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E-Notes from Captain's Log aboard AutomationDirect.com
Volume 4 Issue 2

Welcome to our semi-regular e-mail update of what's new and happening at AutomationDirect. You are receiving this e-news because you subscribed to the AutomationDirect newsletter. Just go to http://notify.automationdirect.com/newsletter if you wish to unsubscribe.

Misplaced your catalog, or was it borrowed and never returned? To jump to our online request form and get our 1,000-page free catalog or catalog on CD, click here or call 1-800-633-0405.

As spring nears, we've been wrapping up our new catalog and are anxious for it to hit the streets. The new catalog features several new product lines and extensions to current lines and brings our product offering to around 3,500 part numbers! Your new catalog should be arriving in your mailbox at the end of May, so make sure to check it out and let us know what you think.

Analog combo modules for Terminator I/O line of products

New for the Terminator I/O line of products are an 8-channel in/4-channel out analog voltage combination module (T1F-8AD4DA-2) and an 8-channel in/4-channel out analog current combination module (T1F-8AD4DA-1). The modules work with T1K-8B or T1K-8B-1 Terminator I/O
bases and are both priced at $429.

• More information about the new modules and Terminator I/O

Analog modules for the DL205 line of products

Two new analog modules are now available for the DL205 line of products. The F0-4AD2DA-1 is a 4-channel mA input, 2-channel mA output (sourcing) module priced at $185. The F2-08DA-1 is an 8-channel analog output module, with 12-bit resolution and 4-20mA range. The module is sink or source output configurable and designed to operate with a 24VDC user-supplied power supply.

• More information on the DL205 PLC and these new analog modules
  

D0-DEVNETS now shipping

The D0-DEVNETS DeviceNet slave module is now shipping for the DL05 series of products. The D0-DEVNETS allows the DL05 to become a "smart node" on a DeviceNet network. Priced at $75, the module fits into the option card slot of any DL05 PLC and allows a DeviceNet master to control and monitor the 14 discrete I/O points. The DeviceNet technology is capable of linking 64 nodes on a single network at a maximum speed of 500K. The node address for the DeviceNet module is set using onboard DIP switches. All modules include a standard DeviceNet connector that makes the five-wire connection easy to implement and maintain.

• DL05 Overview and option card information

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Non-stock enclosures and encoders

Many encoders and enclosure products are now available for purchase as "non-stock" items, meaning they may not be available for next-day delivery and could require delivery times of up to 10 days for enclosures and up to six weeks for encoders. Over 900 stock and non-stock Hubbell-Wiegmann enclosures and accessories are now available through AutomationDirect.

Non-stock encoders and enclosures are designated with a non-stock icon in our online store. Click on each specific product in the store for more information concerning expected delivery time.

• More information on encoders
• More information on Hubbell-Wiegmann enclosures

AC photo sensors

Now offered are several new 18 mm non-metal photoelectric sensors. These new round sensors are AC-powered with 20-253 VAC. They are available in diffuse, polarized retroreflective and through-beam models. Cable or quick-disconnect versions are also available. The new photoelectric sensors have an IP67 washdown rating and are
CE-approved. Prices start at $33.

• More information on our photoelectric sensors

Version 2.0 EZTouch Programming Software

Version 2.0 EZTouch Programming Software is now offered for the EZTouch line of operator touch panels. The software features new objects, including multi-state indicator, bitmap button, multi-state bitmap, and increment/decrement value. Project configuration improvements and additions include alarm, message, and tag databases, a screen zoom feature, and a draw frame feature. Other new features include the addition of the Project Screen Explorer view in the programming window, and offline accessibility of the Panel menu. The new software also offers support for
slim bezel EZTouch models (with FDA-approved materials), and includes added support for Allen-Bradley Data Highway Plus and Remote I/O. The software is still priced at $109.

• More information on about EZTouch touch panels and the new Version 2.0 Programming Software

New ZIPLinks modules and cables

Several new ZIPLink modules and cables are now shipping. New communication adapters include the DN-15TB and DN-25TB. DN-15TB is priced at $64 and offers fast and convenient screw terminal connections to D2-250 CPUs, and DN-25-TB, priced at $58, connects to D2-350/450 CPUs. Compatible cables (part numbers ZL-DN15TB-CBL, ZL-DN25TB-CBL) are also now available.

Also offered is a 32-point ZIPLink LED module (ZL-CM32L524). Priced at $150, the module offers 32 LEDs, 2-28 VDC, and 40-pole IDC.

• More information on ZIPLink cables and connectors

Check out all recent product news...

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New stock check feature for enclosures

The stock check feature in the online store now provides status for enclosure parts. As with all other products, stock check status will be shown for enclosure parts when they are added to the shopping cart.

Free shipping offer extended for online orders

With the launch of our new catalog, we are also happy to announce that our free shipping offer for online orders will be extended. Free shipping offer applies to online orders over $300 that use regular UPS delivery, within the continental U.S. DIN rail and enclosure parts are excluded from the offer. Shipping charges for orders with these items will be based on charges for these items only. The free shipping offer is valid until further notice.

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Application of the month: DL205 helps build an automatic control system for a filling machine

Products Used: DL205 and Optimate Panel

Description: This application involved the rebuilding of a Mateer Model 37A dual head auger filling machine with a horizontal conveyor. I was asked to build a fully automatic control system for the machine. The machine had to fill two bottles with powdered spice products in rapid sequence. I selected a DL205 PLC for the job. This project was extremely complicated because two auger heads needed to move at the same time, with each head filling its own bottle. After each fill cycle there needed to be finger stopper pistons on the horizontal transport conveyor working with photoeyes to sequence the bottles for filling. Because the bottles were small, they filled up fast. The machine was estimated to fill 140 bottles a minute. This speed is too fast for the human eye to see in order to analyze a problem if the machine is not working correctly.

So an Optimate panel was designed into the system to work with the PLC. If the machine fails in any part of the fill cycle the operator hits a stop button on the panel at the point of failure, and then replays that part of the fill cycle over and over to make a better analysis of the problem. This machine was another AutomationDirect project that went very well.

Submitted by: John Uske, Trans-Packers Services Corporation

To view our entire collection of Application Stories, click here

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Once again, AutomationDirect will sponsor Johnny Miller's #64 car in the Trans-Am Series. This marks the seventh season of AutomationDirect's involvement with Johnny Miller and the Trans-Am series. Johnny will again join three-time Trans-Am champion Paul Gentilozzi as part of the Rocketsports Racing team. Johnny and his teammate will each drive the new body style 2002 Jaguar XKR.

The 2002 race season opens this weekend at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in Long Beach California. Visit
Johnny's Web site at www.milleracing.com for all the latest racing news.

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Add The Symbols…

Insert +, -, X, and/or parentheses between the numbers to find the total.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 = 29
(The answer is at the end of the newsletter.).

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"Add the symbols" answer:
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 - 8 + 9 = 29