3D Printing’s Possibilities!

           3D printing has arrived and taken the tech community by storm. Here at CIMTEC, we currently have three 3D printers in our office. One of our engineers, Todd, is our 3D printing guru. Todd is usually running several printers for most of the day. Todd loves 3D printers because of how practical the machines are. He explained to me that the practicality of the machines rests in their ability to create an extremely diverse array of objects. Todd claims his personal printer at home is the best investment he has ever made. He explained that his printer makes home improvements easier due to its ability to replace a broken object in minutes. 3D printers may be able to reshape our world. In this post, I will detail how they could.

            3D printers are already able to print organic matter. Some scientists believe that, in coming years, 3D printers will also be able to reproduce human organs. This would be a remarkable feat that could potentially save millions of lives. The technology would be able to use stem cells from the individual to print the organic matter, thereby making the organ specific to the individual.

            This technology is years away, but corporations have already started planning for the possibilities. One such company is L’Oreal, which “is pushing to 3D print skin. The work has huge implications. Most obviously, it will enable L’Oreal to lab test the safety and performance of cosmetic products on 3D bio printed skin. The result will be much more affordably, quickly and easily tested products, throughout the design process – instead of needing to assess their reaction with real bodies or hair before the final stages of testing.” (Leonard King, Forbes)

            The ability to print genetic organs offers the possibility of revolutionizing the beauty business, and more importantly our understanding of human health.

            3D printers have another incredible possibility, replacing the manufacturing of some goods entirely. The digital design schematics for many products are currently available on the web. Most are free of charge while some are for sale at a low price. Printing the exact digital schematics of goods could revolutionize the way we shop. Imagine, if a user wanted a pair of new Nikes, they might only need to buy the digital schematics and then print the shoes in their own home. That is the direction that 3D printers very well could be taking us.

            One thing is certain. 3D printers are here to stay.

CIMTEC Problem Solving

This piece consists of three separate case studies, which highlight the problem-solving ability of CIMTEC. The company names will remain anonymous.

1) Problem / Requirement:

Problems holding tolerances on upstream processes and manual assembly, resulting in high scrap levels of finished products.

Solution: Precision Assembly System

CIMTEC developed an automated assembly using two six-axis robots, with the robot presenting each component to a camera for inspection prior to assembly so out-of-tolerance sub-components would not result in a scrapped final assembly.

Result:

The customer not only achieved huge savings by eliminating the amount of scrap, but also increased overall quality and production by detecting faulty components before final assembly.

2) Problem / Requirement:

Scrap on a multi-layer web line was too high, due to problems with web movement causing poor seals.

Solution: Dynamic Tracking System

CIMTEC engineers provided a system that added cameras to measure the web position in both X and Y axes, with servos to move the press based on data from the camera.

Result:

The accuracy provided by this measurement system resulted in a measurable reduction in scrap, thus increasing product quality. The savings were dramatic, and the customer is moving forward with similar applications on more lines of productions within the facility.

3) Problem/ Requirement:

The company needed to maintain tighter tolerances on steel plate thickness used by their customers in stamping operations.

Solution: Laser Thickness Measurement System

CIMTEC developed and installed laser thickness monitoring to log dimensions and reject out-of-tolerance steel plate. Data derived from logging over time allowed a reduction in plate thickness from the previous manufacturing method.

Result:

The company saved a considerable amount by reducing raw material cost. Data derived from logging over time allowed a reduction in plate thickness from their supplier, saving them hundreds of thousands of dollars.

GE IP 90-30 Goes Mature – CIMTEC has you covered

On October 1, 2015, GE IP announced that the popular 90-30 PLC has been placed in Mature status.  Here is the message from Connie Chick, GE 90-30 Controller Product Manager:

         

  “…we are announcing that the Series 90-30 moves to Mature* status October 1, 2015, with the PACSystems RX3i taking over all its application capability. The PACSystems RX3i is built on the Series 90-30 tradition of great reliability and performance.”

CIMTEC is the place for on-going GE 90-30 parts and support:

•  Hundreds of thousands of dollars of New 90-30 components in stock, direct from the factory
•  Full in-house Repair capability with a huge supply of Pre-Repaired parts that can be shipped immediately while your part is repaired
•  Programming tools, manuals, and documentation on all 90-30 parts and systems
• The best Technical Support team with over 60 years’ experience with the 90-30 PLC system, available for Phone and On-Site support

CIMTEC has been through this before.  In 2009, GE IP discontinued the 90-70 PLC line.  Today, CIMTEC is the only company with over $5 million of Factory-New 90-70 units and a deep inventory of Pre-Repaired and Remanufactured parts.  Plus, we are the only Factory-Authorized 90-70 Repair Center in the world!

So, how can CIMTEC help?

If you’re concerned about how this announcement will affect your business, we can help.  CIMTEC has put a couple wonderful programs in place for you.

First, we have an on-site Risk Assessment program where we will audit all of your current 90-30 PLC systems, listing all components used in each system.  We will also do a complete inventory of your spare 90-30 parts.  With this information in-hand, our team of PLC engineers will analyze your situation and recommend the proper spare parts, programming software updates, and other special considerations that will allow your 90-30 systems to run for many years to come.  The final Assessment document is a useful tool for planning your PLC asset future.

Second, CIMTEC is the leading GE PLC Migration company.  For years, we have been migrating GE PLC systems to the latest platform.  Learn about our 7-Step Migration process in our eBook entitled, 7 Steps to a Successful PLC Migration .

CIMTEC is in the business of supporting your PLC investments.  Don’t let the end of the 90-30 line concern you – we are here to get you through it.

EPSON Robots Newest Addition to CIMTEC Automation Product Offering

CIMTEC Automation is pleased to announce the latest addition to their growing distribution line with Epson Robots, the #1 SCARA Robot Manufacturer in the World.  The agreement includes distribution of all of Epson Robots automation products including their large lineup of SCARA, 6-Axis and Linear Module robots as well as integrated vision, fieldbus I/O and many other industrial automation products offered by Epson Robots.  CIMTEC Automation will help Epson Robots continue to grow robot based automation usage and solutions into North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

“With over 25 years of experience, CIMTEC Automation has proven themselves as more than just a distributor of products, but as a premier solutions provider in the Industrial Automation market in the Southeastern US and we are proud to have them as a part of our distribution network,” stated Michael Ferrara, Director of Epson Robots. CIMTEC’s industry-specific knowledge and experience with PLC’s, Controllers, Vision Systems, robots and many other automation products make for a natural fit to add Epson Robots products to their product solutions lineup.”

Epson Robots is the global leader in PC controlled precision factory automation, with an installed base of well over 45,000 robots and a product line of hundreds of models of easy to use SCARA, Cartesian and 6 axis robots based on a common PC based controls platform. Building on a 30 year heritage, Epson Robots today delivers robots for precision assembly and material handling applications in the aerospace, appliance, automotive, biotechnology, consumer product, electronics, food processing, medical device, pharmaceutical, plastics, semiconductor, and telecommunication industries. 

  

Learn More

Advancements in Robotics

           In the last fifteen years, robotic automation has changed manufacturing tremendously.  By being able to create products timely, accurately, and cheaper than ever before, robotic automation has enhanced our human understanding of efficiency.  In this piece, I am going to detail three revolutionary advancements in robotic automation projected to hit the market in the next five years. I will also give a brief overview, which will aim at displaying how and why intelligent machinery (automated robots) intertwined with advanced analytical systems produces incredible results.

           To begin, I must engage in the current debate surrounding Artificial Intelligence, and the so-called rise of the robot. According to “University of Oxford researchers Carl Benedikt Frey and Michael Osborne, [who] estimated in 2013 that 47% of total U.S. Jobs could be automated by 2033. The combination of robotics, automation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning is so powerful that some white collar workers are already being replaced – and were talking journalists, lawyers, doctors, and financial analysts” (Erik Sherman, Forbes). The only people who aren’t in real danger of losing their jobs are those in highly creative spaces. There are several forward thinking businessmen who have already begun embracing the fact that most blue collar jobs will be replaced and are planning accordingly to these projection, among them are Larry Page, Sergey Brin, and Eric Schmidt (Google, DeepMind), Jeff Bezos (Amazon, BlueOrigin), Elon Musk (Tesla, Paypal, SpaceX), and Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook). Unfortunately, if you work as a; bank teller, receptionist, mailman, travel agent, bus driver, accountant, coffee barista, anesthesiologist, taxi cab driver, telemarketer, or newspaper correspondent, than your job will more than likely cease to exist to humanity by 2030. Why? Two Words - Robotic Automation. Robots are not only more cost effective, but in many situations, they are more accurate and efficient than their human competition could ever be. Artificial Intelligence will revolutionize the analytical capability of nearly every industry. We are going to be able to dissect current economic institutions, or manufacturing practices, and through detailed analytics rebuild them as better than they have ever been before. Robotics and automation are the keys to humanity disrupting outdated institutions and practices, and remolding them with smart technology and analytics performed by machines.

           In the years between 2017 and 2025 using estimated “global manufacturing labor costs at $6 trillion annually, McKinsey forecast that advanced robotics could have an economic impact on the manufacturing sector of between $720 billion to $1.45 trillion annually” (Colin Lewis). The five areas that have already begun to take off in robotics, and will continue to do so in the next five years are:

1) Medicinal Robots- Have already began being used in some surgeries. They are incredibly accurate, and cost way less than your top surgeon. Some medicinal robots can also diagnose illness more accurately and faster than a doctor ever could. They have begun being used in third world countries, and were even exploited during the Ebola virus outbreak.

2)  Drones-  Or unmanned aircrafts, will change a variety of sectors. Most notably will be the transportation of goods. Delivery of goods/services by drones may not be legal yet, but when in history has economics not prevailed. If it is tremendously more cost effective than its other option, than the cost effective option will prevail as it always has. In the next five years, the FAA has projected 30,000 drones to be active in our American skies. That is an astounding figure.

3)  Driverless Cars/Buses- This is already among us. The CEO’s of Ford, Tesla, GM, Jaguar, Audi, and Porsche expect to have completely automated cars on the road by 2018. This is incredible; by 2030 it is quite possible that no self-driven cars will be allowed on roads reserved for fully autonomous vehicles. Why? Safety of the passengers, autonomous cars are a prime example of how automation in robotics creates a more cost effective, accurate, and therefore efficient option than the human option of old.

May 13th, 2015. Cimtec Migration Symposium

            On Wednesday, CIMTEC hosted a symposium focused around the efficient and economical way for migration of PLC’s. Over thirty engineers were in attendance, all focused on enhancing their technological capabilities. With the help of CIMTEC, and several valuable team members, we have informed these engineers of the economical, efficient, and safe way to migrate from older obsolete systems to the state of the art technology provided by GE. The goal of the symposium was to help these businessmen who need to migrate their current PLC structure, and offer viable and sustainable options on how to transition from technology of old to the state of the art platform that is offered by CIMTEC and General Electric. CIMTEC and General Electric offer complete backward compatibility, which gives businessmen a safety net when making the transition to new technology. In addition, the migration path from a legacy GE PLC to their state-of-the-art Rx3i PAC system is straight-forward, providing the shortest path to full migration and the most economical path.  The advantage of CIMTEC became very clear to the businessmen, CIMTEC holds the unique ability of selling, maintaining, and up-keeping the PLC control system for its clients. Most of the businessmen were thrilled to hear of the success CIMTEC has had for similar businesses. We want to thank everyone for coming out today! The event was a huge success!

5 Advantages of Hiring an Automation Consultant

An automation consultant is a specialist who can provide sound information and guidance to businesses seeking new, replaced or upgraded automation equipment. By offering a wide variety of automation products and solutions, CIMTEC's consultants are a valuable resource for businesses. Hiring an automation consultant provides these key benefits:

• Custom solutions - Often, it will take more than one solution to meet your business' automation needs. By meeting with a consultant, you receive a custom solution tailored to your company.
  
• Knowledgeable - CIMTEC's automation consultants are well-trained and knowledgeable about the latest products, trends and regulations affecting multiple industries.
  
• Save time - Missing the mark when it comes to planning and implementation of automation systems can result in lost time and money. Take the initiative to speak with a consultant about your needs before making a decision.
  
• Reduce risk - Without a thorough evaluation of your requirements, it's difficult to control risks. Meeting with an automation consultant helps minimize overall risk by providing expert guidance.
  
• Enhance productivity - With the proper automation products, your team's overall productivity is enhanced, leading to better performance. A combination of services, products and technology is used to develop a solution designed for your unique business. 

The team at CIMTEC includes experienced automation consultants able to provide you with a 5-year plan to upgrade and improve your existing automation system. We help you institute solutions that best meet your business' needs. To access CIMTEC's team of expert automation consultants, contact us today to learn more.

New Factory-made GE 90-70 Parts (IC697) In Stock Today

As you probably have heard, CIMTEC Automation is now the sole source for brand new, factory-made GE IP 90-70 PLC parts.  We purchased all of the parts that GE IP had left in stock and we currently have over 4,000 new 90-70 parts in stock, ready to ship TODAY!

Our inventory includes over 90 CPX version CPUs - IC697CPX772, IC697CPX782, IC697CPX928 and IC697CPX935 - plus HUNDREDS of IC697CPM790, IC697ALG230 and ALG320, IC697CMM742 and all the IC697PWR and IC697MDL units you could want.

All of these parts were produced by GE IP in their factory in Charlottesville, VA.  And, most importantly, they are FACTORY NEW parts - with current factory warranty.  There are people out there who say that their 90-70 parts are new - what they really mean is that they are still in the factory-sealed boxes.  But a trained eye can tell that, in most cases, these items we sourced from someones overstock or leftover stores inventory,and while still new in the box, they are several years old and OUT OF WARRANTY.  While the local provider may give you his warranty, it doesn't mean that you will get a New replacement part if it fails.

When you buy New 90-70 parts from CIMTEC Automation, you can be sure that 1) the parts are authentic Factory-made parts and that 2) we will support the factory warranty.  What does that mean?  We will either repair or replace your part, based on availability.

If we have to repair it, it is going to be repaired to factory standards because we are the ONLY Factory-Authorized repair house for GE IP 90-70 in the world!  We have all of the documentation, Bills of material, and board descriptions for every 90-70 board built by GE.  In addition, we have all of the test rigs that GE used on the production floor to test every 90-70 module.

So you can't go wrong with buying 90-70 from CIMTEC Automation:

• Factory-made parts with full warranty
• The only Factory Authorized 90-70 Repair Center in the world

CIMTEC at Greenville, SC Palmetto Engineering & Consulting 2014 Show

Cimtec Automation (Charlotte, NC) was proud to participate in Palmetto Engineering & Consulting’s (PEC) 5th annual showcase event held in Downtown Greenville on January 15th and 16th.  While primarily of interest to the Telecom Industry, the PEC show also featured companies involved in Industrial Automation as well.  Diverse Industries (Duncan, SC) did a presentation on the future of robotics in industrial automation as well as the consumer industry.  They also hinted at what Amazon is trying to do with 30 minute deliveries via drones. Schneider Electric (Simpsonville, SC) presented information on Arc Flash Safety.

Cimtec showed off a variety of products covering their wide range of knowledge in vision, safety, sensing, and industrial systems.  Featured products included:

CIMTEC Booth at PEC 2014

• Cognex DataMan bar code scanning products, both fixed mount (DM302X) and handheld (DM8500)
• SICK Safety Products including FlexiSoft (Safety Controller) with an addition of FlexiLoop (Cascading Safety) 
• GE-IP PAC and PLC systems, including RXi (Controller), RXi (IPC), Rx3i (PAC System), VersaMax (PLC) and RSTi (Slice IO)
• Hirschmann Switches, RS30 & OCTOPUS products
• Computer Dynamics PAC-PCAP10 Operator Interface with a multi-touch projected capacitive touchscreen

Cimtec not only distributes products from these and other manufacturers, we also provide engineering and integration services to tie various pieces of hardware together and provide software and service solutions on top of that.

CIMTEC Announces CDI Systems as an option for Cognex VisionView VGA andVision View PC

Computer Dynamics systems packaged with Cognex VisionView available from CIMTEC

CIMTEC Automation is now providing Computer Dynamics Industrial Flat Panel systems with Cognex VisionView software.  VisionView is ideal for monitoring and controlling vision systems and industrial ID readers on the factory floor, and allows operator controls specific to the application. The VisionView application software offers the following features:

• Automatic detection. VisionView will automatically detect any Cognex vision system on your network.
• Mix and match Cognex In-Sight systems. VisionView allows you to view up to twelve In-Sight vision systems in a tiled view.
• Graphical interface. VisionView displays full color images, with graphic overlays and operator controls.
• Fast image updates. VisionView provides the most recent inspection images so you can view your process in real-time.
• Access to CustomViews. The operator controls created in the spreadsheet automatically appear in VisionView.
• EasyView display. Items selected from In-Sight EasyBuilder interface software will appear on the VisionView screen, with impressive ease of use.
• Run-time ability to train fonts, without a PC.  No downtime is required during changeovers. Ideal for OCR/OCV applications.

PAC-OPR Products + VisionView PC
The PAC-OPR products are industrial NEMA 12 panel-mount flat panel computers with 2 PCI slots.  This product is available in three different panel sizes: 15” 1024x768, 17” 1280x1024, and 19” 1280x1024.  In addition to the display choice, this system includes: a Resistive touchscreen, 1.83GHz (667 MHz FSB) T5600 C2D Processor with 2GB of DDR-2 RAM, Windows XP Pro installed (no CD media included). A 250GB (or greater) Hard Drive, 5-in-1 card reader, and DVD-ROM are also included as standard.  Monitor and control the vision application with the VisionView interface.

VAMP-WN Products + VisionView VGA
The VAMP-WN is a highly configurable industrial flat panel display with a wide variety of packaging options.  The stocked configurations are 15” 1024x768, 17” 1280x1024, and 19” 1280x1024 panels with a NEMA4 panel-mount front bezel and resistive  touchscreen. Monitor and control the vision application with the VisionView interface via VGA and serial connections using the provided cables. This provides the flexibility to connect smaller- or larger-size monitors for “control room” viewing of images, results, CustomViews, and EasyViews.

PAC-SSX + VisionView PC
The PAC-SSX is an industrial flat panel computer in a rugged, fully-sealed IP65 stainless steel chassis.  This system includes:  a 15" 1024x768 TFT, resistive touchscreen, fanless 1.86GHz ATOM D2550 Processor with 2GB of DDR RAM, 32G solid state flash drive, and Windows XP Pro installed.  There are no moving parts in this system which results in a very robust, long lasting product! Monitor and control the vision application with the VisionView interface.

For more information on Flat Panel Display Systems, head over to www.cdynamics.com.  Computer Dynamics offers a wide variety of flat panel display solutions and can provide units ready to ship from our inventory as well as custom display solutions for any application need.

Learn more about using Industrial PCs

With the recent launch of the new Computer Dynamics website, we have added a blog which already has several articles of interest for people using, or planning to use PCs for monitoring and control in an Industrial environment.  For example, we have already posted articles about using Windows XP (which will soon go end of life) in the Industrial space, as well as articles on processor performance to help you understand how to choose the right processor for your application.  There is also an article on different touchscreen and display technologies which serves as a primer for the several viable technologies available today and describes why you might choose one technology over another for a given environment.  For an example article on display and touchscreen technologies, head over to http://blog.cdynamics.com/2013/08/flat-panel-and-touchscreen-technologies_15.html.  From there you will find all of the articles referenced above as well as additional content as we add more topics regularly.  If you haven't already, head on over to http://www.cdynamics.com as well to view the products in the Computer Dynamics line.

CIMTEC Automation Invites You to Attend PROFINET Training on Sept. 12th

CIMTEC Automation LLC is participating in the upcoming PROFINET training seminar being held in Raleigh North Carolina on September 12th 2013.

CIMTEC Automation sees this event as a unique opportunity for engineering and technical professionals to gain a thorough understanding of PROFINET. This event is sponsored by CIMTEC and other member organizations making this a free event for all registrants.

This event will cover:

Introduction
- Organization behind PROFINET
- System Architecture: PROFINET and other buses

PROFINET Fundamentals
- Industrial Ethernet Overview

PROFINET: How do I…
… connect IO & a legacy fieldbus?
… get data from sensors/actuators?
… integrate machines & do motion control?
… install my infrastructure & use wireless connections?

Wrap-up and Resources

  Register Now,
  Seating is Limited!

Go to us.profinet.com

Event Details

Training Class DATE

September 12^th 2013Training Class LOCATION

Raleigh, NC (Hilton North Raleigh)

Training Class TIME SCHEDULE

8:00am                Registration and Light Breakfast

8:30am                Class begins

10:00am              Morning Break, coffee and other beverages

12:00noon           Hosted Lunch

1:00pm                Class resumes

3:15pm                Afternoon Break, snacks and beverages

4:30pm                Class ends

  Register Now,
  Seating is Limited!

Go to us.profinet.com

DVT Machine Vision Users...the Time is Now! DVT Cameras are Obsolete!

DVT Cameras have been obsolete for years now, with no spares on shelves anywhere…what is your plan to migrate forward safely and effectively?  Don’t get caught in a down situation with obsolete equipment!
It is well known that Cognex acquired DVT and assimilated the best features of both worlds together to move forward into the future of machine vision.  The result…“EasyBuilder” for In-Sight Explorer gives users a Point-and-Click environment for bringing your machine vision application to deployment faster and easier than ever before!

The image-centric interface with application steps walks users right through setting up a vision system start-to-finish.  It is intuitive and simple to use, while also being more capable than ever with the latest vision tools and algorithms from Cognex!

Cognex has also released their latest addition to the In-Sight product line – the In-Sight 7000 Series.

The In-Sight 7000 delivers unprecedented capabilities that allow you to perform super-reliable inspections no matter how tight your space is or how fast your line moves – and you get it all in a compact industrial IP67 package designed for the harshest, most demanding conditions.
Maximum speed and flexibility in even the tightest spots…

• Auto-focus lens – M12 integrated lens mechanically auto-focuses to handle an assortment of parts and quick changeover on your line. With the integrated auto-focus lens, also comes an integrated ring light available in a variety of colors for every application.


• Smarter tools – You get In-Sight measurement, location and inspection vision tools and the flexible EasyBuilder environment to make all inspection, defect detection, guidance, alignment and measurement applications easy to set up and deploy.


• Faster image capture – Benefit from high acquisition speeds with a maximum of over 100 image captures per second giving you reliable inspection performance on even the fastest bottling and pharmaceutical production lines.


• No additional power required - Power and control specialized lighting directly which eliminates the need for external power supplies.
  Seamless communication – Cognex Connect™ offers the widest range of built-in communication protocols. The In-Sight 7000 features built-in Ethernet, RS-232 Serial and multiple discrete IOs. The system can communicate directly to a PLC or robot controller and manage multiple smart cameras remotely from a networked PC or HMI.
  Size – 75mm x 55mm x 47mm, offering the most streamlined profile for In-Sight vision systems.

Please contact us today about your machine vision needs!

call 704-227-4600, or e-mail our applications group at engineering@cimtec.com

Computer Dynamics, A Division of Cimtec Automation, releases i5Processors on the WN Product Platforms

Computer Dynamics, A Division of Cimtec Automation, is pleased to announce the addition of the Intel Core i5 processor to the DisplayPac-WN family of products. The DisplayPac-WN family of Industrial Panel PCs is one of Computer Dynamics longest running product lines and it now incorporates the newer 3rd Generation Intel Core i5 processors.  In addition to the performance boost from the newer processor technology, the new Mini-ITX Intel HM76 based motherboard supports up to 16GB of DDR3 memory.

The Core i5 processor is an excellent choice for customers that need higher performance, but want to balance cost and power consumption.  The DisplayPac-WN product family continues to offer a wide selection of panel sizes, packaging options, and touchscreen technologies.  Computer Dynamics Sales Engineers are trained to suggest the right product for our customer’s applications.  The Intel Core i5 offering gives our Sales Engineers another way to help our customers choose the right product for any industrial PC application.

Based on the third generation Intel Core i5 processors, the DisplayPac-i5-WN series of Panel PCs are an excellent performance solution for Industrial Computing needs. The platform offers flat panels ranging in size from 15" to 21.5" and come with a touchscreen. The systems can be configured either with a panel-mount plate or with a stand-alone chassis. Additionally, the displays can be made sunlight readable.

The Core i5 version of the DisplayPac-WN fits in same footprint as the Core 2 Duo DisplayPac-WN systems for easy upgrade.  The DisplayPac-WN-C2D products will continue to be sold as they are today.

Please visit our website at www.cdynamics.com for more information.

Camber Inspection System (CIS) from Cimtec Engineered Products

Often during manufacturing process of bars, beams and machined parts maintaining a tight tolerance for straightness, run out and roundness is required. Automating this inspection process can improve productivity, efficiency, quality and throughput.

The Cimtec Camber Inspection System (CIS) utilizes a high accuracy SICK laser based sensor to measure the distance from a fixed position on the users machine to the part to be inspected. As in the most recent example of a bar straightening system for major metals manufacturer in North Carolina, the sensor head was mounted to the ram of the hydraulic press for straightening large diameter metal bars.

During the straightening operation the system performed two (2) full rotations and provided a stop signal to alert the customer’s machine controller of a high or low point during the product rotation. A Horner PLC with integral HMI coordinated the dimensional measurement information and displayed the results to the operator.



The Camber Inspection System (CIS) interprets analog signals from the SICK DT20 HI high accuracy Laser based sensor. This allows the system to determine the high and low positions throughout the product rotation very quickly and accurately. The Camber Inspection System (CIS) can be easily programmed and provides simple product set up selection for the operator.

A visual indicator light and option for audible alarm is also provided to alert the operator when the high or low point is identified around the product circumference. The physical mounting considerations take into account the potentially harsh working environment. The controls are typically housed in a NEMA 4X cabinet capable of being mounted at a typical operator control station.

Introducing the Cognex DataMan 50 and 60 (50L,50S,60L,60S)

The DataMan 50/60L is a new series of compact barcode readers designed for 1-D oriented barcode reading. The DataMan 50/60S is a complementary, new series of compact readers designed for 1-D and 2-D barcode reading. Small in size but exceptional in barcode reading performance, the DataMan 50L measures just 23.5mm x 27mm x 43.5mm and features an IP65-rated housing. It is ideal for mounting in very tight spaces on production lines and in machinery. Both readers are equipped with Hotbars™, a proprietary image-analysis technology that delivers the highest read rates in the industry.

Models
• DataMan 50(L/S) exceptionally small size with USB and RS-232 connectivity
• DataMan 60(L/S) offers Ethernet, USB and RS-232 connectivity

Part Numbers:  DMR-50L-00, DMR-60L-00, DMR-50S-00, DMR-60S-00

No Moving Parts
Moving parts can wear out and require replacement. The DataMan product line is designed with no moving parts, increasing effective product life and potentially decreasing maintenance costs!

Hotbars
Hotbars image-analysis technology
dramatically increases the decoding speed of damaged or poorly presented 1-D linear barcodes. It has revolutionized the way barcodes are located and decoded. As a result, DataMan readers have unprecedented read rates and more time for the decoding phase of code reading thereby dramatically improving the ability to read badly damaged codes. This proven technology, used in the full range of DataMan barcode readers, ensures even the most challenging barcodes found in industrial applications can be read. With Hotbars, the DataMan 50/60L just reads.

Fast and Easy Setup
The DataMan 50/60 (L/S) features a three-position lens and an integrated
aimer for easy setup at different working distances. The incredibly small form factor enables the reader to integrate into virtually any new or
existing installation.