Control Automation

Hi, Bit of a late one, but in case it helps. With gateways like this, the cause is often not the network but too many masters or too fast a poll rate. If the HMI and the BMS both poll the D50 at the same time, and the BMS polls every second, the gateway can start dropping connections. I'd check how many simultaneous Modbus TCP connections the D50 allows.

SMC has expanded its CQE Series High Power Type compact cylinders with new bore sizes, longer stroke options, and intermediate strokes in 1 mm increments. The series uses a polygonal piston to provide up to 1.5 times the theoretical output of similarly sized CQ2 cylinders, with each CQE size offering the theoretical piston area of the next larger bore.

Technical selection note: a compact sorting gate needs separate checks for actuator force, motion control and electrical supply. For a hypothetical 20 mm bore cylinder at 5 bar gauge pressure, extension force is about 157 N before friction and opposing-chamber pressure are included. That is not the available force at a pivoting gate: linkage geometry and the package contact point matter. Retraction requires the rod-side effective area. Use guides or appropriate pivots to carry side loads.

I'm researching how people source obsolete/legacy industrial automation parts. For example: discontinued Allen-Bradley PLCs, Siemens S7-300/S7-400 modules, old HMIs, drives, etc. When a production line goes down and you need a specific part urgently: -> Where do you usually look first? -> How many suppliers do you typically contact? -> What's the biggest problem: price, availability, lead time, trust/counterfeits, finding the exact revision, something else?

Machine vision systems use complex parameters and vision tools to inspect images of parts or assemblies for presence, flaws, and even text. Incorrectly configured parameters can prevent a vision inspection system from operating reliably. Keyence recently announced a new vision sensor that uses AI to aid in the development of vision parameters and speed up the training process. The company designed these new features to greatly reduce the learning curve for machine vision applications.

SICK’s SensingCam SEC200 combines industrial camera technology with 1D and 2D code reading for flexible identification and tracking on production lines. The 1.3-megapixel camera can read codes from multiple orientations and distances between 100 and 300 mm, while built-in Ethernet and USB connectivity simplifies integration with automation systems. A web server supports configuration, and LED and audible feedback helps operators verify scans.

Q: How should I select a pneumatic cylinder and 24 V power supply for a small packaging-line pusher? Start with the load and sequence, then check the interfaces. For the cylinder, establish the required force, stroke and cycle time. Calculate force using the pressure available at the actuator under operating conditions, allowing for friction and pressure losses. Retraction force is lower because the rod reduces the effective piston area.

Weidmuller USA recently released the DURAmax DC UPS, a compact 24 V uninterruptible power supply designed to keep PLCs, sensors, and other automation devices operating through power interruptions. Along with battery backup, the system provides USB-C configuration, real-time monitoring, LED status indicators, and battery management features.

Honestly, for someone who hates reading as much as I do, I’m shocked at the strange enjoyment I sometimes get when learning something new in the NEC or UL508 guide. Today, I was looking at a bus bar inside a VFD, and it made me wonder what the manual says about the various ways to connect wires. Today, the information will be drawn purely from the UL508 manual. If you are working under the guidelines of a different jurisdiction, there may be crossover, but no guarantees.

Fluke has expanded CalStudio with new automation and asset management capabilities for calibration laboratories, metrology teams, and service organizations. The cloud-based platform is designed to help labs manage procedures, records, customer requests, equipment, and business system connections without relying on custom software development. The CalStudio update targets laboratories dealing with disconnected systems, manual processes, compliance pressures, or limited staffing.