Manufacturing Machinery World March 2021

NEW PRODUCTS – NEW PRODUCTS – NEW PRODUCTS
SICK’S FLEXI NEAT AND COMPACT
MID-RANGE SAFETY CONTROLLER
SICK has added the Flexi Compact to its
portfolio of industry-leading safety
controllers, featuring a modular, compact
and scalable design that focuses on space
saving, responsive performance and ease of
use.
The SICK Flexi Compact safety controller
has been conceived with simplicity in mind,
while enabling exceptionally-responsive
machine operation and real-time diagnostics,
suitable for most common machine safety
applications. With rapid response cycle times
of up to 4 ms, the SICK Flexi Compact can
help to ensure space-saving machine designs
with shortest-possible safety distances.
The SICK Flexi Compact is based on a
versatile and expandable concept with each
slim module having a one-click, fit-andrelease
mechanism for easy handling and
exchange. There is a choice of two CPUs,
each with a generous bank of 32 I/O’s, and
one with an additional EtherNet connection.
To this can be added 16-connector, 14mmwide
XTDI and XTDO I/O cards and up to
further 12 expansion modules, ensuring
future-proof scalability for when the
demands on the safety controller increase.
The Flexi Compact’s EtherCAT or
PROFINET gateways enable wide
integration flexibility to higher-level PLCs
and Industry 4.0 applications. Each gateway
has a thin-film display window and push
button controls for quick commissioning and
easy-to-use, real-time diagnostics. Rapid
troubleshooting is also assured thanks to
easy HMI integration via the CPU Ethernet
port option, which supports both Modbus
and SLMP protocols over TCP/IP.
Planning and commissioning a machine
safety configuration is fast and efficient with
the Flexi Compact using SICK’s free-to-use
Safety Designer engineering tool, providing
access to 256 certified function blocks and
safety logic documentation via an intuitive
drag and drop graphical user interface. An
integrated, removable SmartPlug with USB
port enables rapid data transfer and
configuration exchange for efficient set up
and commissioning.
A safety-certified high-speed EtherCAT
backplane bus enables efficient data
communication and rapid response times.
As a result, safety distances to the machine
can be optimised, and shorter cycle times
achieved in highly-dynamic processes.
01727 831121
andrea.hornby@sick.co.uk.
www.sick.co.uk
IGUS GOES TO EVEN GREATER
LENGTHS WITH YE HYBRID SERIES
Easy to install and 50% lighter; energy
supply series made of steel and polymer in
new larger sizes
The world’s first hybrid chain is now
available in two new sizes – designed by
plastics expert igus for construction
machinery and lifting equipment.
These YE hybrid chains, made of polymer
and steel, are 50% lighter than conventional
steel chains and can safely move large
hydraulic hoses and high fill weights
vertically on both mobile crane platforms
and construction machinery.
Justin Leonard, energy chain director at
igus, said: "The challenge for our design team
was to develop the longest possible chain at
the lowest possible weight, and they
succeeded.
“Our YE hybrid chains, now available in
two new sizes, use the optimum mix of
lightweight plastic and tough steel, and can
handle supported and vertical travels.
The new YE.56 is 56mm inner height and
can carry unsupported lengths of up to 8.5
metres.
The YE.108, which is 108mm inner height,
has been developed specifically for drilling
rigs and can safely guide and support heavy
and large hydraulic hoses and cables up to
9.5 metres.
What makes the YE series so special is the
fact that its supporting chain links are made
of steel, whereas the pin/bore connection,
outer links and crossbars are made of a
tribologically optimised high-performance
polymer.
For more information contact
Tel: 01604 677240
Email: ekemal@igus.co.uk
WALTER AG
RELEASE NEW
TC620
SUPREME
THREAD MILLS
High cutting pressure, tool deflection, wear
and overall performance are particular
challenges when it comes to thread milling.
The results of these common issues can be
restrictive cutting performance parameters,
additional cutting passes, short tool life and
even tool breakage. Walter now overcomes
all of these issues with the introduction of the
new TC620 Supreme solid carbide universal
thread milling cutter.
With the arrival of the new TC620
Supreme universal thread milling cutter,
Walter is transferring the functional principle
of its T2711 indexable insert thread milling
cutter to smaller thread diameters. The hardwearing
characteristics of the WB10TJ solid
carbide grade TC620 Supreme ensures tool
wear is drastically reduced. This is further
extenuated by an innovative geometry
design that minimises cutting forces and the
result is significantly higher feed per tooth.
The multi-row design concept not only
reduces machining time and tool wear, it also
improves process reliability. As a universal
thread milling tool that is suitable for
materials from steel and stainless through to
exotic alloys, this process reliability is
particularly pertinent when the TC620 is
used with more demanding materials such as
Inconel 718.
Incorporating a through coolant facility
that provides reliable chip evacuation and
efficient cooling, the TC620 Supreme
guarantees maximum process reliability and
consequently, radius corrections are seldom
necessary. Walter is launching the TC620
Supreme for thread depths of 2 and 2.5XD in
dimensions from M4 to M20 to cater for the
complete needs of the machine shop. The
TC620 Supreme is also available in UNC 8 to
UNC ¾ dimensions. This seamlessly links the
new TC620 Supreme universal thread
milling cutter to the Walter T2711 indexable
insert thread milling cutter for larger thread
requirements.
Website: www.walter-tools.com
Manufacturing Machinery World, March 2021 29