New laser sensor withstands harsh food processing environments

Micro-Epsilon has launched a new version of its optoNCDT 1402 laser sensor. The new optoNCDT 1402SC sensor has a stainless steel housing and is protected to IP69K, making it ideal for measuring displacement, distance and position in harsh environments, including outdoor use, food processing and other harsh process manufacturing applications.
 
The new sensor is available in eight models with measuring ranges from 5mm up to 600mm. The sensor benefits from an extremely robust, compact and lightweight (83g) design, enabling machine builders and OEMs to easily integrate the sensor into their existing systems.

 The housing for the SC version is made from V4A steel and so complies with all food industry requirements. This version is resistant to high-pressure jet washing and to aggressive cleaning detergents and disinfection agents, including hydrogen peroxide and other alkaline and chlorine-based cleaning chemicals. In tests at Micro-Epsilon, the 1402SC was subjected to eight hours of hot water jet washing at a pressure of 80-100bar at 85 deg C, as well as an additional dust seal test.
 
Like all optoNCDT 1402 sensors, the SC version has an integral controller that automatically compensates in real time for difficult-to-measure surfaces such as shiny metal, gloss paint finishes and black rubber. This real time surface compensation (RTSC) feature enables OEMs and machine builders to more accurately measure a variety of object parameters, including thickness, roundness, position, deflection, tilt, displacement and vibration.
 
The sensor housing measures just 65mm (L) x 50mm (H) x 20mm (W). This compact design and integral controller enable rapid mounting and installation, even in restricted spaces on machines or next to production lines. With no separate controller to mount, machine builders and systems integrators will reduce wiring costs and free up space in their control cabinets.
 
Chris Jones, Managing Director at Micro-Epsilon (UK) Ltd comments: "The optoNCDT 1402SC sensor is unique in terms of offering the customer a high performance, cost effective laser displacement sensor for harsh environments, which compensates for changing surfaces in real time, but which is flexible enough to allow the user to adjust the measuring range to suit their individual task. An adjustable measuring rate up to 1.5kHz, linearity of 0.18 per cent and resolution of 0.01 per cent, combined with its high protection rating, means the 1402SC can easily cope with fast, inline production systems, food and beverage processing, assembly and quality inspection tasks."
 
The optoNCDT 1402SC offers an analogue current/voltage output and an RS422 digital interface. Other options include high flex cables for use with drag chain and robots. Configuration software and a calibration certificate are supplied as standard.

For further information, www.micro-epsilon.co.uk or email: chris.jones@micro-epsilon.co.uk  Refer to page 55

Tube skin thermocouples offer high
accuracy and reliability in process heaters

A unique range of tube skin thermocouples for process heaters is now available, which offers higher accuracy and reliability over competing thermocouples currently available on the market.

Due to its unique 8mm diameter sheath made from Hastelloy-X, the 'Fan Tip' tube skin thermocouple, developed by Okazaki Manufacturing Company, can be bent and coiled to enable movement in both the horizontal and vertical axes. The 40mm end tip of the thermocouple is designed to be welded to the heater tubes on both sides, which significantly reduces the chances of the thermocouple breaking off whilst in service.

Chris Chant, Business Development Manager at Okazaki Manufacturing Company comments: "In today's oil refinery business, there is an ever increasing need to improve efficiencies, ensure safe plant operation and to extend the time between shutdowns. One area that this is becoming more critical is in the measurement of the tube skin temperature (TMT) within process fired heaters."

"The Fan Tip tube skin thermocouple has a unique fan-shaped head that enables it to be easily welded to any type of process heater tube. This means the user gets a more accurate temperature measurement on the surface of the tube. Construction and tip profile accuracy is now between +4 and +6 degrees Centigrade of the true tube temperature."

Currently used by BP, Esso, Exxon Mobil and STATOIL, the Fan Tip thermocouple is ideal for any process burning or heating applications, including hazardous area oil and gas, chemical and petrochemical installations. The Fan Tip is suitable for gas-fired, light fuel oil and heavy fuel oil heaters. The sheath can be supplied in either 316 stainless steel for gas-fired heaters, Hastelloy-X for light fuel oil, or dual sheath AR-161 version for arduous, heavy fuel oil applications.

The design of the Fan Tip thermocouple is such that it can be used in all process heater applications. The length of the sheath can be increased by up to 30 metres. The sheath can be bent in a cold state to meet any fixture and exit point on the heater tube.

For further information, view website: www.okazaki-mfg.co.uk or email: info@okazaki-mfg.co.uk   Refer to page 92

An interchangeable chuck attachment for accurately
sharpening Morse taper and common shank drills

An interchangeable chuck attachment for accurately sharpening Morse taper and common shank drills is the latest addition to the Darex XT3000 Xpandable Tool Sharpener system from leading workholding and machining equipment supplier, 1^st Machine Tool Accessories Ltd (1^st MTA). (Refer to pictures on the left).

Suitable for 3-12 mm (1/8 - 31/64 in) diameter No 0, 1 and 2 Morse taper or common shank drills, the new Darex accessory allows standard or split point tools to be quickly and effectively reground at any angle between 118 and 150 degrees. It also enables each drill's tip profile to be controlled precisely, including the required relief angle and split point configuration. 

The Darex XT3000 is an affordable drill sharpening system that is designed to grow with customers' individual requirements. It meets or exceeds international aerospace standards for controlling key geometry variation - ensuring precise drill performance. It also incorporates roller bearings for consistent accuracy over an extended service life and is supplied with two stainless steel chucks for sharpening drills up to 21 mm (13/16 in) as standard. The XT3000 is equipped with long-lasting, super abrasive CBN wheels for high speed steel and cobalt drills, or can be supplied with diamond wheels for carbide tooling. Both wheel types are zero-maintenance and will never require dressing throughout their life.

The new chuck attachment is the latest addition to an expanding range of XT3000 optional modules that includes a large capacity unit for drills up to 30 mm diameter (1.182 inch) and a countersink module for regrinding Weldon type or single flute countersink tools. A dedicated step drill unit for sharpening tools with a maximum pilot diameter of 12.7 mm (½ in) and step sizes up to 21 mm (53/64 inch) is also available, along with attachments for sheet metal point (Brad  Point) and 90 degree point drills ranging from 3-21 mm (1/8 - 13/16 in) diameter. All accessories are fitted to the XT3000 base by hand and adjusted without the need for any tools. The sharpener is powered by a rugged ¼ hp motor, which is rated for continuous use, and the system's enclosed design incorporates a vacuum extraction port for clean and safe operation.

1^st Machine Tool Accessories in profile
Offering a comprehensive range of top quality products at competitive prices, 1^st Machine Tool Accessories is a leading supplier of workholding and machining accessories, including collets; chuck jaws; Kitagawa chucking, rotary tables and vices; Chick workholding equipment; Abbott and Leave fixturing and clamping products; Darex tool sharpeners; OK-Vises; Brighetti reduction bushes; CoolJet high pressure coolant systems; machine mounts; and Overbeck deburring twister lathes.

1st MTA's extensive stock holding is backed by excellent warranty and service provided by a dedicated team of technical engineers. Demonstrations of selected products are available from external sales specialists on request.

For further information, contact Catherine Kelly at 1^st MTA, e-mail: enquiries@1mta.com    Refer to page 82

Palintest tests the water with Isopak

Testing water for potentially harmful chemical substances is an exact science which requires highly accurate products manufactured by top quality equipment - which is why a UK-based world leader in water analysis technology turned to Isopak Ltd for a new tablet press machine.

Award-winning Palintest Ltd designs, manufactures and supplies a full range of high performance electronic testing instruments and reagent tablets for monitoring water quality in a wide variety of applications, including drinking, waste, industrial and swimming pools.

The company needed new equipment at its Gateshead site for a dedicated research and development facility for its tablets to avoid potential cross-contamination with the main production area and to help speed up the process of getting these life-saving products to the market.

Accuracy, reliability, space and value for money were all key factors in Palintest's decision to opt for Stamford-based Isopak's CPR-6 bench top single punch automatic tablet press.

Isopak is renowned for supplying an extensive range of quality machines suitable for the pharmaceutical, healthcare, film converting and food packaging industries. The CPR-6 is manufactured in Italy by Dott Bonapace and exclusively sold in the UK by Isopak.

One of the smallest bench top tablet press units in the world, the CPR-6 is designed for small batch runs and allows the user to view exactly what is happening to their product during the pressing process. The machine records all activities and measures the compression forces needed for transferring the product to larger, full-scale production systems.

Despite its compact size, and weight (only 80kg), the machine is currently processing around 3,000 tablets per hour for Palintest, and its robust, stainless steel construction allows it to handle even the most abrasive of materials requiring compaction.

Even though the CPR-6 is one of the smallest bench top tablet press units around, it does not lose out when it comes to power. Thanks to excellent design, sturdiness and full mechanical driving, it can exercise a compression force of 2.5 tons. Tablets with a maximum diameter of 16mm, filled to a depth of 17mm can be produced, at variable speed settings. For further information, e-mail: mail@isopak.co.uk  or view website: website: www.isopak.co.uk