Teschler on Topic Leland Teschler • Executive Editor lteschler@wtwhmedia.com Engineers of all stripes have developed a sudden interest in building construction practices thanks to the collapse of Miami’s Champlain South Tower. There’s been a lot of speculation about the tragedy’s cause, but one of the most interesting attempts at analyzing the sequence of events is…
MultiVoltage lithium batteries target material handling equipment
Patent-pending MultiVoltage technology enables the battery to charge at double its output voltage, which cuts charging time in half and makes opportunity charging a more accessible option with simplicity and ease of use for the operator. Patent-pending MultiVoltage technology enables charging at double the batteries’ output voltage, halving the charge time and increasing productivity. Applicable…
Ultra-bright LED miniature wedge base bulbs replace incandescent versions
LED Machine Status Indicator Bulbs directly replace incandescents in critical instrument status indication applications. These bulbs are particularly good candidates for slot machine candles, casino gaming and maker lamps. The W305SM series of omnidirectional miniature-based bulbs illuminate colored lenses with a much brighter light intensity, while remaining energy-efficient and tolerant of higher temperatures. This newest…
Touchless switches programmed for contactless, hygienic switching
The new TTS Touchless Switch is a robust stainless-steel switch designed for indoor or outdoor public use to prevent the spread of pathogens. The TTS optical ToF (Time of Flight) technology allows for precise programming of each individual switch. The standard detection distance is set at 60-0.1 mm. This detection distance ensures that wiping or…
Special bracket facilitates tablet HMI for industrial machinery
The HT3P Safety Commander addresses a growing need for users who want to incorporate modern tablets into their industrial automation systems, but also need to include hardwired emergency stop (e-stop) and enabled functionality. The Safety Commander makes it easy to hold a tablet securely in an industrial setting, for applications like machinery, robotics, automatic guided…
Aluminum enclosures for gas analysis electronics
Portable instrument enclosures and 19-in rack cases are optimized for new gas analysis equipment. The enclosures can be ordered fully modified, ready for the production line. These stylish, robust aluminum enclosures are also candidates for other applications including networking, laboratory instrumentation, industrial control, sound and studio electronics, medical and wellness applications. COMBIMET 19-in is METCASE’s…
Protection films for automotive displays prevent scratches, other damage
A line of protection films for vehicle displays protect vivid, often touchscreen displays against dirt, scratches and other damage throughout the supply chain journey from production to delivery to installation. Importantly, the risk of electrostatic discharge (ESD) must be mitigated during the film’s non-residual removal. With that in mind, Schreiner Protech’s new protection films reduce…
RECOM Power RACM1200-V ac/dc fanless converters now at Sager Electronics
RECOM Power’s RACM1200-V series 1,200-W ac/dc fanless converters feature a special baseplate cooling design. Supporting heat dissipation directly through the metal enclosure without raising the internal temperature, the RACM1200-V series consumes less than 1 W in standby mode, provides 5 VSB/1 A auxiliary output and has a 95% efficiency rating. Providing enhanced thermal management and…
Handheld HMI includes touchscreen, function keys, and switches
A new 4.3-in-LCD HG1P handheld human-machine interface (HMI) is aimed at enabling operator interactions for automated machine tending and robotics applications and is said to be the most cost-effective device of its type. At only 500 g and with contoured hand grips, a hand strap, and a wall hanging bracket, the HG1P’s ergonomic design enables…
Alarms provide international alarm tones, remotely activated stages/channels
The latest iteration of the AlertAlarm, the AlertAlight and the Sonora alarm horn sounders, beacons and combined units upgrade both the enclosures and electronics to create universal solutions for industrial, marine and ordinary location applications. The AlertAlarm and AlertAlight products now contain the standard E2S set of 64 international alarm tones and four remotely activated…
Control knobs sport optional LED illumination
Advanced new rotary/click CONTROL-KNOBS are for menu-driven electronics – typically for devices manufactured in high volumes. These elegant and ergonomic tuning knobs fit rotary potentiometers or encoders with round shaft ends (DIN 41591). They are ideal as the central element of menu-driven interfaces. Applications include measuring and control; medical, wellness and laboratory technology; HVAC; communications;…
Table-top plastic enclosures sport sloping top
The EVOTEC range of designer table-top plastic enclosures now include a new sloping top version of the 150 size. Soft-contoured EVOTEC electronic enclosures are elegant and ergonomic – but robust enough to withstand challenging working environments. Applications include measurement and control, IT, IoT/IIoT, gateways, medical, laboratory and environmental technology. The new EVOTEC 150 Version III…
Casters intended for 24/7 continuous duty/mission critical apps
With a maximum load rating of 1,000 lb/caster, the new Endurance Series features the highest rated industrial casters with the same critical dimensions as the industry’s highest volume product class. Endurance is also the first and only industrial caster series designed with forged kingpinless construction and heat-treated raceways in such a small form factor. The…
Enclosures, panels target fiber communications, cable TV, telecom, surveillance and monitoring apps
A new line of fiber enclosures and panels are candidates for communications, cable TV, telecom, surveillance and monitoring systems. L-com’s new fiber enclosure product line addresses FTTx, fiber distribution networks and growing high-speed voice, video and data applications, and are designed to make the field installation as simple as possible. The wall-mount outdoor fiber enclosures…
Suspension arms designed to handle displays, panel PCs, HMIs
New taraSMART (IP 54) modular suspension arms offer advanced technical features at a lower price point. They are similar to ROLEC’s proven profiPLUS arms but are simpler and more cost-effective. Elegant and robust taraSMART is designed to support light-to-medium displays, HMI enclosures and panel PCs weighing up to around 45 kg (100 lb). The arms…
Avionics packaging repurposed for ground-based defense uses
The Mini Modular Rack Principle (MiniMRP) electronics packaging solution targets military ground vehicles and defense applications. Previously, ground defense vehicles did not use sophisticated electronic suites, ultimately hindering the ability to package a voluminous amount of electronics. With new military ground vehicles in development or in queue for upgrades, TE actively looked for an opportunity…
Two-wire electronic switch designed to upgrade mechanical switches
The Excela is a general-purpose electronic switch designed to meet the needs of plant operators. The solution removes the maintenance burden of traditional switches and provides operational insights helping organizations accelerate the transition to smart industry. As plants grapple with the complexity and cost of upgrading aging infrastructure, they can now easily upgrade legacy mechanical…
Eight-port unmanaged ethernet switch supports QoS, IGMP snooping, broadcast storm protection
The SX5E-HU085B 8-port unmanaged industrial Ethernet switch provides many managed switch features to support the rapidly expanding quantity of Ethernet, IoT, and IIoT devices used in critical and challenging commercial and industrial locations. No software configuration is needed, and flexible installation options make this an economical yet high-performance solution. Managed Features in an Unmanaged Switch…
STEM classes don’t teach engineers how to think
Teschler on Topic Leland Teschler • Executive Editor lteschler@wtwhmedia.com It’s no secret that the media eagerly report potential technical breakthroughs with hyperventilating headlines. The most recent example is the buzz surrounding battery technology for electric vehicles. We might wonder why EVs don’t all have a 1,000-mile range given the number of news reports about spectacular…
Compact slide switches target space-constrained apps
Available in compact package sizes as small as 10×2.5×5.9 mm, the MSS series is a family of mini slide switches featuring 2.54-mm pitches, SPDT circuits, and on-on switch functions. Thanks to their compact footprints, these mini slide switches are ideal for a variety of space-constrained consumer electronics, industrial control, and test equipment applications. These slide…
Display film combines marking, adhesive bonding qualities
An integrated film-based solution for partially translucent displays calle Color Laser Film Translucent is an alternative to pre-printed design films, efficiently combining the functions of marking and adhesive bonding into one flexible, customizable product. Translucence refers to an object’s light permeability and is a characteristic frequently found in sectors such as household appliances, mobility and…
Book Review: Hardcore Programming for Mechanical Engineers, By Angel Sola Orbaiceta
If you earned your engineering degree before the early 1990s, you never learned about the Python programming language in school. For those not familiar with Python who want to rectify that situation, Hardcore Programming for Mechanical Engineers might be a book to consider. It is about solving engineering problems with Python. In that Python is…
IP 67 power entry module with circuit breaker adds CCC approval
The DG11 series power entry module has received CCC approval in addition to ENEC and cURus approvals, paving its entry into the China market. The compact unit, which integrates a two-pole circuit breaker, is rated up to 10 A at 250 V. It is a first-of-its-kind power entry module with optional IP67 rated versions. The…
Smart grid gateways enable I/O, Wi-Fi sensor connections to energy networks
Two new multi-IO versions allow Ixxat SG-gateway series for networking of energy components to be connected to energy systems using IEC 61850 and IEC 60870. Users benefit from direct and seamless access to sensor data from the control room, as well as IIoT capabilities for monitoring, maintenance and forecasting purposes. Digitalization of energy technology is…
Sager Electronics to stock Cosel TUNS1200 1,200-W medical power supplies
Electronics distributor Sager Electronics is now stocking Cosel’s TUNS1200 1,200-W low-profile onboard power supplies. With its low profile and medical safety certifications, Cosel’s TUNS1200 1,200-W medical power supplies are designed for various applications requiring high- and low-temperature operation as well as constant current. The units are available with a 28 Vdc or 48 Vdc with…