This article was originally written in the period 1995-2000
Early production machines, having relatively simple electromechanical control systems, could convey enough fault information to the operators of the machine via signal lamps to allow effective troubleshooting.
But the application of PLCs as the total control system for the machine resulted in, among other things, a much more [...]
This article was originally written in the period 1995-2000
Researchers have been entranced by diamond for decades. It has all the features of a perfect material: harder than any other known substance, essentially transparent, highly ordered crystallinity, intriguing electrical properties. Until the 1950s, only naturally obtained diamonds could be studied – diamond seemed to be beyond [...]
Original article date: May 1998
Are my manufacturing hardware and software systems Year 2000 compliant? This question is being asked in board rooms in purchasing offices and on the plant floor. Unfortunately there is no simple answer to this question. What can be done?
During 1995 more than 200 million personal computers were sold world-wide. Yet in [...]
This article was originally written in the period 1995-2000
Silicone rubber keypads feel good and last well. Here’s an extract from an excellent design guide sent to us by Pat Duffy of ARC Turmkey Technology’s office in Stirling.
Conductive rubber switches and keypads were originally developed for the electronics industry to meet the increasing demand for inexpensive [...]
Full article...This article was originally written in the period 1995-2000
Flat screens can use a variety of technologies, including the traditional cathode ray tube (CRT), as well LCDs and others. Alan Quinn looks at what’s happening.
It’s reckoned that the CRT still holds market dominance for full colour TV and is likely to do for some time, especially [...]
Original article date: January 1998
An alternative approach to industrial control means a flexible way to control a range of processes from a central point. Jumo’s RUDI RABER compares the options available.
Perhaps the world’s first commercially available peer-to-peer industrial process control system, Jumo’s new MTRON (standing for modular TRON) offers the same functionality as conventional PLC [...]
Original article date: September 1999
JULIAN PRATT, managing director of precision balls supplier Spheric Engineering, explains some of the complexities of the quality standard and what it really means!
Like many companies who supply high quality products under the best possible conditions of service and support, Spheric Engineering jumped at the opportunity to be able to demonstrate [...]
Original article date: March 1998
Trasmital Bonfiglioli has made a strong push into the UK planetary gearbox market. UK sales manager Russell Cleasby takes another look at this option.
The planetary gearbox offers some interesting advantages and can be proposed as a good alternative to parallel shaft gearboxes in various industrial applications. The advantages are more marked [...]
Original article date: October 1999
Guidelines as to what constitutes a motor that can be used in the USA for general purposes – and is therefore covered by EPACT – have been clarified. The clarifications have come from NEMA and the Department of Energy which has the official responsibility for rulemaking and enforcement of EPACT mandates. [...]
This article was originally written in the period 1995-2000
Design engineers with applications which include linear motion have never had it so good! Today, they have a number of well proven technologies to choose from, that offer them a reliable means of providing linear motion from point A to point B. In many cases they require [...]
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