t Sensors & Measurement - Plant & Works Engineering

SICK has announced it has added the UC40, a powerful and compact cube sensor, to its market-leading family of ultrasonic sensors. The company says the SICK UC40 sets the standard for wide-ranging ultrasonic detection duties up to 5m. Equipped with push-lock mounting and IO-Link, it can be quickly integrated in machinery, on conveyors and on automated mobile vehicles.

When selecting sensors for measuring thickness, the first step is to choose an appropriate method and measurement technology. The material, surface and thickness of the target play a crucial role in deciding which option is best for the application, says Glenn Wedgbrow*.

Richard Mount* explores the essential role of IoT sensors in energy management.

PWE spoke to Glenn Wedgbrow, Business Development Manager at Micro-Epsilon UK, about the benefits and limitations of red and blue laser light sensor technologies, as well as those applications where blue lasers are a better choice over traditional red lasers.

Determination, measurement and detection of colours in industrial applications are complex measurement tasks. Compared to other physical quantities, it is difficult to define colour. Glenn Wedgbrow* reports.

Mike John* emphasises why British manufacturing needs a cultural shift to get back on its feet.

The food industry often presents challenging environments for components and, in particular, for the sensors used in process control applications. In addition, users’ expectations of sensor technology are continually increasing. These considerations mean that the future belongs to smart sensors that not only offer outstanding performance and reliability but also deliver substantial added value, says Andy Walker *.

Gaining insights into the operating health and service status of plant and machinery is a priority for Industry 4.0. As foot soldiers posted on the front line of operations, sensors collect intelligence with the power to be transformative for operating efficiency. PWE reports.

A wireless torque sensor provided an effective solution to an interesting engineering challenge when Advanced Design Innovations (ADI), a specialist supplier of custom manufacturing and testing equipment, was asked by Bristan, manufacturers of bathroom taps and showers, to develop a new durability test rig to help optimise product performance.

A wireless torque sensor provided an effective solution to an interesting engineering challenge when Advanced Design Innovations (ADI), a specialist supplier of custom manufacturing and testing equipment, was asked by Bristan, manufacturers of bathroom taps and showers, to develop a new durability test rig to help optimise product performance.

Back in the pioneering days of photo-electric sensing technology the sensor itself was often referred to as a ‘magic eye’. To the unenlightened, only familiar with purely mechanical solutions, the use of light may indeed have seemed mysterious and magical. Now confined to history these cumbersome devices with their incandescent light source are a far cry from the ultra-efficient, LED or laser based products available today. PWE reports.

Back in the pioneering days of photo-electric sensing technology the sensor itself was often referred to as a ‘magic eye’. To the unenlightened, only familiar with purely mechanical solutions, the use of light may indeed have seemed mysterious and magical. Now confined to history these cumbersome devices with their incandescent light source are a far cry from the ultra-efficient, LED or laser based products available today. PWE reports.

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