EuroWire November 2016

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Feature
Testing & measuring
November 2016 52
Zumbach equips its powerful instruments with the recognised
OPC UA standard. With this key technology, measurement
solutions provide easy, scalable and secure information
exchange with different systems in the production line –
platform and manufacturer-independent data exchange. Prepare
your dimension, profile and diameter measurement field data
for new Industry 4.0 services. Instruments with the new OPC UA
standard meet the technical requirements for intelligent data
networking.
Zumbach has equipped its powerful measuring instruments with
OPC UA which ensures a simple, scalable and secure information
exchange between different production line systems –
regardless of platform or manufacturer.
One software enables all M2M (machine to machine) or
M2H (machine to human) measurement data obtained to be
interconnected on one output platform, collected, displayed and
analysed. The OPC UA standard facilitates horizontal and vertical
integration across various levels of the automation pyramid.
This means that the requirements for industry automation
along with future semantic communication scenarios from
Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT) have already
been met.
OPC has the broadest circulation in the field of automation,
but is technologically industry-neutral and can be run on all
operating systems. Communication between plant equipment
takes place reliably, securely and independent of the
manufacturer.
As one of the first
equipment manufacturers
for inline measurement
and monitoring, Zumbach
integrated OPC UA into its
PC-based stems with host
communications protocol
(eg in the Profilemaster®
profile measuring systems
series, in measurement
systems for hot rolling
mills and Steelmaster
cold processes as well as
in the USYS IPC series for
universal data recording,
processing and display systems and many more).
The OPC UA server is additionally available as external gateway
software for measuring devices with microprocessor and host
communications protocol (ODAC® laser diameter measuring
instruments, MSD diameter and ovality measuring systems, spark
testers, computer interface boxes, and more).
Zumbach Electronic AG – Switzerland
Website:
▲ ▲ Data output, diagnosis and reactive actions occur on one platform. The transparency generated shortens the reaction times in case of
deviations and ultimately results in important quality gains
This measurement is the first step of
electrical cable production monitoring, but
maybe the most critical. AESA Cortaillod is
introducing a new true, straightforward,
three-step solution to experimentally
measure the conductivity and resistivity of
class 1 sample conductors. Measurement
uncertainties due to imperfections in
sample dimensional geometric shape (that
brings significant errors) are eliminated,
leading to an accurate determination of
these physical parameters.
The resistivity ( r), by definition, “is an
intrinsic property that quantifies how
strongly a given material opposes the
flow of electric current”. For conductors
of uniform cross-section such as wires,
Pouillet’s Law gives the relation between
the resistance R in [Ω] and the resistivity ρ
in [Ωm] as follows:
where (l) is the length in [m] and (S) the
cross-section in [m²].
The conductivity (s) in [siemens/metre]
is the reciprocal of resistivity (s =1/ρ).
Thus, the parameters to be measured
for calculating the resistivity and the
conductivity are the resistance (R) at a
reference temperature, the length (l), and
the section (S).
AESA Cortaillod has developed a new
option to measure the conductivity/
resistivity according to the norm IEC
60228. This option is user-friendly, fast
and accurate and can be utilised with any
of the AESA ResTest family equipment.
The measured parameters are keyed-in
via a user interface and the conductivity/
resistivity are then automatically
computed and displayed.
The resistance (R) at temperature (T) is
measured with a linear resistance bridge.
AESA Cortaillod offers a full range of high
accuracy R-bridges (ResTest family).
All of them are fully integrated to
accurately measure R (directly displayed
in [Ω/m at 20°C]). The length (l) is
measured using a special ruler for long
samples with all uncertain parameters
taken into consideration. The section (S) is
usually derived from the measurement of
the conductor diameter.
However, this approach is very time
consuming given that a mapping of the
sample on the full conductor length is
necessary to reduce uncertainties.
AESA proposes a novel approach based
on volume measurement. The volume
of the sample is determined in an
inclined water bath through the weight
measurement of a liquid whose density
is known at a defined temperature. This
new option fills a gap in the precise
conductivity/resistivity measurement
for all types of class 1 conductors (round,
sectoral) with diameter of 8mm and
larger.
AESA Cortaillod – Switzerland
Website:
How to ascertain the conductivity/resistivity value of rods and drawn wires?
Zumbach measuring instruments now
with OPC UA standard