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PBC Linear was recently approached to design a fully automated CNC drilling system for laboratory test-tube analysing and storage. In order to ensure precision positioning and drilling, PBC Linear recommended its ML series miniature actuators. The application required a CNC drilling system that would drill holes on a 12in x 12in area, creating a peg board.

These holes would, in turn, be filled with medical test tubes for safe storage while they await being analysed in laboratory centres across the country. The medical equipment manufacturer needed a quick, precise and durable mini-positioning system; therefore, PBC Linear designed a complete turnkey solution using three MLB motor-driven actuators assembled in an XX'Y configuration. Designed for precision in a small-scale environment, the MLB actuator is said to ensure accurate positioning. The mini actuator comprises a post-processed SIMO-machined outer profile for precise mounting and durability.

This machining process allows for fast, simultaneous machining on all critical edges of the body. It also permits the actuator to sustain a lighter weight without sacrificing strength - allowing for a smaller-sized motor. The MLB mini actuator's dovetail-style carriage comprises 14 plane bearing surfaces that provide low friction, smooth motion and quiet travel. Power is supplied by a state-of-the-art stepper motor system for optimum control. The final assembled system is at the pinnacle of both precision and performance. Moving at a speed of 10in/s, the CNC drilling system was able to provide advanced positioning and drilling across the peg board's surface area.

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Procter Machine Guarding has published a white paper that explains the requirements for CE marking guards under the new Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. Under the old Machinery Directive, machine guards did not need to be CE marked. However, under the new directive, which comes into force on 29 December 2009, machine guards do need to be CE marked - but only under certain circumstances. There is no transition period between the old and new directives, so it is essential that companies building machines or partly completed machines - and those performing final assembly, importing machinery for use in the European Economic Area or modifying machinery - be aware of the new requirements.

In addition, companies that manufacture guards, whether standard, bespoke or assembled from aluminium framework systems, need to understand when they should and should not CE mark guards and/or supply a Declaration of Conformity. The white paper, entitled 'CE marking of machine guards to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC', was written by Jeremy Procter, who is a member of BSI's MCE/3 committee, former convenor of the European Standards Committee responsible for Machine Guards (CEN TC114 WG11), and managing director of Procter Machine Guarding. The paper has been prepared in light of clarification provided by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) and takes into account the European Commission's Guide to application of the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, which was published in early December 2009.

Procter's white paper considers the question of 'What is a guard?' in terms of the definitions and clarification in the Machinery Directive and the relevant harmonised standard, EN 953:1997 +A1:2009 Safety of machinery. A series of seven scenarios then describe various situations in which guards do and do not need to be CE marked, with the information provided in a simple-to-understand format, but with notes to explain the underlying reasoning. To order a PDF copy of this publication, follow the link to 'Free Machine Safety Guides' at www.machinesafety.co.uk or email CE@procterbedwas.co.uk.

A range of chillers for water and other process liquids can be supplied by Hi-Line Industries. The Hi-Cool range, with 27 models available, liquid-cooling capacities from 3.2 to 426kW and nominal water flows from 550 to 73,270l/hr can be accommodated with liquid-inlet/outlet temperatures of 20/15C and an ambient of 25C. For inlet/outlet temperatures of 12/7C and ambient of 32C, the cooling capacities and nominal flow rates would be reduced by 70-75 per cent overall. High COP is achieved across the range, with chillers providing almost three times more cooling power than their electrical consumption.

These air-cooled products have been designed to meet the needs of industrial-processing and production plants, where constant and reliable supplies of chilled fluids are required. Water-inlet temperatures between 20 and 0C can be accommodated, and cold water is produced through a refrigerant cycle (R407C refrigerant). A 'no-frost' evaporator maintains optimum performance, even after freeze up, and eliminates pollution of the refrigerant circuit by water. Typical applications for these products include plastics-injection and blow-moulding machines, together with extrusion and thermoforming lines.

Production grinding machines and machining centres, together with air-handling and air-conditioning units are typical industrial applications. Other industries that could use this technology include chemical, pharmaceutical and food plants, together with rotogravure-flexo printing plants. A high degree of corrosion resistance is provided for the metal components used for construction. This includes anodised-aluminium-frame structures, together with galvanised sheet metalwork that is also selectively finished with a highly durable stove-enamelled polyurethane-powder coating, or with an external PVC-film covering.

Individual product footprints range from 550 x 740mm to 2 x 4.7m, with unit heights from 885mm to 2.230m. All the Hi-Cool products are supplied with factory-test and inspection documentation, and instruction manuals, together with an EC-compliance declaration. Manufacturing variations that can be accommodated include: tropicalisation for use where environmental temperatures exceed 40C, heat-pump operation and non-standard voltage/frequency power supplies where required.

Available accessories include: aluminium panels; centrifugal electropump with increased five-bar pressure; advanced-function antifreeze and overtemperature thermoregulation; Serial RS 485 communication output and remote-control terminal; expansion tank kits for open/closed water circuits; auto water filling kit and water overpressure bypass; and mechanical seals for low-temperature applications. Accessories available for selected models only include: refrigerant high/low-pressure gauges; modulating fan-speed control; double pump (standby unit); and rolling wheels for ease of relocation.

T-Conn has selected Stanyl Fortii as the halogen-free housing material for its range of battery connectors. Stanyl Fortii meets the material requirements of SMT soldering technology and offers high performance in dimensional stability, full compliance to JEDEC MSL level 2, high toughness and extreme pin-retention forces. Following the approval in battery connectors, T-Conn has started to expand the usage of Stanyl Fortii to its FPC product line.

Andy Chen, product manager of T-Conn in Taiwan said: 'We selected Stanyl Fortii for our latest halogen-free, UL94-V0-compliant battery and FPC connectors to the Notebook panel, because its excellent thermal and mechanical properties improve previous LCP performance in terms of brittleness or weld-line strengths. Allen Chen, regional manager Stanyl Fortii in Asia, added: 'Changing the housing material to Stanyl Fortii leads to less cracking thanks to its outstanding weld-line strength and toughness compared to LCPs. 'The easy processing of Stanyl Fortii and highest flow among competitive halogen-free PPAs makes the material an ideal drop-in solution for T-Conn.

Specialised Imaging has announced a 12-page brochure that provides an introduction to its range of high-speed framing cameras for defence research. Available as a hard copy or electronic pdf document, the brochure provides a description, photograph, key technical features, target applications and a typical result from each product in turn.

Described products include the Trajectory Tracker video-tracking system, SIR3 and SIR2 ballistic-range cameras, SIM-X and SIM-D multi-channel framing cameras, SIL2 Image Intensifier and the SIS Digital shadowgraph camera.

Tankview is a graphic-display software package running within the Windows environment. It provides the user with a clear picture of the current status of all inputs for a complete tank-gauging solution for monitoring and control. Each sensor input is represented by a graphical object that shows the current status in the form of a bar graph. Current numeric values such as level, volume and ullage may also be displayed in any chosen unit.

Tankview combined with PSM's new generation of iCT digital-level pressure and temperature sensors provides a complete tank-gauging solution. The instruments are interconnected in a multi-drop configuration where the cable goes from point to point rather than each connection being run all the way back to a data-acquisition module or central display. The equipment run in digital mode has a much lower power consumption, enabling multiple instruments to be connected via a single power/communications barrier for ATEX compliance as opposed to each requiring its own supply and barrier.

The instruments can be addressed and calibrated remotely from any point on the network with no specialised equipment. Sensor calibration does not require access to sensor or pressure source. They are also interchangeable and can be configured after installation, reducing spares requirements. The configuration data is stored in non-volatile memory on the sensors themselves and within the Tankview central monitor for instant data restoration to a replaced sensor.

SpaceAge Control has been selected by Insitu to supply the miniature pitot-static probe for the Integrator unmanned aircraft system (UAS). The probe provides primary air data pressure information required by the aircraft.

The probes are claimed to offer several benefits over traditional air data systems, including 35 per cent to 50 per cent less power, 35 per cent mass reduction and mechanical interface backwards compatibility with legacy designs. The design addresses the requirements of long-duration, smaller-sized aircraft such as unmanned aerial vehicles and light jets.

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NSK has carried out an investigation on the operating parameters of a centrifugal pump at a UK refinery. NSK engineers studied the inner raceways of the failed cylindrical roller bearings and calculated the radial loads that were exerted on the bearings under both forms of drive - belt and direct. they concluded that the change from belt to direct drive had drastically reduced the radial load on the cylindrical roller bearing.

This reduction in applied load was causing the bearing rollers to skid on the bearing's inner raceway, resulting in progressive damage that eventually caused the bearings to fail prematurely. The solution proposed by NSK was to replace the cylindrical ball bearing with a lower-friction deep-groove ball bearing. NSK has detailed its bearing products for the petrochemical industry in a free booklet. The booklet provides information on selecting bearings for use in petrochemical applications.

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Ideal Industries has announced that its Lantek II cable certifier series has been approved by Brand-Rex. Brand-Rex has approved the Lantek II series for certification of the installed performance of Brand-Rex 10GPlus, Cat6Plus and Gigaplus structured cabling systems in channel, permanent link or CP link configurations against the published international standards.

The Lantek II cable certifier series provides certification to TIA, ISO and IEC LAN cabling standards. In addition, Ideal's Fibertek FDX fibre-optic modules enable the Lantek II to certify multi-mode and single-mode fibre to TSB Tier 1 standards. The three Lantek II models (frequency ranges of 350MHz, 500MHz and 1GHz) offer fast test speeds, a 10.5cm widescreen display and improved lithium-ion batteries, with up to 18 hours of field use. The range makes use of Ideal's measurement system that is said to provide reduced cost of ownership by eliminating expensive permanent link adaptors.

The Dualmodea test function enables the user to test a copper link against two different standards with a single Autotest. This allows a link to be tested to current standards and the measurement of the performance margin against future standards with higher performance requirements; while adding only one second to the Autotest time. The full duplex capability of the Fibertek FDX is said to make fibre certification as easy as copper certification. A single strand of fibre connected between the handsets is tested at two wavelengths and in both directions at once. Fibre length can also be measured.

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Lone Guardian has announced the availability of its personal tracking and location devices. Lone Guardian devices are designed to help ensure the health and safety of lone workers and field operatives in sectors such as security, construction, social care and leisure. The personal tracking system addresses the problem of lone workers being increasingly at risk as they try to perform their duties, and the responsibilities of employers under the Corporate Manslaughter Act to provide a duty of care.

Lone Guardian's management system also provides total visibility of tracked personnel at all times, enabling companies to manage their workers effectively and demonstrate to clients that they are fulfilling their required assignments. The system provides emergency alerts, geo-fencing, real-time and historical reporting, battery levels and detailed street-level mapping. Each device features GPS tracking to an accuracy of 1.5m, an SOS panic button and two-way voice calls to up to four pre-defined numbers. Additional radio technology provides improved accuracy and reliability inside buildings, where traditional GPS solutions used by competitors have proved inadequate.