Drives & Controls October 2022

54 n NEW PRODUCTS October 2022 www.drivesncontrols.com NUM has launched a series of brushless linear servomotors for continuous-duty applications in machine tools. The moving coil primary section of the LMX motors is encapsulated in a tough stainless-steel housing. A high-flow- rate cooling circuit allows the use of low specific heat capacity cooling liquids. The motors have a short pole pitch to increase force density, minimise cogging forces and cut thermal losses. Until now, most linear motors have been designed for general- purpose duties involving fast A-B positioning, but relatively low duty cycles. NUM has created the new motor especially for continuous operation in harsh machine tool environments. The motors comprise a metal track with multiple embedded rare-earth magnets, and a coil assembly supported by a guideway. They are designed to operate with a 1mm air gap to reduce the impact of mounting tolerances. For most applications, the track is stationary and the coil assembly is free to move – but converse mounting arrangements are also possible The motors can be used with three-phase sinusoidal brushless servodrives, including NUM’s compact NUMDrive X or new DrivePro drives. The latter, based on multi-core Arm processors, use a system-on-chip technology. “Bare metal” programming eliminates operating system latencies. NUM (UK) 02476 301 259 www.num.com Sick has developed a family of precision distance sensors with plug-and-play configuration and parameterisation. Using precision triangulation, the OD2000 sensors cover five measuring ranges from 25– 1,200mm. They can detect differences in height in the micrometre range. The sensors can overcome background suppression issues where precise distance differentiation or small hysteresis settings are required. With a measuring frequency of up to 7.5kHz, they achieve high repeatability and linearity. The sensors are ready to use out-of- the-box with common default settings. A built-in OLED display makes parameterisation and adjustment quick and easy. Alternatively, the sensors can be set up via Sick’s Sopas software which has a new graphical interface and a quick- set menu. The sensors can send both variable analogue outputs (mA/V) and digital outputs. They also allow direct parameterisation via a built-in IO-Link interface that can carry signals and power on the same cable. This is especially useful when mounting in awkward locations. IO-Link can output process and diagnostic data for condition monitoring and predictive maintenance purposes. It can also can access configuration data, making it easy to replace sensors, thus cutting downtime and avoiding incorrect settings. Sick UK 01727 831121 www.sick.co.uk The Manchester-based electronic components distributor Distrelec is offering a range of open-source automation hardware developed by the Spanish company, Industrial Shields, based on low-cost boards such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and ESP32. There is no charge for the open-source software. The range includes a Raspberry-Pi-based PLC that combines a high-power PC, a router with multiple communications options, and a PLC. Another product is the ESP32 dual-core PLC, which can manage inputs and outputs with one core, while handling communications with the other. A third item is Industrial Shields’ M-Duino with LoRa – an Arduino-based industrial controller with LoRa (long-range) communications. Distrelec www.distrelec.com Linear motors are designed for continuous applications Distance sensors can detect micrometre differences in height ‘Unique’ machine-mounting safety modules cut cabinet costs Turck Banner has released an IP67/IP69K-protected machine- mountable safety module that it claims is unique. It can cut costs by avoiding the need for traditional cabinet-mounted systems. It can also save time when used on machines requiring tooling changes. The full block modules can operate with external safety controllers or independently as decentralised safety controllers. There are four redundant safety inputs, and four configurable, redundant safety I/Os. They also have male and female power connectors that allow multiple modules to be daisy-chained together. Two bus connectors can also be used to daisy-chain modules. The safety I/O modules are available for Profinet/Profisafe and Ethernet/IP with CIP Safety. Installation and commissioning is done using a free software tool and a built-in Web server. There are also hybrid modules that can be combined with Turck Banner’s ISD/IO-Link modules to create self-contained safety systems. Two built-in IO-Link masters, each of which can take 32 inputs or outputs, give the hybrid module a total of 68 non- safety I/O. The hybrid modules also offer two redundant safety inputs, two configurable, redundant safety I/O, as well as four configurable digital I/O and two bus connectors. Turck Banner 01268 578888 www.turckbanner.com Low-cost open-source PLCs are based on Raspberry Pi and Arduino