Electricity and Control November 2023

SENSORS + SWITCHES : PRODUCTS + SERVICES

Ensuring quality in cast metals

Connecting multi-port valve blocks Ingelfingen-based valve specialist, GEMÜ is launching two new solutions for connecting single-use multi-port valve blocks. One of the solutions makes it possible to control the pneumatic locking of the valve block via locking cylin ders, with a valve block sunk into the skid surface. The other solution entails use of a valve block placed onto the skid surface, where the valve body is manually con nected to the actuator unit via a detachable hand lever. This second solution offers greater flexibility for the spig ot layout. The connection between the actuator and the diaphragms welded onto the valve block is created re liably within a few seconds, using the familiar clamping During the process of metal casting, the liquid material is poured into a mould and then cools to become a solid body. If the casting temperature is either too high or too low, this can lead to quality defects in the cast product. If the temperature of the liquid metal is too low, it may cool down too quickly in the mould and stop melting. As a re sult, the mould is only partially filled. If the liquid metal is too hot, this promotes gas porosity and delays the solidi fication process. This can lead to grain coarsening in the microstructure of the cast part. Temperature monitoring of the liquid casting material is therefore indispensable for quality assurance. Instrotech, a local representative for Optris, offers infrared cameras to monitor the temperatures in the casting process. The temperature of the liquid metal and that of the mould are constantly monitored so that the quality critical cooling phase can be adjusted if necessary. The compact Optris PI 05M thermal imaging cam era is primarily used for this purpose. Due to the spec tral range and continuous measuring range from 900 to 2 450 °C, it is especially suitable for the temperature measurement of molten metals. The compact Optris PI 05M and PI 1M infrared as required, giving users a wide scope for combinations. With the head-mounted transmitter, specially designed trapezoidal terminals with a large clamping area and ac cess from the outside simplify the connection of sensors and the current loop. All variants of the new transmitter can be programmed using the HART ® protocol with a number of open config uration tools. The T38 can also be parameterised quickly and easily via the USB interface using the PU-548 pro gramming unit and WIKAsoft-TT software. Continued from page 18

Optris IR cameras are designed to monitor temperatures in the metal casting process continuously. cameras have been designed specifically for metal industry applications. The short wavelength PI 05M is ideal for measuring molten metals in the casting process, as the new spectral range of 500 nm provides more accurate measurement with changing emissivity and is less sensitive to atmospheric influences. The Optris PI 1M is used mainly in metal processing, monitoring temperatures during hardening, forming and welding of metals, for example. principle of the GEMÜ SU40 SUMONDO. The blocks themselves are produced by machining and thus can be tailored to each specific application. There are several benefits to using single-use technology: eliminating the need for conventional cleaning cycles and the associated costs for power, cleaning media, waste disposal and peripherals while increasing protection against cross-contamination between different manufacturing drives. It also minimises downtime in factories, which significantly improves the flexibility and effectiveness of single-use solutions in the medical and pharmaceutical technology sectors, in comparison with conventional solutions. In addition, by eliminating energy-intensive cleaning cycles, the use of single-use technology reduces negative environmental effects. □ For more information visit: www.instrotech.co.za

Single-use multi-port valve block with manual locking device.

Single-use multi port valve block with pneumatic locking device.

For more information visit: www.wika.co.za

NOVEMBER 2023 Electricity + Control

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