Cimtec is Hiring!

Do you know of anybody that would be a good fit for our team?

Please have them contact Kelly:     h r @cimtec.com

Job listings here:
http://www.cimtec.com/careers/

Sick IVC 3D Demo setup

3D machine vision proof of concept demo of the Sick IVC-3D.   We inspect a metal bracket with a small 0.5mm imperfection and show the rendered model after the laser scanning.

NOTE:  the screen capture is full screen,  for best results,  right click the "video" link and save the target file, then view the video in quicktime

Setup video

Screen Session video

Final images of the intensity image and the 3D image

New GP4000 Pro-face HMI

>Pro-Face America has launched the New GP-4000 series - an innovative new Operator Interface HMI offering extensive connectivity, energy efficient LCD with LED display, and comprehensive features with GP-Pro EX 3.01 HMI Development software.

Pro-Face GP-4000 Series uses the NEW GP-Pro EX v3 with extensive features, expanding functionality and connectivity for every HMI unit.

GP-4000 Series Operator Interface has Best in Class Connectivity, Powerful HMI Functionality and Full Compatibility with Pro-face GP-Pro EX 3.0 and GP-4000 products and projects.

Pro-face Operator Interface Series Overview:

 

• Easy to Use: Operators can easily monitor conditions and the operating environment in real time using 3D real parts.


• Saves Energy: Reduces on-site power consumption in a variety of ways including an on-board LED backlight in all models, and a dimmer setting used to decrease and eventually stand-by the display after being idle for a set period of time.


• Quick On-site Recovery: Simply touch the alarm message to check the relevant data in chronological sequence.


• Remote Monitoring: GP-Viewer EX software provides various remote monitoring functions, such as checking the screen of the GP located on a production site from a remote office.

Additional information on the GP-4000 series can be found on the Pro-face America website at www.profaceamerica.com/gp4000

GE-IP Releases Proficy Historian 4.5

The latest 4.5 release of Proficy Historian expands on the unparalleled power of our 4.x series Enterprise Historian platform with significant scalability, performance, and functionality improvements.  This release allows our customers to fundamentally change the way they use Historian to aggregate and accelerate information across their enterprises.

For customers new to the product, this is an ideal opportunity to take advantage of Proficy Historian as a foundation for operational excellence, and for our existing customers, a chance to upgrade their Historian implementations and take advantage of the powerful new features.  Start thinking about the expanded role Proficy Historian can play in improving your competitive advantage!

The following outlines the high level benefits of the latest version 4.0 release:

Major Scalability & Performance Enhancements

Proficy Historian scales to significant new levels, allowing customers to leverage data across their operations, both in plants or across global enterprises.  Across-board gains have been made in volume of information that can be collected per server, data throughput, and connectivity.

Expanded Functionality

New functionality required to deliver next-generation solutions in a wide range of operating environments, including condition-based collection, unsolicited tag compression timeout, and a new hybrid retrieval mode for enhanced data analysis.

Improved Compatibility & Integration

Proficy Historian empowers administrators to reduce operating costs, with flexibility & agility to support dynamically changing business conditions.  Key enhancements include a powerful new client access API, enhanced application examples,embedded applications support via Windows XPe, continued support for the latest Microsoft technologies, and full backward compatibility with 32-bit operating systems.

Ease of Use and Reduced Overall Cost of Ownership

Proficy Historian empowers administrators to reduce operating costs, with flexibility & agility to support dynamically changing business conditions.  Features such as enhanced archive management, improvements in system monitoring and management, and enhanced support for intermittent/low-bandwidth networks help our customers rapidly realize business benefit and sustain their advantage in a cost-efficient manner.

Encoders – Measurement in a Compact Size

SICK has a full line of encoders, including Incremental, Absolute, Wire-draw, Linear & Wheeled encoders. These are now the smallest encoders on the market, and SICK offers a complete function set to help solve your most challenging encoder applications.  In addition to its compact size, we offer the DFS-60 series which is completely customizable & programmable to every encoder application.

The new DFS-60 small footprint & compact size mean it can be mounted in space constrained areas and is easier and less expense to install.  The DFS-60 provides encoder solutions in an ultra-compact size from SICK, the innovative, global market leader in encoders.

For distances, positions and angles when precise positioning is required, an encoder is unbeatable. For distance measurement applications, the resolution of the encoder is in the micrometer range.

When making angular measurements, it is equivalent to a few thousandth of a degree.

Features:

Face mount and servo flange
Compact 2.0 inch housing
Electrical interfaces include TTL/RS422, HTL/push pull, PROFIBUS, CANopen, DeviceNet

Typical Markets:

• Wind turbines                                • Tire assembly equipment

• Servo motors                                 • Sheet and web offset presses / printing machinery

• Overhead cranes                            • Automated storage / retrieval systems

• Packaging machines                      • Robotic systems



Support:

SICK has decades of encoder application experience, a vast network of encoder expertise from our application engineers and a highly technical sales force.

About us: From providing product availability and pricing information, to resolving technical problems, the team at CIMTEC is prepared to work closely with you to ensure complete application solution support. For assistance, please call 704-227-4600, click on this link:  SICK Encoders or e-mail our applications group at jellen@cimtec.com

Migrating from older GE PLC’s

CIMTEC Automation  has been selling GE PLC’s since the mid-eighties introduction of the Series Six. Many of the PLC’s are still running factories today but there is an ever present fear that should they fail a replacement would not be easy to find. Many controls engineers also recognize that a proactive migration while the system is functioning would be less costly, less risky, and less stressful to all those involved.

While it can be easy to push the latest and greatest technology there can be roadblocks on the path to a newer control system. CIMTEC has developed and executed many migration projects using these steps to ensure a migration can be done with no surprises and for as low a cost as possible.

1. Customer provides current program running in old system
2. GE product specialist will review program to develop comprehensive proposal
3. Upon acceptance of proposal migration begins and involves many steps:
   
   1. Hardware evaluation:
      
      1. What modules can stay as is?
      2. What modules require new firmware or chips?
      3. What modules need to be replaced?
   2. Program evaluation:
      
      1. How many rungs of logic are we dealing with?
      2. How many instructions won’t convert well?
      3. Are the rung comments in the right place?
      4. Do tag names follow current software rules/conventions or will they need to be manually changed?
      5. How complex will the I/O map change be?
      6. Should functions that are available now but were not historically be used to simplify logic?
      7. Are there portions of the program that should be removed entirely as they won’t be necessary?
      8. How much manual intervention will be required?
   3. Program conversion
   4. Proof read of converted program (3 hours to 3 weeks depending on length)
   5. Manual intervention of converted program
   6. Acquisition of proposed hardware
   7. Testing of program in proposed hardware

Delivery and installation of new hardware and converted program.

For more information please contact us

Cognex DataMan 8000 Series Wireless Handheld Scanner Released

Cimtec Automation is now offering the newly released Cognex DataMan 8000 wireless handheld barcode reader. These units have unrivaled code reading performance, superior reading versatility, and modular communication options. In the wireless communication model, the intelligent base station can communicate back to your industrial controls via Ethernet, USB, or serial.  The base station also now offers a spare battery charging component.

Cognex DataMan 8000 readers set the new performance standard when it comes to industrial code reading. These industry-leading readers introduce several firsts to industrial handheld scanner capabilities, including:

Liquid Lens Variable Focus Technology
The DataMan 8000 handheld series reader is the first industrial handheld reader to utilize integrated liquid lens technology. The adjustable focus of the liquid lens gives a maximum depth of field flexibility for an image-based handheld reader. This industrially proven technology enables a single reader to decode DPM marks close up, or large barcodes from a distance. Relative to other autofocus mechanisms, the liquid lens has extremely fast response times and is exceptionally durable with no moving parts.

Superior Code Reading
The DataMan 8000 series units are powered by Cognex patented algorithms, 1DMax and 2DMax, that provide advanced decoding for reading virtually every type of code, every time, with unsurpassed read rates. For 1-D barcodes, 1DMax is their best-in-class reading tool optimized for omnidirectional barcode reading that can handle extreme variations. For 2-D codes, 2DMax technology sets the industry standard for the most challenging Data Matrix DPM applications.

Industrial Ethernet
The DataMan 8000 series readers are the first to offer Industrial Ethernet communication capability in a handheld reader. Now, handheld readers can be integrated directly into the factory network for real-time product traceability with the Cognex Connect™ suite of industrial protocols including EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, MC Protocol and
more. DataMan 8000 corded readers have a direct Ethernet connection while the cordless readers have Ethernet connectivity from the base station to the host.

Modular Communications
The DataMan 8000 series is also the first to introduce interchangeable communication modules for RS-232/USB, Ethernet and wireless connectivity. This flexibility means that one standard reader can be deployed with a variety of possibilities so that initial reader installation can be modified to meet future requirements.

Models
The DataMan 8000 series is available in two models. Each model can be corded or cordless, with patented 1DMax and 2DMax algorithms, liquid lens technology and modular communication capabilities.

• DataMan 8500. The DataMan 8500 readers incorporate patented UltraLight® technology from Cognex for superior image formation on any DPM type and surface.


• DataMan 8100. These readers feature integrated bright field illumination ideal for applications that require superior code reading performance for well-printed 1-D and 2-D codes and well-marked DPM codes.

Contact us today for an on-site demo of the Dataman 8000 series reading your toughest codes!