Category: Automationdirect

AutomationDirect | VFS Series Vortex Flow Sensors

11/20/2019

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ProSense® VFS series vortex flow sensors offer a very cost-effective solution optimized for monitoring water and deionized water flow in industrial applications. Vortex flow sensors are a reliable alternative to other flow sensing technologies and are a simple, low cost, and proven method for measuring flow of water-based liquids that is independent of the liquid's pressure or temperature fluctuations. Using the pushbuttons and display, the VFS series can be easily set up to measure both flow rate and temperature. The VFS series is available with 1/2" or 3/4" NPT process connections. The TFT color display and switch point LEDs are used during configuration and operation to provide clear indication of both flow and temperature measured variables simultaneously. ProSense VFS series vortex flow sensors start at $199.00

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AutomationDirect | Compact Thermoplastic and Halogen-Free Limit Switches

11/20/2019

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The new AEP series of reinforced thermoplastic compact limit switches includes a variety of actuator types including metal plunger, side rotary lever, adjustable lever, rod actuator, and 360-degree spring actuator. These compact-sized plastic limit switches have standard U.S. 25mm mounting hole spacing; housings are double-insulated and epoxy resin-filled, providing IEC IP67 protection. Contacts are Snap-action (Z11) with 1 N.O. and 1 N.C. contact on all units. Connection types are 5-pin M12 quick disconnects or 3-meter pre-wired pigtail cable. Operating temperature range is -13 to 158°F. Starting at $15.00, the UL and CE approved AEP series limit switches have a 1-year warranty. Also new, AEM series metal limit switches ($24.00) have a 1-meter halogen-free cable designed for low toxicity and smoke emissions in case of fire.

Halogen-free Limit Switches Overview

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AutomationDirect | 4mm and 5mm photoelectric sensors redesigned for more applications

11/16/2019

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4mm (smooth) and 5mm (M5 threaded) round photoelectric sensors are now available in a wider range of sensing distances in both diffuse and through-beam sensing configurations. These DC-powered metal sensors provide high accuracy in minimal mounting space and are ideal for use in a variety of short or long-distance sensing applications. Diffuse photoelectric sensors that detect object presence with reflected light from the target are available in detection distance ranges up to 120mm. With available detection distances up to 600mm, through-beam photoelectric sensors detect object presence when the target obstructs light traveling from the emitter to the receiver. Emitters and receivers are sold separately. Starting at $66.00, these photoelectric sensors are IEC IP67 rated and cULus and CE approved.

Photoelectric Sensors Selection Guide

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AutomationDirect | IronHorse Helical Bevel Gearboxes with Cast-Iron Frames

11/13/2019

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The new IronHorse® HBR series of helical bevel gearboxes combines the helical gearset with a bevel gearset to create an output that is perpendicular to the input. All HBR series gearboxes are hollow shaft output and accept double or single shafts. Dual and single output shaft kits are available. The universally interchangeable compact design ensures easy OEM replacement and provides flexible installation with C-face and TC-face inputs, perpendicular output and 6 mounting positions. Five gearbox sizes support 56C up to 254/6TC NEMA motor frames and 6 ratios are available from 10:1 to 120:1. The gearboxes are sized to handle from 1 to 24 hp motors and feature cast-iron one-piece housings and high hardness alloy steel pinion and gears. Ironhorse helical bevel gearboxes start at $1070.00 and have a 2-year warranty.

IronHorse Helical Bevel Gearboxes Overview

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AutomationDirect | High bus voltage microstepping drives and stepper motors

11/13/2019

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The SureStep® STP-DRVAC stepper drive is powered from either 115VAC or 230VAC and is intended for use with step motors designed to handle high bus voltage. MTRAC motors are designed to work with the 115 or 230 VAC powered drives. Auto-setup configures motor current control and anti-resonance gain settings. The high voltage drive (priced at $199.00) uses 90 to 240 VAC input (selected by switch) and output current is settable from 0.6-2.5A/phase (peak of sine). Microstep resolution is switch selectable with 16 settings from 200 to 25600 steps/rev. High voltage, high torque MTRAC motors are available in single and dual-shaft configurations with steel case and stainless-steel shaft(s). Starting at $57.00, SureStep MTRAC motors are available in NEMA frame sizes 23 and 34 with holding torques from 75 to 1841 oz-in.

SureStep AC Input Stepper Drives Overview

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AutomationDirect | Leadshine 2-phase Digital Stepper Drives

11/13/2019

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Leadshine Technology is an industry leading motion control supplier offering high quality steppers that are simple, easy to use, long-lasting, and reliable at very reasonable prices. Leadshine 2-phase digital drives with microstepping motor movement and anti-resonance for optimal torque provide extra smooth motion, low motor heating and low noise. These drives accept a wide range of input voltages (12-110 VDC, 18-80 VAC) and provide over-voltage and overcurrent protection, motor auto-configuration on power up and soft-start at power on. Motor output current ranges up 7.2A and pulse input frequency up to 200kHz. Leadshine drives support NEMA 11, 14, 17, 23, 24, 34 and 42 frame size step motors. Starting at $25.50, all Leadshine drives support step and direction control, some models support CW/CCW as well.

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AutomationDirect | Continuous Flexing Profinet Cable

11/13/2019

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DataMax Extreme Industrial Profinet cables are a two-pair shielded construction with 22AWG twisted pair conductors and 7/30 stranded tinned copper with color coded high-density polyethylene insulation. Shielded constructions include both a tinned copper braid shield and aluminized polyester foil overall shield. The cable's outer jacket is pressure extruded Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) with excellent moisture, chemical, UV and weathering resistance, exceptional low temperature flexibility, and good flame and fire resistance. DataMax Extreme Profinet cable supports Profinet conformance classes B and C, is UL Type PLTC rated, and designed for use in EtherNet/IP™ systems. The continuous flexing Profinet cable is available in cut-to-length 1-foot increments starting at $1.04 per foot (20-foot minimum) and has a 3-year warranty.

Cut-to-Length Cables Summary

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AutomationDirect | Upgraded Ultrasonic Proximity Sensors with Greater Sensing Distances

10/16/2019

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SU, UK, UT and TU series round body and UQ series cubic plastic ultrasonic distance sensors are now available in sensing distance ranges from 60mm to 8000mm, in metal or plastic housings, and M18 (18mm) and M30 (30mm) barrel or head sizes. Discrete and analog output sensors and models with both analog and discrete switching outputs are available. Discrete models are available with adjustable sensitivity and one sensor can be standardized for many materials. Operating voltages from 10 to 30VDC are available; temperature ranges up to +70C are now offered on some models. Most sensors provide LED status indicators and have 2m output cable or M12 quick disconnect connection options. All ultrasonic sensors are IEC IP67 rated. AutomationDirect ultrasonic proximity sensors start at $98.00 and have a lifetime warranty.

AutomationDirect | 4mm and 5mm photoelectric sensors redesigned for more applications

10/16/2019

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Photoelectric Sensors Selection Guide

AutomationDirect | IronHorse Micro-Processor Based Digital DC Drives

10/2/2019

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The IronHorse® GSD8 series of DC drives is a microprocessor-based design with non-volatile memory storage that is programmable with adjustable parameters, programmable alarm outputs and offers a digital closed-loop algorithm for motor control. GSD8 series DC drives are capable of factory or field configurations for a variety of industrial applications. GSD8 DC drives make use of either a pulse accumulation algorithm or a velocity PID algorithm that can be configured as a speed controller, time-based process controller, or follower drive in a master-follower application. GSD8 output power available is 1/2 to 1 HP at 120 VAC input and 1 to 2 HP at 240 VAC input. All units include a large 4-digit LED display; standard 1/8 or 1/4 DIN panel mount versions are available. GSD8 series DC drives start at $405.00.

AutomationDirect | NITRA Pneumatic Coalescing Air Filters for Mist/Vapors

10/2/2019

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NITRA® pneumatic AC series coalescing air filters allow finer removal of moisture, vapor and oil mist from compressed air applications. NITRA coalescing filters are available in a range of port sizes from 1/8" to 1/2" FNPT; replaceable 0.3-micron filter elements are standard, with an optional 0.01-micron filter element available for stricter filtration requirements. NITRA coalescing filters are available with semi-automatic / manual or full automatic drains, and polycarbonate or nylon bowls with metal guards are available on all sizes. All-metal bowls with sight gauge are available on larger sizes. The modular filter design enables easy field assembly for combining with NITRA pneumatic particulate filters and regulators (using optional modular assembly brackets). NITRA coalescing air filters start at $52.00 with a 2-year warranty.

NITRA AC Series Coalescing Filters Overview

AUTOMATIONDIRECT | Continuous Flexing Tray Rated Control Cable and Continuous Flexing Profibus-DP Cable

9/18/2019

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igus CF130US and CF140US series tray rated cables are specifically designed, tested, and manufactured for use in both continuous flexing and fixed tray applications. Starting at $1.16 per foot, the tray rated cable is available shielded or unshielded in wire sizes from 18 to 12 AWG with 4 to 25 conductors including ground. The pressure-extruded PVC outer jacket is sunlight, oil and flame resistant. igus CFBUS series continuous flexing Profibus cable, available in 24 AWG twisted pair, is designed for constantly moving applications. Individual conductors are bare copper and stranded for flexing applications. Conductor insulation is a high-quality red and green TPE mixture. The cable's outer jacket is a pressure extruded purple PVC mixture that is resistant to sunlight, oil penetration, and is flame retardant. Profibus cable starts at $1.46 / ft.

Cut-to-Length Cables Summary

AUTOMATIONDIRECT | ProSense Liquid/Air Thermal Flow Sensors

9/18/2019

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ProSense® FTS Series thermal flow sensors offer a very cost-effective solution for monitoring water, glycol solutions, or air flow. With no moving parts, thermal flow sensors are a reliable alternative to mechanical flow switches and other flow sensing technologies. With 4-digit display and pushbutton setup, the FTS series is easily configured to measure flow velocity in feet per second (fps), or by entering the internal pipe diameter, volumetric flow rate can be measured in gallons per minute (gpm) or cubic feet per minute (cfm). Available with probe lengths of either 100 mm or 200 mm, FTS series sensors can be used in pipes up to 16 inches in internal diameter. Two outputs can be used as flow or temperature limit switches or to monitor continuous flow rate or temperature. FTS series flow sensors start at $235 and have a 5-year warranty.

AUTOMATIONDIRECT | 3-Phase Energy Efficient Distribution Transformers (NEMA Rated)

9/6/2019

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HPS Sentinel G ventilated stand-up transformers meet the latest DOE 2016 and NRCan 2019 energy efficiency requirements. These dry-type 3-phase transformers are open coil/core ventilated, NEMA 3R rated and offer significant energy savings and environmental benefits. Models are rated up to 75kVA, and the standard 10kV BIL rating provides increased reliability and protection against critical equipment failure from voltage spikes and other line transients. Advanced core and coil construction improves efficiency. The coated core is manufactured from quality non-aging, cold-rolled, silicon steel laminations. Precision wound aluminum conductors are electrically balanced to minimize axial forces during short-circuit conditions. Starting at $1,235.00, HPS Sentinel transformers are UL and CSA certified, and have a 10-year warranty.

Hammond Ventilated Transformers Overview

AUTOMATIONDIRECT | Secure StrideLinx Mobile VPN connections for C-more & 3rd party mobile apps

9/6/2019

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The new StrideLinx Mobile VPN feature allows 3rd party mobile apps to utilize the StrideLinx secure VPN tunnel when connecting to remote machines. Mobile apps like the C-more remote HMI app provide access to remote machines for monitoring and control. Using StrideLinx Mobile VPN with the C-more app simplifies network configuration and adds needed security to keep customer data and machine control safe. The StrideLinx platform provides secure, reliable access over the "industrial internet" to field devices for remote visibility. Cloud connect any Ethernet-ready devices and connect to multiple site locations to monitor or troubleshoot multiple systems without an on-site visit. StrideLinx routers start at $450.00, options include Gigabit wired, cellular 4G LTE and WiFi. A 5GB monthly data bandwidth is included free.

StrideLinx Features Review

AutomationDirect | ProSense Vibration Fork Liquid Level Switches

9/6/2019

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AttaBox NewSentry series thermoplastic PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) junction boxes are extremely rugged and light enclosures, well-suited for harsh, wet and corrosive environments. Uses vary from high-end electronics to extreme corrosive applications both indoors and out, and their small footprint allows use in tight spaces. The easily workable PVC construction provides rounded edges and minimal protrusions or exposed pocket areas for accumulation of dust and debris. Integral mounting feet on smaller sizes allow ease of mounting. With a UL94-V0 flammability rating, AttaBox PVC enclosures are self-extinguishing, non-halogenating and non-flame propagating. Operating temperature range is -4° to 140°F. NewSentry NEMA 1, 3, 3S, 4X, 6, 6P, 12 rated enclosures start at $13.00 and are cULus, CSA, IEC, REACH and RoHS certified.

AutomationDirect | Non-contact Reflective Ultrasonic Level Sensors

9/6/2019

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Flowline's non-contact EchoPod® and EchoTouch® reflective ultrasonic liquid level sensors feature proprietary Reflective Technology™ that delivers reliable level measurement in condensing environments. Condensation is the most commonly encountered variable in liquid level applications and attenuates the acoustic signal of non-reflective ultrasonic sensors, weakening signal strength and reducing measurement reliability. These reflective level sensors replace ultrasonic sensors in condensation applications; and replace other float, conductance and pressure sensors that fail due to contact with dirty, sticky and scaling media in small, medium and large tanks. Starting at $405.00, both general purpose and intrinsically safe versions are available with continuous level measurement, switching and control capabilities.

AutomationDirect | C-more Remote HMI without attached display

8/21/2019

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Intended for the user who doesn't require a built-in HMI display or needs a larger display, the C-more® EA9 series remote (headless) HMI unit supports HD 1280x720 pixel screen resolution with HDMI output. The HDMI connection provides both video and audio out. The EA9-RHMI has an 800MHz CPU and 82MB of project memory, includes (2) serial ports, USB 2.0 Type A and B ports, a built-in SD memory card slot and one Ethernet port. The Ethernet 10/100 Base-T port supports program download, remote Internet access, and communications to PLCs and PCs. USB port A can be used to connect a touchscreen, mouse and keyboard. The RHMI is compatible with EA9-PGMSW programming software. Priced at $399.00, the DIN rail mount EA9-RHMI is 12-24 VDC powered, has a 0 to 50°C temperature range, and is UL, cUL, CE approved.

C-more Remote (Headless) HMI Overview

AutomationDirect | STRIDE Industrial MQTT Gateways

8/7/2019

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The STRIDE® MQTT gateway connects industrial Modbus devices to an MQTT cloud-based data logging solution. MQTT is a machine-to-machine "Internet of Things" connectivity protocol that provides low power usage, minimized data packets, and efficient distribution of information to one or many receivers. The STRIDE MQTT gateway provides easy hardware setup to add Modbus RTU/TCP devices to an existing MQTT cloud data collection platform. The MQTT gateway interfaces with up to 32 Modbus devices; wired and Wi-Fi gateway models are available. The Stride MQTT Gateway is the hardware component only of an MQTT cloud-based data logging solution. The user must have an existing cloud computing service account. Starting at $215.00, Stride MQTT Gateways are CE marked and FCC tested.

STRIDE MQTT Gateway Overview

AutomationDirect | Power Machine Tray Cable

8/7/2019

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Power Machine Tray Cable is available in sizes from 18 AWG to 8 AWG with 3 to 25 unshielded conductors. Conductors are bare copper and stranded for flexibility, with black PVC/Nylon insulation and marked with numbers for easy identification. The black Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) cable outer jacket is flexible and resistant to sunlight, oil, and moisture; making the cables suitable for wet and dry locations. With a Tray Cable Exposed Run rating (UL Type TC-ER), the tray cable can also be installed without metal conduit between the tray and equipment. Other ratings and approvals include UL Type MTW (Machine Tool Wire), UL Type WTTC (Wind Turbine Tray Cable), Class 1 Div 2 Locations and Direct Burial. Power Machine Tray Cable is available in cut-to-length 1-foot increments starting at $0.47 per foot (with a 20-foot minimum).

Power Machine Tray Cable Overview

AutomationDirect | Precision Limit Switches from Metrol

7/24/2019

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Metrol limit switches provide precision, repeatability and a long service life. New precision limit switches are now available. The actuator of new sliding/angled offset limit switches (from $63.00) detects objects traveling straight on or sliding into the actuator from an angle with 5-micron repeat accuracy. Metrol low contact-force limit switches (from $38.00) are available with 5 or 10-micron repeat accuracy and an ultra-sensitive contact force of only 0.1 Newtons. High-vacuum resistance style limit switches ($192.00) with 3-micron repeat accuracy and an ultra-small design are an excellent choice for installations inside a vacuum, such as environmentally controlled manufacturing processes. Precision high-temperature stopper limit switches (from $158.00) are rated up to 200°C and incorporate a mechanical stop along with the limit switch function.

AutomationDirect | Universal Input Signal Conditioners and Isolators

7/24/2019

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ProSense Universal input conditioners / isolators accept a wide range of RTD, thermocouple, resistance, potentiometer, mA or voltage inputs, and offer current, voltage and/or relay outputs with programmable ranges and functions. The conditioners provide 3-way isolation between input, output and power. Two new signal conditioners are available. The SCU-8400 ($174.00) accepts unipolar and bipolar input signals up to +/-100 mA or +/-300 VDC with spans as low as 0.5 mA or 25 mVDC. The SCU-7900 AC RMS current / voltage input conditioner ($162.00) can accurately measure AC supply voltage up to 300 VAC RMS or AC current transformers up to 5A RMS. Units are configured with an easy-to-use detachable 4-line LCD programming module that also displays the input signal value, engineering units, output signal and relay status.

AutomationDirect | Cut-to-Length DLO Heavy Duty Power Cable

7/24/2019

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DLO Heavy Duty Cable is a 2kV rated flexible power cable with a variety of possible applications including industrial control panel power distribution, power feeds for Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), motor leads in non-drive related applications, and in non-traditional industrial applications such as drilling rigs, railroad/transit car wiring, and mining equipment. With RHH and RHW-2 ratings these cables are suitable for use in both wet and dry locations and can be used in conduits, ducts, troughs and control panels. The maximum rating for continuous use is 90°C (194°F) either wet or dry. The extremely flexible cable is oil, heat, flame, abrasion and sunlight resistant. In single-conductor sizes from 8AWG to 4/0 AWG, DLO heavy duty cable is available in cut-to-length 1-foot increments starting at $0.80 per foot (with a 10-foot minimum).

DLO, RHH, RHW-2 Cable Overview

AutomationDirect | Safety Mats, Edges and Bumpers

7/24/2019

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Safety mats, edges and bumpers from ASO Safety Solutions are used to protect people and machinery. New diamond plate safety mats (from $480.00) are available in 24 x 36 and 24 x 48-inch sizes with a diamond plate aluminum surface designed for heavy industry applications, steel wheel carts and similar equipment; and can survive welding debris, hot parts, metal chips and foundry splatter. New safety edges (from $69.00) with 15 x 10mm profiles are factory assembled for convenience in 12 lengths, from four inches to four feet. Mounting rails and end caps are factory installed. Safety bumpers (from $230.00) with larger 60 x 100mm profiles are available in five lengths and include mounting rails. Safety bumpers are insensitive to vibration and are used in standard safety edge and transport vehicle / industrial fork truck applications.

AutomationDirect | Safety Mats, Edges and Bumpers

7/24/2019

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