I/O modules add flexibility.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Allen-Bradley Point I/O modules are designed to increase system flexibility and reduce total cost of ownership. Products include Series C 17734-OB2 (2-channel), -OB4 (4-channel), and -OB8 (8-channel). All are standard feature (non-diagnostic),...

Strip magnet wire clean.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Magnet Wire Stripping Pot strips film insulations from magnet wires of all sizes, types, and configurations. Wires are dipped into the stripping solution to remove the insulation. Method causes no mechanical stress, material loss, or wire...

Real-time performance monitoring system.(Products & software)(Buyers Guide)
May 1, 2005... FastFact real-time performance monitoring system is a complete stand-alone hardware and software solution for real-time/full-time production and process monitoring. It measures performance, productivity, quality, compliance, and capability of...

PLC supports ladder diagram, function block programming.(Products & software)(Programmable Logic Controller)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Enhanced Baby Bear PLC is based on PLC-on-a-Chip technology. Programmed using the company's EZ ladder software that supports ladder diagram and function block programming, PLC has 5 digital inputs and 5 relay outputs, expandable to 250 I/O....

Small form factor computer.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... GX-1000 ultrasmall compact form factor industrial computer is designed for harsh environments and measures 10.1-in. wide X 8-in. high x 2.9 in. deep. Forklift mounted unit houses a low-heat 800 MHz Via processor and features a 10-in. LCD,...

CNC system uses graphical programming.(Products & software)(Computerized Numeric Control)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Axium Power CNC system addresses all aspects of the cylindrical and surface grinding process. Designated as a complete, off-the-shelf system, it features embedded grinding/dressing cycles governed by user-friendly menu-driven data entry and...

Power distribution blocks.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Power distribution blocks are DIN-rail mountable to distribute power, manage large wire sizes, and maintain finger-safe connections. They allow for multi-pole assembly, easily accommodating single, two, and three-phase power feeds in a compact...

USB-based thermocouple input device.(Products & software)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... USB-TC Measurement Advantage thermocouple input device provides eight temperature inputs, 8 bits of digital I/O, 500 V of isolation, and built-in ambient temperature sensing. Features include screw terminals for easy field wiring, small...

Hydraulic cylinder anatomy.(back to BASICS)
May 1, 2005... Available in a gamut of sizes, types, and design configurations, cylinder actuators form the main output device of a hydraulic motion system, and often the most visible part. These actuators convert hydraulic fluid pressure into rapid,...