DAC102021

64 n NEW PRODUCTS October 2021 www.drivesncontrols.com Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery has announced its first own-brand robots, allowing it to create what it claims is the smallest automated injection- moulding cell that includes robot and material-handling technology. The SAM-C (Sumitomo Demag Automation Machine – Cartesian) robots are designed for use with injection- moulding machines with clamping forces of 50–500 tonnes, and for applications with cycle times of 10 seconds or longer. Initially the robots comprise four payload sizes – 3, 5, 10 and 20kg – with more kinematic and functional elements planned for the next two years. The robots use Sumitomo’s in- house servomotor technology and low-maintenance drive and guide technology. The drives come from the Sumitomo’s Italian subsidiary, Lafert. The company says that customers will benefit from buying their process and system technology from a single supplier, including hardware and software control integration of the robot with the injection-moulding systems, and production-optimised robotic mechanics. The systems use IO- Link communications, intelligent sensors and actuators and can be connected to automation networks. Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery www.sumitomo-shi-demag.eu Westermo has launched a range of industrial cellular wireless products designed to provide resilient data communications at remote sites. The rugged and secure Merlin devices have been developed to support IIoT (industrial IoT) and M2M (machine-to-machine) uses in demanding infrastructure, utility and transport applications. The first products to be released are the 4600 series – four compact devices with six inputs and two outputs for local monitoring or control, that provide high-speed data network connections for demanding applications. The number of digital and analogue I/Os can be increased using external modules and the status of the internal or external I/O is accessible via the supported industrial communication protocols. The products are designed to be easy to install and maintain. When coupled with Westermo’s zero-touch deployment software Activator, they provide cost- effective, reliable and consistent onboarding in large projects. A TPM (trusted platform module) chip keeps cryptographic keys secure, while Secure Boot ensures that the routers boot using only software signed and trusted by Westermo. A built-in gateway enables multiple devices, using different protocols, to be accessed via a common interface. Westermo Data Communications www.westermo.co.uk/products /product-lines-and- brands/merlin Own-label robots create smallest injection-moulding cells Celera has announced a compact, ultra-lightweight inductive angle encoder for precise angle measurements. The IncOder Core is a non- contact device based on the robust IncOder position-sensing technology that Celera’s parent, Novanta, acquired when it bought the UK sensor-maker Zettlex in 2018. The lightweight sensor is contained in a stacked PCB (printed circuit board) kit that reduces system masses. It can be incorporated into rotary joints in applications such as rotary actuators and robots. The customisable 44mm-diameter devices have a 10.4mm through- bore. Other sizes are planned. The bearingless sensors do not need calibration. They are said to be immune from contamination. Each sensor has a passive rotor target paired with an active stator – both with a large through-bore and M2 screw mounting. They can be configured to output up to 17 bits of absolute digital position data in a choice of digital protocols, including BiSS-C, SSI, SPI and Asynchronous Serial (ASI). Celera Motion www.celeramotion.com/ incoder-core Inductive angle encoder reduces system masses Industrial cellular wireless range supports IIoT and M2M at remote sites Sick is offering its first programmable safe absolute encoders, opening up a simpler, quicker route to safe productivity in stationary and mobile machines, and seamless integration for safe motion control. The high-resolution AFS60S Pro (single-turn) and AFM60S Pro (multi-turn) encoders offer functional safety to SIL3/PLe when monitoring the position, speed and rotation direction of drives and axes. When used with Sick’s FX3-MOC1 safe drive monitor and Flexi Soft safety controller, they also support the safe motion functions of drives in accordance with IEC 61800-5-2. The encoders cut implementation time and costs, and enable safe monitoring of drives to protect personnel during operations such as tool set-up, manual loading and maintenance. www.sick.co.uk Carlo Gavazzi has extended its PD30 family of photoelectric sensors to include IO-Link versions which offer programmability and customisation as well as standardised and reduced wiring, remote configuration, monitoring and diagnostics, and easy replacement. The sensors include models with background and foreground suppression, PointSpot versions with sensing distances up to 6m, diffuse reflective variants with 1m sensing distances, retro-reflective sensors with or without polarisation, and through- beam sensors for detecting objects by reflection or interrupting a light beam. www.carlogavazzi.co.uk Schaeffler is now offering its DuraSense condition-monitoring system for monorail guidance systems as a retrofit kit for existing machines. Low-use carriages can be upgraded by installing sensors using the new kit, which is also suitable for users wanting to try the technology. DuraSense – claimed to be the world’s first – can monitor and evaluate manual relubrication, providing a alternative to installing expensive central lubrication systems. It ensures that lubrication is delivered only when needed, cutting lubricant consumption by up to 30%. A new interface allows users to access data from the DuraSense vibration sensors. www.schaeffler.com Rockwell Automation has integrated a protective maintenance grounding device into its Allen- Bradley Centerline 1500 medium- voltage motor control centres, eliminating the need for temporary earthing assemblies.The IMPG device grounds all load-side connections, including cables, with the turn of a handle. It removes the cumbersome use of grounding balls and the need tomanually attach hazardous temporary grounding cables.The UL- approved device grounds the output (load-side connections) without opening the power cell door. www.rockwellautomation.com