Features

ROLEC’s aluDOOR industrial electronic enclosures have gained a Special Mention in the German Innovation Awards. Judges praised the “high added value for users.”

Robust aluDOOR is a ‘go anywhere’ hinged-lid enclosure that can be mounted on walls, bulkheads, machines and desks – safeguarding electronics in challenging indoor and harsh outdoor environments.

At launch, these premium enclosures were originally rated IP 66, IP 67 and (on request) IP 69K. Since then, aluDOOR has now also gained an IP 68 rating. This means it can be fully immersed in water to an agreed depth greater than the 150 mm to 1,000 mm specified for IP 67 enclosures. In the case of aluDOOR, this depth is 1.2 metres for two hours.

Diecast aluminium aluDOOR’s hinged lid opens 100° to allow easy access to components. The lid can be specified with or without a recess for a membrane keypad. The lid screws and threaded inserts are A2 stainless steel for added protection against corrosion.

ROLEC has made it quick and easy to fit the lid. Its integrated hinge pin is pushed into place then secured with two tamperproof Torx T25 screws with M5 threads. Then the lid is shut and locked down with two more Torx screws. All the fixings are hidden beneath aluminium trims.

Like many other ROLEC enclosures, aluDOOR can be installed ‘lid closed’, protecting the electronics and seal, a continuous foamed-in polyurethane gasket with no join. Inside the housing, there are pillars for PCBs, mounting plates and DIN rails.

Electronics designers can specify aluDOOR in 10 sizes from 120 x 90 x 70 mm to 280 x 170 x 90 mm. The standard colour is anthracite grey (RAL 7016) with matt silver powder-coated lid trims.

Options and accessories include special colours on request, anthracite grey lid trims, a mounting plate, supporting rail, EMC gasket, and an anti-corrosion coating.

ROLEC can supply aluDOOR fully customised. Services include CNC machining, engraving, display windows, powder coating, painting, photo-quality printing of legends, logos and graphics, EMC shielding, and assembly of accessories.

For more information, view the ROLEC website:

https://www.rolec-enclosures.co.uk/en/enclosures-accessories/aludoor#top

Mencom Corporation will be showing various industrial electrical connectors at PACK EXPO 2023 — Booth #SL-6046 in the South Lower Hall. Their booth will feature hands-on displays of the company’s power, signal, and network connectors designed for automated packaging and processing equipment.

These rugged connectors utilise innovative designs and robust materials to withstand the most demanding industrial applications. Key features like quick and reliable coupling will increase efficiency and productivity for automated operations.

Mencom Corporation experts will be on hand to provide one-on-one guidance on selecting the ideal connector solution. Mencom will also showcase value-added services like custom cable assemblies, on-demand manufacturing, and more.

Please visit www.mencom.com for more details.

A common way of designing a new large building is to make a scale model and test it in a wind tunnel. This has been a recognised test for over 50 years but it is known to underestimate the peak loads, so correction factors are applied to provide a safety margin. Another drawback is that the wind just comes from one direction at a time whereas in the real world, gusts and the large eddies can fluctuate from many different directions at once. A Danish company, Vind-Vind, is developing a new turbulence model to capture the effects of wind on a building in natural conditions. This modelling uses real world data to enhance its accuracy, gathered with a LIDAR system using 10 ns pulses. Particles in the air reflect the laser, the changes in the returned light due to the Doppler effect are analysed using the latest flagship product of Spectrum Instrumentation, the ultrafast M5i.3321-x16 digitizer card. 

Watch the wind simulation video (11 sec, 132 MB):

https://spectrum-instrumentation.com/videos/3D.mov

Per Jørgensen, CEO of Vind-Vind, explained: “At present, there are two ways to measure wind movement, either low resolution at a long distance of several kilometres or high resolution over a short distance of a few hundred meters. We created a new LIDAR-based instrument to measure long distances at a high resolution. Key to this is the ability of the Spectrum digitizer card to capture the data at its very high sampling rate of 3.2 GigaSamples per second with 12 bit resolution. This is actually more than we need but it gives us the margin to allow for ‘noisy’ conditions and weak signals. The extra bandwidth also means that we can immediately identify and filter out high frequency noise leaving only low frequency noise to be eliminated later when processing the data.”

As can be imagined, keeping track of a vast number of dust particles moving in the wind generates a huge amount of data. Vind-Vind was initially going to use an FPGA platform but rejected this approach as being too complex to programme and not having enough compute power to handle the large amount of data being created every second. The data problem was solved by using Spectrum’s SCAPP drivers (Spectrum’s CUDA Access for Parallel Processing). In this solution, the M5i digitizer with its 16-lane PCIe interface sends the collected data with up to 12.8 GigaByte per second directly to a CUDA-based graphics card instead of the PC CPU. The graphic card, in this case a Nvidia Quadro A4000 including a GPU with 6,144 cores, is processing the data much faster than the CPU of the PC with only 6 or 8 cores.

Vind-Vind’s initial goal for its computer modelling is to assess how the turbulence compares to the measured turbulence over an urban environment. After that, turbulence modelling will be improved to include the effects of a higher section of the atmosphere with wind gusts from different directions. Accurate data gathered in the real world can then be used to verify and validate the predictions of the 3D computer simulation. “With proven accuracy, our 3D wind modelling can be used to provide greater levels of safety and wind comfort as it will predict the complex nature of the real world, and not the constrained version of the wind tunnel” added Jorgensen. “Eventually it will mean that the considerable over specification that architects have to build in because of the inaccuracy of wind tunnel models can be reduced. This means improving sustainability and saving costs by cutting down on the unnecessary use of materials.”

The company envisages that its 3D wind modelling will prove invaluable for the many situations where typical wind tunnels cannot provide useful results such as the complex wind interactions of atmospheric turbulence with urban environments, clusters of wind turbines, bridges or airports.

Vind-Vind consists of two sister companies: PJ Science ApS has its focus on producing and selling the innovative LIDAR systems, and Vind-Vind ApS is the consulting company doing wind analysis for the construction industry. More info:  www.vindvind.com

Tektronix, Inc, a leading provider in test and measurement solutions, today announced the launch of KickStart Software version 2.11.0, including enhancements to the Battery Simulator Application. With the ability to support the 2400 Graphical Touchscreen Series Source Measure Units (SMUs) and the 2600B Series SMUs, the Keithley KickStart Battery Simulator App provides users the ability to easily generate battery models, simulate batteries, and perform battery cycle tests for consumer wireless IoT devices, automotive, and industrial applications. The list of enhancements to this specialty app gives users robust functionality as part of a “one-box,” no code solution. The enhanced app, which supports various Keithley SMUs, also negates the need for using a 2380 electronic load to create a battery model and a 2281S battery simulator — saving the time, effort and cost that would be required to write a SMU custom script.

“The one-box, no code aspects of this iteration of the Keithley KickStart Software Battery Simulator Application makes it possible for our customers to effortlessly generate battery models, simulate and cycle test batteries from the convenience of a PC-based software,” shares Frank Mammana, Keithley Product Manager. “This state-of-the-art application yields real-time table and graph views that have been created for instant data visualization and collection, showcasing dynamic and static battery models of battery VOC, Vt, SOC, ESR, current, and capacity. These features will save our customers precious time and manual effort while enabling additional accuracy and visualization.”

Along with features included in past iterations, such as battery simulation and discharge model generation, the KickStart Battery Simulator App boasts the capacity for a maximum of eight total instruments that can be controlled simultaneously, enabling battery testing through multiple charge and discharge cycles with access to a myriad of test cutoff conditions. This groundbreaking iteration of the Keithley KickStart Software Battery Simulator App not only provides the ability to generate, edit and simulate custom battery models, it includes a responsive user interface, allowing changes to the simulated state of charge in real time. Using the app, customers can browse multiple battery models, and import and export models to and from KickStart software.

The Keithley KickStart Software Battery Simulator App is now available globally for IoT devices, automotive and industrial markets. Pricing ranges based on licensing preferences. For more details, including trial and pricing options, visit the Kickstart Software product page.

Biomedical device test and measurement specialist Rigel Medical has appointed a new application engineer as it continues to invest in developing its international capabilities and customer operations. 

Bringing extensive technical and product engineering experience and expertise to the role, Donavan Loader has moved across from Seaward Electronic to support the Rigel Medical product portfolio across UK and international markets. His overall responsibilities will see him ensure the seamless integration and optimal performance of test equipment, while duties include the delivery of training and workshops along with technical assistance to customers and distributor support.

He will also continue to collaborate with sales and R&D to showcase product capabilities, assist in quality control and compliance initiatives, and contribute to the development and maintenance of technical documentation and manuals to improve customer understanding and use of Rigel Medical products.

The appointment of Donavan Loader, who originally joined Seaward as a technical support engineer in 2018, comes at a time when the market for advanced biomed safety and performance test products continues to show strong growth – revenue in the UK medical technology market is projected to reach in excess of £15bn in 2023*.

He said: “Rigel Medical continues to build a strong reputation and presence in the industry at a time when the market is rapidly growing. I look forward to working alongside a team focused on providing high quality products, unsurpassed customer service, and innovation that adapts and expands to meet market standards.” 

Michael Walton, category manager at Rigel Medical, said: “It’s great to have Donavan onboard as we continue to invest in strengthening the team. He has excelled during his time with Seaward, and his appointment comes as market growth opportunities and investment in customer support will only see further success for the brand in the UK.”

Cwm Engineering has been on an acquisition trail over the last few years to target growth in high-tech industry sectors. As part of its journey, the West Wales company has moved to a new purpose-built 10,000sq/ft factory to make space for its investment in new machine tools. With more than five machine tools purchased in the last three years, the company recognised a requirement for a dedicated inspection department with high-end metrology equipment – that is why the company has just installed a CMM and a surface roughness machine from Mitutoyo.

With a machine shop full of turning centres and 3, 4 and 5-axis machining centres from Mazak, Cross Hands based Cwm Engineering is aiming to expand its work with aerospace OEMs and Tier 1 manufacturers. To expand in this area, the family-run business has just built a dedicated temperature-controlled inspection department with a Mitutoyo Crysta-Apex V 7106 CNC Coordinate Measurement Machine (CMM) and a Mitutoyo surface roughness machine. 

Founded in 2011, the ISO: 9001 certified company nestled in rural West Wales, an area known more for its tourism and farming, started its metrology journey like all subcontract businesses – with precision hand tools. In 2014, the business bought a manual Mitutoyo CMM. This was subsequently followed by two shop floor CMMs to allow operators to conduct inspection at the side of the machines to prevent potential bottlenecks on the Mitutoyo CMM. However, Cwm Engineering realised that to win business from its OEM and Tier 1 target audience, it needed to stand out from rival subcontract manufacturers with a dedicated temperature-controlled facility with high-end metrology technology.

Commenting upon this investment, Cwm Engineering’s Managing Director Malcolm Walters says: “We have invested heavily in high-end machine tools and this has given us the ability to manufacture extremely precise and complex components. However, to set ourselves apart from other subcontract companies, we recognised the importance of investing in a dedicated temperature-controlled quality assurance department. We are fully aware that when potential customers visit a subcontract manufacturer, they want to see a dedicated metrology department to instil confidence in their supply chain choices. When it came to selecting equipment for this dedicated department, Mitutoyo was the standout brand for our business. Mitutoyo is a brand that everyone knows and respects as an industry leader, and our previous experience with Mitutoyo gave us the confidence that it was the brand for our business. Our previous experience with Mitutoyo was exceptional.”

Cwm Engineering did its due diligence and fully reviewed the marketplace, but its experience with Mitutoyo led the company to invest in a Mitutoyo Crysta-Apex V 7106 CNC CMM that was delivered in April along with a surface roughness machine. The staff at Cwm Engineering have undergone comprehensive training on the new equipment, but the Carmarthenshire business is taking its commitment a step further and has employed an experienced quality control engineer with vast experience using Mitutoyo CMMs.

Alluding to why the company invested in the Mitutoyo Crysta-Apex V 7106, Malcolm adds: “We chose this machine as it has a measurement range of 700 by 1000 by 600mm that is packed into a small footprint. The compact footprint is perfect for our inspection department and the work area covers the diverse dimensions of the work we undertake. Furthermore, the level of information that can be obtained from the reporting system far exceeds anything we previously had.”

The Mitutoyo Crysta-Apex V 7106 is crammed with the latest technology and this includes Mitutoyo’s ABS linear scales, SMS capability for status and service monitoring and Mitutoyo’s renowned MCOSMOS software. The Crysta-Apex V 7106 is extremely accurate and fast with high acceleration rates which are credited to its lightweight bridge construction, temperature compensation sensors and the UC480 controller that supports the multi-sensor and SMS functionality (Smart Measuring System). With a digital step of 0.1µm, the machine has an accuracy maximum permissible error of (1,7+0,3L/100)µm with a 3D acceleration rate of 2,309mm/s².

Discussing how the Crysta-Apex V 7106 will streamline throughput at Cwm Engineering, Andrew Ritchie, the Systems and Operations Manager at the JOSCAR registered company adds: “When we receive drawings from customers, whether it is an STL, IGES, STEP file or any other format, we can either programme parts at the machine or in our SolidCAM CAM system. When we are programming parts offline with our CAM system, we can simultaneously send the files to our CMM for programme creation. This ensures that the CMM programme is prepared and ready to inspect the parts whilst they are in production.”

Commenting further on the synergy between the shopfloor and the new CMM, Andrew continues: “We have only just installed the CMM, but our immediate plan is to create multiple zero-point fixturing systems for the CMM. We use Lang zero-point clamping throughout the workshop and by having fixtures on the Mitutoyo, we’ll be able to easily move parts straight from the machine bed to the CMM for rapid checking without excessive set-up times. By creating a multi-point fixturing system on the CMM, we’ll be able to set up single or multiple parts for inspection. This will streamline our throughput and enable us to provide anything from first-off to 100% inspection.”

As well as investing in the Crysta-Apex V 7106, Cwm Engineering also purchased a Mitutoyo surface roughness measuring machine. Whilst surface roughness can be integrated into other machines in the Mitutoyo armoury, Cwm Engineering opted for the handheld solution for its ability to be used around the machine shop if necessary. Alluding to this, Andrew adds: “Historically, we have used a sample gauge and this has proven reasonably accurate. However, our variation of work can require surface finishes from as high as Ra3.2 in general subcontract work to as low as Ra0.4 for parts in the electronics, communications and ultrasonic industries. In some instances where customers subsequently surface coat or treat parts, they require a surface finish of ‘“That” and not better’ – the new testing machine will certainly support us in such instances. To exceed the requirements of our target audience, the surface roughness machine is a perfect complement to our new CMM and laser etching machines.”

Looking to the future, Company Owner and Managing Director Malcolm concludes: “The investment in new Mitutoyo technology will put us in a strong position for the future. Furthermore, the Mitutoyo MCOSMOS software enables us to fully network our quality activities and reporting. It also allows us to customise reports, organise and archive our programmes and results and it offers tools like SPC with full Industry 4.0 capability. This is an investment in the future of our business and we are delighted with the support we have received from Mitutoyo on this journey.”

Orbbec, an industry leader dedicated to 3D vision systems, today announced a suite of products developed in collaboration with Microsoft based on its indirect time-of-flight (iToF) depth sensing technology that was brought to market with HoloLens 2. This suite of cameras combine Microsoft’s iToF technology with Orbbec’s high-precision depth camera design and in-house manufacturing capabilities and will broaden the application and accessibility of high-performance 3D vision in logistics, robotics, manufacturing, retail, healthcare and fitness industries.

“Orbbec devices built with Microsoft’s iToF technology use the same depth camera module as Azure Kinect Developer Kit and offer identical operating modes and performance,” said Amit Banerjee, Head of Platform and Partnerships at Orbbec. “Developers can effortlessly migrate their existing applications to Orbbec’s cameras by using the API bridge provided as part of their SDK.” 

Developers building enterprise solutions can now develop their applications with any of the devices but use the best matched device for the deployment scenarios, e.g. applications developed and qualified using the Femto Mega can be deployed in harsh industrial applications using the Femto Mega I. Similarly, applications requiring an attached external computer can use the Femto Bolt. All cameras support a sophisticated precise trigger sync system for integration into a multi-sensor, multi-camera network.

The devices have 1 mega-pixel depth cameras with a wide 120° field of view (FOV) and a broad range from 0.25m to 5.5m. It’s combined with a high performance 4K resolution RGB camera with 90° FOV. A 6DOF IMU module provides orientation.

• Femto Bolt: Customers interested in a solution like Azure Kinect Developer Kit will find Orbbec’s Femto Bolt an ideal match for their commercial deployments. Beyond depth camera and architectural compatibility, it also has a more compact form factor ideal for commercial installations. The RGB camera has been enhanced with HDR capability. This is currently sampling and will be available for volume orders in October.
• Femto Mega: Announced in January 2023 and currently in production, Femto Mega is still the industry’s highest resolution smart camera. This device uses a built-in NVIDIA® Jetson™ Nano to run the advanced depth vision algorithms to convert raw data to precise depth images and thus, eliminates the need for an external PC or compute device. It also adds Power over Ethernet (PoE) connection for both data and power that is ideally suited for deployment where the camera must be placed away from the compute units or in multi-camera solutions. The developer mode SDK allows execution of AI models on the device.
• Femto Mega I: Currently shipping, Femto Mega I is the industry’s highest performance ruggedized intelligent camera with an IP65 rating for warehouses, manufacturing and other harsh environments.

The universal trigger control hub enables easy connection using standard ethernet cables for multi-camera and multi-sensor networks. The SDK enables easy setup and registration, and a rich set of APIs allows integration with various applications.

“Since 2021, we’ve collaborated with Orbbec to bring more camera options using Microsoft’s iToF depth technology into the market to cater to a broad range of usage scenarios,” said Swati Mehta, Senior Director, Engineering, Microsoft. “The availability of Orbbec’s products provide customers with a broad set of choices that make 3D sensing technology accessible globally for a wider range of applications.”

“Orbbec’s mission is to provide superior, accessible, and easy-to-integrate RGB-D technology”, said David Chen, Co-Founder and Head of Products at Orbbec 3D. “Beyond our standard products, we can help customers with custom design and ODM services backed by our specialized design skills and manufacturing experience in high-performance cameras.”

The two companies MVTec Software and DataVision will work together more closely in the future. The goal of the cooperation is to offer users of the machine vision software MVTec HALCON additional possibilities to further collect, organise, analyse, and process their image data in the context of Industry 4.0. To this end, an interface between MVTec HALCON and DataVision’s BeeYard data management platform has been developed as part of the partnership.

“The value of well-organised and managed datasets is playing an increasingly important role in the machine vision industry. Therefore, we extend the ecosystem of our machine vision software HALCON by the component of data management. Together with DataVision, we can offer our customers further added value,” explains Christian Eckstein, Product Manager & Business Developer at MVTec.

 “Generating as much information as possible from image data, processing it further, and then deriving conclusions for production processes is a significant building block of Industry 4.0. The interaction of BeeYard and HALCON enables users to achieve efficiency gains based on data,” says Martina Chmelíčková, Business Development Manager at DataVision.

Especially deep learning applications benefit from data management systems

Powerful platforms for data management offer advantages for almost every machine vision method. These are particularly significant for deep learning applications. Here, BeeYard supports users in two ways:

On the one hand, the data management platform facilitates the handling of very large data volumes, which are generated during deep learning. This data is collected from various sources, can be associated with user access rights, and organised with tags and labels.

On the other hand, improvements can be made both for the machine vision application and for the production process. By analysing and labeling additional images, conclusions can be drawn as to whether and at what point re-training of the deep learning network is necessary. Training or re-training can be done in the platform using HALCON. Additionally, if the defects are always the same, conclusions can be drawn for the production process.

“The possibilities offered by the combination of HALCON and BeeYard strengthen the strategic, competitive capabilities of companies. We were able to verify its effectiveness with tests in several pilot projects” explains Christian Eckstein.

 Combination of MVTec HALCON and BeeYard as a complete solution

As part of the partnership, the library of the machine vision software HALCON has been expanded to include data management functions. With the extension package for HALCON it is possible to build up an image database and to enrich the images with additional information such as time stamp, lot number, product number, temperature, or vibration data. The BeeYard data management platform from DataVision is then used to evaluate and analyse the image data. The cloud- or server-based platform enables customisation to meet storage requirements, location-independent accessibility, cost efficiency – especially for large data volumes –, integration of a variety of other cloud-based tools and services, and high processing speed.

Commenting on the benefits of BeeYard, DataVision’s Martina Chmelíčková adds, “BeeYard’s architecture is highly flexible and can be customised to meet the specific needs of individual customers. The platform is designed to support multiple deployment options, including edge computing, on-premises infrastructure, and cloud-based systems.”

Global pharmaceutical manufacturer, Indivior has extended its partnership with Siemens with a new agreement to help create an automated Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) manufacturing facility at its UK base in Hull.

FTSE 250 and NASDAQ-listed Indivior, is a world-leading manufacturer of pioneering, life-transforming treatment for substance use disorders and other serious mental illnesses. The new, 1,731 sq ft facility will house three new reactors, filter driers and a powder transfer system to enable Indivior to optimise production of its API Buprenorphine Hydrochloride.

The work is part of a long-standing partnership between the businesses that has helped Indivior transform processes while also supporting its ongoing efforts to enhance team health and safety.

The project will see Siemens implement its most advanced process control system, SIMATIC PCS neo – the first web-based process control system that allows engineers and operators to work on a secure and highly intuitive user interface.

Security measures will also be preconfigured by Siemens at the point of construction to ensure plant and network security as well as system integrity. The system will also support enhanced safety controls using the latest technology.

The Hull project builds on the existing relationship between the two businesses, which began in 2021 when Indivior selected Siemens to help increase automation and process safety at its existing UK manufacturing facility, which is now home to 10 reactors. The project followed a study to identify potential safety improvements across the site and led to the installation of Siemens’ SIMATIC PCS 7 process control system to improve safety controls for site operatives.

Alex Caldas, Account Development Manager, at Siemens UK and Ireland said: “We have a long-standing relationship with Indivior, supporting the business with the latest technology to help it transform. Crucially, this has meant helping Indivior maintain a safe environment across its facilities, while also enhancing its production to meet ongoing growth ambitions. The SIMATIC PCS 7 and PSC neo technology helps the team make processes even more efficient, safe, and resilient.”

Tom Greatorex, electrical, control and instrumentation (EC&I) engineer at Indivior, who led the project, said: “Siemens’ process control platforms, both PCS7 and PCS neo, have allowed us to modernise our facilities through digitalisation and automation, giving us greater insight and control.

“Creating the new facility allows us to improve our manufacturing process and reduce bottlenecking. The implementation of technology helps us to do this in a future-proofed and optimal way.”