Properly engineered and installed pneumatic cylinders can keep your machine running efficiently and with ease. This is why staying up to date on the most current news and information on pneumatic cylinder technology is important. Pneumatic Tips is a great source of information about pneumatic cylinders.
Double Eccentric Butterfly Valves Available in 14-16 in.
GF Piping Systems has announced expansion of its large diameter size range for the Type 567 Butterfly Valve to include sizes 14-16″. The new size range features a unique double eccentric off-center design and excellent chemical compatibility. Suitable applications include landfills where large size valves are required for drainage of underground leachate. Other applications include industrial water treatment, potable water treatment, swimming pools, water parks and waste water systems in such industries as chemical, chemical distribution, electroplating and power plants.
The 567 Valve’s unique double eccentric design features an off-center shaft that allows the disc to completely disengage from the disc seal, even when partially open. This results in reduced seal friction for longer service life and minimal maintenance compared to non-eccentric valve styles. The double eccentric design requires only about half the torque of a traditional boot design, which decreases wear on the disc seal to further enhance product life. Other advantages of this design include easier manual operation, compatibility with smaller actuators for reduced installation cost, and better protection against pressure surges.
The new large size valve features industry-standard ISO flange mount for easy electric or pneumatic actuation with most actuators. Other features include bi-directional capability, pressure rating of 90 psi at 70°F, and hand wheel. The valve is available with either EPDM or FPM seals, 304 or 316 Stainless Steel stem, and a Polypropylene body.
CPS Series offers Cylinder Postion Swiches
NITRA announced its new product, the CPS Series of pneumatic cylinder position switches. Using state-of-the-art AMR magnetic sensing technology, these switches are designed for use with pneumatic cylinders that have a magnet incorporated in the cylinder piston. They can be used to provide cylinder position indication, cycle count or to confirm operation.
The NITRA CPS Series is available in 3-wire DC, PNP normally open, PNP normally closed, and NPN normally open electronic solid state switch configurations with either an M8 wiring connector or wire leads. Designed to provide a low profile, flush installation on cylinders with T-slot channels, these switches are also easily mounted on round body cylinders using CPSB series mounting bands. Integral LED indication provides switch status for speedy switch positioning and troubleshooting. Pre-tested for use with NITRA pneumatic cylinders, the CPS Series is also suitable for use with other brands of cylinders with magnetic pistons.
www.automationdirect.com
UTAdvanced™ Hybrid Controller from Yokogawa
July 2, 2009 by Pneumatics Editor
Filed under Cylinders
Newnan, GA – Yokogawa Corporation of America announces a new addition to their temperature controller product line, the UTAdvanced™ Hybrid Controller.
The UTAdvanced Hybrid Controller takes the superior PID control that Yokogawa is known for and combines it with a new, standard, no cost, embedded ladder sequence control. The new feature supports 84 ladder commands, 24 DIO points, four analog inputs, three analog outputs and allows up to 400 ladder steps that can be programmed and run together with the PID control. The PLC capability allows engineers who are using a temperature controller along with a mini/micro PLC in an application to obtain the same control functionality in one package at the cost of just the temperature controller.
The UTAdvanced has also been given a new design that includes a high-intensity LCD display and a simple user interface. Additional features include full text scrolling configuration prompts, three configuration levels, user-defined function keys, user settable default values for OEMs, and multiple language support for English, Spanish, German and French. This controller provides a NEMA 4 / IP56 front panel as well as a USB-powered configuration tool with software, fuzzy logic, universal inputs / outputs and a three-year warranty.
The communication platforms will initially include Ethernet, Profibus- DP and RS485. These platforms support Modbus/TCP, Modbus RTU, peer-to-peer, master/slave, and a proprietary Yokogawa protocol. When using the peer-to-peer protocol, the entire controller network can be accessed and operational decisions can be made by the ladder program based on process conditions anywhere in the controller network.
The UTAdvanced Hybrid Controller will replace the existing Yokogawa Green Series product line. The controller offers many features and improvements in functionality including improved measurement, display, operation, control and networking functions that enhance user efficiency and reduces the total costs of a system. The UTAdvanced will provide exceptional control for applications in various markets including semiconductor, automotive, heat treating, packaging, food, chemical, water/wastewater, air-conditioning, etc. For more information about the UTAdvanced, log on to www.utadvanced.com.
Yokogawa
www.yokogawa.com/us/
::Design World::
Clippard Launches 3D Product Catalog Powered by TraceParts
WILTON, NH – Precision fluid power and device manufacturer Clippard Instrument Laboratory, Inc is now using the TraceParts Internet service to provide a 3D online product catalog for engineers and designers. Clippard’s customers will be able to select the right product for their needs and then download native 3D CAD models of the products into their designs.
Clippard Minimatics® are used virtually everywhere for control, interface, sensing, logic, and actuation functions. This broad range of applications spans a variety of industries including: machinery, packaging, textiles, medical equipment, animation, agriculture, material handling, mobile equipment, assembly, electronics, food processing, and many more. Special components designed for a customer’s OEM applications are also available.
“Our customers were asking for 3D models of our products to include in their designs”, says Jim Coshnitzke, Clippard’s advertising manager. “The catch was they wanted the models delivered in a wide variety of CAD system formats. TraceParts allows us to satisfy those needs.”
“Clippard has been providing precision fluid power and control devices to a wide variety of industries for over 50 years,” said Bob Noftle, president of TraceParts, Inc. “They have accomplished an excellent reputation for high quality products and customer satisfaction that is known throughout the industry. TraceParts helps Clippard strengthen relationships with its customers by saving them time and helping them to make better design decisions faster than with paper-based catalogs.”
Clippard Instrument Laboratory, Inc.
www.clippard.com
TraceParts
www.traceparts.com
Pneumatic Cylinders Help Increase Palletizer Speed by 26%
April 16, 2009 by Pneumatics Editor
Filed under Cylinders
Philip Vivirito is Industrial Distribution Manager for Parker Hannifin Corporation
Speed is critical in material-handling operations. St. Louis-based FKI Logistex, a leading supplier of palletizers and depalletizers to the material handling industry, needed to increase speed rates on the case turner component of some of its palletizer products in response to customer specifications.
These high-speed case palletizers operate in warehouse and distribution, manufacturing, airports, and postal and parcel applications. The A-940 inline palletizer can reach speeds in excess of 200 cases per minute.
To meet customer demands for faster palletizing speeds, FKI Logistex explored a prototype pneumatic cylinder, the P5L, from Parker Hannifin. Each palletizer has three to four case turners, which are vertically mounted guided cylinders with an attached plate that strokes out and turns oncoming cases for stacking in intricate patterns on the pallets. If one of the cylinders is too slow, it slows the entire stacking operation.
Company engineers contacted Parker Hannifin for a pneumatic answer to the production speed issues identified by customers, which led to the installation of faster operating air cylinders on the A-910, A-920, and A-940 inline palletizers.
The 40-mm bore provided enough force to extend and retract the turner while the reduced volume and full, open porting enabled fast breakaway and stroke speeds.
Each case turner is a high-speed, vertically mounted guided cylinder with an attached plate that strokes out and turns oncoming cases on a high-speed conveyor and then stacks them in an intricate pattern on the pallet.
Each case turner uses one cylinder. There are three to four case turners on the palletizers. The stroke of each cylinder, typically 15 in., engages in a programmed sequence. If one of the cylinders is too slow, it slows the entire stacking operation.
When FKI Logistex contacted Parker, the company was using a guided cylinder that could not stroke out the turner timely enough to achieve speed levels required to meet the intricate stacking configuration. Thus, palletizer-stacking speed was at a maximum of 110 cases per minute – far below the potential of 150 per minute.
Specifications called for the guided cylinder to complete four objectives:
• provide sufficient force to extend and retract the turner, which weighed 20 lbs.
• extend and retract the turner as quickly as possible.
• withstand the kinetic energy produced by cases striking the turner.
• the mounting had to be precisely interchangeable with the company’s current equipment.
Originally, FKI engineers used a 50 mm bore guided cylinder for this application. After analyzing application requirements, Parker engineers specified a prototype, custom-built P5L 40-mm bore cylinder with a special housing normally used for a 50-mm cylinder. Appropriate housing modifications were made to meet dimensional and mounting requirements.
The P5L guided cylinder met all four requirements. The 40-mm bore provided enough force to extend and retract the turner while the reduced volume and full, open porting enabled fast breakaway and stroke speeds.
The redesigned P5L Series handles most extreme applications and particularly suits those with compressed design cycles. The cylinders have two case-hardened support shafts directed by four linear bearings with all components incorporated into a one-piece housing. Bearing options include standard and oversized composite bushings with chrome-plated or stainless steel shafting or self-aligning and standard recirculating ball bearings with carbon or stainless steel shafting. Composite bushings are impregnated with Teflon for self-lubrication.
Features include self-aligning bearings for high load capacities; micro-adjusters for high precision, accurate stroke; direct-mount cylinders to eliminate transition plates; and capacity to control loads of more than 9000 N while 20-100 mm bores sizes handle strokes in excess of 1500 mm.
The cylinder’s special housing used oversized 35-mm guide rods to absorb the kinetic energy of moving cases at higher speeds. The custom housing also provided an interchangeable mounting design that allowed FKI engineers to simply “drop in” the P5L to start running.
FKI engineers tested the new cylinder alongside comparable cylinders, as well as the one used in the application. “The P5L clearly outperformed alternate cylinders at speeds unmatched by the units we had been using,” said Dan Ross, FKI Logistex Mechanical Supervisor. “It wasn’t even close. We were able to increase overall palletizer speed from 110 cases per minute to 150, representing a production increase of 26%.”
Additional savings accrued from the fact that FKI engineers were not required to design and build their own high-speed guided cylinders. “For us to do so,” said Ross, “it would have cost $125.00 per unit over the price of Parker’s P5L cylinders. With an annual average product usage running at 200 units, this alone saves us $25,000.”
FKI Logistex has chosen the cylinder for all case-turner applications. “As an added bonus,” Ross continued, “the P5L’s treated guide rods eliminated rod-pitting problems that can occur from equipment wash-down operations.”
Parker Hannifin Corp.
www.parkerhannifin.com
: Design World :
Keep an Eye on the Race-not just the Finish Line-with Transparent Pneumatics
April 16, 2009 by Pneumatics Editor
Filed under Cylinders, Featured
Online Editors Note :: “Live for Speed”
Live for Speed is a small development team dedicated to making the best online racing simulator. Their current release is S2 with which they attempt to recreate the thrill and fun of real racing, by simulating all aspects important to racing.
Festo’s “Live for Speed” Race Car Simulator simulates a virtual car race with diagnostics that provide a transparent view of the entire pneumatic system. The control unit determines the driver’s ranking based on lap time, as well as air consumption, and a diagnostic display unit displays the results at the end of the race.
Imagine attending a tradeshow where you’re the virtual driver of a racecar in a simulated race with up to 23 other people. Your ranking is determined not only by the time it takes you to complete the race, but also by the number of objects you hit and the severity of the hits, as well as the number of times you must re-align your car.
The driver views the simulated race on a large screen display.
In a race car simulator designed by Festo Corp. called “Live for Speed,” the driver sits on a moving carbon fiber chair, which connects to a hexapod support structure, comprising six fluidic muscles. With its degree of freedom in six directions – three linear and three rotational, as well as a forced feedback steering wheel, the racer experiences the true-to-life gyrations he would feel on an actual racetrack. What’s more, a digital surround sound system floods the driver with stellar, race-tuned engine and exhaust sounds, and a large monitor visualizes the race. The simulator lets trade show attendees experience how Festo’s components work together and gives them a chance to feel a fluidic muscle in action.
The Race Car Simulator is based on a hexapod support structure that contains six fluidic muscles. Because the actuation and the forced feedback are so fast, the driver feels virtually no time delay between his actions and the response of the unit.
The CPX determines the winner based upon each car’s air consumption. When a driver hits a curb, runs over grass, or corrects the direction of his car, he consumes extra air, which knocks down his score. (Time is also a factor.)
The entire pneumatic system of the simulator is transparent, and diagnosticians can look into each actuator remotely to check its health status and history.
The muscles function as actuators that accelerate the racer without time delay whenever he hits a curb, drives in the lawn, touches a barrier, or has to correct the direction of his car. A PC controls the game, and an algorithm in Festo’s control unit, CPX, controls six proportional pressure regulators. They have embedded sensors that measure the pressure and pressurize the fluidic muscles depending on the situation in the race. According to Christian Boehm, PhD, Manager Technical Engineering Center (TEC) of Festo, Corp., because they had to control six axes simultaneously, the company’s engineers had to incorporate a complex algorithm into the simulator’s control unit to pressurize the fluidic muscles accordingly. Additionally, the unit uses fluidic muscles, so there is almost no time delay between the driver’s actions and the rate at which the driver feels the response. It is a realistic race – the racer feels the track, and he feels the car accelerate and decelerate when he puts on the gas or the brake pedals.
According to Christian Boehm, PhD, Manager Technical Engineering Center (TEC) of Festo, Corp., the biggest design challenge engineers faced was to translate the forced feedback signal from the software into a hexapod structure. “You have to pressurize each actuator as the situation changes during the race. We had to incorporate a very complex algorithm into our control unit because we had to control six axes at the same time.”
Fluidic muscles are actuators that consist of rubber hoses, and when pressurized, they contract. They have no moving parts, so they have extremely long life times. Also, there is only one actuator chamber because they do not have a piston that moves back and forth from one end position to the other end position. So there is no need to pressurize the opposite branch of the actuator to move the piston back. The fluidic muscle generates a much higher force than a normal pneumatic cylinder, so it can operate at a lower pressure, which is very energy efficient.
The pressure regulators in the system regulate the pressure in proportion to an electrical value. They record the pressure at the given working condition. The electronic control compares the pressure value with the nominal value. An electrical signal is then transmitted proportional to the output pressure. If the nominal and actual values differ, the CPX sends a signal to actuate the regulating valve until the output pressure and the nominal value match.
In a multi-player race, the simulator supports 23 players within an intranet, or it can be played over the Internet. In this mode, it ranks the drivers based on lap time and air consumption. The simulated car can consume a considerable amount of air during the race, depending on the driver’s skill. Air consumption rises when the driver hits an object or corrects the direction of his car.
A flow sensor in the main air supply line of the simulator connects to the CPX, which runs an algorithm to determine the air consumption. At the end of the ride, air consumption and lap time appear on an MS-Excel Worksheet.
The Festo Diagnostic Display presents diagnostic data of the system based on CPX. The simulator is virtually transparent. Users can visualize the entire pneumatic system in action. They can view the data through a Web browser, OPC to a SCADA software, or Front End Display (FED). Users can also view the information remotely as numbers, indicators, or graphs, and can log the data to an SQL database. Developers can program the database to record the driver’s name, company, start number, lap time, air consumption, cycle time, air consumption per cycle, average pressure per cycle, extension and retraction time for every stroke of the actuator, every threshold violation that occurred during a cycle, and more.
Six pressure regulators of the type VPPM interact with the CPX in proportion to an electrical value to pressurize the fluidic muscles.
Festo, Corp.
www.festo.com
: Design World :
Compact Cylinders Save Space
April 16, 2009 by Pneumatics Editor
Filed under Cylinders
In packaging equipment, space is always at a premium. A new line of Vickers® and Hydro-Line® L-series light duty pneumatic cylinders include rodless, ISO/VDMA, stainless steel, and non-rotating designs for the packaging, machine tool, material handling and food and beverage markets.
The robust, space-efficient configuration makes installation easy. The L-Series rodless cylinders have an industry standard base with a smooth, compact profile. The stainless steel models feature a captive cushion design for increased safety. The non-rotating cylinders feature a compact, twin-rod design.
L-Series cylinders have pressure ratings from 150 psi (rodless) to 250 psi (all other products) and can be supplied with almost limitless stroke lengths. They are suited for high velocity and compact inch-based or metric environments. Custom versions are available with non-standard larger bore sizes, longer stroke lengths and higher operating pressures.
Eaton Hydraulics Business, a segment of the Eaton Fluid Power Group.
www.eaton.com/hydraulics
::Design World::
Sensor Provides Direct Analog Output on Pneumatic Cylinders
April 16, 2009 by Pneumatics Editor
Filed under Cylinders
WIM45 magnetic field sensor provides a direct analog output for determining the position of a piston magnet on all types of pneumatic cylinders, delivering greater accuracy than indirect analog monitoring with potentiometers or linear position systems.
The WIM45 detects the position of a piston on standard pneumatic cylinders by using a series of Hall elements, which sense the piston magnet and send a signal back to the processor. Users can reverse the sensor’s analog output slope by rotating the sensor 180°. This feature eliminates the need for two separate sensors and helps streamline the production process. The sensor’s immunity to EMC exceeds IEC EN 60947-5-2 and EN 61000-4-6 standards.
The WIM45’s compact housing is 72 mm long and 5 mm wide, and the unit is equipped with a robust mounting system to ensure stability during operation.
Turck, Inc.
www.turck.us
::Design World::
Piston Air Motor Ideal for the Food Environment
February 11, 2009 by R. Nelson Parrish
Filed under Cylinders, Equipment, Pressure Sensing, Tubing
The Huco Dynatork air motor is quite ingenious. It is based on a unique free-floating piston design that is capable of precise position control. Maximum torque is transmitted on start-up and this can be adjusted to fine limits by standard air-flow valves. Unlike other makes that operate with a system of metal pistons and connecting rods, the Huco Dynatork motor is perfect for stop/start load speed applications under load.
Unlike its vane counterpart the Huco Dynatork air motor is also easier to seal. It is therefore far more cost efficient as most of the energy stored up in the compressed air is converted into motion. In fact it consumes up to 80% less air than a vane motor providing significant cost saving even at maximum torque.
This is an exceptionally clean motor available with non-lube air supply and in a corrosion resistant or acetyl housing. It’s little wonder then that this economical and efficient product has attracted designers of food preparation and packaging systems. However, it has to be said that until now its commercial potential has been somewhat impeded.
When Huco acquired Dynatork, the company inherited a product that was highly effective but remained a first generation design. It had some design issues that hindered its take-up in the hygiene conscious sectors. The recently launched generation two of the design corrects these. The new Huco Dynatork air motor not only looks the technical product that it has always been but it is now ideal for a wider range of applications.
On the original design pneumatic tubing was external to the housing. This made it vulnerable, sensitive to temperature extremes and difficult to clean. The pneumatic porting on the latest models is now an internal feature making them far more robust. Fasteners are also recessed to reduce potential bug traps.
Aluminium foil tray manufacturer Coppice Alupack has systematically replaced all its electric drives on rewind systems that handle the surplus foil after the aluminium coil has been stamped. Inclusion of Huco Dynatork air motors has not only simplified the design but also made it more controllable and safer. Their clean, non-lube running has also ensured hygienic production. The Huco Dynatork motors run from 0 – 220 rpm for 24 hours a day in a cycle that goes from stall to start in the order of sixty times per minute.
“The piston air motor has allowed us to adjust most of the tension out of the system to eliminate lacing breakage,” explained Engineering Manager, James Lamin. “It has also made the process inherently safer by reducing torque and negating the need for any electrical cables.” A further benefit is that maintenance of the motors can now be carried out by a shop-floor technician instead of a skilled electrician, saving cost and minimising downtime.
The suitability of the Huco Dynatork motor for stop/start applications under load has also been proven by Greydon Inc., the manufacturer of printing equipment for form, fill and seal packaging machinery. Its Bagaire taped bag loader ensure bags are presented quickly and in exactly the same position to the operator, time after time. This accuracy makes the system ideal for the inclusion of inkjet coding.
The operating principle is simple but effective. A leader tape is wound around two drive pulleys. When powered up, the system advances the bags by winding up the tape and pulling them up from underneath the load table. The Huco Dynatork air motor is responsible for this operation and again provides a clean solution that is also suitable for wash down.
Parker Acquires German Composites Technology Company
February 11, 2009 by R. Nelson Parrish
Filed under Actuators, Cylinders
Cleveland, OH - Parker Hannifin Corporation (NYSE: PH) announced that it has acquired Lingk & Sturzebecher of Stuhr, Germany. The acquired company, better known regionally as L&S, is a manufacturer of light weight carbon fiber high pressure cylinders and actuators including those based on composite technologies, for aerospace, mobile and industrial markets. This composite material technology will enable Parker to develop hydraulic components with significantly reduced energy burden for the power systems of machines equipped with hydraulics.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to earnings in its first full year of operations. Sales will be reported in Parker’s Industrial International reporting segment. In the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, L&S achieved 7.6 million euros (approximately $11.2 million) in sales.
L&S will become part of the global operations of Parker’s hydraulic technology business. It will complement a broad line of hydraulic components and systems including pumps, motors, valves, cylinders, hydraulic drives, electronic controls, energy recovery systems, vehicle cooling and engine management systems.
