NC control

Motion Logic from Bosch Rexroth is a close coupling between NC and PLC functionalities for high-flexibility cutting operations. The Rexroth MTC200 and ISP200 systems—marketed under the Indramat name until last year—offer a standardized and universal CNC and PLC control architecture that, with the WinPCL and WinMTC programming systems, includes a convenient interface for implementing functionalities. The fast sequence control with an NC contributes to reduced cycle times for handling systems in gantry-type production plants. Apart from pure logic functions, NC controls are also required for complex functions, including the application of sealants.

Hollow-shaft mounting

The TorqLOC from SEW-Eurodrive is a hollow-shaft-mounting system for the company's 7-Series reducers. The system offers interchangeable bushings for mounting SEW hollow-shaft gear-reducer products onto various-sized solid shafts. It eliminates the need to cut keyways or turn the solid shaft to exacting tolerances. Its compact design allows for mounting locations close to bearings or machine frames. The system is available in either electroless nickel or stainless steel for harsh environments.

OCR software

EconoCR optical character recognition (OCR) software from Concepts In Computing is compatible with several new environments and processors. Originally offered as a C++ library of OCR routines for Pentium-compatible PCs or machine vision implementation platforms running Microsoft Windows 9X or NT, an enhanced version of the software is available for National Instruments' LabVIEW environment. It is also available for implementation on products powered by Analog Devices' 21XX family of digital signal processors, Texas Instruments' TMS320C62XX family of DSPs, Motorola's PowerPCs, and Hitachi's SH4 processor. The software performs identification, matching, sorting, tracking, and verification of products as they move through various laboratory, manufacturing, or material-handling processes.

Machine tool catalog

RMT Technology has published a catalog on components for building special machine tools from its Standard Automatic product group. The 16-page catalog focuses on the self-contained hydraulic drill units, self-contained hydraulic way units, lead screw tap units, and mechanical ball screw quill units that are used in manufacturing. Power ranges are available from 1 to 20 hp (0.75 to 15 kW), depending on the unit. Other features include long working stroke, deep hole drilling with peck feed controls, controlled feed rates, and positive stop. Each unit can be mounted horizontally, vertically, or angled. The company also supplies machine bases, risers, slides, spindles, index tables, and coolant systems.

Metal spray process

Inovati has developed a low-temperature metal deposition technique, Kinetic Metallization (KM), that is capable of depositing fully dense, adherent coatings of a variety of metals on standard metal surfaces without expensive surface preparation. Coatings of pure copper, stainless steel, nickel, chromium, aluminum, niobium, and other metals (and alloys based on these metals) are possible on surfaces such as steel, aluminum, titanium, copper, brass, and more. Since the powders are deposited at temperatures well below their respective melting points, the coatings exhibit very fine grain size, thus avoiding heat distortion of the piece being coated and inter-diffusion of multi-layer coatings. The Australian Navy recently tested a KM-sprayed aluminum coating on a magnesium alloy that showed enhanced salt-fog corrosion resistance up to 168 h.

Electrical engineering design

Intergraph Corp.'s SmartPlant Electrical is a new software product for plant electrical engineering and designing, automating work processes, complying with corporate or project standards, and maintaining electrical data. Using the data-centric life-cycle approach, the software supports all modes of plant operations, from concept to design through startup and operations including maintenance, emergency, and shutdown. The Electrical Engineer window (left in image) displays a hierarchical view of the electrical distribution network, while the diagram windows display a single-line diagram (top, center) and part of an automatically generated motor schematic (bottom, center). The properties grid (right) shows the data associated with the selected item such as a motor.