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SIEMENS PLM software has released the latest version (10.2) of Femap software, a PC-based finite element modelling component of the Velocity Series portfolio of PLM solutions.
According to the company, Femap 10.2 makes it faster and easier to create the meshed models used by engineers to simulate and analyze product performance using finite element analysis (FEA).
The latest release is said to add a wide variety of customer-driven enhancements and exclusive new features to improve the entire computer-aided engineering (CAE) process from pre-processing model creation, to solver integration, to post-processing data handling, visualization and analysis.
The Interactive Meshing Toolbox introduced in Femap version 10 has added functionality that enables faster, interactive creation of the finite element mesh model. It also includes a new feature editing capability that allows the user to move features, such as holes or surfaces, while the meshed model is automatically updated to reflect the change.
A new topology optimization capability allows the user to apply loads and constraints to material encompassing the entire available design envelope, minimizing weight, and maximizing stiffness by removing unnecessary material to create an optimized shape. The suggested shape can serve as a starting point for successive iterations, significantly reducing the time needed to arrive at a final design.
ADEPT has released Micro- PolyView, a 360°, 3D, multi- image optics software package designed to measure and inspect small objects whose dimensions range from 1mm to 10mm, using a single lens.
Traditionally, where a sample needed to be observed from a number of angles, different perspective views were achieved by deploying an array of cameras or by moving the imaging system around the component; both solutions being complex and expensive.
Opto Engineering’s new Micro-Polyview lens, however, is capable of observing and measuring an object from dif ferent angles by using an array of mirrors interfaced to a bi- telecentric lens. While keeping the top of the object directly imaged at the centre of the field-of-view, the lateral views feature exactly the same mag nification and the images remain in perfect focus even when the object is displaced.
This allows all views to be used to measure, precisely, the dimensions of components from different angles with only one camera and without mov ing anything.
The lenses are said to be eas ily-customisable and versions can be manufactured with a different number of views and mirror inclinations.
Adept Electronic Solutions 089242 5411, www.adept.net.au
PT Hydraulics Australia is now offering a range of low pressure, double acting hand pumps and steel tanks.
The units are suitable for a range of applications in the industrial, agricultur al and transport fields, including manu facturing, processing and other engi neering areas.
The new double acting hand pumps come in 6cc, 12cc, 25cc or 45cc mod els and are also available in a range of configurations.
The single configuration consists of acting pumps with single pistons or with two-speed dual pistons, base or flange mounted, that are available with or without reservoirs and control valves.
The PTHA range also includes dou ble-acting pumps and pumps with four-way valves for use with double acting cylinders.
PTHA pumps reportedly provide an economical means of supplying on- the-spot manual hydraulic power in industrial plants, at construction sites, and in remote locations where emer gency standby power is needed.
All pumps come standard with nitrile seals for use with most hydraulic oils.
SPRAY Nozzle Engineering’s FLOW VIEW Ball Flow Indicators are designed to be connected to a liquid dispersant system, allowing the user to check that the correct amount of liquid is flowing to the desired spray nozzles or opener outlets, even when the nozzles or outlets cannot be seen.
Each flow indicator column can supply liquid for up to three nozzles, openers or other supply lines to be monitored. When the liquid is flowing equally to the desired supply lines, the balls hover at the same level. When a ball hovers lower than the others, it indicates that one or more of the nozzles, openers or supply lines supplied by that column is restricted or blocked.
The FLOW VIEW’s modular design has individual columns and fittings that connect together with Wilger’s O-ring seal and joint clips, allowing the construction of a system that is tailor- made to suit individual requirements, the manufacturer says.
Fresco’s new low-cost bulk bag filler is said to offer high accuracy and high volume.
Designed to be located below a blender or sifter and receive the contents of the entire batch for internal plant storage or movement to a packing line, the unit can also be portable allowing it to be used under multiple feed points.
The bulk bag strap hooks are height-adjustable and will support bags weighing up to 2,000kg while filling is in progress.
The base of the bulk bag elongates allowing for settlement of the contents once the bulk bag is positioned on a pallet.
The inlet spout of the bulk bag or liner is attached to Fresco’s single actuated spout filling head, providing a secure, dust-tight seal, the company says.
THE Fresco paddle sifter is designed to break-up hard and lumpy product which would otherwise be rejected from a vibratory or rotary sifter.
The paddle sifter mounts directly onto a blender, bag dump, screw con veyor or other process equipment, reducing floor area and need for inter connecting conveyors, Fresco says. The sifter can handle difficult products like cheese, salt, icing sugar, whole milk powder and waxes, which all tend to lump during transit and storage.
The compact design can be easily retrofitted to existing processes reduc ing manual handling and increasing productivity, the manufacturer claims.
Fresco’s vibratory hopper screen is said to add an extra line of security when removing oversize particles and other foreign matter like paper and cotton during the production process.
The screens are fitted into the top of a bag dump, allowing the operator to empty the bags at an ergonomic working height.
The vibration also aids in the discharge of the product from the bag being tipped, Fresco claims.
The screens can be fitted with fixed or interchangeable mesh apertures as required.
FRESCO Systems Australasia designs, manufactures, installs and commis sions complete powder handling and liquid processes that are tailored to suit individual applications.
The systems are designed matching the product types with the system throughput and process requirements.
Depending of the powdered material source, a silo, bag dump or bulk bag unloader will be selected with either a flexible screw conveyor or metering screw feeder used to provide a con trolled metered feed into the liquid mixing tank.
Variable powered feed rates are achieved by adjusting the discharge flow rates of the metering device. The liquid mixer is filled to preset levels based on whether it is a continuous or batch mixing process.
During the consultative design process, Fresco will recommend the appropriate mixing technology based on past experiences developing custom products, the company says.
ROCKWELL Automation’s Enterprise Planning (ERP) Integration Gateway application is said to allow plants to more easily and cost-effectively exchange transactions and execute business processes across the plant- floor in real-time.
According to Rockwell, this exchange is a critical component in achieving demand-driven, agile manu facturing and the ability to deliver a perfect order.
The ERP Integration Gateway is designed to allow exchange of com mon types of information required for agile manufacturing, such as quality, order planning and scheduling, as well as accounting of production costs.
Rockwell Automation 03 9896 0300, www.rockwellautomation.com.au
SIEMENS PLM Software has announced a new integrated machine design solution to create value for companies that develop and market machine tools and production machines. The Mechatronics Concept Designer offers a systems engineering approach to machine design that is said to capture ‘voice of the customer’ input, while managing early require ments and facilitating the simultaneous definition and simulation of the mechanical, electrical and automation software found in today’s tools.
According to Siemens, the interac tive simulation capability is based on gaming technology that can signifi cantly reduce development time and improve product quality for the global machine design industry.
The software works in conjunction with Siemens Teamcenter software.
THE model RW-M2 electric hydraulic portable hole puncher by Kamekura is now available from Stainelec Hydraulic Equipment.
The portable hole puncher has been designed for use with punching round or slot holes from 8mm to 20mm in 10mm thickness materials, such as copper and mild steel. The unit is also capable of punching 6mm thickness stainless steel for 8mm to 20mm diameter.
According to the manufacturer, the unique design of the hole punchers allows the operator easy positioning by adjusting the movable back gauge as well having an in-built LED lighting system which can clearly light up the desired punching position for accuracy so the user can punch holes in the material piece precisely.
The inching button allows further accuracy to punch on pre-marked centre lines of the work piece material, the company says.
HURLL Nu-Way is supplying the Delta Hybrid from Aerzen, which comprises a combination of blower and compressor technology for various industrial uses.
The Delta Hybrid packages have been designed for oil-free compression of air and neutral gases in various industries including in food and chemi cal processing, wastewater treatment plants and power generation plants. The new compressors are said to dis tinguish themselves by being especially favourable in terms of price performance ratio due to their lower investment, energy and maintenance costs compared with a turbo or screw compressor.
According to the manufacturer, these compressors offer energy savings of up to 15 % compared to conventional compressors, along with low mainte nance and service costs.
THERMO Fisher Scientific and Portable Analytical Solutions have launched a new range of Niton hand held XRF analysers — the XL3T GOLDD Plus and the XL2 GOLDD — for use in manufacturing, petrochemical and other engineering applications.
These two models are said to offer major improvements in detection, speed and efficiencies that surpass any competitors currently in the market.
According to Thermo Fisher Scientific and PAS, the XL3t GOLDD plus and XL2 GOLDD are set to reposition how handheld XRF is utilised in industrial areas.
The analysers have a number of uses in manufacturing including posi tive materials identification and analy sis of welds for weld integrity, in which case the units include cameras to get in to very tight sections.
The analysers are also used to test thickness coatings on various kinds of materials.
ROCKWELL Automation has announced two additions to its Allen- Bradley ControlLogix family of con trollers, both leveraging the single design-environment and networking protocol within the company’s Integrated Architecture system. The ControlLogix L73 and L75 programma ble automation controllers (PACs) are said to provide advanced memory, speed and processing capabilities for a wide range of control demands, from high-performance logic and motion to information-intensive process applications.
The PACs’ enhanced memory and processing capabilities are said to help improve production rates, boost overall equipment effectiveness, and provide more timely data for improved deci sion-making capabilities.
For complex, high-performance motion applications, the ControlLogix L73 and L75 PACs reportedly link seamlessly with motion drives through EtherNet/IP and SERCOS network interfaces. The controllers are capable of supporting as many as 100 axes.
A 1GB, secure digital card that ships with each controller provides improved data integrity, and faster reads and writes than previous CompactFlash technology, Rockwell Automation claims.
TECPRO Australia’s new Ramex AV500 hose reel with dual retraction springs has a capacity of 25 metres for a one-inch hose or 30 metres for a 3/4-inch hose, and is suitable for industrial applications.
The unit offers dual springs which provide the necessary force to rewind the full length of hose completely and quickly.
The AV5000 reels are available in 304 stainless steel, along with painted carbon steel, and 316 stainless steel for marine or corrosive environments. All wetted parts including the swivel joint are manufactured from stainless steel.
The dual spring hose reel is said to be ideal for applications where strong retraction is needed.
According to the manufacturer, the Ramex hose reel is suitable for 3/4- and 1-inch hoses, and is quite a cost effective offering.
ACCESSORIES for Manufacturing is now distributing the Australian-made Command series of swarf compactors.
The Command swarf compacting systems are designed to transform process scrap into compact, moisture- free briquettes for re-use.
According to Accessories for Manufacturing, this increases the value of scrap metal, reduces a company’s environmental footprint, and helps companies recover their coolant.
Models in the Command series were designed to comply with the latest CAD modelling software from PTC, and meet CE levels of compliance as well.
The units meet a variety of swarf production conditions; the 200, 400 and 600 models can process alumini um from 100-270kg per hour and steel from 200-640kg per hour.
Coupled with auger box, shredder and coolant filtration products, the Command series is said to offer a new level of efficiency and reliability that has not been seen before in swarf compacting machinery.
SCHOTT Tubing produces 60 different special glass types in a range of dimensions for various applications.
One offering, called DURAN glass, is suitable for use as tubing, capillary and rods, for installation in large-scale industrial plants, engineering and designing laboratories, chemical apparatus and environmental technology applications.
According to SCHOTT, DURAN’s unique qualities make it extremely ver satile. It offers high temperature resist ance and minimal thermal expansion as well as high corrosion resistance to acids, salt solutions, caustic solu tions and organic substances, the company says.
DURAN tubing can be used for test tubes, filter apparatus and flowmeters, but also for refrigeration and distillation systems. Other applications are pipeline construction for chemical and waste water plants, heat exchangers, gas desulphurisation plants, solar collectors and explosion-proof lamps.
KNIGHT Pneumatics is now supply ing hundreds of styles of Vicas vacu um cups and vacuum accessories including vacuum generators and fittings to suit various styles of pneumatics system.
The vacuum cups are manufactured from vinyl, oil resistant vinyl, urethane or silicone.
One model, the Durometer, ranges from A20 to A75 in size, in thousands of styles including: standard concave; bellows; and oblong.
Diameters of the cups range from 8.5mm to 355mm. Metric, push-on and other types of fixing are used.
Knight Pneumatics 03 9555 4666, www.knightpneumatics.com.au
INDUSTRIAL Labelling Solutions is now offering robust cable markers cus tom-printed for specific requirements.
Both the sleeves and markers are manufactured from quality PVC materi als which ensures that labels, printing and sleeves are waterproof and are robust enough to withstand the requirements of industrial markets including manufacturing, engineering and processing, the company says.
The PMT-CT series PVC Cable Markers are said to be self-extinguish ing to UL94V-0 and are available in 35 and 70mm offerings in either white or yellow colours.
Label text can reportedly be printed in a choice of either black, blue, green or red colours for specialised labelling applications.
The company uses software that can fit over 20 characters 5mm high on a 70mm label.
SI Instruments has developed the mini TehloTest for measuring head load force in capping machines.
The mini TehloTest is said to be ideal for small bottles, as it is only 42mm in diameter and 101mm tall.
The unit can be wirelessly operated from a distance of up to 30 metres; no wires need to be pulled or damaged while the unit travels through the cap ping machine.
Designed for use in the production line, the mini TehloTest consists of two parts: the mini TehloTest unit containing the load cell (in a custom- made sleeve to imitate the exact size and shape of the bottles); and the user interface, containing the control module.
The possibilities extend further with EasyPlot graphing software, making it possible to obtain a full graph of the capping force on a computer screen, SI Instruments claims.
