Introduction
Welcome to 2012! Mechatronic Design is here to disperse any lingering holiday after effects and help get you back in gear for a successful and productive new year. In this first issue of 2012, we present an article exploring PLC versus OEM robot controls, an amazing robot video, a FREE 2012 calendar, an updated engineering salary survey, and some innovative new products.
Here's to a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!
—Frances Richards
Features
As more and more manufacturing facilities and distribution centers discover the benefits of robotic material-handling solutions, the decision of how best to control the robot must be made. Here we compare PLC-based methods to OEM robot controllers. While robot OEMs each offer their own tightly integrated controllers, recent developments now enable control by a PLC. For facilities where PLC-based controls are already used in other machine control applications, the benefits of using one for the robot as well may be a better choice than using an OEM controller, depending on the application.
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What do a hummingbird, maple seed, and skate have in common? They’ve inspired design engineers to come up with some of the most unique unmanned systems introduced in 2011. Check out this inspiring video roundup highlighting last year's Top 5 miniature robots!
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Is your New Year's resolution to stay more organized? If so, this free computer desktop calendar is for you! Each month, Martin Sprocket & Gear will feature a visually inspiring product line in stunning colors along with the current month's calendar. Keeping track of days and dates couldn't be easier: A quick glance at your desktop gives you instant access to the entire month. Check back monthly for a new calendar download. Wallpaper calendars are available for most screen resolutions in both English and Spanish.
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Electronic Design’s 2011 Annual Salary Survey Report is now available for working electronic design engineers, students, and graduate students searching for career advice, salary and compensation ranges, and insights into the full career lifecycle for the electronic design engineering profession. See how your own job stacks up.
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Just a few days ago on New Year's Eve, not far from where I live, we experienced a 4.0 magnitude earthquake in Youngstown, Ohio. Experts hired by the State of Ohio believe the quake was caused by hydraulic fracturing operations, or fracking as many call it. High-pressure injection of liquids deep into the ground are now believed to have caused several recent quakes in the area. Drilling operations are suspended while seismological data is further evaluated. Check out this editorial on the topic and let us know if you have an opinion to share.
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New Products
The AMKAMAC A5 controller from AMK Drives and Controls is an advanced machine control PLC with an ATOM processor, designed without a fan or any movable parts that could be subject to failure - with 512 Mbytes of RAM and up to 2 Gbyte flash memory. The A5 with Qt controller is equipped with a C++ call library that comes with a graphic user interface for programming: When setting up the visualization, select from graphic elements including a touch panel, color blending with buttons, 3D elements, optically adjustable operator panel, handwheels, and sliders.
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HydraForce valves with an integral sensing option help designs meet EC and other ISO specifications that require machines to sport redundant safety sensors where people could be harmed — including Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. A common solenoid valve pole tube and adaptor assembly on the opposite ends of a coupling tube contains an elongated plunger: The new coupling tube, sensor, and sensor housing is for use in valves with 10 to 16 sizes. The coupling tube containing the sensing element allows manual override; a poppet compensates for overlap, preventing faulty detection in case of leakage. Suitable for monitoring lifting and lowering, machine state, multiple steering modes, and dual redundancy operation of hydraulic presses and other equipment.
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