Safe Machine has published a 14-page free White Paper, EN 60204-1 for machine-builders and panelbuilders – a guide to avoiding common errors, that describes many ways in which machinery can fail to comply with this standard. Non-compliant machinery can be dangerous and a fire risk. Written by Derek Coulson and the late Paul Skyrme, the paper will help readers to comply with EN 60204-1 – usually with no time or cost penalties. Based on their experience, the authors had believe that many machine- and panel-builders are not conversant with the standard, and end-users sometimes specify that equipment is installed in ways that do not comply with the standard. The paper examines EN 60204-1 in detail, highlighting areas where equipment is often non-compliant. https://drivesncontrols.news/6c3yoqdn E: derek@safemachine.co.uk Experts discuss flexible manufacturing in eBook Mouser Electronics and Analog Devices have produced an eBook that shows how production facilities can improve throughput, quality and efficiency through flexible manufacturing. Called 10 Experts on Flexible Manufacturing, it offers contributions from specialists from ADI and others on how sensors, robot systems and AI-enabled computing are allowing factories to adapt production flexibly, and to achieve sustainable manufacturing. The eBook highlights the potential of technologies such as time-of-flight sensors, image signal processors, MEMS systems and cryptographic controllers. https://eu.mouser.com/news/adi-mg-flexible/ adi-10-experts-flexible-manufacturing-ebook Video suggests how we can use manufacturing data better Mitsubishi Electric has released a video in which Hartmut Pütz, president of its factory automation business in EMEA, explores the changing landscape of digitalisation and its opportunities for manufacturing. Called Digital Journey – with a map, the video argues that while data-driven operations represent the future of manufacturing, most data still isn’t being used effectively enough. To address this, Pütz suggests adopting the Smart Manufacturing at Kaizen Level (SMKL) model, which uses small steps, like the Kaizen method, for manufacturing improvement. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcGwFmAPJrY Report says AI is not achieving full potential MakerVerse, a platform for sourcing industrial parts, has released a survey revealing a gap between AI's potential and its use by European manufacturers. The 2024 AI in European Manufacturing Report sheds light on current adoption rates, benefits, and expectations for AI in manufacturing. The survey shows that just 5% of European manufacturers have“extensively” integrated AI into their processes, with 43% not using AI at all. https://drivesncontrols.news/ig3fwjxm White Paper helps to comply with machine safety standard 48 n NEW PRODUCTS n DESIGN DATA AND MULTIMEDIA June 2024 www.drivesncontrols.com Kollmorgen has launched advanced synchronised communication protocols for its AKD2G servodrives, available in the UK from Inmoco. The drives now offer support for Profinet IRT and Ethernet/IP with CIP Sync, adding to the existing CANopen, EtherCat, and FSoE time-synchronised communications protocols. The enhanced protocols raise system efficiency and enable more precise and rapid response times, improved data exchange, and better synchronisation across multiple motion control devices. www.inmoco.co.uk Universal Robots (UR) is one of the first cobot suppliers to integrate the Standard Robot Command Interface (SRCI) into its software. SRCI is a new standard that creates a single interface between PLCs and robots. It will allow UR’s cobots to integrate with Siemens PLCs, because Siemens is so far the only PLC supplier supporting SRCI. The cross-manufacturer data interface makes robot implementation interoperable, and standardises definitions and robot commands between cobots and PLCs, allowing quicker set-ups and simplifying the deployment of robots into Siemensbased production lines. SRCI is available for UR’s e-Series, UR20 and UR30 cobots. www.universal-robots.com Parker Hannifin is offering an I/O option board for its standalone and multi-axis servodrives. One or two cards can be added per PSD1 drive, adding functions from motion control for axis interpolation, to adapting different setpoint sources, such as speed or current commands. The cards also support encoder simulation, step and direction input. They can connect to sensors with standard interfaces instead of costly fieldbus interfaces. The directly-connected sensors result in faster cycle times and shorter delays, enhancing closedloop controls. Small applications can be implemented without an external PLC. The option card has a has an encoder interface, eight switchable digital I/O, and four analogue inputs. www.parker.com Aerotech has added new features to its Automation1 motion control platform, including new CNC functions in the MachineApps programming module, and a 3D plotting extension for display in the data visualiser of the Studio configuration assistant. Release 2.7 of the Automation1 MDK (motion development kit) and iSMC (intelligent software-based motion controller) also integrates Aerotech’s recent XA4 -PWM low-cost single- and multi-axis servodrives. Innovations in the MachineApps tool allow users to create customised interfaces in a “revolutionary” way, without coding and without extensive programming knowledge, cutting development times from months to days. https://uk.aerotech.com The Danish motion controls manufacturer JVL Industri Elektronik has added a range of captive-rod actuators to its MIL series of electric linear actuators. Available in the UK from Mclennan, the MIL17x/23x captive ballscrew actuators provide an all-in-one linear positioning technology based on JVL’s Nema-17 and -23 frame ServoStep integrated motors, and offering linear speeds up to 125mm/s, stroke lengths from 12.7–127mm, thrust forces to 2200N, and linear accuracy to 0.05mm. Available with rolled ballscrew mechanics and a non-rotating guide rod in an enclosed support housing – or in external nut versions without a support housing for low axial loads – the actuators are built into the integrated motor in a couplingfree design. They offer a compact linear positioning system which includes precision motors, feedback encoders, drive electronics and motion and machine control electronics, with optional CANbus or Ethernet communications. There is a choice of leadscrew/rolled ballscrew pitches. Optional precision ballscrews are available. Mclennan www.mclennan.co.uk Captive-rod actuators offer all-inone precision motion control
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