Power Supply Units Suit CompactPCI Applications

Schroff UK has expanded its 19in Maxpowerpro range of switched-mode power supplies with the addition of the 13100-145 - a 6U model designed for high-power CompactPCI applications. The 13100-145 power supply features an output voltage of 500W and operates from a wide input voltage of 90-264V AC with PFC. It delivers output voltages of 5V, 3.3V, 12V, and -12V.

As well as incorporating a P47 connector conforming to the PICMG 2.11 CompactPCI specification, the PSU also provides the high levels of reliability demanded by typical CompactPCI applications in the communications, industrial, military and aerospace sectors. Inputs are protected against voltage transients and high inrush currents, outputs are protected against open-circuit and short-circuit conditions, and the power supply also includes over-temperature protection.

The unit is hot-swappable and active current sharing is provided on three of the outputs for parallel operation of multiple units in n+1 redundant designs or in systems requiring a higher output power. Measuring 6U high x 8HP wide x 172mm deep, the PSU is supplied with an EMC seal and a 19in front panel including handles. Schroff said the power supply achieves a typical efficiency of 84 per cent and meets the requirements of the relevant standards covering safety, EMC and mechanical stress.

JW Winco Introduces Ball Transfer Units

JW Winco is now offering series GN 509 steel and stainless-steel ball transfer units. These metric-sized components are typically used on conveyor tracks, to enable a linear or rotary movement of heavy loads on those tracks.

Three different versions are available: Type SBL, with a housing made of zinc-plated, blue passivated sheet steel and a ball of plain finish steel; Type SNI, with a housing made of zinc-plated, blue passivated sheet steel and a stainless-steel ball; and Type NNI, with housing and ball both made of stainless steel.

All types are RoHS compliant. The transfer units have a load capacity from 500N to 2,000N, depending upon size and type. Related available products are a heavy-duty steel version GN 509.1 and spring rings GN 509.3.

Fujitsu Unveils Receipt And Journal Printer Units

Fujitsu Components Europe is releasing two ultra-low-profile, 24V, receipt and journal printer units that can either be combined together into one modular unit, or mounted separately. The FTP-627USL525/526 consists of two units: a 2in thermal receipt printer/cutter unit (FTP-627USL525) and a 2in journal printer/rewinder unit (FTP-627USL526).

The receipt printer unit measures 82mm (W) x 150mm (D) x 110mm (H), while the journaling unit measures 86mm (W) x 150mm (D) x 157mm (H). Both units weigh 350g. Designed for medium-duty applications, both the receipt and journal units have output speeds of up to 150mm per second and have an operating life of 100km of paper. The platen release mechanism on both the receipt and journaling unit resists paper jams. This ELM cutter jam-free concept implies that the moving blade is set at the platen side (open/close side) and the cover can be opened/closed when paper is jammed or cutter lock is on.

This easy paper-loading mechanism provides drop-in paper loading into a plastic paper bucket for rolls up to 58mm wide and 83mm in diameter. This design concept gives easy access to the rewinded paper roll of the journal printer. The receipt printer unit's guillotine cutter features its own dedicated stepper motor to deliver one million cuts at 20 cuts/minute. Full and partial cut are possible. The receipt and journal printer units offer high-definition printing with a resolution of 8dot/mm. Both units feature a die-cast frame that provides shock and vibration resistance, mounting stability, ESD absorption and static electricity dissipation.

It also enables combined or separate unit use, while ensuring suitability for many types of installations. The FTP-627USL525 and 526 can use the same interface as the FTP-627MCL401. This results in time and cost efficiency as no additional time needs to be spend on the design of a new controller board.

Schmitt Offers Surface Roughness Measurement Units

Schmitt Europe has launched the Lasercheck range of surface roughness measurement gauges, designed to perform high-speed, accurate and non-contact measurements on a variety of machined parts. Lasercheck is said to work on any material, including metals, ceramics, glass and rubber, and is suited to ground, sanded, polished, honed, super-finished, fine-tuned, and shot-blasted surface finishes.

The surface roughness measurement gauges are specifically designed for portable or on-line use in production and manufacturing environments. Light scatter detection technology is said to provide superior durability, measurement speed (less than one second) and repeatability without high maintenance and recalibration costs. Operation on the production floor can use Lasercheck to easily and quickly monitor surface finish quality without concern for damaging other fragile measurement equipment or surfaces.

Lasercheck surface roughness measurement heads have no moving parts, are claimed to be virtually indestructible and are ideally suited for high-volume QC work. The principle of operation is simple in that a built-in visible laser diode emits a laser beam from the bottom of the gauge, illuminating the surface beneath it. After striking the surface, the laser light is reflected and scattered back into the Lasercheck detection system. The overall intensity and distribution of the reflected and scattered light is measured, digitised by the Lasercheck controller electronics and the surface roughness (Ra) calculated for the illuminated area.

This Ra value is then displayed on the LCD control unit screen. Measurements can be performed by manual pushbutton operation, or continuous high-speed measurements controlled by Windows software, or fully automated high-speed on-line measurements triggered by external signals and Windows software, displaying real-time Ra values in graphical and numeric format with statistical parameters. Lasercheck has been designed for a nominal height standoff of 2.5cm from the measurement surface, in which any motion or vibration is continuously monitored and corrected for during every measurement cycle to ensure accurate results.

The Lasercheck Micro 8826 head measures 2.5 x 1.9 x 5.1cm with a surface roughness measurement range of 0.025 to 2.0 mm and the Lasercheck Mini 6212 head measures 7.5 x 3.5 x 4.4cm with a surface roughness measurement range of 0.0125 to 2.0mm. Three controllers are available. The automated A Controller is a standalone unit capable of 10 measurements per second, the portable B Controller a handheld unit capable of storing up to 10,000 Ra values and an OEM card C Controller for mounting in the customer's own electronics panel.

Vinspec Units Check Bosch Piezoelectric Actuators

Bosch is using six Vinspec automated inspection units from Vitronic to ensure the flawless production of piezoelectric actuators. Bosch's new actuators consist of stacks of special piezoelectric ceramic foils printed with strip electrodes and guide marks to ensure accurate stacking. After printing, a robotic gripper deposits foils on a conveyor. Fast line-scan cameras from Vitronic capture high-resolution images of each as they travel along.

The first Vinspec system inspects these images to identify flaws on foils, such as holes, missing print and bleeding. It also checks the position of the strip electrodes and guide marks. If the foils pass all inspections, they are dried and sent for stacking. Faulty foils are unusable, so Vinspec immediately discards them. Robotic grippers then stack several foils into a block on a positioning table. Accurate stacking is essential to ensure actuators function correctly.

By analysing images acquired by its cameras, the second Vinspec system identifies a foil's guide marks and calculates its position, before instructing the robotic grippers to stack the foils precisely. Completed stacks are laminated, which causes the foils to harden and form solid blocks. Next, a specially coated saw automatically divides the hardened blocks into bars and then into 'raw actuators'. Cutting bars into raw actuators is a delicate process. An incorrect cut can interrupt the strip electrodes and render actuators unusable. The third Vinspec system captures photographic images of foil blocks, measures each bar to the nearest micrometer and coordinates the saw to produce precise cuts.

The fourth Vinspec system inspects the function and quality of the raw actuators before sending them for further processing. Checks include actuator dimensions and electrode position. Only flawless actuators pass to the next production stage. Bosch applies a layer of insulation finish and electrical strip contacts to actuators before installing them into the fuel injectors. Finish must be evenly applied and bubble free. Strip contacts require careful soldering and must be clear of finish.

Defects lead to short circuits, which render actuators unusable. The fifth and sixth Vinspec units monitor these processes and immediately discard faulty actuators. Operators can observe the inspections on monitors at each Vinspec station. Graphical user interfaces mean results, live photographic images and system-status reports are all easily accessible, allowing operators to intervene if they detect production discrepancies. All inspection results are stored, allowing Bosch to produce statistical evaluations and optimise its manufacturing processes.

Revolvo Support Units House SRB Bearings

SRB bearings and housings may be mounted in a variety of Revolvo support units according to the application and loading constraints. A number of variants are available as standard types with other unit types available on request.

SRB can also offer a design and manufacturing facility to produce bespoke units to cover more specialised applications. SRB flange units also allow bearings to be mounted against horizontal or vertical faces. The use of Grade 250 cast iron ensures a durable unit.

Hanger units are a compact unit used for supporting screw conveyors or similar equipment. Take-up Units are sliding units that can be used to tension conveyor and elevator systems. Both pull and push types are available.

Hi-Line Unveils Compressed Air Filter Units

A range of compressed air filter units from Hi-line has been designed for the removal of oil, water, particulates and gaseous aerosols from compressed air systems. The die-cast filter housings are produced from high-grade aluminium with external and internal surfaces being alu-chrome treated. They are also subject to a tough epoxy baked-on paint finish in 'compressed air blue' - RAL 5015.

These treatments are designed to provide long-term protection, even when subject to the harshest operation conditions, ensuring a long service lifetime. Optional electronic or pneumatic differential pressure gauges can be fitted as required. The oil/water condensate is removed via a highly efficient robust brass drain assembly with the built-in capability to attach a 6mm dia nylon condensate discharge line.

The filtration elements use pleated filter media that combines maximum efficiency with very low differential pressure drop. They are available in several grades to accommodate particle removal down to five micron or three microns in size, with oil removal at 0.5 micron or 0.01 micron levels.

These elements provide impressive filtration efficiencies from 99.99 per cent to 99.99999 per cent with a further grade being specific to oil/aerosol removal down to 0.003mg/m utilising activated carbon technology. These figures are for operation at seven bar pressure and 20C, while all elements are validated and ensure high quality of compressed air to the ISO 8573.1 standard.

To comply with requests from distributors and agents, Hi-line has used standard connection technology between filter elements and housings. This ensures versatility and choice for end users, who would not therefore be locked-in to any supplier for consumable spares. The threaded aluminium housings are available with port connection sizes from 1/2in to 4in BSP, offering flow rates from 42 to 3672Nm/h.