June 2021

45 www.drivesncontrols.com June 2021 NEW PRODUCTS n Phoenix Contact has announced a pair of wireless modules that equip machines, mobile robots, or automated transport systems with a WLAN interface. Unlike all- in-one WLAN modules, the WLAN 1010 and 2010 modules support external antennae, allowing both the antenna type and its position to be adapted to the application. A new Rest API can be used to configure and control the modules via a controller or a PC. www.phoenixcontact.co.uk Dunkermotoren has integrated Profinet functions, including the PROFIdrive profile with application classes 1 and 4, into several of its BG brushless DC motors with power ratings from 40W–1.1kW and peak ratings of 4kW. The new functions are said to offer advantages for cabling, commissioning and operation. Only the power supply and bus connections need to be established, and the motor can be commissioned using an environment such as TIA Portal. During operation, controllers can access all motor parameters and use them for error monitoring, predictive maintenance and other IIoT or cloud functions. www.dunkermotoren.com E2SWarning Signals has upgraded its B350TLA and B450TLA multi-colour warning beacons using an array of 18 high- output white LEDs to give super- bright outputs up to 356 candela. There are now seven flash patterns as well as a steady output for status indication. E2S’STA and STB families of customisable stack signals for applications such as status indication, security and process control, have also been upgraded to the 18-LED array. The STA stacks include 100dB(A) alarm sounders, while the STB family are beacon-only arrays. www.e2s.com Beckhoff has released a 12mm- wide EtherCat terminal that connects directly to up to two inductive displacement sensors, including LVDT and half-bridge transducers, and RVDT inductive angular position sensors. The EL5072 terminal allows inductive measuring probes to be integrated into EtherCat control platforms for precise position and distance measurements. A built-in excitation source provides a wide range of parameterisable excitation frequencies and voltages. The measured values are determined using 24-bit A/D conversion and output as a 32-bit position values. Diagnostics sense short-circuits and excitation source overloads, as well as amplitude errors in the measuring signals. www.beckhoff.com/el5072 Schneider Electric has unveiled a new generation of its TeSys Giga motor starters which, it claims, are 40% smaller, up to 90%more reliable, and include many built-in diagnostics functions. The modular starters, which are protected by 56 patents, are said to cut engineering complexity, maintenance costs and downtime, and to result in a simpler, safer customer experience. Predictive maintenance can be implemented using contact wear diagnostics and the detection of coil over- or under- voltages. A “unique” calculation method is said to result in precise status evaluation, cutting downtime. There are indicators for tip wear, internal faults, and contactor open or closed status. The other main characteristics of the starters include: a modular design that simplifies spare parts replacement, improves reliability and robustness by up to 90%, and can halve integration and commissioning times; a footprint that is 40% smaller, allowing cabinet space to be optimised; protection against overloads, earth faults and phase imbalances; QR codes for delivering technical documents, video guides and counterfeit protection; and improved auxiliary contacts for better reliability in harsh environments and high-density PLC input applications. Schneider Electric www.se.com At the 2021 Hannover Fair, Siemens announced a smart condition-monitoring system that uses machine learning to detect and prevent machinery problems at an early stage, thus cutting maintenance costs and downtime, and boosting plant performance by up to 10%. Wireless sensors collect vibration and temperature data from machines such as pumps, gears, compressors and drivetrains. This is sent via Bluetooth to a gateway where it is encrypted before being sent to Siemens’ MindSphere IoT-as-a- Service cloud where machine- learning routines monitor and analyse the data for any deviations from normal states. Notifications of any anomalies are sent via SMS and/or email. The Sitrans SCM IQ condition- monitoring system can keep an eye on mechanical or rotating components in any industrial plant. It consists of: IP68- protected multi-sensors mounted on the equipment which communicate via Bluetooth, eliminating the need for cabling; a gateway which communicates securely between the sensors and the cloud; and a mobile app which displays the state of the monitored systems and components graphically. It can monitor a single application or every machine in a plant. Siemens www.siemens.com/scmiq New-generation starters are 40% smaller and 90% more reliable NSK has announced a range of spherical roller bearings with a patented cage design that, it says, can deliver dynamic load ratings up to 47% higher, static load ratings up to 22% higher, and limiting speeds up to 20% higher than standard bearings. The optimised cage of the ECA bearings reduces internal stresses and eliminates the need for guide rings. The bearings, available in bore diameters from 40–130mm, supersede the CAM series, and are interchangeable with them. The precision-machined solid brass cages have contoured roller pockets that reduce unnecessary roller motion. The cage design also balances form- fitting shape with cage bar strength. A retainer clasp on the tip of the cage bar prevents roller slip-off. The bearings can also accommodate more large rollers, resulting in a “class- leading” load capacity. The operating temperature is up to 200°C. NSK says that the new bearings will cut maintenance costs. NSK Europe www.nskeurope.com Patented cage boosts roller bearing load capacities Smart condition-monitoring system uses machine learning to boost plant performance by up to 10%