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COVER STORY
Platinum temperature sensors up to 1100 °C for petrol-driven vehicles
More power for less consumption – today engine developers resolve these conflicting requirements by less displacement combined with high turbocharging. In this respect limits are increasingly being set by the maximum application temperatures of the materials used. For modern turbocharger vanes in petrol engines this limit is currently approximately 1,050°C. So far only expensive thermocouples have been used in a few instances for monitoring this temperature. Heraeus is now launching a recently developed platinum Pt200 sensor onto the market for use in pre-turbo applications up to 1,100°C, pushing up the application limits for platinum temperature sensors to new dimensions.
READERS CORNER
«Industry 4.0»: Sensors as the driving force behind the new industrial revolution
by Holger Bödeker, AMA Service GmbH
It doesn’t matter from which side you approach the “Industry 4.0” mega-project, sooner or later the discussions lead to the subject of communication. Whether we talk about the Internet of things, the network of machines, or the merging of economic and production data in enterprises: the focus is on data transfer and information exchange …
ON FOCUS: SENSORS
General purpose wheel force transducers
In the development process of motor vehicles of all kind 6 components Wheel Force Transducers (WFT) are applied, by means of which all relevant loads on the wheels, being the 3 forces Fx, Fy, Fz and the 3 torques Mx, My, Mz, can be determined and recorded at real test runs on the road, proving grounds or even off road. The results of such measurements can be used as a basis for computer simulations or serve as input parameters for runs on a roller dynamometer.
2D laser scanner with time-of-fight procedure – New and innovative sensor solution provides 360 ° all-round visibility and precision
With the R2000, Pepperl+Fuchs offers a remarkable 2D laser scanner on the market, which combines a superior time-of-flight procedure with a rotating sensor head. In addition to a high detection range, precision, and speed, the system is characterized by numerous user-friendly features. These include a continuous 360° scanning angle, an integrated all-round display, as well as the use of a visible red Class 1 laser beam.
Product News
ON FOCUS: MEASURING AND TESTING
A new flexible, robust 3D coordinate measurement system
The calibration of machine tools or industrial robots needs high precision 3-dimensional coordinate measurements. Nowadays the available systems require ambitious and time extensive process to fulfill the requested requirements. The aim of µ-GPS Optics is to decrease the measurement time for calibrations at high positional accuracy while increasing the flexibility and reducing the financial expense. The µ-GPS system is based on reliable white-light interferometry. The 3D coordinates are determined via trilateration from three measured distances like known from the global GPS.
Who accessed the network when, where and why?
Network monitoring to complement the functional analysis of PROFINET
The fact that a system works says nothing about the network quality. Practice frequently confirms this conclusion, and a network monitoring is inevitable to prevent any trouble. It is equally important, however, to know the current network topology to quickly identify the cause of trouble, for example. Therefore, the functional analysis should be combined with condition monitoring. It applies in particular to PROFINET the use of which being on the increase.
Superconductors for resource-efficient industrial automation
Superconductors work by hovering, are resistance-free and energy efficient. While they have been used in medical technology for two decades and are currently making their mark in large-scale systems with high power density, Festo is looking into how the technology can be applied to sustainable production of the future. Smaller-scale applications in the field of frictionless, hovering bearing systems are interesting for production systems. Festo is showcasing the potential of superconductor technology and the research topics for automation technology at the Hanover Trade Fair 2013 with three exhibits developed in cooperation with evico and other partners from research and academia.
Product News
WDM – PROCESS INSTRUMENTATION
Digital pressure gauges compliant with ATEX
Electronic pressure gauges for areas subject to explosion hazards (EX areas)
Keller AG für Druckmesstechnik has introduced no less than five intrinsically safe electronic pressure gauges for use in areas subject to gas explosion risks. The type approvals are com- pliant with the ATEX Explosion Protection Directive regarding explosive gases. The electronic design of these devices is trimmed to minimize energy consumption, so it is also possible to replace the batteries inside areas with explosion risks.
Ideal for panel mounting The new Jumo Aquis touch P - a compact multichannel measuring device for liquid analysis
Jumo, the measuring and control specialist, is expanding its Aquis touch series with a compact multichannel measuring device especially designed to be mounted on panels. This one device allows the user to handle measuring, control, recording, and display tasks.
Product News
PANORAMA
Sensor & Test 2013 – Focal Topic: Renewable Energy
The 20th international trade fair for sensor, measuring, and testing technology, the SENSOR+TEST, will be held from 14 to 16 May 2013 at the Nuernberg Exhibition Center. The SENSOR+TEST is a must-go venue for developers and engineers from all industries as well as for technically oriented engineering and science students.
Events
Hannover Messe 2013: Revving up for “Integrated Industry”
CONTROL: QA Technology for the Future
LASER World of PHOTONICS 2013: Optical measurement techniques
APPLICATIONS & PRODUCTS
High-End Measuring Amplifiers
The isolating 5B measuring amplifiers of BMC Messsysteme GmbH (bmcm) provide for optimum signal conditioning, effective noise suppression, and protection against high potentials. Precise and safe measurements are guaranteed.
Flexible Barrier Films for Electronics Experience
IDTechEx Research, in its latest report on the topic of flexible encapsulation "Barrier Films for Flexible Electronics 2013-2023: Needs, Players, Opportunities" (www.IDTechEx.com/barrier), is forecasting the market for flexible barrier films to conservatively grow to just over $34 Million by 2016. Up until that point, over 95% of the market is accounted for from a slowly growing market for flexible photovoltaics based on CIGS and a-Si platforms.
Plants communicate
Enormous amounts of energy are wasted in greenhouses where our food is grown as a result of the plants receiving too much and the wrong kind of light. This can also stress and damage the plants. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology are working on a globally unique method to measure how much and what type of light plants want.
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