CSIRO mine automation technology goes global
20 October, 2008
CSIRO has signed an agreement to commercialise its innovative underground longwall automation system, known as LASC technology, with one of the world’s largest longwall mining original equipment manufacturers, Joy Australasia.
The power of integrated motion control
15 October, 2008 | Supplied by: SanTron (Aust) Pty Ltd
System integrators and OEMs are faced with the challenge of designing machines that are more compact, less expensive and more reliable. This is a challenge that is greatly impacted by the components available to design into the machine.
Rio Tinto's Pilbara train drivers set to strike
08 October, 2008
Train drivers at Rio Tinto's Pilbara operations are expected to walk off the job for 12 hours this Saturday 11 October, as part of a push by the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union to get driver compensation for Rio's planned driverless train system.
Weld nut sensors
05 October, 2008 | Supplied by: Turck Australia Pty Ltd
Turck has introduced magnetic-inductive sensors for efficient and economic detection of weld nuts. These sensors use signal attenuation to reliably detect ferromagnetic components such as nuts, bushings and spacer sleeves and ensure these necessary components are present before robotic welding occurs — with no additional software or electronics required.
Banner Engineering photoelectric sensors
05 October, 2008 | Supplied by: Micromax Pty Ltd
Banner Engineering’s World-Beam QS18 universal voltage sensors feature AC or DC voltage operation. The 3-wire photoelectric sensors deliver solid-state output for reliable presence/absence detection in a wide variety of applications, including package and material handling.
Portescap Athlonix DC motors
05 October, 2008 | Supplied by: M Rutty & Co Pty Ltd
The Portescap Athlonix high power density brush DC motors are compact, high-efficiency, high-endurance motors delivering high speed-to-torque performance in a compact lighter weight package (15-53 g depending on frame size) with output power of up to 9 W.
Networkforce/torque sensor system
05 October, 2008 | Supplied by: Romheld Automation Pty Ltd
ATI Industrial Automation has released a networkforce/torque (Net F/T) sensor system. The Net F/T system measures six components of force and torque (Fx, Fy, Fz, Tx, Ty, Tz) and provides an ethernet /IP and CANbus communication interface and is compatible with standard ethernet. The Net F/T system is available with all of ATI’s force/torque transducer models.
Brushless DC motor
05 October, 2008 | Supplied by: maxon motor Australia Pty Ltd
The EC-powermax 22 achieves high torque at slow speeds compared to other similar-sized brushless DC motors. The EC motor is particularly suitable for process applications like handheld tools such as slicing and drilling machines where top performance is required per volume and weight unit.
X-Y positioning base
05 October, 2008 | Supplied by: Baldor Australia Pty Ltd
Baldor Electric Company has launched a ready-engineered linear stepper X-Y positioning base that is capable of dramatically increasing productivity in a wide range of machinery applications.
Plastic detecting sensors
05 October, 2008 | Supplied by: Turck Australia Pty Ltd
Turck has introduced the BCC capacitive sensor series, specifically designed to provide accurate level detection in the plastics industry. The BCC series features good EMC and ESD immunity, allowing the sensors to reliably detect the level of plastic pellets in a hopper while withstanding environmental interference.
Laser distance sensor
05 October, 2008 | Supplied by: Bestech Australia Pty Ltd
The Acuity AR700 laser distance gauge is a triangulation sensor that measures distance using a laser beam, a camera and a microprocessor. A variety of models are available, with measuring ranges varying from 3.175 to 1270 mm.
Motorised lens cameras
05 October, 2008 | Supplied by: Atlantek Vision Pty Ltd
Leutron Vision’s PicSight modular camera solution makes it possible for an image to be automatically adapted to different object sizes. PicSight Gigabit-Ethernet and smart cameras are now fitted with a fully integrated socket enabling motorised lenses with C or CS mountings to be connected directly to them.
Non-ball lead screws
01 October, 2008 | Supplied by: Motion Technologies Pty Ltd
Non-ball lead screws by Kerk Motion Products can be designed to self-lock and prevent back driving in vertical applications, without an external brake, unlike traditional ball screws.
Industry pushes science
29 September, 2008 | Supplied by: Fast Automation Pty Ltd
The Antarctic Plateau is considered the most inhospitable inhabited place on Earth. At Dome C, within the Australian Antarctic Territory, mid-winter minimum temperatures drop to -81°C and access to and from the outside world becomes impossible outside the very small window of 12 weeks, during which time the sun rises above the horizon.
Robots help recreate the Big Bang
26 September, 2008
Two of ABB's IRB 140 robots were part of the laser welding system that manufactured the two accelerator rings of the Large Hadron Collider, located at CERN on the Swiss-French border.
