Custom Controls Survey - Complimentary assessment, tips and tricks
We are conducting a brief survey on custom controls — that is, board-level controllers used in place of standard PLCs or process controls. If you use custom controls in your automation applications, please take a minute to tell us why you use them and what challenges you face. You may be eligible to receive a complimentary controls assessment, plus tips and tricks on how to lower your control costs.

Six Key Machine Control Challenges Solved
Rahul Kulkarni, Product Marketing Engineer, National Instruments
When designing your next-generation machine, cutting-edge technologies in control systems, software architectures, and electromechanical components differentiate your automation system from the competition. This article explores the top software and hardware challenges machine builders face today and offers a performance-driven approach to solving these challenges.

In a state of flex: specifying the correct continuous flex cable types
South Africa Instrumentation & Control, July 2008
Through the use of unique stranding and cabling techniques, and specially blended insulating and jacketing materials, continuous flex cables have reduced downtime on high-speed automated equipment.

Accessible automation
Process Industry Informer, June 2008
By Nick Brooker, SKF
Implementing an effective automation solution has never been easier thanks to the latest generation of electromechanical linear motion technology.

Will This Machine Work?
Control Design, June 2008
By Dan Hebert
There are many different ways to test and verify that your machine and its automation system will perform as intended prior to final fabrication, installation and commissioning. Each test method has advantages and disadvantages, and different machine builders employ disparate testing methodologies depending on particular circumstances.

Interlocking a matter of safety
InTech, June 2008
By Michael Carey
A common mistake when designing an automation system is to incorporate too many interlocks. Creating too many interlocks restricts the ability to operate the system when the system goes into abnormal operation.

Browse these and more articles and white papers on the Machine Control portal.

National Instruments offers 6,000 drivers for control
Instrument drivers make it easy for users to connect to and control stand-alone instruments from more than 275 vendors.

Omron STI publishes Machine Safety Engineering Guide
This 1500+ page two-volume set details Omron STI's complete family of machine and process safety solutions, and contains more than 225 pages of educational resource material.

Latest Version of EMC2 Available for free download
EMC2 is a software system for computer control of machine tools such as milling machines, cutting machines, robots, hexapods, etc. EMC2 is free software released under the terms of the GNU GPL (General Public License). EMC2 is a descendent of the original EMC software, which is in the Public Domain.

Parker publishes guide to Daedal positioning products
The 328-page, full-color guide covers linear motor-driven tables, screw-driven automation tables, miniature positioners, belt-driven automation tables and drives and controllers.

Zero-Max publishes three coupling catalogs
Catalogs cover CD Couplings, Control-Flex Couplings and Schmidt Couplings.

Browse these and more resources and literature on the Machine Control portal.

How to Control a 27-km-long Machine
Machine Design, May 2008
By Nipun Mathur, National Instruments
The largest machine in the world, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), covers parts of France and Switzerland and will cost a staggering $3.5 billion U.S. to design and build. The real difficulty is synchronizing collimators that can be 13 km away from each other with jaws that are synchronized to within 100 µsec and move with accuracies of ±10 µm.

Vishay installs Reel Optimizing System in European paper mill
The Reel Optimizing System uses strain gage-based load cells to improve roll density by controlling the nip force throughout the entire reel spool change-over process.

Mikron builds assembly system for Mega Pumps
Mikron helped Mega Pumps develop assembly, checking and testing systems that work within the tolerances and with minimum of scrap and rejection.

Relay Races to Forefront of New Design
Control Design, June 2008
By Barry Stringer, Solvere
MikroPul, in Charlotte, N.C., manufactures dust control and product recovery equipment. For its PulsePro EC baghouse control and monitoring system, MikroPul uses Siemens’ LOGO! programmable relay.

Integrator Uses Simulation to Close Design Loop
Control Design, June 2008
Maverick Technologies uses software emulation to help identify potential control problems upfront, shorten the machine’s start-up time, and provide a good platform for operator training.

Browse these and more application stories on the Machine Control portal.

How to Design IEC 61508-Compliant Hardware and Software
September 22-25, 2008 Natick, MA
Seminar covers safety engineering, IEC 61508 requirements, functional safety management, E/E/PES requirements, case studies, examples, and tools.

National Robot Safety Conference
October 6-9, 2008 Indianapolis, IN
Conference, exhibit and training course (we presume). No info at web site.

Understanding Motion Control Systems - AIT Training Course MCS110
3-Day Course - This practical course introduces engineering concepts of motors and drives that can be easily understood by both engineers and technicians unfamiliar with the technology and not accustomed to complex theory and mathematics.

OPC Training Seminars
The OPC Foundation and its sponsoring members will host a series of eight one-day training seminars. These free seminars are tailored for end-users, systems integrators and OEMs, and are designed to cover the fundamentals of OPC including Servers, Clients, OPC Data Access, OPC Unified Architecture, Best Practices and Compliance.

Browse these and more training and seminar opportunities on the Machine Control portal.

• Zaber introduces T-LS Linear Stage
• Danaher releases MechaWare mechatronic toolkit
• THK introduces SBK high-speed compact ball screw
• Stafford releases Accu-Clamp positioning shaft collar
• Advanced Machine & Engineering releases OTT/JAKOB drawbar monitor
• Elobau introduces J1 mini-joystick for industrial applications
• B&R introduces Generic Motion Control for CNC and robotics
• Haydon Switch releases 28000 series Size 11 Linear Actuator
• PI releases E-712 Digital Piezo Stage Controller for nanopositioning systems

Browse these and more Product Announcements on the Machine Control portal.

Search all Products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date.

ARC says Process Safety System market to grow 12%
The worldwide market, which is around $1.4 billion in 2007, is expected to grow 12% per year to over $2.5 billion in 2012.

ABB appoints Joseph Hogan CEO
Hogan is currently CEO of GE Healthcare and is a member of the GE Senior Executive Council. He will join ABB on September 1, 2008.

Which safety technologies protect the most machines?
Control Engineering, July 2008
Venture Development says the largest dollar volume shipments are in light curtains and electromechanical single-function relays. Over half the worldwide shipments of safety PLCs in 2007 were of those integrated with machine controllers.

ARC says PLC market to reach $12 billion by 2012
The PLC market reached nearly $9.0 billion in 2007 and is forecasted to grow to over $12 billion in 2012, according to a new ARC Advisory Group study.

Robotics experts wanted by the U.S. Department of Labor
The U.S. Department of Labor seeks Robotics Experts to provide information relating to the occupation for use in the Occupational Information Network.

Browse these and more company and organizational news on the Machine Control portal.

Lebedyansky installs Elettric 80 automation system
Process & Control Today, June 2008
Lebedyansky, the largest natural juice producer in Eastern Europe, ordered Freeway, a complete end-of-line automation solution, for its production and storage facility in Lebedyan, Russia. Elettric 80 will supply ten single line Eagle palletising robots, two Laser Guided Vehicles (LGVs) with a four pallet capacity, and two stretch wrappers.

Heason supplies position systems for ISIS facility
Process & Control Today, June 2008
ISIS uses neutron scattering as a non-destructive tool that can penetrate and reveal the molecular structure of materials using beams of neutrons and incredibly sensitive detectors. ISIS awarded a contract to Heason Technology to provide neutron beam modifying Jaw Packages for the Wish and nimrod instruments on its new Second Target Station.

Thyssen opts for Cognex vision
Control Engineering Europe, June 2008
In the last year, the Bremen site installed 120 In-Sight sensors. In the six years prior to that over 320 vision sensors, from the In-Sight product family and around 24 PC-based systems with VisionPro were integrated at the same site. The sensors are placed on robotic arms on the assembly line in order to verify engine motor assembly.

Honeywell to automate Finnish paperboard plant
Honeywell will provide its Experion PKS, Da Vinci Quality Control System, and motion controls to Stromsdal Oyj’s paperboard plant in Juankoski, Finland.

2008 Siemens Automation Summit
July 23 -25, 2008 Chicago, IL
The 2008 Siemens Automation Summit has presentations from industry experts and analysts, and customer case histories which detail the benefits of Siemens products.

International Manufacturing Technology Show
September 8-13, 2008 Chicago, IL
The largest and longest running manufacturing technology trade show in the United States, IMTS is ranked among the largest trade shows in the world. IMTS attracts over 90,000 visitors from every level of industry and over 40 countries.

Assembly Technology Expo
September 23-25, 2008 Rosemont, IL
Conference, training and exhibit dedicated to the entire assembly process.

Machine Safety Conference
September 30, 2008 Midlands, UK
Attendees will be afforded a comprehensive overview of machinery safety issues in the light of current and forthcoming standards, and will learn about their practical application through case studies. Delegates will also have the opportunity to discuss technologies and applications with organisations participating in the seminars and to browse the integrated exhibition.

The Exhibition for Processing and Packaging Machinery
September 30 to October 2, 2008 Birmingham, UK
The PPMA Show is the UK’s annual showcase for processing and packaging machinery. The exhibition provides the best opportunity to source, evaluate and purchase machinery, equipment and ancillary products & services for all your processing & packaging requirements.

PACK EXPO
November 9-13, 2008 Chicago, IL
PACK EXPO International will focus on the latest developments in packaging technology and will showcase exhibitors' state-of-the-art advances in packaging machinery, converting machinery, materials, packages and containers, and components.

Browse more industry events on the Machine Control portal.

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I hope you enjoyed this Machine Control update. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding the content in this e-newsletter or on Automation.com, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Rick Zabel
Vice President, Publisher
Automation.com

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