What’s New

What’sNew

Express Air clamping system

Punch changeovers on a traditional clamp can cause considerable down time, leading to decreased productivity. The Express Air clamping system for European-style press brake tooling seats and clamps in seconds with the push of a button. It offers front and back clamping so set-ups and changeovers are faster than ever. The Express Air clamping system is a sectionalised punch clamp powered by standard shop air. Each section seats and clamps punches securely to the front and back of the beam, either remotely with the touch of a button or manually with the flip of a switch. Clamp sections are hardened with Nitrex surface treatment to 70 HRC for increased strength and durability. Sectionalised clamping offers maximum flexibility as sections can be pushed together for a solid beam or separated with gaps for box bending. Clamps are interchangeable with most original equipment manufacturer (OEM) holders for gradual transition to air power using several holders or all at once with holders for the entire length of the beam. Adding a clamping system to your press brake can reduce setup and changeover time.

Company: Sheetmetal Tooling Tech Phone: (02) 8004 7027 Web: www.tooltech.com.au

A new embedded computer for high intensity applications

Backplane Systems Technology is excited to present the new POC-500 series of ultra-compact embedded computers with 4x PoE+, 4x USB 3.0, and MezIO interface. The POC-500 series models are a set of next-generation ultra-compact embedded controllers offering performances never before seen in this kind of form factor. Featuring an AMD Ryzen Embedded V1000 4-core/ 8-thread processor, the POC-500 delivers up to three times the CPU performance of prior POC-series models. As for GPU performance, it delivers 3.6 TFLOPS in FP16 for an ultra-compact form factor embedded controller. Additionally, it manages to incorporate an M.2 2280 NVMe SSD to support four times the disk read/write speed of typical 2.5 inch (6.35cm) SATA SSDs. This new series continues the ingenious DIN-rail mounting mechanical design trend of previous POC-series models and offers a wealth of front-accessible I/O. Measuring just 63 x 176 x 116mm, it has 4x PoE+ ports, 4x USB 3.0 ports, and 4x COM ports. Best of all, all data ports come with a screw-lock mechanism so you can rest assured that cables are always secured. The POC-500 series models are available in two CPU variants: the V1807B (45W) variant is for high computing power demand, while the V1605B (15W) variant is designed for rugged fan-less operation. The arrival of the POC-500 series signals a new breed of ultra-compact embedded controller with better I/O design, extraordinary ruggedness, and significantly more CPU/GPU oomph for versatile applications.

Company: Backplane Systems Phone: (02) 9457 6400 Web: www.backplane.com.au

High bandwidth operational amplifier

Mouser Electronics now stocks Texas Instruments’ (TI) OPA855 8-GHz Operational Amplifier. The decompensated amplifier is designed as a wideband, low-noise, bipolarinput operational amplifier. The amplifier is appropriate for use in high bandwidth transimpedance and voltage amplifier applications. With eight GHz of gainbandwidth product, the OPA855 allows for high-gain configurations while ensuring wide closed-loop bandwidth. Minimising the total circuit input capacitance and enabling higherspeed designs is the low input capacitance of the OPA855, at 0.8pF for transimpedance amplifier (TIA) applications.Minimising noise contribution is the low input-voltage noise of 0.98 nV/√Hz of the amplifier. Additionally, the high slew rate of 2750 V/µs permits wide output voltage swings. The OPA855 utilises a package pinout which simplifies the layout of the feedback network while at the same time isolating pin-to-pin capacitance between the input and feedback connections. The unique design reduces the parasitic capacitance surrounding the amplifier’s feedback network, which enables highgain TIA designs for achieving wide bandwidth. Applications of the OPA855 could include optical time-of-flight systems, involving a time-to-digital converter, or the OPA855 can be utilised to drive a highspeed analogue-to-digital converted in high-resolution LIDAR systems, when augmented with a differential output amplifier.

Company: Mouser Electronics Phone: +852 3756-4700 Web: www.mouser.com

A non-invasive gas measurement solution

The KATflow 180 clamp-on flowmeter for gases is now available through AMS Instrumentation & Calibration. The ATEX-approved KATflow 180 is a non-invasive, clamp-on measurement device with the ability to measure gaseous flow at low pressures and even in metal pipes. Clamp-on measurement of gas has, typically, been limited to high pressures, plastic pipes and “ideal” installations. The KATflow 180 gives excellent results right down to atmospheric pressure. Not only that, but Katronic’s “Lamb wave” technology makes accurate measurement possible even in metal pipes, including steel. A gaseous medium dampens an ultrasonic signal far more than a liquid, making non-invasive flow measurement of gases far more difficult. The effect reduces as pressure increases, hence the five bar lower pressure limit at which conventional transit time measurements using shear waves can be made. Katronic’s “Lamb wave” transducers are excited at the resonant frequency of the pipe material, making the pipe wall act as both emitter and receiver of the ultrasonic pulses, multiplying the effective transducer area for a higher signal strength and a better signal to noise ratio. A stronger signal means that the KATflow 180 is better able to compensate for the attenuation of the gas, and Katronic have developed advanced signal processing techniques to analyse the measured data and deliver an accurate measurement. The KATflow 180 is able to measure in pipes from 25mm to 1.5m in diameter, with flow rates of 0.1 m/s to 75 m/s and pressures of 1 bar and up, with an unlimited maximum. It is designed to be capable of being mounted permanently in an ATEX Zone 1 or 2 hazardous area, with a robust housing and non-intrusive programming. Company: AMS Instrumentation & Calibration Phone: (03) 9017 822 Web: www.ams-ic.com.au

What’sNew

Skate Dock – loading and unloading solutions from ICA

A dock is utilised for the quick and efficient loading/unloading of product to and from trailer or container units. Automated dock loading and unloading systems are materials handling solutions that load or unload trucks and trailers automatically by using different kinds of conveyors, rollers, skates, docks, and drives. Automated dock loading and unloading usually requires two systems: a system in the trailer and a system inside the dock. When the trailer is positioned at the dock, the entire load is loaded or unloaded automatically. These systems are an essential component of a smooth and profitable logistics system and can be integrated into warehouse management systems, automated guided vehicles, and production lines. Skate Dock from ICA: • Associated with profiled floors in trailers and containers. • Removes the need for equipment associated with the logistics (trailer/ container) component. • Can be configured with both chain and slat arrangements for association with delivery/receivable conveyors. • Generally, associate with a hydraulically activated levelling unit. • The skate is essentially a finger which is extended/retracted into/out of a container/trailer and has airbags to raise or lower for integration within a profiled floor.

Company: ICA Phone: (03) 5440 5100 Web: icaust.com.au

MSA Magswitch no-touch tools

MSA Magnetics provide a wide range of tools to improve the safety, efficiency, and productivity of industrial operations in the metal fabrication, lifting, and woodworking industries. MSA Magnetics is the Australian distributor of the Magswitch range which have many advantages, such as safety through to down time. These switchable magnets have durability and speed on their side. More and more companies are looking to reduce hand injuries by prohibiting employees and contractors from using their hands to guide loads around their factory’s and trucks. As this “No-Touch” Policy has become mainstream, MSA Magnetics have been approached my many companies to supply No-Touch Tools for guiding steel objects under load. The No-Touch Tools allow the performer to work safer and more productive as the tools help save hand and back injuries. The line-up consists of: • Magswitch Extenda-Lifts: Allowing users to pick up and move hot, sharp, and dirty steel without bending over and using your hands. • Magswitch Hand Lifters: Ideal for small steel handling, dragging sheet, picking, placing and pulling parts out of burn table or handling scrap, without using your hands. • Magswitch MagDolly: This product has large solid rubber wheels and is suited to lift and carry sheet, pipe or any steel object over a greater distance. Again, no need to bend over or use your hands. The range does not end there. We are the industrial magnet experts. If your requirements have anything to do with magnets, we can provide the solution that works. Company: MSA Magnetics Phone: (02) 4272 8180 Web: www.magnetsalesaust.com.au

Industry 4.0 calls for flexible operator stations for remote access

Classic workstations and server units are increasingly giving way to virtualised solutions that provide connected, intelligent, and swift computing and storage capacities, allowing companies to transition to Industry 4.0. These new solutions are far more easily scalable with lower costs and maintenance requirements. Distributed control systems and cloud applications, that can handle rapid increases in data, running on virtual machines enable flexible remote access to a wide range of systems – from process automation to condition monitoring, and maintenance programs through to tracking and management systems. As far as operating systems are concerned, conventional kernel-based virtual machine (KVM) systems have reached their limits here. Modern thin clients optimised for industry, such as those from R. Stahl, are replacing them.

Classic variants with connection problems The classic variant of the fixed connection of an explosion-protected humanmachine interface (HMI) system with a workstation in safe areas is still a common sight in the process industry. This comprises a remote terminal that is connected to a KVM box via a copper or fibre optic (FO) cable. The KVM box, in turn, is connected to the keyboard, video, and mouse interfaces of a PC workstation in order to transfer screen data to the remote terminal and the inputs made via the keyboard and mouse to the computer. With optic cables, this means that long transmission paths of up to 2 km can be covered. Current USB standards such as USB 3.0 or 3.1 are difficult to fulfil in such concepts since the connected USB devices such as keyboard, mouse or touchscreen fail due to interferences in the industrial environment and may make it necessary to restart the host. In addition, the systems lack the flexibility to be integrated seamlessly into higher network levels.

To connect operating and monitoring systems in the field closely to the process control technology and higher network levels, operator stations are therefore needed which are capable of connecting to a wide range of server architectures, including virtual machines and automation in the cloud.

Future-proof Industry 4.0 solution Thin clients provide a compact, energy efficient, and low maintenance solution for operation in the process industry, from the control centre to the field. The most important requirement is IT security. Thin clients should therefore be closed, tamper-proof systems that can only be parameterised using passcodes. Security features such as the Unified Write Filter and HORM (Hibernate Once / Resume Many) increase system stability and provide higher fail-safe functionality in industrial environments. Redundant Ethernet interfaces with automatic reconnection and change-over to redundant server ensure failsafe operation. It should only be possible to call up applications of third party providers – such as browsers, those allowing the integration of camera images or Citrix – securely in Kiosk mode. In addition to the features mentioned above, the systems must be easily and ergonomically configurable.

The thin clients from R. Stahl have been specially developed for the process industry with the above specifications and are universally acceptable. They are available both in versions for standard industry use and in explosion-protected device variants certified according to ATEX and IECEx. Variants in a hygienic design that are suitable for clean rooms are also available. The “industrial grade” Remote HMI V5 firmware, based on the Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB operating system, enables rights management with tiered access rights to programs and applications stored centrally or in the cloud. The clearly structured user-friendly operating interface with virtual keyboard and touchfriendly operation offers variable display options for multi-session and dual-screen display. The Remote HMI V5 firmware supports process visualisation and system operation via remote control on PC workstations, virtual server structures and cloud-based applications. To do this, the firmware controls all common remote protocols – including the latest RDP version 10.2 and VNC 5.3 – and thus ensures flexible access by any HMI station to virtual or real workstations in a network. Using KVM-over-IP technology, older PCs or required KVM connections can be incorporated into the network architecture. In addition to the Windows-based operating system, Linux-compatible versions can also be supplied with ThinManager via PXE Boot or IGEL OS.

Thin clients: a contemporary system Conventional KVM systems can no longer cope with the expansion of automation, electronics and information and communications technology. Thin clients have therefore become the contemporary solution for flexible and secure access to distributed control systems and applications via servers, virtual machines or cloud services. The Exicom 500 Series from R. Stahl provides streamlined, future-proof systems for field operation in the hazardous and non-hazardous areas, which interact with a wide range of control systems and network architectures and ensure optimum availability and system integrity.

Company: R. Stahl Phone: (02) 4254 4777 Web: www.stahl.com.au