Machine Building

How to select the best illumination method for machine vision

This article from Stemmer Imaging discusses the critical issue of illumination for machine vision applications.

23rd August 2010

Novel inductive sensors can be shaped to suit the application

Mark Howard of Zettlex Ltd explains how next-generation inductive transducers work and why they are being specified in place of traditional inductive devices, potentiometers, optical encoders and magnetic encoders.

19th August 2010

Machinery Directive harmonised standards - a word of caution

Paul Laidler, the Managing Director of Laidler Associates, recommends caution when deciding which 'harmonised' standards to apply when CE marking machinery in accordance with the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC.

19th August 2010

How vibrating quartz tuning tines measure angular rate

This article from ETLG Inertial Aerosystems describes Systron Donner Inertial's GyroChip uses vibrating quartz tuning tines to sense rate by acting as a Coriolis sensor.

17th August 2010

Plant maintenance - advice for managers

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) has launched its new Healthy Workplaces Campaign for 2010/11, promoting safe maintenance across Europe. MCP Consulting and Training suggestions some questions that managers should ask themselves.

6th August 2010

How to specify IP ratings for enclosures

Schneider Electric believes that a lack of understanding of IP ratings is leading to enclosures being specified with inappropriate levels of protection. Moreover, some IP ratings do not conform to international standards and are not relevant to the intended use of the products to which they have been applied.

25th July 2010

What does 'as low as reasonably practicable' mean?

Jeremy Procter, a Member of BSI's MCE/3 committee, former Convenor of the European Standards Committee responsible for Machine Guards (CEN TC114 WG11), and Managing Director of Procter Machine Guarding, explains what is meant by machine risks being 'as low as reasonably practicable.'

24th July 2010

Low-cost controlgear products may not be a good investment

GAMBICA explains why machine builders should be very wary of using low-cost controlgear or products that are described as 'equivalent to' or 'interchangeable with' those from leading brands.

19th July 2010

EN ISO 11161 - Safe design of Integrated Manufacturing Systems

Robin Carver* introduces EN ISO 11161, which is the standard for assemblies of machinery, and goes on to outline its contents and describe its relationship to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and other machinery safety standards.

22nd June 2010

EN ISO 13849-1:2008 and its errors and omissions

Robin Carver, a machinery safety consultant and BSI committee member*, explains why he thinks that EN ISO 13849-1:2008 is confusing, contains errors and is of little practical use.

15th June 2010