REDWIRE Festo unveils ‘revolutionary automation technology’

September 27, 2017 REDWIRE is news you can use from leading suppliers. Powered by FRASERS.

Posted by Festo Inc


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The new Motion Terminal VTEM from Festo represents the advent of digital, proportional pneumatics run by software — not hardware. This revolutionary automation technology gives users the ability to employ apps displayed on a PLC or personal computer (and soon on tablets and smartphones) to control a multitude of functions with the push of a button, without having to modify hardware. Such flexibility makes the motion terminal a true Industry 4.0 product.

Key advantages

Festo’s new motion terminal eliminates the need for more than 50 mechanical components on the machine that are part of running a typical pneumatic automation setup. Instead, users can simply — and instantly — change machine configurations via apps. This makes small-batch, and even batch-of-one production, economically feasible.

The VTEM combines new developments in low-energy piezo technology, control software and stroke and pressure sensors with on-board valves. The result is a revolutionary solution that offers increased productivity with the highest level of standardization, shorter cycle times, reduced energy consumption, less system downtime and lower maintenance and spare parts expense. Its self-regulating motion apps are constantly adjusting for factors like increasing wear of machine parts, and can keep multiple actuators perfectly synchronized. It simplifies machine design and will allow machine builders to shorten the time to market for new products.

Key details

The VTEM has been launched with 10 apps (though more are in development). Some of the available apps include:

  • A directional control valve, which enables users to modify standard directional control valve functions at any time, and as often as necessary;
  • Pre-setting of travel time, which enables quick and easy commissioning and stable operations, while automatically adjusting the values for consistent, optimized performance;
  • Selectable pressure level and ECO drive, which reduces energy costs by up to 70 per cent;
  • Soft stop, which enables the implementation of gentle end position cushioning; and
  • Leakage diagnostics, which monitors all systems for performance anomalies, delivering real-time data that maintenance can act on.

Each VTEM is comprised of a Festo CPX control module, a VTEM controller, an Ethernet WebConfig interface to configure the unit from a PLC, intelligent, app-controlled valves with integrated stroke and pressure sensors, and an input module for direct control of applications like Soft Stop.

To learn more, contact Festo.


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Posted by Festo Inc


Innovate today for a new tomorrow   For nearly a hundred years Festo has provided proven Industry Leadership, Super... Read more

Contact supplier