THIS WEEK IN AUTOMATION: Industrial Robots, Angle Sensors and More

New products from ABB, AutomationDirect, CODESYS, Point Grey and Turck.

IRB 1660ID Compact Robot from ABB

ABB Robotics has introduced the IRB 1660ID, its latest compact robot for arc welding and machine tending applications.

The IRB 1660ID’s Integrated DressPack design makes it easier to program and simulate predictable cable movements than standard robots with externally routed cables. The decreased cable wear and damage that also results reduce maintenance costs by 50 percent and the compact footprint allows for more efficient robot cell layouts, saving valuable space on the factory floor.

To meet the growing demand for superior and even quality in arc welding applications, the IRB 1660ID features a stronger, more rigid upper arm, with a reach of 1.55m and a payload of 6kg. It is able to accommodate heavier weld torches and provides improved wire feeding control near the arc to guarantee high volume production.

This, combined with ABB‘s TrueMove technology and the new motion process “Accuracy mode,” provides 0.05mm path repeatability for greater welding results.

The Integrated DressPack allows the robot to move at maximum acceleration and speed, enabling fast and reliable movements ideal for machine tending applications. The risk of collision in confined spaces is also eliminated, and the combined 1,390° working range of axes 4, 5 and 6 provides greater agility inside CNC machines.

For more information, visit www.abb.com.

RHINO Industrial Power Supply from AutomationDirect

AutomationDirect’s RHINO PSB series of DIN rail power supplies now includes the PSB48-480S single-phase input, 48VDC output power supply.

The low-cost 480W power supply offers higher performance and reliability without all the additional features of higher-cost full-featured power supplies.

The power supply features removable finger-safe terminal blocks, output voltage status LED indicator, conformal coated circuit boards and approval for Class 1, Division 2 hazardous locations.

The aluminum housing easily installs with integral 35mm DIN rail mounting adapters. The power supply includes overload, overvoltage and thermal protection and is UL 508 listed, UL 60950 recognized, CSA certified, CE marked and RoHS compliant.

For more information, visit www.automationdirect.com.

SoftPLC systems from CODESYS

The manufacturer of CODESYS, 3S-Smart Software Solutions, now offers off-the-shelf SoftPLC systems for standard platforms in the CODESYS Store.

New to the product range is a SoftPLC for the BeagleBone Black. This popular board is ideal for use in the industrial environment, as opposed to other embedded platforms such as the Raspberry Pi which also has an available CODESYS SoftPLC.

The onboard CAN interface in combination with the CANopen stack (also included with the SoftPLC) turns the system into a CANopen master.

Moreover, the SoftPLC supports Ethernet-based fieldbus systems such as EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, and PROFINET. Therefore, the board does not need any additional hardware in order for it to act as a master, a scanner, or a controller in the network.

With the OPC UA server integrated in the SoftPLC, the system is turned into an Industry 4.0-capable communication server that also processes control tasks. Users can extend the SoftPLC with desired functions by means of add-on products from the CODESYS Store.

For more information, visit www.codesys.com.

Blackfly S Industrial Cameras from Point Grey

Point Grey, a provider of performance digital cameras for industrial and scientific applications, announced the release of Blackfly S, a family of USB3 Vision and GigE Vision cameras designed to meet complex imaging requirements.

The Blackfly S is designed for a variety of applications such as display or PCB inspection, microscopy, robotics, 3D scanning, intelligent traffic systems and many more.

The first two Blackfly S models shipping feature a 29 mm ‘ice cube’ case and a USB 3.0 interface:

  • The 5 MP Blackfly S BFS-U3-51S5 model uses the Sony Pregius IMX250 global shutter CMOS sensor, featuring 2448 x 2048 image resolution at 75 FPS.
  • The 1.3 MP Blackfly S BFS-U3-13Y3 model uses the ON Semi PYTHON 1300 global shutter CMOS sensor, featuring 1280 x 1024 image resolution at 175 FPS.

Additional Blackfly S models with both USB 3.0 and GigE interfaces will be introduced later this year, including 9 and 12 MP resolution Sony Pregius sensors, low read noise Sony Starvis sensors and Point Grey’s camera with a 20 MP Sony Exmor R sensor.

For more information, visit www.ptgrey.com.

RI360-DSU Angle Sensors from Turck

Turck has recently announced two extensions of their inductive angle sensors for rotary actuators.

The RI360-DSU angle sensors provide customers with a rotary valve sensing solution ideally suited for harsh environments; one includes a stainless steel Minifast connector and the other, using a terminal chamber, provides customers with ATEX and IECEx approvals.

Utilizing the inductive resonant circuit measuring principle and introducing an innovative open face sensor design for rotary valve sensing, the RI360-DSU open faced inductive angle sensors deliver analog or discrete outputs and provide flexible mounting options.

Turck’s RI360-DSU inductive angle sensors are able to monitor quarter turn valves and three-way valves, while also detecting the valve position during cleaning cycles. Additionally, the sensors are capable of detecting the wear of seals, thus saving downtime from seals that are worn from switching cycles. For flexible operation, the sensors are available with switching or analog outputs.

Featuring a protection rating of IP67 and a rugged, compact housing design, the RI360-DSU sensors provide a wear-free sensing solution in harsh applications. The sensors provide performance in temperatures ranging from -25° to +75° C (-13° to 167° F) (EXI version limited to +70° C / 158° F), making them suitable for a wide range of applications, including valve automation, steering position feedback and dancer arm control.

The RI360P1-DSU35TC-ELI-EXI is available with ATEX and IECEx approvals. The RI360P1-DSU35-ELIU5X2-B1150/S1265 is available with a stainless steel Minifast connector.

For more information, visit www.turck.com