Kontron, a leading embedded computer technology company, has announced that Evalue has adopted the new ETX 3.0 standard for Computer-On-Modules (COMs).
Kontron, a leading embedded computer technology company, has announced that Evalue has adopted the new ETX 3.0 standard for Computer-On-Modules (COMs). The first ETX 3.0-compliant product sample from Evalue is expected to be released at the Computex fair in June 2006. The rapid adoption of the ETX 3.0 standard by numerous leading vendors of Computer-On-Modules demonstrates how important this new specification is becoming.

ETX 3.0 introduces 2x Serial ATA without changing any of the ETX pins, making new modules 100 percent pin-to-pin compatible with previous versions and ensuring long-term support for the vast number of embedded application solutions based on these already highly integrated COMs, in applications from medical, gaming and entertainment, to military and aerospace.

ETX 3.0 modules, such as Kontron's ETX-LX, integrate 2x Serial ATA via two slim line connectors that are designed onto the top-side of the CPU module itself, thereby avoiding the need to modify the ETX-connectors of the module and carrier board so that existing solutions can take advantage of faster Serial ATA hard drives.

ETX 3.0 also includes USB 2.0 to be used via the existing ETX connectors.

Kontron, along with Evalue , ADLINK, MSC and other members of the ETX Industrial Group (www.etx-ig.org ) have adopted ETX 3.0 with the intention of keeping the standard viable until at least 2010.

Additional modules built around dual-core processors and others from Intel, AMD, and VIA are planned for release over the course of this year, with more to follow in future.

To obtain a copy of the ETX 3.0 specification, contact a local Kontron office or visit the ETX Industrial Group website (www.etx-ig.org ).

A downloadable version of the specification will be available in the near future.

Computer-On-Modules such as ETX and, most recently, ETXexpress (based on COM Express) are implemented in embedded systems tailored to meet customer needs.

The advantages: concentration on core competences, short time to market, low design risk and freely scalable performance.

ETX modules with PCI bus are geared toward applications with low to medium performance.

High-end applications are implemented with PCI Express bus-based ETXexpress modules.

In future, the ETX standard will undergo further development in scalability and performance, because PCI will be used in embedded systems for just as long as the older ISA bus used today has been.

Thieme, based in the German city of Teningen, needed to re-invent its screen printing machine to combine exceptional production capacity with minimum labour overheads.
Mechanical drive systems are increasingly reaching the limits of their capabilities but switching to electronic solutions may require a partial or even complete redesign of the machine. One of the world's largest suppliers of printing machines has faced this dilemma With its markets rapidly globalising, Thieme, based in the German city of Teningen, needed to re-invent its screen printing machine to combine exceptional production capacity with minimum labour overheads. One of the biggest challenges was the large-scale printing format of up to 2000mm x 3050mm.

When the engineers set to work they soon realised that with this format many of the components used in previous systems, such as the central drive system and the mechanical line shaft, would simply be too big.

It just wouldn't have been possible to integrate them into the machine design properly.

In addition to this the machine wouldn't have been compatible with the standardised heights of the additional modules such as automated feeders and stackers.

After analysing a number of alternatives it became clear that the combination of a motion controller with servo drives would be the best solution.

One of the key requirements was that it should be possible to translate the existing mechanical solution as precisely as possible to the new system - both to keep development overheads low and to avoid losing the years of development invested in the tried-and-tested movement sequences.

To solve the problem the Thieme team chose a Melsec Q Series motion controller from Mitsubishi Electric, which met and exceeded this requirement.

The Q Series programming language can implement existing mechanical solutions with graphical representations.

In addition to this it combines motion control, PLC and industrial PC modules on a single platform, which means that it can also handle the other machine control requirements as well as the motion control.

This concept eliminates the need for duplicate system racks, power supply units and other components.

Another advantage of the fully-integrated automation platform is that the operators have complete and easy access to all the PLC and motion controller data.

Every CPU in the system has access to all data via the common backplane bus, which means that there is no longer any need for time-consuming additional communications programming.

And this architecture also eliminates the need for a network connection between the two controllers.

Virtual programming The new system replaces the former main drive with a virtual servomotor connected to a virtual line shaft programmed into the motion software.

The 30 axes of 6-colour can be placed in their proper positions with a simple drag and drop operation.

In addition to simple axes the system can also create virtual transmissions, roller feeders, linear axes, cam discs, etc This makes it possible to program drive systems to perform complex movements that are precisely synchronised with one another.

In contrast to the mechanical solutions, in which the mechanical connections could only be interrupted with additional couplings, it is now possible to operate individual axes independently of the rest of the machine.

For example, in the past Thieme printing unit had two servo driven lifting drives which were synchronised by a line shaft.

The shaft is now replaced by a virtual equivalent which can be 'disconnected' via an addressable coupling during the actual printing process so that other machine processes can continue during the printing sequence, reducing the overall machine cycle time.

Upon reconnection the two servomotors are always perfectly synchronised.

Operation of individual axes without line shaft synchronisation is also necessary for installation, maintenance and repairs - in the past the only way to do this was by physically uncoupling the mechanical axes, which was a time-consuming process.

With the motion controller solution one is only needed to select a setup mode and all the servo drives can be operated independently of the virtual line shaft, which cuts the time overhead to a few minutes of programming.

The use of virtual cam discs also helps to make the machines more flexible and improve the cost-benefit ratio.

Optimised motion profiles for different printing materials can now be selected at the touch of a button.

In the past this optimisation was not possible at all because it would have been too expensive to build and install new cam discs every time the printing material was changed.

The new solution has also brought significant improvements in other parts of the system, not just for the components involved in motion control.

Thanks to the electronic cam controller all the other functions, such as activating the vacuum fields, can also be adjusted much more flexibly.

The deployment of the Mitsubishi motion controller made it possible to add a wide range of valuable additional functions throughout the machine, including a single printing function for the individual printing units, straightforward teaching functions (for example for making adjustments for different printing formats) and a significantly more capable setup function for switching to different printing screens.

A complete system with servo motors and amplifiers The integration capabilities of the Q Series were not the only reason for choosing the motion control system; Mitsubishi's ability to deliver a complete solution including the drives was equally important.

One of the specifications was that the drives used had to have very compact servo amplifiers, among other things, because the engineers wanted to integrate the formerly separate switchgear cabinet in the machine bed, where space was naturally very limited.

This made it possible to reduce the footprint size of the machine.

Another advantage was that the new solution eliminated the time-consuming re-wiring that was previously necessary because the switchgear cabinet had to be moved every time the printing system was modified or expanded.

A third advantage of the servo drives chosen is that they come with absolute position encoders as standard equipment, which makes it possible to continue printing immediately after emergency stops and other interruptions because the drives automatically register their positions as soon as the power returns.

The fact that the solution was an integrated system from a single manufacturer was particularly helpful when it came to designing the machine' s operation concept.

The full integration of the system enables easy access to all system components from every control console.

For example, operators can program all squeegee pressure functions directly at the control console, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual adjustments.

Norgren Systems, a division of Appalachian Electronic Instruments (AEI) and developer of laboratory equipment and product related services, has introduced its CP7200 colony picker today.
Norgren Systems, a division of Appalachian Electronic Instruments (AEI) and developer of laboratory equipment and product related services, introduced its CP7200 colony picker today. The CP7200 offers users high speed picking, ease of use, and ultimate reliability for under $100K Ultra-fast picking rates up to 7,200 colonies per hour, advanced imaging software that makes it easy to go from plate to plate and even run to run without timely recalibration efforts, and the smallest footprint of 22'x 20' to optimize lab space are some of the features users can benefit from. The CP7200 was designed for maximum reliability and minimal downtime, utilizing a continuous picking configuration which provides simultaneous picking, inoculation, washing and sterilization.

Additionally, users can easily change individual tungsten needles on the picking turret as necessary without having to remove the whole head.

The system was designed to allow high throughput users continuous workflow of picking and inoculation without sacrificing the ease of use and short start-up time required by the average user.

The CP7200 has been optimized to provide the most accurate and precise picking rates.

Users typically report a no grow rate of <1% with greater than 90% of pickable colonies identified by the software and picked by the system.

'Our main goal for the CP7200 is to offer researchers who are doing repetitive functions for genomics and proteomics research a faster, easier, and better way to achieve the highest quality results.' said Larry C.

Nickell, President of Norgren Systems/AEI.

'The responses we are getting from our customers are favorable, confirming that our goal is being accomplished, and most importantly that in the end, it's really not about our instrument but helping our customers achieve their goals.' Chris Amemiya, PhD, from the Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, an NIH funded private research facility has used the CP7200 to pick several millions of colonies to date.

'We have used two CP7200 machines for arraying of numerous bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) libraries under the auspices of NIH and NSF.

The ease by which the CP7200 can be operated, the speed of picking, and the overall reliability are highly attractive features of the machine.

We have also used the machine for arraying numerous cDNA libraries with very good success.' The CP7200's entry level price tag of <$100K makes it affordable for most budgets without sacrificing speed or performance.

Integration of accessories for complete walk away automation is also available at a price point at or below other solutions on the market.

Asco/Joucomatic has announced that it has expanded the scope of its Series 327 3/2-way pilot valves to include 1/4' and 1/2' high flow (Kv 1.5) versions.
Asco/Joucomatic has announced that it has expanded the scope of its Series 327 3/2-way pilot valves to include 1/4' and 1/2' high flow (Kv 1.5) versions. The new valves meet the growing demand for direct acting valves with high reliability and low (<10 Watts cold) power consumption. Based on the principle of a balanced poppet type construction, the new valves have the same outstanding reliability as the popular 1/4' basic flow models and are ideal for demanding applications in the chemical, petrochemical and oil and gas industries.

The new, multi-purpose pilot valves are suitable for normally open, normally closed and universal operation, and for the selection or diversion of flow.

The valves can also be used for 2/2 way operation by closing one of the ports.

Suitable for use with air and inert gas, they feature a brass or stainless steel body, stainless steel internals, and are recommended for pilot applications that require high flow, wide pressure ranges and no minimum operating pressure.

Typical applications include the control of single acting, spring return actuators driving all kinds of process valves.

The 316 stainless steel construction is resistant to highly corrosive atmospheres and special low friction seals and guiding rings eliminate sticking and provide exceptional service life.

The core movement is guided to ensure optimum alignment and the special low friction seal provides a balanced operation over a wide temperature and pressure range, at minimum power levels.

Series 327 solenoid valves satisfy all relevant EC Directives and are suitable for global use in demanding applications where high reliability is essential.

There are no bleed holes or bleed channels which could become blocked by contamination, compromising valve reliability.

This makes the Series 327 suitable for critical applications such as Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS).

The 1/4' version has been successfully tested by TUV and is suitable for use in safety applications up to SIL-4 with PFD < 4x10-7.

This is the highest achievable rating.

The range comprises Basic flow and High flow models rated from 3.6 watts with a high flow (Kv up to 1.5).

They are lightweight and their compact, rectangular shape saves panel space.

Integral mounting holes make fixing quick and easy.

The 1/4' basic flow version with Namur pad mount body is available in both aluminium and 316 stainless steel for direct installation on pneumatic actuators.

Asco/Joucomatic can supply a wide range of explosion proof solenoid operators with ATEX approval.

Many other approvals are available to meet different standards worldwide including NEMA, UL, CSA, Gost, and NEPSI.

International service and support is available through a global network of over 1000 sales offices and distributors.