Machine Building

Tuning into food metal detection frequencies

Metallic inclusions are the number one contaminant in food products, causing product quality and consumer safety issues. Phil Brown, Sales Director of Fortress Technology, looks at the technologies behind effective metal detection, explains the three key frequency options and why it is essential to select the correct frequency for your food application.

12th May 2016

Multi-fluid hydraulic test facility ensures optimum performance

Designing and manufacturing electro-hydraulic products (pumps, manifolds, valves, controls and systems) requires considerable knowledge and expertise, especially when they are destined for applications in industrial, oil, gas, marine, aviation, civil and military applications where equipment availability is essential. Using advanced engineering techniques such as solid modelling, Finite Element Analysis and Computational Fluid Dynamics, components can now be designed to meet requirements with minimal need for costly and time consuming testing. But what happens when components currently in production are needed to work in new and challenging conditions? This is where in-house testing facilities ensure that each and every product meets the requirements of the application in which it will be operating. Mike Harding, UK Design and Product Development Manager at Oilgear Towler, looks at the benefits of in-house testing for both the manufacturer and the end user.

10th May 2016

Worm gearboxes produce high torque at low cost

Worm gearboxes are low-cost options for producing high torque from relatively small electric motors. Their output shaft is at a 90 degree angle to the motor input shaft and higher reduction ratios are obtained compared with conventional gearbox designs. Tony Young, director of electrical and automation maintenance company, CP Automation, explains the benefits of worm gearboxes.

10th May 2016

Reports of fieldbuses' usage disappearing are premature

Although Industrial Ethernet is the clear future direction of the industrial network market it's also clear that it will be many years before we finally say goodbye to fieldbuses. Michael Volz, General Manager of HMS Industrial Networks GmbH in Germany, says fieldbuses will be popular for many years to come, but that Ethernet will gain ground where it has something extra to offer.

6th May 2016

Collaborative technology is improving how we work with robots

Graham Mackrell, managing director of Harmonic Drive UK, looks at how collaborative robotics is changing the way robots are helping the human workforce.

3rd May 2016

The benefits of active safety for machine builders and end users

Murrelektronik explains how the use of active safety products, connected to a PLC via a fieldbus network, offers advantages for machine builders, system integrators and end users.

30th April 2016

Cost-effective development of bespoke panel instrumentation

Ben Savage, PanelPilot Manager at Lascar Electronics, discusses the rising demand from machine builders for customisation of components, and how PanelPilot can help with respect to operator interfaces that are 'bespoke as standard.'

28th April 2016

Managing obsolescence and maintaining production machinery

One of the principles regularly quoted by plant engineers is: "˜If it ain't broke, don't fix it'. This isn't always appropriate but when it is, it can relate to machinery that has delivered over 10, 20 or even 30 years with almost total reliability. The question is, what happens when the equipment's age becomes an issue in itself? Jeremy Shinton of Mitsubishi Electric shares his experience of managing obsolescence and maintaining, updating and replacing tried and trusted hardware in the field of automation technology.

27th April 2016

How to manage quality and traceability for better PLC programs

How can the quality of PLC programs be measured? How is it possible to ensure documentation is always up-to-date? How can traceability be maintained throughout all phases of PLC development projects? This article from Itris Automation explains how a PLC Software Factory provides a solution to these problems.

27th April 2016

Managing heat in electrical enclosures

Without proper consideration heat can easily build up inside electrical enclosures, triggering damage to the electrical and electronic components within. In addition, such heat can also lead to pressure variances which in turn can draw in moisture and cause problems. Chris Lloyd, Spelsberg UK Managing Director, offers a common-sense overview of the main concerns and their resolution.

21st April 2016