Compressed air management is an expensive form of energy. A 160 kW air compressor working 24/7/365 costs over R1,25 million a year to operate. It is essential to know the compressed air consumption in any factory. Information on compressed air flow, air pressure and power consumption makes it easy to see areas of power wastage and make key decisions that will reduce power consumption and carbon emissions.
The SUTO iTEC S331 universal display and data logger measures, displays and records air flow consumption, dew point, pressure, temperature, power consumption and compressor availability. In addition it can measure compressor cooling water flow rates. It is a simple cost-effective display that allows for 16 sensors to connect and pass information to the 13 cm touch screen and data logger.
More sensors can be connected using a Modbus system. Different sensors can be recorded individually or in groups on the crystal clear screen. The touch screen shows the data logger’s history. This means operators and supervisors can view records quickly and simply. The S331 logs up to 100 million values and can be linked to a PC or the factory’s monitoring system. Other brands of sensors may be added and monitored on the display
The correct pressure or dew point of the compressed air may be critical for a production line and advance warning of a problem before it stops production may be essential. In addition to its other features, the S331 can trigger an alarm system.
Solving common automation challenges with Festo’s servo drive and servo motor solutions Festo
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Automation projects face challenges that include limited installation space, the need for precise and repeatable linear motion, rising cycle-speed demands, and seamless integration with existing control architectures. Festo’s servo portfolio directly addresses these issues with compact, modular drive and motor solutions designed for specific applications.
Read more...Inside the Giant Magellan Telescope with mechanical engineering at astronomical scale
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Construction of the Giant Magellan Telescope, set to become the world’s largest Gregorian optical infrared telescope, is well underway. While its scientific mission is to transform astronomy, its performance depends heavily on advanced mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic engineering.
Read more...Jendamark catalyst shrinking technology leverages SEW-EURODRIVE precision SEW-EURODRIVE
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Innovative technology for shrinking catalytic converters, designed and built in South Africa by Jendamark Automation for the global market, relies on the precision of SEW-EURODRIVE’s highly dynamic servo-geared units and software.
Read more...Motion control for flight simulators Beckhoff Automation
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Turkish specialist, SANLAB is a leader in motion platforms and simulation technologies. At the heart of these platforms are application-specific servo drives, servomotors and industrial PCs for real-time control, which are supplied by Beckhoff.
Read more...PC-based control for additive machine tools Beckhoff Automation
Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
IRPD is a specialist in additive machine tools. Development is heavily focused on high system throughput and consistently high process quality. This goal was achieved with the help of PC- and EtherCAT-based control and drive technology from Beckhoff.
Read more...A guide to common hydraulic system contaminants CT Hydraulics (Nqoba)
Editor's Choice Hydraulic systems & components
Every engineer, machine designer and maintenance professional understands that the heart of any reliable hydraulic system is its fluid. But the moment that fluid is compromised, your system’s life expectancy and your peace of mind drop dramatically.
Read more...Compressed air piping design Artic Driers International
Editor's Choice Pneumatic systems & components
When designing a compressed air pipeline, remember that size matters. The internal size of the pipe, along with the pressure and air volume, determine the velocity of the compressed air in the pipeline.
Read more...Top questions about pressure gauges SA Gauge
Editor's Choice Pneumatic systems & components
Some questions never go out of date, and in our industry, a few have been asked for decades. At SA Gauge, we hear them every week. Here are the ten questions we hear most often, and the practical answers that can save time, money and frustration.
Read more...A technological leap with the proportional valve terminal Festo South Africa
Editor's Choice
Festo continually makes bold technological leaps to keep pace with global advancements. Controlled Pneumatics is redefining the boundaries of compressed air technology to meet the demands of today’s most advanced applications.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.