June 2019

75 www.drivesncontrols.com June 2019 NEW PRODUCTS n DESIGN DATA AND MULTIMEDIA n App helps to commission and monitor drives wirelessly Mitsubishi Electric has launched a free app for commissioning, maintaining, troubleshooting, parameterising and monitoring its FR-F800E and FR-A800E inverters. Available from the Apple App Store for iOS tablets and smartphones, the Inverter StartApp connects to the drive via a wireless LAN, allowing users to scan and interrogate the drives online or offline. The former is useful for commissioning and maintenance. Users can test and monitor drive operation, read and write parameters, and view alarm histories. They can initiate start/stops of connected motors (in jog or continuous modes) and change their frequency. From a parameter screen, you can read and write parameters and export parameter lists. In a “monitoring”mode, the app shows real- time graphs of frequency, current, voltage and speed, which can be captured for analysis or exported as CSV files. An “alarm monitoring” screen displays the alarm history, with explanatory comments. Clicking on an alarm reveals possible causes and troubleshooting advice. https://gb3a.mitsubishielectric.com Reports survey the state of the IIoT and AR markets PTC , the industrial software developer in which Rockwell Automation took a $1bn stake last year, has released a pair of survey-based reports as part of its 2019 State of Industrial Innovation series. The first looks at the Industrial Internet of Things market and concludes that this will be a “breakout”year for the IIoT as companies seek to improve operational effectiveness, and cut costs and risks. The second report finds that 68% of industrial companies are accelerating the deployment of augmented reality (AR) to improve productivity, with applications focusing on enhancing the delivery of instruction, guidance and training. The aim is to“optimise”the workforce in the face of growing skills shortages. http://b.link/iiot72 http://industrial.enterprises/augmented2 Track system configurator speeds the design process HepcoMotion has announced a product configurator for its PRT2 track system, which is said to make the design process easier and quicker. The configurator allows designers to configure a track systemwhich can then be imported into their assembly. Designers no longer need to download all of the components separately, build the assembly, andmate the parts together. Track systems containing up to 17 segments or slides can be configured, and carriages and bleed lubrication incorporated. Models can be exported as complete assemblies in a choice of file formats, allowing users to check details such as hole positions, machine clearances and fixture details. www.hepcomotion.com System integrator’s Web site includes Industry 4.0 hub The systems integrator Boulting Technology has relaunched its Web site with new content and resources to help educate visitors about Industry 4.0. The site includes a resources tab covering topics ranging from the causes of PLC failures, to protecting plants against computer viruses. The hub will be updated continuously with new content. There is also an Industry 4.0 Insights blog containing articles on topics such as plug-and-play technologies and predictive maintenance. Subscribers can receive the blog directly by signing up for email updates. www.boultingtechnology.co.uk Cable product finder adds service life calculator igus has extended its readycable online cable finder to include a calculator that predicts the service lives of drives cables in energy chains. The user enters application parameters, such as speed, acceleration and operating temperature, and tool suggests suitable cables with their prices. With another click, a cable can be added to a shopping cart for ordering, with shipping available from 24 hours. The tool allows designers, looking for flexible cables for e-chains, to choose a cable from more than 4,200 types, complying with standards from 24 drive manufacturers. They simply enter an igus or manufacturer part number, or select the name of the manufacturer from a menu. An overview outlines the various cable specifications, such as PUR, PVC or TPE outer jacket, including bend radius and travel length. https://www.igus.co.uk/readycableProduct nder Configurator creates customised heavy-duty connectors Phoenix Contact has announced an online configurator for designing heavy-duty connectors in a few steps. The Heavycon configurator helps to create designs using 2D and 3D representations. After choosing a connector type, the tool suggests components that match it. Using filter menus and drag-and-drop functions, you can achieve an error-free configuration. The tool suggests housings and fixed-position or modular contact inserts that are used to transmit data, signals, and power, or for pneumatic applications. Visualisation is provided via a real-time 3D display. The configured design can be exported to a CAD system, forwarded, or placed in a shopping cart. Users can call up the configuration later using a personal ID. www.phoenixcontact.co.uk Components catalogue adds 1,000 new products Following Essentra Components’ acquisition of Micro Plastics in 2017 and Nolato Hertila in 2018, it has increased its range to 35,000 products and produced a catalogue that contains more than 1,000 new items. The catalogue includes products such as fasteners, caps and plugs, cable management systems, as well as connector and hinge protectors, and is aimed at manufacturing and installation-based industries ranging from electronics to automotive, and from HVAC to hydraulics. Essentra has more than a billion parts available ex-stock, most of them sold under its own name. www.essentracomponents.com sales@essentracomponents.com Hydraulic handbook includes 100 reference pages Lee Products has published the twelfth edition of its Technical Hydraulic Handbook – a catalogue running to more than 800 pages that includes around 100 pages of engineering reference information to help in the design and analysis of fluid systems. There are two new sections covering combination and shut-off valves, and positive displacement pumps, as well as 46 new products, an expanded section on custom capabilities, and updated introduction and installation sections. Valves covered include pressure relief, shuttle and solenoid types. The handbook comes with a flash drive containing an indexed PDF file of the book, with links to Lee’s Web site. www.leeproducts.co.uk/request_information.htm