by Gary Mintchell | Dec 11, 2024 | Automation, Embedded Control, Technology
Ah, AI. It’s everywhere. Often the wrong questions are asked and answered in general and tech media. The real question is what problem will it solve—and how well.
This news comes from Copia Automation who attempts to solve the problem of how controls engineers write, manage, and document industrial code.
As the first step in Copia’s vision of integrating AI into industrial automation, Copia Copilot enhances productivity, efficiency, and quality by automating routine coding tasks, simplifying complex processes, and equipping industrial workers with the tools they need for successful knowledge transfer and onboarding.
Core Capabilities
- Code documentation: Automatically create well-structured, clear documentation for PLC and other industrial code, reducing manual effort and ensuring consistency.
- Code translation: Seamlessly convert between Ladder Logic and Structured Text, making it easier to work across different programming languages.
- Code summarization: Quickly understand what a set of code does by asking the Copilot to explain it.
- Code modification: Improve, format, or troubleshoot existing code, allowing engineers to streamline their workflows and enhance code quality.
- New code generation: Generate boilerplate routines and custom code blocks for common automation tasks, saving time and accelerating development cycles.
- File referencing: Easily reference PLC project files from Copia repositories for more accurate and context-aware AI outputs.
Copia Copilot is currently available as part of an Alpha release, with plans to expand its functionality and reach in the coming months.
by Gary Mintchell | Nov 21, 2024 | Automation, Industrial Computers, Technology
Other World Computing’s products are not often directly automation related. You may find many uses outside of control and HMI applications. They also show where some breakthrough computing resources are heading. These news items relate to Thunderbolt 5 ports and storage for high resolution photography.
Other World Computing (OWC), a leader in delivering high-performance, secure, and sustainable technology solutions that enhance and extend the life of Macs and PCs, announced the general availability launch of the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub – opening a new world of workflow possibilities and performance.
By turning a single cable connection into three ThunderboltTM 5 ports and one USB-A port, the new OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub breaks the connectivity handcuffs of host machines not offering enough Thunderbolt 5 ports. With up to 80Gb/s of bi-directional data speed – up to 2x faster than Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 – and up to 120Gb/s for higher display bandwidth needs, the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub redefines productivity. Connect portable SSDs exceeding 6000MB/s*, up to three 8K displays @60Hz with DSC, today’s USB-C connector compatible devices, and yesterday’s USB-A desktop accessories – all while keeping modern notebooks and tablets powered and charged up for mobile use with 140 watts.
Key Features of the OWC Thunderbolt 5 Hub:
- Easy Port Expansion – Adds more universally compatible Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C) ports to a Mac, PC,iPad Pro, or tablet to greatly expand device connectivity possibilities and productivity
- Incomparable Speed – Work and play faster with up to 80Gb/s of bi-directional data speed and up to 120Gb/s for higher display bandwidth needs
- Works with Millions – No worries or confusion…connect to Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB-C, or USB4 machine or device with 100% compatibility**
- Best Today, Best Tomorrow – Delivers the best performance of devices with today’s computers and best speed possible in the future with a Thunderbolt 5 Mac or PC
- Multiple Daisy Chains – Create three separate daisy chains of devices – even bus-powered – and remove devices from one chain without affecting the other chains
- Powerful – Safely delivers up to 140 watts to charge the most power-hungry notebook computer
- Stunning Visuals – Connect to the latest and future Thunderbolt, USB-C, and DisplayPort displays for incredible 4K, 5K, 6K, and up to three 8K displays***
- Thunderbolt Certified – Built-in OWC reliability and dependability for Mac and Windows
- Silently Cool – Fanless aluminum enclosure for quiet and cool operation
For further information and specs or to place an order.
Other World Computing (OWC), a leader in delivering high-performance, secure, and sustainable technology solutions that enhance and extend the life of Macs and PCs, announced the general availability launch of the latest addition to its OWC Atlas Pro family of memory cards – the 240GB OWC Atlas Pro CFexpress 4.0 Type A Card. Based on popular demand, this new capacity option combines the fast speeds users expect from OWC with a more accessible price point, making it the ideal choice for Sony users who require professional-grade performance without the need for maximum capacity.
OWC CFexpress 4.0 Type A Atlas Pro cards are perfect for pro filmmakers and extreme action photographers who want to dramatically speed up their offloads while retaining full compatibility with existing devices. Users experience double the speeds of CFexpress 2.0 cards with 1850MB/s read speeds through OWC Atlas USB4 CFexpress 4.0 card reader while providing 1700MB/s write speed for current and future cameras that can take advantage of such performances. OWC’s Atlas CFexpress 4.0 Type A cards are VPG200 certified, ensuring they work seamlessly with all existing Sony camera modes. Like the 480GB to 960GB cards, the new 240GB capacity cards are:
- Lightning Fast – Up to 1700MB/s write and 1850MB/s read speeds for the most advanced use cases of professional content creators, including fast burst RAW image sequences and high bitrate video recording up to 8K
- Dependable – Delivers 400MB/s minimum sustained write speed
- Compatible – Designed for use in Sony Alpha and FX cameras, including a9 III, a1, a7SIII, a7IV, a7rV, FX3, FX6, FR7, and FX30, as well as CFexpress Type A memory card readers and reader slot-equipped devices
- Supportive – VPG200 certified to work with all Sony camera modes and enable the highest allowable settings in Sony Alpha, FX, and FR7 cameras
- Compliant – Fully compliant with CFexpress Type A 4.0 specification and meets Type A 2.0 specifications
- Versatile – Includes Type A to Type B adapter to obtain maximum speed when paired with an OWC Atlas USB4 CFexpress 4.0 Card Reader
- Tough – Impact, bend, shock, ESD, UV ray, and X-ray resistant
The 240GB capacity Atlas CFexpress Type A cards are now generally available for $199.99.
by Gary Mintchell | Nov 19, 2024 | Automation, Security, Technology
I once sold a program to a customer that promised to track and maintain an inventory of one vendor’s technology assets in the plant. The president of another company explained to me about 10 years later about the company’s development of a technology asset discovery and tracking system that had done the program I had sold a quantum leap better.
Obviously, technology asset tracking is a customer need. Now that those controllers and sensors and the like are connected exposing the company to cybersecurity risk, combining this with a security system makes sense.
This news from a company blog post announces just such a merger. Service Now has signed an agreement to acquire Mission Secure to accomplish just that.
Neelima Rustagi writes on the company blog, “This acquisition directly benefits our OT customers in industrial markets such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, energy and utilities, oil and gas, and transportation and logistics by enhancing their ability to make informed decisions and optimize their operations. It marks a significant milestone as we continue to expand our portfolio of OT solutions, delivering greater value and efficiency to businesses.”
She further expands on the topic:
Mission Secure technology will enable ServiceNow to provide OT asset visibility, making it easier for organizations to track and manage their OT, such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), human-machine interfaces (HMIs), sensors, robotic systems, and control modules.
Having a limited view of assets can make it difficult for leaders to understand how to prioritize, manage, and optimize their OT. It’s particularly challenging for organizations in industrial markets due to the complexity of their control systems, networks, and communication protocols. These businesses can no longer afford to operate in the dark.
Through this acquisition, we’ll enable customers to use ServiceNow for OT asset inventory featuring a native discovery capability for OT networks. This will allow customers to monitor traffic to determine what’s on their network and to poll and query devices to get inventory details.
Visibility provides the foundation for managing all workflows. Mission Secure technology creates this visibility by using advanced algorithms. It integrates smoothly into existing workflows, allowing customers to see their asset landscape. This level of visibility enables customers to reduce the impact of human error in change management and resolve OT device issues faster to improve uptime.
By bringing Mission Secure into the fold, ServiceNow is creating a unified platform for digital factories. The new ServiceNow OT discovery capability will enhance OT device metadata available to our OT partners by adding context to the inventory and essential connectivity data. This will help customers maximize operational uptime through integrated workflows and contextualized data insights. We’ll provide even greater flexibility as we continue to grow our partner ecosystem.
The Mission Secure acquisition follows our previous acquisitions of 4Industry and EY Smart Daily Management Application, as well as G2K, broadening ServiceNow’s reach in the digital factory space and strengthening our position in the OT sector. We’re better positioned than ever to offer these essential capabilities and bring even greater value to our customers.
by Gary Mintchell | Nov 15, 2024 | Automation, Motion Control, Technology
This news lies far from my core of experience. I, however, have been impressed with Festo technology ever since my first factory visit probably close to 20 years ago. Just when I begin to believe that innovation is dwindling in this market, a new product arrives.
Festo introduces its new flagship valve terminal, the VTUX. The VTUX can serve as I/O, remote I/O, and decentralized I/O. These compact and rugged IP65/67-rated terminals can be located anywhere on a machine that boosts operational performance and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) installation productivity. VTUX modularity results in less inventory and lower overhead costs.
VTUX is both compact and lightweight, an advantage for end-of-arm tooling and conserving space on a machine or in a control cabinet. The terminal is made from a high-performance polymer so rugged and durable that these units can be placed in welding cells.
The key to the VTUX’s flexibility is its modular design. For high flow rates up to 670 l/min, a high flow sub-base is used and for space saving needs, the compact sub-base. A single valve model can be used for both sub-bases, which simplifies ordering, stocking, and support. High flow and compact sub-basses of one or four valve positions can be mixed and matched on a terminal. VTUX terminals can have up to 128 valves with up to 128 solenoid coils. The VTUX also features vacuum capability.
VTUX offers a platform for fully integrated vacuum solution for configuration of up to sixteen vacuum channels per terminal. The platform enables bidirectional communication from the PLC to the vacuum generator. Vacuum and ejector pulse can be individually controlled. VTUX vacuum delivers high vacuum or large suction volume flows and can be combined with valves. Parameters can be changed via teach-in from the PLC during operation. There is an integrated vacuum sensor for continuous monitoring of actual values and there is a parameter-based air saving function. The system monitors vacuum for early detection of faults or errors during operation.
The electronics side of the terminal offers the same flexibility as the pneumatics side by featuring mix and match modules. For example, users can add multiple analog or digital I/O modules, including I/O-Link. The modular concept continues through to the method of communication between controller and terminal. The choices include the new Festo Automation Platform (AP) for backplane speed communication in all top communication protocols. All AP-based modules appear to the control engineer to be under a single IP address, simplifying commissioning and allowing smaller and less expensive PLCs to be specified. Additional communication modules include IO-Link, AP-I for decentralized I/O, and multipin connector.
VTUX terminals are assembled and tested prior to shipment from the Festo Regional Service Center in Mason, Ohio, which means they are drop-in ready for installation. As a core Festo product, VTUX components are stocked globally for fast, assured replacement and minimum downtime wherever the machine is located. The modular design not only lowers inventory, but also decreases the learning curve, troubleshooting time, and repair. The VTUX offers an outstanding price/performance ratio.
by Gary Mintchell | Nov 15, 2024 | Automation, Capital Projects, Motion Control, Technology
Time to first production. This mantra has stayed with me since the time a company I worked for built automated assembly machines. This story tells of how some new engineering tools from Festo and additional assembly services enabled a company called CODI Manufacturing to meet a customer’s immediate need.
CODI Manufacturing introduced today a compact, flexible 12-cycle-per-minute case packer for small to mid-sized food and beverage companies that achieves an industry leading price/performance ratio.
The company utilized the Festo Handling Guide Online (HGO) engineering tool to design the two-axis handling system, the core of the new machine’s package handling. By having Festo assemble and ship a bolt-in-ready handling system, the company was able to build and commission the new machine in just four weeks.
“This machine is incredibly flexible,” said Jared Jones, Chief Operating Officer, CODI Manufacturing. “All the end user has to do is swap out the gripper head to change the number, type, and size of bottles, cans, jars, or pouches being packed into shipping cases, select a new recipe on the HMI, and start the machine.”
The CODI design features:
- Festo’s new multiprotocol CMMT-AS servo drives and matching EMMT-ST one-cable motors
- New CPX-AP-A configurable remote I/O terminal
- New VTUX valve terminal
- A simplified motion series (SMS) low-cost electric-linear actuator
- The CDPX IP67 machine mounted HMI
- Festo robust linear axes
- The Festo CPX-CEC controller with EtherCAT communications for advanced motion control.
Collaboratively, Festo Engineering and CODI developed a pneumatic gripping head that provides feedback on successful gripping of each bottle. “Customers are amazed at the advanced motion automation technology on this machine for the price point,” Jones said. “It’s striking how much state-of-the-art automation is packed into such a small footprint machine.”
CODI Manufacturing had wanted to build a compact case packer for small to mid-sized companies for several years. Recently, CODI was four weeks into an eight-week project when Jones and the customer discussed adding a case packer to the order. “When I mentioned a price, the customer said he’d buy the machine if we could deliver it in four weeks with the rest of his order,” recalled Jones. “I said we’d try.”
The core of the machine would be a two-axis handling system used to grip and lift six bottles off one conveyor and place them into a box on an adjacent conveyor. The CODI team used the Festo HGO engineering tool to specify the system where the axes, servos, motors, mounting plates, and accessories were all properly sized and interoperable. The design session took minutes, saving CODI several days of engineering time.
“One of my lead controls engineers came into my office and said that Festo would supply a bolt-in-ready handling system at basically the same cost as buying and assembling the pieces and parts,” Jones said. “There was simply so little price difference between assembled and unassembled that we went with assembled. We used CAD files from the HGO session to build the frame while we waited for the assembly. Three weeks later, the system arrived. We used eight bolts to attach it to the machine frame. For a multiple-axis system, this was the easiest and fastest assembly and commissioning we’d ever had and the lowest total cost.”
by Gary Mintchell | Oct 21, 2024 | Automation, Technology
As an EV owner, news relating to them interests me. That plus Festo continues to be an intriguing company. I’ve seen other news about battery recycling and mixing raw materials.
Festo created a new solution for high throughput dry-room electrode assembly of EV batteries. In 2022, the Festo electric mobility initiative demonstrated an automated degassing cell. In 2023, the company developed an automated chemical processing solution for recycling the valuable materials incorporated within EV batteries. Now, in 2024, Festo focuses on dry-room electrode production. A new display of the solution simulates the unrolling, cutting, aligning, and layering of anodes and cathodes.
The first high-precision proportional valve terminal on the market – the new Festo VTEP – maintains roll tension, which is critical to the quality of EV batteries, and does so at a significant cost saving compared to electric automation. VTEP is the latest Controlled Pneumatics solution from Festo. Controlled Pneumatics is the next stage in the evolution of pneumatic solutions for the 21st century. Controlled Pneumatics solutions combine high-speed, long-life, and energy-efficient piezo-electric valve cartridges with sensors and control algorithms into a single smart unit.
With the VTEP, users set performance parameters per valve channel and the proportional pressure valves provide closed-loop control to those presets. Valves deliver highly dynamic response and precise pressure control to achieve “target reached” status for each channel, which equates to the motion complete function in electric drive technology. Sustaining the target setting makes the VTEP terminal ideal for maintaining roll tension in automated dry room electrode production.
The solution highlights the performance advantages linked to huge bandwidth – 200-megabyte rate – and exceedingly low cycle time – under 100 milliseconds – of the new Festo Automation Platform (AP) I/O. The AP’s CPX-AP-A remote I/O and CPX-AP-I decentralized I/O communicate at backplane speed. This I/O architecture is compatible with EtherNET/IP, PROFINET, EtherCAT, Modbus, and IO-Link by applying a protocol-specific AP bus module. This is a plus for OEMs supplying multiple control systems on serial machines as the bus module changes, while the I/O stays the same.
The Festo components for dry room applications are copper and zinc free, which adhere to best industry practice. Festo offers copper and zinc free options in dozens of product families, including valve manifolds, actuators, air preparation systems, and accessories. Festo copper and zinc free product variants feature a “F1A” designation in their model numbers.
