Air temperature

Rugged, weatherproof, Temperature Sensor

Omega’s new EWSE air temperature sensors offer the perfect solution for temperature monitoring outdoors or in demanding environments. With an ambient measurement range of -40 to +85 Deg C the sensors have a rugged 6mm diameter sheathed RTD probe housed in the centre of a 14mm outer protection tube which is drilled to improve airflow around the sensor. A four terminal connector block or 4-20mA transmitter is included in a tough aluminium alloy enclosure rated to IP65. A cable gland is fitted with IP68 rating suitable for cables from 2.5 to 6.5mm diameter. In stock and available immediately to buy on-line.

Indian support

New materials testing, training and
customer support centre opened

Lloyd Instruments has announced that its distributor in India, Hemetek Techno Instruments PVT. Ltd, has opened a new testing, training and customer support centre at its headquarters in Mumbai. This new centre will be used to provide application support to existing and future customers for Lloyd Instruments material testing machines and Chatillon® force measurement products, as well as offering machine and software operator training courses. It will also be used for extensive evaluation of all special grips, fixtures and accessories developed locally for materials testing.

Viraj Devasthale, Director at Hemetek said: “Customer satisfaction has always been at the forefront of Hemetek’s approach to business, and this new centre provides us with a facility to which we are proud to invite customers and prospective customers. Instrument maintenance, servicing and calibration is an important part of our post-sales support”, he continued. “This new facility will also be used by our calibration division, Hemshell Services, for training internal staff for servicing and customer support”.


Hemshell Services is accredited to ISO 17025-2005 for site force calibration of universal materials testing machines. Testing and calibration laboratories that comply with ISO 17025 also operate in accordance with ISO 9001. The scope of this accreditation is up to 10T capacity. Calibration certificates are supplied with all the necessary data together with evidence of traceability back to the calibration masters.

Calibration and certification services are also important for other plastics and polymer evaluation systems and Hemshell also offers temperature calibration and precision die, barrel calibration and certification services for the Davenport range of Melt Flow Indexers. Temperature calibration and certification and LVDT calibration and certification are also offered for PET Intrinsic Viscosity Testers.

Plug-in

New plug-in modules for PSM rails

Rittal has extended its Power System Module (PSM) range to allow the power consumption of individual servers and peripheral hardware to be measured per socket.

New plug-in modules for PSM rails record the individual currents for each socket and show the power consumption of the devices connected via three coloured LEDs on the right-hand side. A second LED on the left-hand side of the outgoing slots provides an overview of the overall power of the module. The presentation logic is automatically adjusted to the mounting position to rule out any misinterpretation.

Colour coding follows the traffic light principle: Green LEDs indicate that other equipment may now be connected safely. Amber indicates increased current on the module and before any other equipment is connected its’ installed load needs to be examined. Red indicates that another consuming device would trigger the overloading of the power supply. Values can also be viewed on a digital display enabling administrators to monitor the power consumption of every piece of equipment immediately.

In conjunction with the Rittal CMC-TC (Computer Multi Control Top Concept) sensor network, threshold values can be set and individual values, such as consumption data, can be centrally collected.

The new modules are available with six or eight slots, which can be switched individually via the network. On one PSM rail, up to three modules can be installed in 2,000 mm high racks or two in 1,200 mm enclosures. Mixed assembly with different modules is also possible.

Programming & Modbus

Enhanced productivity features make updating programs simpler, and add high accuracy modes and a new Modbus TCP Client/Server functionality

GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms has just announced the release of its latest VersaMax® Micro Plus controller firmware revision 4.0. The new release expands the controller’s applicability to an even wider range of applications by integrating some exciting new features and enhances the company's PLC family capability.

“With this release GE Fanuc has enabled the VersaMax Micro Plus to improve productivity, substantially expand communications connectivity, add high precision temperature sensing and increase the amount of devices that con be controlled with a low end controller,” said Bill Black, Controllers Product Manager for GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms. “The VersaMax Micro is a surprisingly powerful PLC for its size and price, and the new features add more functionality, keeping it at the forefront of its class of controllers.”

The new OnLine Programming feature enables the user to edit and download logic to the PLC without stopping it. Not requiring a PLC to come off line for changes saves significant downtime and potential expense for lost productivity and scrap. The OnLine programming streamlines debugging during machine commissioning and is ideal for applications that are continuous process.

The VersaMax Micro Plus has been enhanced to support Ethernet Modbus TCP Client and Server protocol. This powerful communication addition enables the Micro to handle a wide range of applications that historically required a more sophisticated control platform. A simple function block enables the Modbus TCP communications commands to be easily integrated into the users logic. Up to eight Modbus TCP channels are supported with one channel configured for Modbus TCP Client and the remaining are used for Modbus TCP servers.

“The Modbus TCP connectivity enables the Micro Plus controllers to address many complex applications that require the integration of variable frequency drives, motor control centers, SCADA and other Ethernet devices. In addition, security settings have also been added to minimize hacking into the controller,” he continued.

The new VersaMax Micro 4.0 firmware release also supports High Accuracy Thermocouple/Millivolt and RTD input Modules. The Thermocouple and RTD expansion units can now support the High Accuracy mode with 16-bit resolution. This provides higher precision in temperature monitoring and strain gauge applications.

Additionally, there are four new 64-point expansion modules that are compatible with the new Micro Plus controller, so the Micro Plus can support up to 320 I/O points. The high-density expansion modules enable the Micro Plus to be very cost effective for low-end applications.

PSU

Triple output linear power supply

Calex has announced the availability of the 3.15.1000 linear power supply. The 3.15.1000 provides a low noise, highly regulated +5 V and ±15 V output for a total of 8 W of output power. The rugged, epoxy potted construction of the 3.15.1000 makes the unit ideal for use in a wide variety of sensitive analogue circuitry applications utilising operational amplifiers, function modules and data conversion circuits.

The 5 V output of the 3.15.1000 provides up to 1 A and the ±15 V outputs provide up to ±100 mA. The output voltage accuracy is ±1.0%. Line and load regulation is ±0.2%. Noise and ripple is very low at 2 mV RMS. The 3.15.1000 can be powered by 100, 115, 220, 230 and 240 V AC. The model features foldback current limiting short circuit protection so the unit can be shorted indefinitely without damage. The case temperature operating range of the 3.15.1000 is -25ºC to +50ºC. The case size is 89 x 64 x 40 mm and uses an industry standard pin-out making the unit a suitable alternative for replacing problem or obsolete models from other manufacturers.

The 3.15.1000 is available with two optional mounting kits that provide solder lug or screw terminal connections. The MK215-022 provides solder lug connections and measures 109 x 108 mm. The MK215-08BDV provides screw terminal connections and measures 112 x 93 mm. Units are available from approximately four weeks. Contact us for pricing on the 3.15.1000 as well as the two mounting kits.

Calibration

Guide now available

Quality managers and others responsible to maintaining the integrity of temperature and/or humidity chart recorders or data loggers, can now download a comprehensive guide from Dickson to all aspects of instrument calibration.

Chapters of this online guide include:

Dickson Company and its web portal offer the world’s widest selection of data loggers and chart recorders to monitor temperature, humidity, pressure, or electronic signals.

Explanations of why calibrations are required

Review of calibration methods to choose from

A step-by-step guide to developing calibration schedules

“Before” Data considerations

Best fit applications for 1-point, 3-point and custom point calibrations

Glossary of calibration terms

Optional Calibration Club registration

Chris Sorensen, Dickson VP Sales and Marketing explains, “All instruments lose accuracy over time due to normal usage and the environmental conditions to which they are exposed. Periodic NIST certified calibrations maintain the accuracy of your instrument throughout its life. This guide is designed to make it very easy for users of chart recorders and data loggers to navigate the many choices in calibration approaches to find the one that is best-matched to their application requirements.”

PID tuning

Version 4 of PID Loop Tuning Pocket Guide

ControlSoft Inc.’s internationally acclaimed PID Loop Tuning Pocket Guide was created in 2002, and is now available in its 4th edition.

Providing engineers with a free and concise guide to tuning PID loops, this handy publication now includes tuning instructions for cascade loops and an expanded reference section on common controllers.

The 12-page guide can easily fit into a jacket or jeans pocket for handy on-the-job access.
Request a free copy of the latest version of ControlSoft’s Tuning Tips on their website.