February 2020

61 www.drivesncontrols.com February 2020 NEW PRODUCTS n Inmoco has launched a multi-axis system from Kollmorgen, designed to simplify control engineering for machines with large numbers of axes. The MKD system has a central power supply and uses a common DC bus to power axis drives. Distributed drives can also be connected. This hybrid part-centralised, part-distributed architecture allows the main drives for conveyors, presses and other large loads to be on the central supply, while ancillary functions, such as gates and grippers, can have their own distributed power supplies. The MKD is said to reduce wiring, save control cabinet space, and simplify maintenance, retrofitting and redevelopment. The system is based on Kollmorgen’s MKD-C power supply and MKD-N servodrive. The axis modules are available from 6– 48A, as are the supplies. The system can also be used with other Kollmorgen products such as its AKD-N decentralised controllers. It can incorporate external supercapacitor energy storage, ensuring that braking energy is not lost as heat. Instead this energy is buffered, reducing a machine’s energy consumption. Energy storage can also reduce the peak load on the supply network, enhancing operation in areas with poor power supplies. Inmoco 01327 307600 www.inmoco.co.uk Fluke has announced an entry- level thermal imaging camera which blends visible and infrared images to help pinpoint a problem. The handheld Fluke TiS20+ camera is designed to make troubleshooting quicker and easier. Using Fluke’s IR-Fusion technology, a thermal image is overlaid on a visual image. By sliding a finger across the screen, the infrared level is adjusted. The camera has a 3.5”touchscreen, with a 120 x 90 pixel infrared resolution. It is designed to withstand a 2mdrop, and is water- and dust-resistant to IP54. It also has the longest-ever battery life in a Fluke thermal camera – more than five hours of continuous use. A sleepmode prolongs the battery life between inspection points. The TiS20+ is compatible with Fluke Connect, allowing users to record and share thermal images in real time via their smartphones or tablets, and to upload them to the cloud. Desktop software allows reports to be created“in minutes”, while capturing radiometric data to support maintenance programmes. Fluke 0207 942 0700 www.fluke.co.uk SKF has announced a portable induction heater that, it says, makes the hot-mounting of bearings and other parts, fast and safe. The TWIM 15 bearing heater is claimed to be more convenient to use than others. It has a flat induction plate that does not need a support yoke, and it can heat a variety of bearings and components, including sensitive items such as bearings with reduced clearance. The induction heater produces alternating magnetic fields that create currents in bearings or workpieces, heating them through the Joule effect. The increase in temperature causes the material to expand, allowing the bearing to be mounted without friction or force. After its temperature drops, the bearing contracts to its original size and creates an interference fit with the shaft. This process is said to reduce the risk of damage to the bearing, shaft and operator, compared to other heating methods such as oil baths or open flames. To prevent overheating, the TWIM 15 is fitted with a temperature probe, smart electronics and software designed to optimise the heating process. The operator simply places the bearing in the middle of the heater and connects the temperature probe to the top of the inner ring or bore. With the push of a button, the bearing is heated to the required temperature. SKF www.skf.com/uk Induction heater makes it faster to mount bearings safely Thermal imaging camera simplifies troubleshooting Multi-axis system has a hybrid centralised / distributed architecture ABB has announced its smallest, lightest robot to date. The new IRB 1100 machine weighs 20% less, has a 10% smaller footprint, and will cut cycle times by 35% compared to previous models, thus boosting productivity. It also offers “best- in-class repeatable accuracy”. The robot, designed for fast, accurate assembly of small parts, is available in two variants: one with a 4kg payload and a 475mm reach; the other with the same payload and a 580mm reach. It is aimed, in particular, at manufacturers in the semiconductor, pharmaceutical and electronics sectors, that need to handle small and often delicate parts, while working at speed and maintaining both high productivity and quality. ABB plans to certify the new robot for cleanroom applications. The robot has a slimmer body than previous generations, allowing it to be deployed flexibly in confined spaces and into existing automation lines. It also allows more flexible handling of heavy loads using complex tools or end-effectors. The IRB 1100 is also among the first of a new generation of ABB robots based on a flexible design that will help to introduce a wider variety of robot sizes and variants. There is also a new controller, called OmniCore, equipped with advanced motion control capabilities, making it ideal for supporting rapid assembly, pick- and-place and materials- handling applications. ABB www.abb.com/robotics ABB’s smallest, lightest robot promises 35% faster cycle times