Latest Production Tech: AM Gear Motors, Balluff RFID Safety Switch & More

New products from Allied Motion, Balluff, Purple Robotics, Rockwell Automation and Siemens.

Allied Motion PMDC & Gear Motors

PMDC and gear motors. (Image courtesy of Allied Motion.)

Allied Motion has announced the Globe line of mil-spec-qualified fractional horsepower PMDC motors and gear motors. Modified versions – with specially machined mounting provisions, holding brakes, tachometers and/or encoders – are available within two to three weeks through the company’s QuickMod program.

Models range in size from 0.75 to 2.25 inches (19 – 57 mm) in diameter. Rated speed ranges from 2400 to 19200 RPM, with rated power from 3 W to 62 W. Planetary gearhead models are available with output torque rated to as high as 62 Nm (8800 oz-in).

For more information, visit Allied Motion’s website.

Balluff RFID Safety Guard Locking Switch

Non-contact RFID safety guard locking switch. (Image courtesy of Balluff.)

Balluff has released a non-contact RFID safety guard locking switch. The safety guard locking switch combines non-contact, coded-transponder safety technology with a mechanical solenoid locking function to create a system that meets the levels of safety required by international standards.This switch can be connected directly to the Balluff IO-Link safety I/O module or to any safety controller using a standard eight-pin M12 connector.

The device’s RFID technology couples sensors and actuators with a unique code and provides tamper-proof protection. This is combined with a rotating shaft and capstan handle which can be held locked in the closed position until the process has run down and stopped. The safety processing electronics and the OSSD outputs allow its use in applications requiring PLe (EN ISO 13849) and SIL 3 (IEC 61508) ratings.

For more information, visit Balluff’s website.

Purple Robotics Vacuum Gripper

PR10 vacuum gripper. (Image courtesy of Purple Robotics.)

Purple Robotics has launched the PR10, a vacuum gripper designed for complex manufacturing setups. With its double-grip function, the PR10 can handle several items in a single operation. It requires no external air supply, meaning there are no air hoses to manage, and the gripper works independently of changes in the pressure, cleanliness and availability of external air.

With round edges, the PR10 is intended for collaborative implementation alongside human workers, using any of Purple Robots’ three models. The PR10 is designed for a range of applications including pick-and-place, machine tending and palletizing.

For more information, check out the article Former Universal Robots Engineers Found Purple Robotics, Execute First Product Launch.

Rockwell Automation Distributed Control System

PlantPAx DCS in action. (Image courtesy of Rockwell Automation.)

Rockwell Automation has announced the latest release of its PlantPAx distributed control system (DCS). This version includes the ability to see contextualized information from plant assets. This system release also streamlines technological components to eliminate the complexity barrier for small to mid-sized operations seeking to implement a DCS. By consolidating servers into a single machine, applications can make use of the full functionality of a modern DCS.

PlantPAx features a library that supports electrical protection devices, utilizing both EtherNet/IP and IEC-61850 standards. Connecting electrical functions with control extends plant-wide integration, resulting in improved plant control.With the PlantPAx DCS, users can also define access rights both by role and area, providing security through authentication and access privileges.

For more information, visit Rockwell Automation’s website.

Siemens Low-voltage Motors

Simotics XP Chemstar motor. (Image courtesy of Siemens.)

Siemens has introduced the Simotics XP Chemstar, a line of explosion-proof low-voltage motors. The company has combined its Chemstar product range with the properties of its Simotics XP low-voltage motor platform. This generation of motors is available in a range from 0.25 to 500 kW covering the ignition protection spectrum for zones 1, 2, 21 and 22 in Ex db, Ex eb, Ex ec, Ex tb and Ex tc. The motors are constructed with a design comprising of an enclosure and bearing plates in grey cast iron and a fan cover in steel.

A number of pre-defined industry-specific options are available, such as special coatings with category C4 high-level corrosion protection, stainless steel screws and bolts or extended warranty periods which enable these motors to be used in the chemical or oil and gas sectors.

For more information, visit Siemens’ website.

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