Buy Your Industrial Control Products Here!

Spec-Tech Industrial is proud to offer News Articles from our Manufacturers.

More Coming Soon!

SEW Eurodrive MOVITRAC LTE B

MOVITRAC® LTE B drive from SEW-EURODRIVE delivers compact, economical control for simple machines

Lyman, SC - May 29, 2008 - Exceptional control for simple machines is now more affordable with the introduction of SEW-EURODRIVE's MOVITRAC® LTE B, a frequency inverter designed to simplify control of asynchronous motors. The new drive, with dynamic braking, better low speed motor control and embedded communications, is an economical solution for a wide range of applications. The MOVITRAC® LTE B drive boasts user-friendly operations and an exceptionally compact footprint. It is available in three sizes and with either a standard IP20 or rugged IP55/NEMA 12k housing for demanding environments where the drive could be exposed to dust or water.

"Our goal with the development of the MOVITRAC® LTE B was to combine improved motor control with a number of features that give customers enhanced operational control, all at the same price as earlier versions of the product," said product manager Jeff Belk. The power range of the MOVITRAC® LTE B drive has been extended to 15 HP for NEMA 1 units and 10 HP for NEMA 12.

New control algorithms assure improved motor control performance, especially at low speeds. A remote keypad allows users to remotely control operation and diagnostics, while a copy stick makes it easy to copy parameters from one drive into another for fast machine setup. The onboard S-bus is compatible with SEW's gateway fieldbus devices for DeviceNet, PROFIBUS, EtherNet/IP and PROFINET, allowing users to add these capabilities as needed.

It also communicates directly with other SEW drives and MOVI-PLC®, SEW's slimline controller series integrating PLC and motion control in one device. Other enhancements to the new drive include dynamic braking on two sizes for regenerative applications. DIN rail mounting is integrated into the housing. To learn more about SEW Eurodrive products including the MOVITRAC LTE B check out our SEW Eurodrive product list

GEMCO 953 SERIES VMAX LINEAR DISPLACEMENT TRANSDUCER

CUTS WASTE AND DOWN TIME FOR GREGORY WOOD PRODUCTS
Digital LDT Provides Faultless Performance under Extreme Process Conditions

Jan 14, 2008

NEWTON, NC - Gregory Wood Products is a leading manufacturer of dimensional lumber. It hassignificantly improved operating efficiency and reduced wood scrap by replacing linear displacement transducers (LDTs) in its wood machining operation with the GEMCO 953 Series Vmax from AMETEK Automation & Process Technologies (APT).

Key to Gregory's operation is accuracy. A laser-guided edger at Gregory's Newton, NC, factory profiles each log, determines the optimum cut, and then machines the rough log into usable boards. LDTs installed on hydraulic cylinders accurately position and guide the edger, which averages a cut board every three to five seconds. A wrong cut immediately results in a scrap board. Severe shock and vibration are an inherent part of the operation as the edger's hydraulic cylinders extended every three to five seconds up to 18 inches from their home position as dictated by the laser profile.

"The prior LDT units were continually generating faults (losing position)," notes Cecil Gregory, co-owner of Gregory Wood Products. "Although the exact reason for the failures is still unknown, we strongly speculated that it was caused by the severe shock and vibration. This is by far our most extreme application, which GEMCO has performed with ease."

Gregory had experienced both high failure rates for its LDTs and excessive wood scrap until it replaced its installed LDTs with the GEMCO 953 Series Vmax in 2007. Since incorporating the GEMCO 953, Gregory has not experienced a single fault due to an LDT failure. The previous LDTs had faulted during some production days every 15 minutes.

"We significantly reduced maintenance time and wood scrap, which had averaged $3,000 per day due to LDT failures. In addition, we were able to install the 953 Series in minutes into the existing LDT footprint on our equipment. With the success of the GEMCO 953s in our cutting operation, we now plan to install them on the wood stackers and sharp chain as well," comments Steve Randall, Vice President of Gregory Wood Products.

GEMCO LDTs are known for their flawless performance in extreme environmental conditions. They feature the latest generation of magnetostrictive position-sensing technology, and numerous configurations are available to meet specific end user requirements. In addition to lumber and forest products equipment, GEMCO LDTs have found application in steel mills, primary and secondary metals processing such as stamping, roll forming and die-casting, rubber and plastic injection-molding, extrusion equipment, and material handling machinery. 

The GEMCO 953 VMAX is particularly well suited for demanding process applications, providing unmatched reliability and durability regardless of the application environment. That includes shock, vibration, extreme temperatures or exposure to contaminants. The 953D VMAX LDT is shock resistant to 1,000 Gs, vibration-resistant to 30 Gs and is IP68 rated. The fully digital LDT offers accurate and reliable absolute position indication with high resolution and precision repeatability. It overcomes the resolution and signal limitations of analog LDTs by offering infinite resolution and a stable position feedback for cable runs up to 1,200 feet from the host controller.

Both the GEMCO 953A (analog) and 953D (digital) VMAX LDT offer active measuring range of up to 300 inches and wide power supply voltages ranging from 7 to 30 VDC. Analog output units offer programmable zero and span. Both units feature visual and output signal diagnostic feedback and utilize standard off-the-shelf cord sets for maximum value. A tri-color LED indicator verifies proper operation and distinct diagnostics for quick troubleshooting. Their low power consumption (1 watt typical) allows direct connection to displays and control interface modules.

AMETEK Automation & Process Technologies is a leader in continuous linear and rotary position sensing and level gauging. It has provided industrial automation solutions for over 50 years and is a recognized leader in advanced magnetostrictive positioning technology and continuous rotary and linear motion control devices.

AMETEK Automation & Process Technologies is a unit of AMETEK, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices with annualized sales of more than $2 billion.

For more information, contact Spec-Tech Industrial 2509 Cassens Drive, Fenton, MO 63026.
Toll Free at (888) SPEC-TECH, FAX at (636) 537-1405.
Email at [email protected] on the web at www.spectechind.com