Manufacturing AUTOMATION magazine

"Canada’s leading publication providing industrial automation news and technology information aimed at the discrete and process industries."

E-newsletter
July, 2005
Volume 3, Issue 7

Today's e-newsletter is sponsored by...

The Actify Products are designed to easily and securely communicate 2D/3D CAD data
without requiring access to native CAD systems.

EDITOR'S NOTE

Keep those letters coming!
Every month, I receive e-mails from readers like you, commenting on an editorial or article you read, or a product you saw in Manufacturing AUTOMATION magazine. I want to thank you for that. I love receiving your feedback because it lets us know how we are doing in our efforts to serve you—Canada's industrial automation industry. Good or bad, reader letters suggest we are covering topics that are important to you, and let us know what subjects we should be covering more of.

I also want to thank everyone who took our online reader survey last month. This year marked a record number of survey respondents—more than 300. Our survey findings show that you want more new product information, especially about industrial sensors, enclosures, control devices, safety products and automation software. Our survey results also show that you want more informational "how-to" articles that will help you do your jobs better. Manufacturing AUTOMATION is committed to using this information to better serve your editorial needs.

In the spirit of interactivity, we will also be holding regular reader polls on our website, asking you questions about your job and career, starting in September. You'll be able to participate in these polls by answering the questions or casting your vote at www.automationmag.com.

And before I forget, this week we will pick the winner of our online reader survey. The lucky person will win a golf bag valued at $300! We will contact the lucky winner by telephone or email.

Thanks again for your continued support of our magazine, e-newsletter and website. Manufacturing AUTOMATION is your magazine, and I am always interested in hearing your thoughts and opinions about the automation industry, and the concerns and challenges you face in your job. Keep those e-mails coming!

Today's e-newsletter is sponsored by...

A driving force in Canada since 1974, SEW-Eurodrive is the world leader in drive technology. SEW offers the industry's broadest range of Integrated Drive Solutions — more gearing types, more sizes and a vast array of made-to-match electronic speed control technology.

IN THE NEWS

Ontario systems integrators merge companies
Rumble Automation Inc., an automation welding and assembly equipment company, recently bought Orchid Automation, a pressroom automation and material handling equipment provider. The acquisition is expected to provide Orchid with greater resources and facilities, and create expanded products and services for customers, says a company spokesperson. Orchid, which is a division of Rumble, will continue to operate and service customers and suppliers from the existing Rumble facility in Mississauga, Ont.

Secure remote data technology for semiconductor industry
Wonderware, a business unit of Invensys Systems, Inc., and ILS Technology LLC are working on an integration strategy to enable secure remote equipment data acquisition and analysis for semiconductor equipment suppliers. As a supplier of e-manufacturing applications to the semiconductor market, ILS Technology plans to work closely with Wonderware to carry out a strategy for Interface A and Interface C to securely gather and analyze fab operation data.

"ILS Technology has combined efforts with Wonderware to provide a robust system combining its applications with a platform that provides Interface A connectivity and a real-time database," says Joe Cestari, president, ILS Technology. "ILS Technology provides a single, universal [product] that enables equipment suppliers, manufacturers and service providers to securely use the Internet to monitor, manage and service factory-floor equipment remotely."

The combination of secure remote access with Interface C and high-speed tool data acquisition via Interface A allows a toolmaker to diagnose tool performance trends and obtain statistics using detailed historical data stored in the real-time database of the ArchestrA application platform. Specialized equipment engineering systems (EES) or advanced process control (APC) applications may store the results of tool data analysis in this database for later access by tool service engineers. The result is improved tool performance for the fabs and reduced service costs for the toolmakers, says a company spokesperson.

Today's e-newsletter is sponsored by:

National Instruments offers complete plug-and-play motion control
National Instruments formed a strategic alliance with Copley Controls to speed up implementation of distributed motion control. National Instruments integrated its new LabVIEW SoftMotion controller with Copley's CANopen intelligent drives, enabling plug-and-play multi-axis technology for machine builders and OEMS. LabVIEW SoftMotion also incorporates features such as contouring and spline interpolation for the most applications. CANopen distributed control, as defined by an international standard, saves on cabling and costs, and allows simpler design for multi-axis motion applications, according to the company. CANopen architecture replaces the costly and complex multi-conductor cabling required by earlier centralized architecture: a simple two-wire bus carries all command and status data, says the company.

Global user groups partner to enhance device integration
The Fieldbus Foundation signed an addendum to its agreement with the HART Communication Foundation, PROFIBUS Nutzerorganisation e.V. and OPC Foundation to further develop Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL). The global user groups formed a joint maintenance team to expand support for EDDL technology enhancements. EDDL is a text-based language for describing the digital communication characteristics of intelligent devices and equipment parameters in an Operating System (OS) and Human Machine Interface (HMI)-neutral environment. EDDL enables a host system manufacturer to create a single engineering environment that can support any device, from any supplier, using any communications protocol, without the need for custom software drivers for each device type. In early 2004, the EDDL specifications of the Fieldbus Foundation, HART and Profibus organizations were unified in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 61804-2 international standard. More than 15,000,000 field devices based on EDDL have been installed worldwide. The EDDL maintenance team, as a contribution to the IEC, will advance maintenance of Electronic Device Description (EDD) technology. This includes specifying compliance tests and developing a general test procedure. A steering committee consisting of representatives of the four user groups will oversee the project.

Today's e-newsletter is sponsored by:

NEW PRODUCTS:

Help for wireless instrumentation

Saelig Co. Inc. offers new V2 firmware for its easy-Radio range of software-embedded wireless modules. Easy-Radio wireless modules involve embedding all the radio communications and data I/O software in a fully compliant module, offering systems builders a new option for making their instrument wireless, with no RF experience needed. There is no complex radio software to write, data can be connected directly, and no RF testing or approvals are required, according to the company. User settings are protected from loss even when using power cycling to reduce power consumption, while features such as user selectable frequency, data-rate and power output have been retained. Frequency tolerance has been tightened (+/-10ppm), and operating temperature range has been extended to -40 to +85C. User programmable operating frequencies are now available to enable the channel frequency to be changed to personalized settings for both 433-434 and 868-928MHz bands. Multiple choices are available in the 433-434MHz ISM band.
Saelig

Modbus conversion made easy

Advantech Corporation, Industrial Automation Group offers an eight-channel universal analog input module with the ability to configure each channel individually, the ADAM-4019+. Independent channel configuration allows up to eight types of signals to be processed by a single module. With older modules, each different type of signal required a separate module. The ADAM-4019+ is a 16-bit, eight-differential channel analog input module with a 10Hz sampling rate. Its 4~20 mA input range satisfies most requirements in industrial automation applications. Other frequently used input ranges include +/-10V, mV, and thermocouple, which are integrated into the ADAM-4019+. The ADAM-4019+ has 3000 VDC isolation, a watchdog timer and a sensor burnout detection function. It can be programmed in ASCII or Modbus(R).
Advantech

New feedback options for OEM applications

SICK STEGMANN, INC., a wholly owned subsidiary of SICK AG in Waldkirch, Germany, offers the DKS 40 Incremental Encoder. With IP64 protection and an external diameter of just 50mm, the DKS 40 features a design that is resistant to high levels of shock and vibration, says the company. This feedback product is suitable for a variety of space-restricted applications such as machine tools, textile machines, wood processing machines and packaging machines, among others. The heart of the DKS 40 is its innovative Mini-Disc (MiDi) technology. This very small code disc includes a track radius of just 2 mm, permitting integral (full) scanning of the entire code disc and thus eliminating eccentricity errors of the code disk, ball bearings and shaft common to conventional systems. Available options include: Open collector NPN, TTL/RS 422, HTL/push-pull interfaces; Face mount flange with 8x13mm solid shaft; 0.5 m output cable that can be used radially or axially.
SICK STEGMANN

Today's e-newsletter is sponsored by...

CMTS is the place to source and compare leading-edge production technology and innovation. With more than 600 leading manufacturers and distributors gathered under one roof, the CMTS is Canada's definitive manufacturing event—and the most convenient, cost-effective way to gather the information needed to make sound purchase decisions.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

July 26-27
National Center for Manufacturing Sciences and the Association for Manufacturing Technology Joint Technology Conference, Four Points Sheraton, Ann Arbor, Mich. For more information, or to register, visit www.ncms.org.

August 8-12
Fiber Optic Installer Certification, Mississauga, Ont. For more information, or to register, call 905-785-8012, e-mail mrfiber@canada.com, or visit www.fiberoptictraining.com.

August 15-17
VDV Network Cabling Inspection Training, Mississauga, Ont. For more information, or to register, call 905-785-8012, e-mail mrfiber@canada.com, or visit www.fiberoptictraining.com.

September 13-14
2005 RFID Supply Chain Solutions, Halifax. For more information, or to register, visit www.softmatch.com, e-mail info@softmatch.com, or call 416-756-3221.

September 22-23
System Integration Symposia and Exhibits (SIS-EX2005), International Centre, Mississauga, Ont. For more information, or to register, www.isa.org/~toron/.

September 27-29
Assembly Technology Expo, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, Ill. For more information, or to register, visit www.atexpo.com.

October 4-5
2005 RFID Supply Chain Solutions, Toronto. For more information, or to register, visit www.softmatch.com or e-mail info@softmatch.com, or call 416-756-3211.

October 10-12
Free Three-Day Industrial Ethernet Control Seminars, presented by WAGO Corporation, WAGO North American Headquarters, Germantown, Wis. For more information, or to register, contact Bill Tarpley, training manager, at 262-255-6222, e-mail bill.tarpley@wago.com, or visit www.wago.com.

October 17-20
Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show, including National Factor Automation Show and Canadian Machine Tool Show, National Trade Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto. For more information, or to register, visit www.cmts.ca.

For more industry events, visit www.automationmag.com, where you can also subscribe to the magazine and read online exclusives.

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