Industrial Factory Automation

Variohm Eurosensor has introduced three vibration sensors with industry-standard M12 connectors from Meggitt Wilcoxon Research , its US distribution partner. Aimed at vibration monitoring for preventative maintenance on motors, pumps and other rotating equipment, the new general-purpose accelerometers are based on 786A and 787A piezoelectric accelerometers. The accelerometers now include the universal four- and five-pin M12 connector system, which is commonly used across food, beverage, pharmaceutical and other process industries. The range covers three 100mV/g sensors with either a five per cent or 10 per cent sensitivity tolerance and an acceleration range up to 80g. Hermetically sealed and corrosion resistant with a fused glass-to-metal connector and an all-welded construction, the sensor has a temperature range of -50C to +120C and the compact design mounts in any direction with a choice of M6, M8 or 1/4-28 captive screw or M8 stud mounting. Variohm can also supply a range of I...

The Omnicoder, developed by BEI and available in the UK from Variohm Eurosensor, is a industrial incremental encoder that offers the flexibility of user-programmable resolution. Based on BEI's H25 series - a durable encoder with a die-cast aluminium housing, a 416 stainless-steel shaft and heavy-duty ABEC 7 bearings - the Omnicoder is connected to a PC using a special USB cable assembly and through a free-of-charge user interface. The encoder resolution can be programmed between one and 10,000 counts per revolution. The patented control algorithm developed for the Omnicoder ensures that the duty cycle and phase relationship are unaffected at the maximum resolution. The design also ensures that the resolution information is stored redundantly in non-volatile memory, making it as reliable as a fixed disc encoder. Aimed at original equipment manufacturers, machine builders and integrators who need the flexibility to set encoder resolution in situ or who are wanting to reduce the s...

Leeds-based Ginetta Cars has chosen Variohm EPT3100 pressure transducers to monitor oil, fuel and water pressure across all of its G50 series of race cars. The 300bhp G50 'Cup' race car is exclusively used for the single-make Michelin G50 Championship, which starts again in April 2010. A newly introduced G50Z version features a 400bhp Ford Zytek engine and is aimed at top-level GT sprint and 24-hour racing. The latest derivative, the G50HC (hot climate), is built for the Middle East race-car market and is designed for track temperatures up to +60C. Throughout the G50 series, the engine control unit and data logging systems are used to ensure optimum performance and Variohm's EPT3100 series pressure transducers are built for challenging applications where high performance and reliability need to be balanced with lightweight design, compact dimensions and a competitive cost. The EPT3100's thin-film measuring cell and high-level-output circuit technology provide a pressur...