new products

Mechanical Engineering, Aug 2006

www.me.ims.ca/6479-46 or circle 46

TSI solution

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION. MILWAUKEE. WIS. With the addition of the new Alien-Bradley XM 121 A absolute shaft and the XM 442 electronic overspeed detection system relay modules, the company fulfills the requirements of turbine supervisory instrumentation. Providing customers cost-effective monitoring and protection of critical plant-floor assets, the new modules are a scalable solution that can be integrated into a plant's control and information system. The modules meet the unique needs of applications requiring absolute shaft measurements and applications requiring redundant overspeed protection. Established by the ISA, TSI is a series of measurements intended to recognize and diagnose key performance issues related to turbo machinery. TSI system measurements include radial shaft displacement, thrust, eccentricity, case and differential expansion, valve position, temperature, speed, and acceleration. As part of an overall machinery protection and condition monitoring strategy, the data collected by the XM series modules can be used to identify and prevent issues with equipment operation, resulting in improved turbine performance and availability.

www.me.ims.ca/6A79-47 or circle 47

Hot melt adhesives

AKRON COATING AND ADHESIVES. AKRON. OHIO. The company's new line of hot melt adhesives is designed to provide a strong bond between a variety of metals and thermoplastics, such as AES's Santoprene. Thermoplastic elastomers have become increasingly common, and are used in applications ranging from automobiles (weatherstripping, gaskets, and seals) to hand grips for tools and appliances. Because these thermoplastics have low surface free energy, it is difficult to establish good adhesion. Unlike some adhesives used for this purpose, ACA's new products make a bond that is often strong enough to tear the thermoplastic material without first applying a primer coat, according to the company. By eliminating this extra step, manufacturers can cut costs and reduce scrap. The new adhesives are water-based rather than solvent-based, allowing easier cleanup and better compliance with environmental regulations. The new adhesives bond many different materials, including several grades of Santoprene, polyethylene, neoprene, PVC, and natural rubber to metals such as aluminum, stainless steel, galvanized steel, copper, and brass.

www.me.ims.ca/6479-48 or circle 48

Plug and play sensor

EXERGEN CORP.. WATERTOWN, MASS. Exergen has combined its smallest infrared temperature sensor with the Smart microprocessor platform. By combining the microIRt/c and the SmartIRt/c, the small IR sensor head now has brains, and precision in small places is a reality, with no impedance, leakage current, or cold junction compensation to worry about, according to the company. The SmartmicroIRt/cs have four sensor heads to choose from: the microIRt/c (1:2 field of view), the microIRt/c.4 (4:1 FOV), microIRt/c.SV (1:2 FOV, side view), and microIRt/c.4SV (4:1 FOV, side view with built-in air purge). They can be powered with either 12 or 24 V dc.