AxialPower enhanced stepper linear actuator.

ElectroCraft enhanced series linear actuators have been available in a NEMA11 frame size for several years but are now being offered in both NEMA17 and NEMA23 frames for greatly enhanced performance capabilities. In addition to multiple frame sizes, motors can be configured in different lengths and winding options to produce the needed motor torque and speed output.

While the enhanced series offers 50% more output force than similar sized offerings, they also realize similar benefits in total life of product and ultra-long-term reliability.

“ElectroCraft’s unique motor and integrated leadscrew designs offer industry-leading linear force per frame size while providing superior precision, speed and efficiency,” notes Scott Rohlfs, Director of Product Marketing, “These new actuators are ideal for a wide variety of medical and laboratory applications including precision metering pumps, mass spectrometers, gas & liquid chromatography systems, medical imaging systems, sample handling and dispensing systems, allowing equipment manufacturers to reduce product footprints while significantly increasing performance.”

@ElectroCraftInc @MepasIntpr #PAuto #Motion

Safe enclosure!

The new Rittal VX25 large enclosure system offers electrical engineering companies significant added value thanks to its technical features, ease of assembly and high levels of safety. Now, all the benefits of the VX25 are also available in stainless steel and NEMA 4X versions. This way, Rittal is making its innovation fit for the highest demands in terms of corrosion protection and to meet demanding conditions that involve dust, as well as splashes and jets of water.

This is now available in a 100% stainless steel version to meet the highest demands for corrosion resistance. In addition to the frame structure, doors, panels and the gland plate, all the external parts such as 180° hinges and comfort handle variants are also made of stainless steel.

While the sheet steel and stainless-steel enclosure types have IP 55 and NEMA 12 protection categories as default, the optional NEMA 4X version with its corresponding IP 66 category protection offers increased protection. This means that the electrical and electronic equipment in the VX25 is reliably protected against dust, water splashes and jets, even under demanding conditions.

In order to achieve the high NEMA 4X protection category, the enclosure had to undergo a water jet test, among other things. This procedure (“hose-down” test), in which all gaps with seals were examined for leaks using a jet of water with a flow rate of over 240 litres per minute for a test period of 40 min/30 s (6 mm/s per seal length), confirmed that no water could penetrate the enclosure under comparable conditions. Furthermore, the test procedure includes a check of the dust protection, corrosion resistance, and protection against damage caused by external ice formation.

The almost identical design of the two VX25 enclosure types means that the engineering of the interior can be transferred a 100 percent from the stainless-steel enclosures to the NEMA 4X enclosures. This way, electrical engineering companies can save both time and money in engineering.

When VX25 stainless steel enclosures also need to be equipped with energy-efficient cooling technology for applications in demanding environments, the new Blue e+ cooling units in stainless steel are now also available to electrical engineering companies.

@Rittal #PAuto 

NEMA compliance for RTUs.

Red Lion Controls' multi-carrier 4G LTE Sixnet® series RAM® 6000 and 9000 industrial cellular RTUs have earned NEMA TS2 section 2 compliance, which validates industrial equipment for use in Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS) applications. By providing an easy upgrade path for ITS environments without communication or unreliable landline options, Red Lion’s industrial RTUs enable system integrators, municipalities, engineering firms and network integrators to benefit from easy-to-deploy cellular connectivity.

“With the RAM 6000 and 9000 industrial cellular RTUs receiving NEMA TS2 compliance, ITS engineers now have the option of industry-leading communications equipment that operates reliably in outdoor environments,” said Colin Geis, Director of Product Management, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) at Red Lion Controls. “Our rugged RTUs feature some of the widest environmental specifications for operation in harsh environments. Together with the benefits of multi-carrier 4G LTE support, the RAM 6000 and 9000 are able to reliably help serve the critical area of traffic safety.”

ITS applications often include remotely located overhead message boards, road condition and speed zone signs, traffic lights, intersection monitors and collision avoidance systems that require around-the-clock, low-latency network access. The high-bandwidth and industrially-hardened qualities of Red Lion’s RAM RTUs support reliable communication with remote sites – even those that may change in location such as mobile traffic trailers. Also supported is monitoring of multi-service applications that may include video cameras and traffic intersection monitoring. In addition, the rugged characteristics of RAM cellular RTUs support wide temperature ranges and high shock/vibration tolerance to protect against challenging outdoor environments.

Red Lion’s industrial cellular RTUs are ready-to-deploy remote monitoring and control devices that enable customers to reliably connect, monitor and control equipment in industrial environments from nearly any location. RAM industrial cellular RTUs also feature an easy-to-use event engine that can locally trigger I/O or send SMS text messages based on real-time operational data. With multi-carrier 4G LTE support, RAM RTUs provide high-bandwidth communication over cellular networks to allow customers to select the best connectivity for their applications.

See also our story: Multi-carrier cellular RTUs are safe for use in hazardous environments. (6/4/2016)

• Red Lion products are marketed in Ireland through Instrument Technology.