Control Engineering articles from September 2007

Control Engineering archives from September 2007

Bottling line illumination.
September 1, 2007... Brandon Henning, GE Fanuc Automation The new World of Coca-Cola showcase in Atlanta is putting the wonders of automation on display for public consumption. At the new tourist facility, which officially opened May 24, 2007, visitors can see...

Servo or no? How to decide.
September 1, 2007... Dan Jones, Incremotion Associates Do you really need a servo? Can an induction motor with a feedback device provide a better solution for specific applications? Looking at definitions and performance characteristics for servos and induction...

Are you feeling the pain?(usage of personal computers for data exchange)
September 1, 2007... Ron Monday, Online Development Inc. You just got word on a new corporate initiative to centralize company-wide data through the deployment of a large-scale enterprise software system-and the IT department wants the data from your plant...

On Track with Machine Vision.
September 1, 2007... Mark T. Hoske, Control Engineering Machine vision can capture, see, and analyze what was previously considered unimaginable. Want to increase inspection time by factor of 10, raise quality, lower costs, augment worker satisfaction,...

Fuzzy Neural Control Systems -- Explained.
September 1, 2007... C.G. Masi, Control Engineering Neural networks and fuzzy logic can conquer control-system challenges that leave conventional systems helpless. Here's how they work, and how they benefit applications like high-speed image processing. ...

All My Best Ideas are Stolen.
September 1, 2007... C.G. Masi, Control Engineering The best way to improve your control engineering efforts is to copy tips and techniques from others. Here are some to get you started. Physicist and star of educational TV during the 1950s and 1960s, Dan...

Controls Ease Startup.
September 1, 2007... Staff Systems integrator's work simplifies startup, customer operations, and upfront programming. Smooth project startup, despite a large ongoing investment, can require starting from scratch to realign the automation system closer to...

Applications of Self-tuning Control.
September 1, 2007... Vance VanDoren, Ph.D., P.E. Control Engineering Users of self-tuning PID controllers have experienced both challenges and successes. Loop tuning is as much an art as it is a science. A well tuned feedback control loop can quickly and...

Cutting the Cost of Compliance.
September 1, 2007... Hank Hogan for Control Engineering Regulatory compliance costs can be cut through the use of hardware and software, although the savings may not be direct. When questioned, Magnus Hermansson, general manager for GE Healthcare's Life...

Growth of PLCs in Poland.(programmable logic controllers)(Survey)
September 1, 2007... Krzysztof Pietrusewicz, Control Engineering Poland Vendor support for and involvement in engineering education can have great positive impact on market growth for high-technology products. Comparison of two Control Engineering Poland...

Optimizing Processes for Profitability.
September 1, 2007... Mike Yen, Honeywell Process Solutions Plastics producer implements advanced process control and optimization systems to increase production and margins. Formosa Plastics Corporation's plant in Point Comfort, TX, produces both olefins...

Backup for Critical Processes.
September 1, 2007... Stephen L. Arnold, Telemecanique div. of Schneider Electric Industries that thrive on high availability need to consider hot standby PLC systems. In many industries, there are processes so critical that extraordinary methods must be...

Thermal Anchors Improve Temperature Uniformity.
September 1, 2007... Mark Everly, Single Iteration division of Watlow Achieving temperature uniformity involves tracing heat loss routes as well as heat sources. Many processes require that a volume of material inside a container be held at a uniform...

Nuclear Level Measurement.
September 1, 2007... Drew Cheshire, Ronan Measurements Div. Improvements in sensor technology make gamma level detectors more attractive for a variety of problem applications. Nuclear (gamma) level measurement technology has been applied effectively for...

Let's put information back in IT.(information technology)
September 1, 2007... Dennis Brandl IT means Information Technology, but often IT departments focus on the technology side and don't give the information side equal attention. The information side deals with the form and format of data and with the data's...

New to Control Engineering?(50th anniversary of Control Engineering )(Editorial)
September 1, 2007... Mark T. Hoske, editor-in-chief Fall evokes a 'back to school' learning excitement, but truth is, if we're not learning year round, we're not going to remain at the top of our game for long. A subscriber new to the industry, with the title...

Detroit Science Center receives two Kuka robots.
September 1, 2007... By Staff The Detroit Science Center's Fun Factory, which features 39 hands-on exhibits spanning 2,800 square feet, is where visitors can learn how a variety of manufacturing processes turn an idea into reality. Kuka Robotics Corporation...

Asset management: SmartPlant's SAP designation ensures interoperability.
September 1, 2007... By Staff Intergraph's SmartPlant Enterprise for Owner Operators has gained 'Powered by SAP NetWeaver' qualification from SAP AG. Version 3.8 of the system, a preconfigured engineering automation environment for plant operators, uses the...

With 20 million nodes, Profibus says it's mainstream.(process field bus)(Profibus Trade Organization )(Industry overview)
September 1, 2007... By Staff The Profibus Trade Organization (PTO) general assembly in Scottsdale, AZ, earlier this month took as its theme '20 million,' commemorating that many installed nodes world-wide, as of April 2007. Organizers made the point that the...

U.S. Homeland Security issues new documents for control systems, wireless networks.
September 1, 2007... By Staff U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces the availability of two new documents in PDF form relating to control systems security. One targets security requirements and the other discusses wireless networks. The DHS...

Rockwell Automation advises on machine safety.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... By Staff Manufacturers can realize long-term financial benefits by integrating machine safety programs into their workplaces as a form of insurance against potential risks, according to a new white paper released by Rockwell Automation. It...

ISA Expo 2007 keynote: Repair education to meet industrial innovation demands.(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... By Staff Dr. James Truchard, president and CEO of National Instruments and Engineering Hall of Fame award winner, will give a keynote Rimbach Lecture on Oct. 3 at the ISA Expo 2007 in Houston, TX. The lecture, entitled 'Repairing the...

Bridge testing: digital wireless technology.
September 1, 2007... By Staff Ensuring the integrity and performance of the country's bridges and infrastructure is critical after the collapse of the bridge in Minneapolis, MN, in August. Physical Acoustics Corporation (PAC) has developed digital wireless...

On the road: Eaton shows power system diagnostic benefits.
September 1, 2007... By Staff Power delivery used to be good enough, but value has been added with advanced metering, power quality monitoring, and more. Diagnostics and predictive controls estimate when system level equipment may fail to prevent surprise...

National Manufacturing Week starts Sept. 24 near Chicago; Pack Expo, Oct. 15 in Las Vegas.
September 1, 2007... By Staff The conference starts the first day, and show floor opens on Sept. 25 for National Manufacturing Week, which runs through Sept. 27, 2007, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, near Chicago. Organizers...

Pack Expo Las Vegas 2007.(Conference notes)
September 1, 2007... By Staff Automation and packaging intersect at Pack Expo Las Vegas 2007, Las Vegas Convention Center, NV. Exhibits and conference sessions focus on the latest developments in packaging technology and will showcase state-of-the-art advances...

By the Numbers.
September 1, 2007... By Staff 82% of best-in-class companies use signal integrity tools as compared to 38% for laggards, says a 'Weekly Research Recap' eNewsletter from Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Co., citing a 'Printed Circuit Board Design Integrity: The...

EXCLUSIVE: Synchronous servomotors provide precise dynamic control.(SEW-Eurodrive Inc. introduces DS/CM line of synchronous servomotors)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... By Staff Dynamic performance, precision, adaptability, and long service life are the key advantages of the new DS/CM line of synchronous servomotors, according to manufacturer SEW-Eurodrive. The servomotors provide an economical solution...

2.2 in. interface features touch panel, 172k RAM.
September 1, 2007... By Staff OSD Displays' latest QGVA 2.2-in. TFT with integrated 4-wire resistive touchscreen features a digital RGB 16-bit TTL interface with memory to minimize communication burdens on system processors. The panel supports 3 V logic and...

Low-cost USB digital multimeter.
September 1, 2007... By Staff Keithley Instruments' model 2100 6½-digital USB digital multimeter is a high precision, low-cost USB-based instrument ideal for a wide range of production test, burn-in, and manual and semi-automatic R&D applications in...

110 V dc input on 3 KVA 2U rackmount inverter.
September 1, 2007... By Staff The Schaefer family of pure sine wave inverters is expanding with the AEP-U3000R-110x Series of 3 KVA rackmount products with 110 V dc input to offer benefits over modified or quasi-sine wave units by delivering 'clean' output...

PCB connectors address high voltage applications.
September 1, 2007... By Staff Phoenix Contact's newest PCB terminal blocks and plug connectors/headers from the company's Combicon power line are appropriate for increased voltage in power applications. The GMSTB(A) 2.5 HC(V), a high-voltage header and plug...

Relay product family enhancements.
September 1, 2007... By Staff GE Multilin's family of Universal Relay (UR) protection and control products covers a range of applications that include bus, distance, generator, motor, and transformer protection. The products feature new enhanced front panels...

Flowmeter measures in crowded places.
September 1, 2007... By Staff Fluid Components' ST75V air/gas flowmeter is designed to be a highly accurate, reliable mass flow measurement solution for hydrogen, natural gas, and other gases in small line processes, and for skid-mounted equipment assemblies....

Industrial computer features compact footprint.
September 1, 2007... By Staff The Relio R1300 industrial computer, powered by Geode LX800, has a compact footprint that permits convenient mounting. Introduced by Sealevel Systems, it can be mounted to walls, under counters, on tabletops, or to DIN rails using...

LabView 8.5 adds statechart design, simplifies multicore.
September 1, 2007... By Staff National Instruments' LabView 8.5 is the latest version of the platform which extends further into embedded and industrial applications with the new statechart design module for modeling and implementing system behavior and...

Mini imager bar reads tiny codes for component tracking.
September 1, 2007... By Staff A new mini imager features 3-megapixel imaging to extend bar code imaging technology to the highest resolution available for data tracking. Microscan Systems launches the Quadrus MINI 3, claimed to be the world's only mini imager...

Now: Safety I/O technology, flexible, modular.
September 1, 2007... By Staff Beckhoff Automation now offers to North American markets TwinSafe safety I/O technology, which can bring safety at one-third the cost of more traditional alternatives, the company says. TwinSafe systems are created by using safety...

Gas standards generating station moves easily.
September 1, 2007... By Staff The Span Lab Cal Cart from Kin-Tek Laboratories combines the elements of a gas standards generating system to create complex, trace concentration mixtures into a rolling unit easily moved between analyzer stations. A system with...

Plasticase Style H enclosures are stackable.
September 1, 2007... By Staff Bud Industries introduces its first stackable plastic electronics enclosure, the Plasticase Style H, which features an interlocking design for no-slip stacking. Benefits include saving desktop or benchtop space. The design is...

Advanced design DeviceNet I/O blocks.
September 1, 2007... By Staff Balluff developed a new family of machine mount DeviceNet I/O modules. The company claims the network connection blocks, unlike older blocks where connectors are exposed to physical damage, gives modules a low profile that also...

Ethernet switches deliver seamless communications.
September 1, 2007... By Staff Moxa introduced its PowerTrans series of IEC 61850-3 and IEEE 1613 compliant Ethernet switches suitable of electric utility substation environments. Designed for 19-in. rack mounting, these switches feature, according to the...

HMI Software: Steady Growth Ahead.
September 1, 2007... Jeanine Katzel, Control Engineering Applications expand and add security, connectivity is more common, and Web browsers are being added with increasing frequency-but users still shun wireless capabilities. The role of human-machine...

Next frontier: mercury sensors.
September 1, 2007... Renee Robbins, editorial director Software vendors and magazine editors can sometimes be guilty of oversimplification when discussing 'compliance.' The one-word shorthand is meant to encompass the wide array of U.S. government regulations...

'Soft computing' in action.(soft computing for proper maintenance of battery chargers)
September 1, 2007... Peter Galan, JDS Uniphase When designing a battery pack a few years ago, I found the 'classical' programming approach based on exact relations among process variables to be a very painful process requiring countless 'corrections' to deal...