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Valve manifold has world’s smallest footprint

Hauppauge, N.Y.—Festo has announced the development of the high density/small footprint VTOC pilot gas valve manifold. This is the highest density manifold—with up to 48 valves—for its footprint in the world, because the manifold features two 3/2-way valves on each valve position and valve widths of only 0.393 in. (10 mm).

The VTOC manifold is ideally suited for pilot valve gas box applications in the semiconductor industry as well as pilot valve manifolds in the processing industry. The VTOC may also be applied where exceptionally small pneumatic actuators are utilized such as in pharmaceutical and electronics manufacturing. Valve airflow is 10 normal liters (NI)/min.

OEMs will find a host of standard configurations from which to choose. The Festo online configurator helps to ensure fast and accurate ordering. The VTOC offers a number of port patterns to facilitate a variety of mounting options, including bottom ports for bulkhead mounting.

Other VTOC options include: configurable manifold rails (pneumatic and electric connections), multi-pin plug connection with sub-D plug or flat ribbon cable, valve with non-detenting manual override, and choices of pneumatic outlets – QS push-in connectors, straight, or angled. Also optional are individual contacts for each coil – separate commons – and diodes to ensure the current is in only one direction. This can be used to increase safety in user circuits.

“The value of the VTOC is in its high density and small footprint along with the high number of standard variations available,” said Frank Latino, product manager, valve terminals and electronics, Festo. “The VTOC was designed for the OEM looking to lower the cost of design, ordering, and installation, while having the greatest flexibility in valve manifold capabilities.”

Festo Corp.

 

Pilot-operated check valves

Pneumadyne’s new pilot-operated check valves are suitable for reliably holding an actuator position in a variety of applications. These rugged valves feature a ¼ or 1/8 NPT output port that mounts directly on a cylinder, minimizing space requirements and easing installation. The input port swivels to accommodate valve alignment and contains a ¼ push-in or 1/8 NPT (F) connection to speed tubing installation. With a maximum operating pressure of 150 psi, these valves provide flow rates up to 22 scfm at 100 psi.

Pneumadyne Inc.

Seal materials conform to 3-A sanitary standard

Fort Wayne, Ind.—Trelleborg’s Turcon MF6 and Zurcon Z431 PEEK seal and bearing materials have third-party verified declaration of conformance to the latest version of 3-A Sanitary Standard 20-27. Capable of withstanding high temperatures and the cleaning regimes used in food and beverage manufacturing, these compounds provide excellent tribological and sealing capabilities, extending seal and bearing life in hygienic dynamic applications.

Suitable for a wide range of seal profiles, scrapers and wear rings, Turcon MF6 is part of the Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Turcon MF range of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) based sealing materials formulated for food contact, pharmaceutical and medical applications. The new Zurcon Z431 PEEK is ideal for valve and bearing applications.

“As far as we know, we are the only seal and bearing supplier who has passed a third-party verification inspection for the 3-A Sanitary Standard number 20-27 for thermoplastic materials,” says Steven Farnsworth, food, beverage and pharmaceutical segment manager for Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Americas.

The Turcon MF6 and Zurcon Z431 PEEK™ materials passed 3-A cleanability response and product immersion tests according to 3-A Sanitary Standard number 20-27. This is in addition to passing migration tests for aqueous, acidic and fatty foods in repeated contact according to directive 2002/72/EC as well as sensory tests passed at 90 cm2 per liter/52.8 in.2 per gallon surface/volume ratio at 95° C/203 ° F for 30 minutes and FDA extraction tests according to 21CFR177.2415. Turcon MF6 compound is listed by NSF International as conforming to the requirements of NSF/ANSI Standard 51-Food Equipment Materials.

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions

 

Double valves for clutch/brake circuits

Mechanical press safety standards and good practices require several things in the event of a failure within the valve that controls a pneumatic clutch and brake:

• Air must be exhausted quickly to ensure fast stopping time.
• A monitor must take action to prevent further operation of the press.
• A method to alert personnel should be incorporated.

Double valves, or dual valves, have all of these features and have understandably thus become the press industry’s safety standard for clutch and brake control. These valves incorporate two valve elements which are independently controlled by two solenoid pilots within one valve body. The two valve elements share common inlet, outlet and exhaust ports. When the pilots are simultaneously energized, the elements operate so that the valve functions as a 3/2 normally closed valve.

Double valves, such as the ROSS DM2 Series D products, have built-in self monitoring and can send a signal back to the press controls in case of a valve malfunction. Each independent valve element monitors and cross-checks the operation of the other on each cycle, so that if one side fails to operate properly the valve immediately exhausts the downstream volume to less than 1% of supply pressure. The built-in monitor places the internal elements into a “locked-out” condition which prevents further operation of the valve or the press. A momentary reset signal is required to clear the valve fault and continue operation. An optional status indicator switch can provide “go” or “faulted” signals.

Because double valves provide a level of safety for mechanical press/clutch brake circuits that single element valves, even when externally monitored, simply cannot provide, they are known as “control reliable.” Control reliability is defined as “the capability of a device or system to stop or prevent initiation of hazardous motion in the event of a single component failure within the device or system”. Control reliable devices can be applied anywhere there could be exposure to catastrophic injury. Standardizing on double valves such as the ROSS DM2 Series D will simplify circuits and add a significant measure of safety.

Control reliablility requires:
• Redundancy
• Monitoring
• Further operations to be inhibited
• A defined action to reset
• Failing to a “SAFE” condition

Ross Controls

Rapid rotation with electronically controlled pneumatics

Hauppauge, N.Y.—The Festo DSMI-B servo pneumatic swivel module, soft stop CMPX module, and free positioning CMAX module represent a new generation in electronically controlled pneumatic actuation that combines the best features of both pneumatics and electronic control in terms of speed, load capacity, precision, and low cost.

Compared with standard pneumatics, servo pneumatic solutions are up to 30% faster and use up to 30% less air. Servo pneumatic drives can also be freely positioned, making them up to 50% more economical than electrical solutions, as well as being more compact, light, and sturdy.

Savings from eliminating shock absorbers
With the DSMI-B, shock absorbers will no longer be needed on swivel modules, thus reducing purchasing, operational, and maintenance costs. At the same time, the DSMI-B offers flexible and compact solutions for a wide range of handling tasks in combination with the electrical terminal CPX and the CMPX or CMAX modules.

The sturdy semi-rotary vane drive with integrated measuring system can be used both as a soft-stop axis and for free positioning. The DSMI-B is designed for mass moments of inertia of up to 2050.3 lb-in.² (6,000 kgcm²). The DSMI-B demonstrates these strengths in a Festo laboratory ball-throwing demonstration. A ball held in the swivel arm of the DSMI-B is catapulted upwards in an even curve using a short stroke cylinder. As the ball travels through the air, the arm swivels 180° in just 0.5 seconds, brakes without vibrating, and catches the ball.

Soft stop function – CMPX
Rapid rotary and swivel movements at angles of up to 270° are simplicity itself for the compact module DSMI-B. The electronic end-position controller CMPX gently brakes the swivel drive in its end positions, even at very high speed. With this soft stop function, loads of up to 300 kg can be moved highly dynamically. The soft stop reduces cycle times by around 30% while diminishing noise, and permits virtually vibration-free movement to the mechanical end positions. The system can also be used to perform movements to two additional, user-definable intermediate positions without a fixed stop.

Freely positioned – CMAX
The possibilities of the DSMI-B are not limited to soft stop, however; free positioning is also possible. In order to achieve this, the swivel module DSMI-B is combined with the servo pneumatic positioning module CMAX. Like the end-position controller CMPX, the CMAX is one of the intelligent modules of the electrical terminal CPX and is designed for simple servo pneumatic control of pneumatic drives. Free positioning with servo pneumatics is particularly advantageous where the loads to be moved typically exceed 22 lb (10 kg). Using the CMAX, drives can be positioned precisely to within .008 inches (0.2 mm) and their force controlled accurately to 5%.

Integrates with Festo CPX
The end-position soft stop controller CMPX and freely positioned CMAX controller are easily integrated into the electrical terminal CPX, a versatile modular automation platform for valves and electrical control functions. In addition to positioning modules, other functions such as PLC control, electrical I/O, and pneumatics, in combination with the valve terminal MPA, can be integrated into the CPX for an all-in-one platform for machine OEMs.

Festo Corp.

 

Valve driver provides amplification and linearization

Ernie Doering, a design engineer with Clippard Instrument Laboratory, explains the basic operations, as well as a few key features of the EVP proportional valve driver, in this video.

The driver, which performs amplification and linearization, is touted as a flexible tool for design engineers. See the video below.

Clippard Instrument Laboratory

Miniature pneumatics for medical and scientific applications

Cincinnati, Ohio—Clippard Instrument Laboratory provides the scientific/medical industry a variety of products and solutions. The product range is illustrated in a color brochure featuring the most complete line of miniature fluid power products for the medical, pharmaceutical analytical and dental fields. Some of the many products include electronic valves for Oxygen-enriched environments, check and control valves, proportional valves, regulators, fittings, tubing and more.

A complete line of more than 5000 standard products, coupled with proven engineering and application expertise makes Clippard an suitable choice when seeking unique design solutions.

Clippard Instrument Laboratory

Compact pneumatic cylinders

PHDs Series CRS Cylinders feature a self-lubricating nitrile piston seal to increase cylinder performance and provides the best unit life rating in its class of 70 million linear inches of travel. In addition, this compact cylinder now features a clear anodized extruded body with integral slots for flush mounting of PHDs Series 6790/JC1 Miniature Switches for additional space savings. Optional shock pads extend cylinder life and minimize piston noise without increasing the length of the cylinder. The compact size of the Series CRS Cylinder makes it ideal for applications where cylinder length is critical.

Other advantages include: Compact size, eight bore sizes, integral switch slots, thru and threaded holes for easy cylinder mounting, available with two piston lengths.

PHD Inc.

Valves for leak testing

Perhaps the most important factor in leak testing is the valve used to leak test. If the valve is not reliably leak tight itself, the testing efforts are a waste of time. ROSS’ high-flow, bubble tight Dale Series LT, CX and LX valves and manifolds have patented poppet design and exceptional sealing capabilities.

The Dale Series LT, CX and LX valves help streamline processes with their high flow (thus reducing testing time) and offer a broad pressure range of high vacuum up to 250 psi for flexibility. The LT, CX and LX valves are pressure independent so that pressure or vacuum can be applied to any port at any time. The valves feature low wattage coils that reduce energy consumption and help avoid unnecessary valve heat. For further convenience, these bi-directional valves are offered with compact manifolds which eliminate piping (and potential leak paths) and spacing between valves, and provide simplified installation.

Beyond their basic leak testing proficiency, the Dale Series LT, CX and LX valves are versatile and provide many application-specific benefits. In channel select applications, for example, customers are able to test multiple parts at a time or multiple chambers in a single part. And with bypass fill and exhaust applications, the Dale Series valves’ high-flow design can improve cycle time and be used as an exhaust valve, helping prevent contamination to other units.

ROSS Controls

Grippers feature high closing force

FKHC series of angular grippers have high closing force, magnetic piston is standard. Other features include compact design for use in confined areas, hardcoated aluminum for abrasion and corrosion resistance, adjustable needle valve to control speed of jaw motion. Design includes use of second moveable part (piston) applying additional force to the gripper jaw when pressurized to close.

Fabco-Air