TECHNOLOGY BRIEFS
WWW.MADEIN.IE « JULY 2020 « 13
Flow sensors
cut energy
consumption
»
Fanuc launches 3D vision sensor
»
Fanuc has expanded its range of integrated image processing solutions with the
introduction of the 3DV/600 Vision Sensor.
The new sensor benefi ts from an extended fi eld of vision in comparison
to other models in the range, and is designed for use in multiple applications,
including bin picking, feeding an assembly line, or stacking pallets. Complete with
the 2D Camera Package, 3D Laser Sensor and 3D Area Sensor, the 3DV/600 forms
part of a highly-integrated, high-performance portfolio for industrial image
processing.
Andy Armstrong, Sales and Marketing Manager at FANUC UK, comments: “The
3DV/600 is a practical and user-friendly addition to the range, capable of being
fi tted permanently into a system, or temporarily on the last axis of a robot. The
other models in the 3DV series have proved hugely popular, and by expanding
its fi eld of vision, we’ve ensured the 3DV/600 can deliver the high levels of
performance demanded by ambitious manufacturers.”
Its high level of integration and very short image processing ensures that the
3DV/600 can be combined with the iRPickTool for use on a conveyor belt, able to
pick up items even if they are irregular-shaped or have no clearly defi ned pick-up
point.
The 3DV/600 is pre-calibrated, which makes installation as straightforward
as possible. After the sensor is installed, the robot simply has to identify the
position of its ‘eyes’, and a setup-wizard supports and guides you through the
necessary settings. Furthermore, no interface development is needed, as the
FANUC 3D Sensor support is fully integrated into the robot software.
The use of fl ow sensors which
monitor both fl ow velocity and the
temperature of mediums at critical
locations in a major dairy processing
plant have proved to be very
signifi cant in providing vital energy
consumption data and ultimately
achieving important cost savings.
Dairy cooperative ARLA Foods selected
BAUMER’s FlexFlow® sensors for the
purpose of obtaining more detailed
analysis of energy consumption during
cheese production at its Falkenberg
location in Sweden.
Arla Foods produces 20,000
tonnes of cottage cheese every year,
equivalent to 76.9 tons per day
satisfying most of the demand for the
Swedish market, as well as exporting
to Finland, Denmark and Greece.
Like any progressive manufacturing
process, especially in the food
industry where hygiene standards are
critical, developing, implementing and
sustaining the most resource effi cient
processes, is essential.
Mattias Abrahamsson, Production
System Manager at Arla’s Falkenberg
plant said, “In recent years we have
placed an increasingly strong focus on
monitoring the energy consumption
of our plants. However, in certain
areas we simply didn’t know where
exactly the energy was being used.
FlexFlow, the calorimetric fl ow sensor
supplied by Baumer helped us achieve
the breakthrough. We installed these
sensors at the neuralgic points in
our cooling and heating system and
used the measurement results to
obtain fa clear picture of the energy
consumption.”
Kitagawa BRseries
chucks
boast 0.010 mm
TIR
»
Designed to reduce set-up times on
lathes, the new BR-series of 3-jaw
chucks from Japanese fi rm Kitagawa is
capable of a gripping accuracy of 0.01
mm TIR (total indicator reading) or less
when using optional T-Nuts Plus jaws.
Repeatability of jaw exchange is within
the same tolerance, even on the largest
chuck. They are manufactured in 6”, 8”,
10” and 12” versions and are available in
the UK and Ireland through sole agent
1st Machine Tool Accessories.
BR chucks are now Kitagawa’s
standard off ering and are
interchangeable with its B-series and
the large through-hole BB-series, which
are both superseded. Their TIR could
only be guaranteed within 0.02 mm.
Due to a new base jaw design
and lower jaw lift, gripping forces at
the maximum rotational speed of the
chucks have been increased by 10 to 15
per cent to enable better metal removal
rates. High spindle speeds have been
maintained throughout the range to
enhance the surface fi nish of turned
components.
On twin-spindle chuckers, which
are becoming ever more prevalent in
turning shops, the better rotational
accuracy of the workpiece allows more
precise synchronous transfer from the
main to the counter spindle for secondoperation
machining. Gripping force is
up to 153 kN for the 12-inch chuck while
maximum rotational speed, attainable
on the 6-inch model, is 6,000 rpm.
Every chuck includes a QR code on
the side to allow data on the product to
be downloaded.
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