TECHNOLOGY n 21 www.drivesncontrols.com February 2025 PNO – THE PROFINET User Organisation – has submitted a design for a Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) plug connector for international standardisation. It describes the development as “an important milestone that takes miniaturisation a decisive step forward”. It will bring “clarity, certainty, and unambiguity” to this topic, it adds. For years, the widespread adoption of SPE has been held up by competing, incompatible designs for connectors from dierent groups of manufacturers. One group, called the SPE Industrial Partner Network, is supported by Harting, TE Connectivity, Murrelektronik and Softing, among others. The second group, called the SPE System Alliance, includes Phoenix Contact, Weidmüller, Sick and Wieland among its supporters. PNO – part of the PI (Probus & Pronet International) umbrella organisation – believes that its new design for a harmonised SPE connector with a uniform pin connector pattern is “a step into the future” that will pave the way for a universal SPE standard. Its design oers a standardised mating face for applications inside control cabinets, in the eld, as well as for hybrid installations. PI says that “many” manufacturers have announced plans to start implementing the new design the near future. It is expected to take around a year before the standardisation is complete and connectors conforming to the new standard start to reach the market. PI adds that standardisation work on other levels of SPE communication – such as a power concept – is under way, allowing a consistent SPE system to be achieved across all layers. It will be possible to implement these designs for all SPE applications through the use of international standards, even at higher speeds and independently of Pronet over SPE. www.pro bus.com PNO declares that its SPE connector is ‘a step into the future’ NIDEC DRIVE TECHNOLOGY has launched a wave-motion reduction gear containing “the world’s thinnest and lightest torque sensor”, designed to avoid the usual trade-os between productivity and safety when adding safety functions to precision gearboxes. The Smart-Flexwave BD series reducers are designed to drive robot joints and other devices that need precision torque control. As the demand for cobots (collaborative robots) grows, so does the need for torque sensors, especially for contention detection and other safety functions. However, if conventional torque sensors are installed in a robot joint, they reduce its stiness while increasing its weight, thus aecting the arm’s performance. The new reduction gears are designed to address this trade-o between productivity and safety, helping to make cobots both productive and safe. The gearboxes deliver the safety required for cobots by duplicating the sensor system and conforming to the functional safety standards for industrial equipment. The torque sensor has received functional safety certication from TÜV SÜD. Nidec says it will help users to cut the time and costs they spend on developing robot systems. www.nidec.com/en/nidec-drivetechnology The PI/PNO Single Pair Ethernet system will cover other levels in addition to the physical connector Reduction gears contain world’s thinnest, lightest torque sensors Nidec’s Smart Flexwave BD gearboxes combine safety with precision torque control
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