June 2020

46 June 2020 www.drivesncontrols.com n DESIGN DATA AND MULTIMEDIA Wago has released a White Paper looking at the lifecycle costs, and installation and performance advantages of screwless connectors compared to traditional screw connections. It is estimated that poor connections in terminal blocks account for almost half of all system failures. The paper, Going screwless –Why the end of the screw could be near for panel builders , outlines how, by using screwless connectors, panel-builders and OEMs can: speed installation; cut lifecycle and maintenance costs; and guarantee performance. Clive Humphrey, Wago’s interconnection product manager, argues that switching to screwless connectors“makes real business sense… Not only does it provide a proven, reliable and simple conductor connection, it eliminates ongoing maintenance by removing the need to continually recheck if connections have loosened over time. It also vastly reduces the wiring time, with studies showing that screwless technology is up to 264% quicker to install than screw clamp technology.” www.wago.com/gb Mister Automation offers tips and tricks on TIA Portal Siemens is developing a series of videos offering tips and tricks for users of its TIA Portal platform. The videos are presented by Tobias Schuh, who is said to knowTIA Portal like the back of his hand and is dubbed“Mr Automation”. They will be available onYouTube and the TIA (Totally Integrated Automation) Portal Web site. They can also be shared via social media channels. The videos will include presentations by experts, recordings of live demonstrations, and visits to Siemens departments. Schuh will also present information on innovations, as well as shortcuts and tricks to get better results fromTIA Portal. Users can learn how to use the Portal more effectively, thus boosting productivity. https://drivesncontrols.news/tzv6c BPMA relaunches skills its development Web sites The British PumpManufacturers Association (BPMA) has refreshed and relaunched two of its skills developmentWeb sites, making them easier for users to access, and providing a simpler, more intuitive online experience and greater synergy with the BPMA’s corporate identity. The association’s e-Learning and Certified Pump Systems Auditors (CPSA) sites have been updated and brought into line with the main BPMAWeb site. www.bpma-cpsa.co.uk www.bpma-elearning.co.uk Online services help engineers working from home Eplan is offering a package of online services to support engineers working from home. The package includesWebcasts offering practical support on key topics, online training courses from the Eplan Training Academy, and remote consultations and meetings with experts via video conferencing. There is a one-hour Webcast covering remote working and offering practical support to help users adapt to their newworking environments. It covers remote access to Eplan software, VPN connections to company networks, and cloning master data. A secondWebcast covers topics such as automation in panel-building and switchgear system engineering, PLM integration, and macro technology. www.eplan.co.uk Is the end of the screw near for panel-builders? Guide examines impact of controls on building energy efficiency Buildings account for more than 40% of global energy consumption, and rarely perform as well as expected. To help tackle this problem, the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) has released a technical guide that assesses the impact of building automation and controls (BACs) on the energy efficiency of buildings. The guide, The Impact of Controls on the Energy Efficiency of Buildings , focuses on the British and European standard, BS EN 15232-1:2017, and is intended to help manufacturers and systems integrators to understand the standard and improve the energy performance of the buildings they work on. The guide can be downloaded from the Resources section of the BCIA’sWeb site. www.bcia.co.uk Guide helps to choose cable management systems Essentra Components has published a free step-by- step guide that takes design engineers through the process of choosing cable management systems and components. The updated guide examines cable protection and management, including the use of colour coding, and discusses environmental concerns, as well as broader installation requirements and questions of life expectancy. The simple strategies apply to components such as grommets, ties, bushings, clamps, glands and clips. https://drivesncontrols.news/r5qxe White Paper examines limits of block- matching for reconstructing 3D depths Chromasens , the German linescan machine vision specialist, has published aWhite Paper that provides a critical overview of block-matching in height reconstruction for passive 3D stereoscopy. The free 28-page paper, Limitations of block-matching algorithms on depth reconstruction , describes the causes of different height estimation artefacts that can occur when using this technique. Block-matching is used for 3D height measurement when surfaces have a distinctive texture and smooth height changes. The algorithm assumes that the object height relative to the camera is constant, but this is not always true, resulting in anomalies in the reconstructed heights. https://drivesncontrols.news/ft6n8 App rates the risks of networks and automation assets Rockwell Automation has released an app designed to help operations managers, plant floor staff, and IT/OT professionals to gauge levels of operational risk in their infrastructures. The Assessment Hub app covers networks, automation assets and cybersecurity, and is aimed at making managers more aware of the increased level of risks associated with the expansion of connected workspaces and smart manufacturing. Available for Android and iOS, the app asks a series of questions before delivering a low-, medium- or high-risk rating, relative to industry best practice. The app is intended to act as the starting point for more thorough plant assessments. It is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play. www.rockwellautomation.co.uk