Features

Affordable housing is a hot topic in the UK, with the Government and developers across the country working to provide people with a route onto the property ladder. Specialist developer Pocket Living is ensuring this for Londoners, building modular homes exclusively for first time buyers. Contractor, Legendre UK, is currently constructing 149 one-bedroom flats at Sheepcote Road HA1 in Harrow and is using products from Spelsberg’s IBT range for the project.

Speeding up residential developments

Solving the housing crisis relies on building affordable homes quickly. Pocket Living aims to achieve this by providing modular style homes. At Sheepcote Road, the development features standardised 38 sq. m flats with few variations. This aims to speed up the construction process while ensuring quality housing that meets building regulations.

Legendre UK is also contributing to this. Sheepcote Road HA1 is being built with a continental frame, where concrete is used for the façade and internal walls. The method saves time by eliminating false ceilings and dry lining. Importantly, it also allows for electrical services to be embedded into the concrete itself.

“This is an approach Groupe Legendre uses regularly in European projects, but this is the first time we have applied it to a UK development,” says Hippolyte Mounier-Vehier, Site Manager at Legendre UK.

Setting electrical infrastructure in stone

On-site, concrete is poured into the metal lined shuttering and formwork, where it sets in place. Legendre UK then removes the formwork, leaving a smooth finish and installed services exposed. In this process, any electrical infrastructure, like enclosures and conduit, needs to be installed on the formwork before pouring can begin.

There are multiple challenges in this application. First, an enclosure needs to hold its position during the concrete pour, mandating strong mountings to secure it to the formwork against the heavy concrete. Failure to do so risks severed connections. No leakage into the enclosure can be tolerated either. This can prevent electricians from installing or fixing equipment later down the line.

Providing concrete benefits

To avoid these outcomes, Legendre UK utilises the IBT system from Spelsberg, a leading enclosures expert. The range allows electrical enclosures, junction boxes, lighting outlets and more to be fitted into formwork and concrete poured around them.

“We were familiar with Spelsberg from a previous project, but we chose them because they offered a ready-made solution for embedded electricals in concrete. The boxes support British Standard socket sizes and feature strong magnets that allow easy connection to the formwork. The design also means we don’t have to carry out any time-consuming modifications,” Hippolyte explains.

The strong couplings and support spars of the IBT series keeps everything in place during pouring, while a patented diaphragm system provides a strong seal to stop concrete ingress. Once everything is set and formwork removed, cables and fittings can be installed into the exposed units. Complementing the goals of the Sheepcote Road development, the IBT system enables electrical installation to be completed quickly.

Rock-solid service

“We use around 30 Spelsberg boxes per flat at Sheepcote Road, which house lighting, socket outlets and smoke detectors. We’ve even collaborated with Spelsberg engineers to use the boxes in other applications such as housing radiator pipes. It’s much easier for us to specify everything from one supplier,” adds Hippolyte.

“The service has been good, Spelsberg has kept deliveries flowing to support the project. Their team has collaborated with Legendre UK, mechanical and electrical engineers throughout construction, maintaining good contact. The resources available online for their products have been especially helpful.”

Ready-made solutions for affordable housing

Chris Lloyd, Managing Director at Spelsberg UK, says: “We are proud to be contributing to affordable housing in the UK by supplying these solutions to Legendre UK. The IBT range was designed to specifically support these construction methods and has a proven track record in residential developments and hotels.”

Once the Sheepcote Road development is complete, each of the houses will be available to local first-time buyers at a 20% discount compared to market value. Both an eight storey and five storey building will feature roof terraces and a communal garden. Furthermore, 16 of the 149 flats will be wheelchair adaptable.

Modular homes and continental frame construction can clearly speed-up modern residential developments and alleviate the housing crisis, getting new homes on the market faster and giving people in areas with high house prices a chance to become homeowners. With its IBT system, Spelsberg has a ready-made solution for these projects, helping to usher in a new era of comfortable and affordable UK housing.

Tan Delta Systems, a manufacturer of real-time oil quality monitoring sensors and systems is leading the way within the manufacturing and lubrication sector with the launch of SENSE-2. The new oil condition monitoring kit provides real-time data about machine oil quality to optimise maintenance and reduce operating costs. 

The SENSE-2 is plug-and-play and accurately identifies when oil reaches the end of its life, superseding traditional time-based maintenance schedules which can result in oil being discarded prematurely – with the potential of wasting up to 50 per cent of its useful life. 

For the manufacturing and lubrication industries, SENSE-2’s ability to extend maintenance intervals by monitoring equipment condition in real-time, results in answering the actual equipment needs rather than maintenance being driven by time-based scheduling. This, in conjunction with reducing the business’s carbon footprint, will help support sustainability goals by reducing oil consumption by approximately 30 per cent per year, as well as reducing parts consumption and extending equipment life. 

Chris Greenwood, CEO at Tan Delta Systems said: “Our SENSE-2 real-time monitoring utilises our world-leading sensor technology and associated analytics to detect any issues before the damage occurs, identifying subtle changes in equipment condition early. It can be fitted easily and efficiently to any existing equipment in any application and is configurable to any oil type. 

“Although oil analysis is not new, traditional lab sampling is expensive and impractical with other sensors focusing on specific parameters while missing others. Our system ensures the industry has access to superior quality information in an easy-to-use format, preventing excessive wear of components resulting in increased productivity and reduced machine downtime and maintenance costs.” 

The real-time aspect of the system is what sets it apart, utilising unique active molecular-level analysis to detect all changes in oil condition and any contamination. The Tan Delta sensor works by providing a full-spectrum holistic (FSH™) oil quality analysis, which continuously monitors the ratio of two key measurements, capacitance and conductance, to provide real-time insight.  

This molecular analysis taking place every few seconds, enables accurate tracking of oil degradation as well as detecting contamination and early signs of internal equipment problems. This allows for precise predictions of maintenance points crucially optimising maintenance scheduling, and reducing costs and downtime. 

The OQSx-G2 oil quality sensor within the SENSE-2 kit is also available as a Mobile Oil Tester (MOT) kit, created with workshops and mobile maintenance teams in mind. Any oil from any equipment can be sampled and tested simply and easily on-site in seconds. The sensor is used in conjunction with the MOT software, which operates on any Windows-based laptop, tablet or PC. Users simply install the MOT app, connect it to the sensor, collect the sample in one of the bottles provided and follow the steps in the software to test the sample. 

For more information on Tan Delta’s SENSE-2 Display Kit and Tan Delta’s MOT kit and how they can benefit your business, please visit www.tandeltasystems.com. 

ABB has secured a third contract with GHGSat, the global leader in high-resolution greenhouse gas monitoring from space, to manufacture optical sensors for their C12, C13, C14 and C15 satellites set to launch into orbit in 2024.

The new satellites will join GHGSat’s expanding constellation which detects and quantifies industrial gas leaks from space. ABB has built the payloads – the instruments carried on board the satellites – for ten of GHGSat’s emissions monitoring satellites launched into space.

Earlier this year, GHGSat reported that their existing satellites have doubled their methane emission measurement capabilities thanks to the exceptional performance of the sensors. This has allowed GHGSat to accelerate the scaling of its monitoring services, aiding industries such as oil and gas, power generation, mining, and more in understanding and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“The new contract is a testament to GHGSat’s confidence in ABB’s manufacturing capabilities to build complex, high-performing optical payloads for hyperspectral earth observation,” said Marc Corriveau, Head of Global Operations, Business Line Analytical, ABB Measurement & Analytics. “This year, we doubled our manufacturing infrastructure dedicated to space projects, so that we can better serve the booming private space sector. We strive to contribute to the success of our current customers as we expand to other Earth observation mandates.”

“Our collaboration, which began in 2018, has showcased ABB’s technical expertise and manufacturing capabilities,” said Stéphane Germain, CEO, GHGSat. “This experience has fortified our belief in ABB’s capacity to support GHGSat’s expansion in building proprietary high-resolution payloads. Such partnerships are the key to achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and ultimately making a concrete impact in the battle against climate change.”

ABB has been a leader in gas sensing from orbit for over two decades, starting with the development of the Canadian Space Agency SCISAT mission payload, which profiles the concentration of more than 70 different gas types down to parts per trillion from cloud top to outer space.

ABB also provided hyperspectral technologies to the Japanese GOSAT program, which pioneered the global mapping at regional scale of sources and sinks of greenhouse gases from orbit starting with a first satellite in 2009 and an improved version in 2018.

Today, ABB builds on this legacy by manufacturing enhanced versions of GHGSat’s proprietary wide-angle Fabry-Perot (WAF-P) interferometer, which tracks the same infrared fingerprint of greenhouse gases. In this way, ABB applies its vast expertise acquired in earlier high-profile government space missions to the private sector space with a focus on actionable low latency satellite data for civil uses.

Space is the only location that allows greenhouse gas emissions to be monitored freely across jurisdictions, enabling unbiased reporting.

Mouser Electronics will be hosting a free webinar to help hardware engineers develop antenna solutions for increasingly compact IoT and smart devices. Mouser has partnered with Amphenol RF for the RF Antenna Solutions For IoT Devices And Smart Technology webinar, which will take place on 5 December at 3 pm CET.

“IoT devices have become prolific with the rise of smart technology, but the evolving design restrictions posed by compact devices can pose a significant challenge for designers,” says Mark Patrick, Director Technical Content, EMEA at Mouser Electronics. “At Mouser, we continue to be at the forefront of supporting IoT innovators by providing them with practical tips to optimize their designs.”

Participants in this webinar will learn about the variety of RF antenna solutions available for emerging IoT applications and how both internal and external antennas can be incorporated into devices with limited space and other design restrictions.

Amphenol RF has a wide range of antenna solutions available for IoT applications, including:

• Internal embedded chip antennas. These compact antennas are designed for use inside connected devices.
• External antennas. These MHV cable assemblies support up to 5000 VDC voltage and provide excellent electrical performance up to 500 MHz
• FPC and PCB antennas with secure adhesive-mount backing for easy installation.
• Near-field communication (NFC) antennas. These internal antennas are designed to support NFC-Forum wireless protocols.

These antennas can be used to solve specific design challenges, such as mounting, size restrictions, frequency range and data transmission capabilities. During the webinar, Mike Comer, Director of Product Marketing & Business Development at Amphenol RF, will advise participants on how to select the best option for their projects. He will also explore the various protocols that can be used to optimize the specific usage of individual antenna types.

To register for the webinar, visit https://emea.info.mouser.com/webinar-amphenolrf-antennasolutions-emea-lp/.

Renesas has expanded its 32-bit microcontroller (MCU) offering with a new RX device for high-end industrial sensor systems. The latest addition, the RX23E-B, is a 32-bit device from its popular RX Family featuring a high-precision analog front end (AFE), specifically designed for systems that demand fast and accurate analog signal measurements.

The new MCU integrates a 24-bit Delta-Sigma A/D converter capable of achieving a conversion speed of up to 125 kSPS (125,000 samples/second) — eight times faster than the existing RX23E-A. It can process accurate A/D conversion while reducing RMS noise to 1/3 (0.18µVrms @1kSPS) when compared to the RX23E-A. The RX23E-B facilitates faster and more precise measurements of critical parameters such as strain, temperature, pressure, flow rate, current and voltage, making it ideal for high-end sensor devices, measuring instruments, and test equipment. In particular, the RX23E-B offers sufficient performance to drive force sensors used in industrial robots, which often demand measurements as fast as 10 µsec (100,000 samples/second). The MCU also reduces overall system size and the component count by incorporating the AFE and the MCU on a single chip.

“With the addition of the RX23E-B which comes with an AFE sensor interface, we can now serve a broad range of sensing applications from mid- to high-end systems,” said Sakae Ito, Vice President of the IoT Platform Business Division at Renesas. “We will continue to extend our product options to meet the growing needs of battery-powered and wireless sensors that demand low power consumption.”

“At Meiko Electronics, we have been developing evaluation boards and providing design support to our customers since the RX23E-A product was introduced,” said Takatsugu Nemoto, President at Meiko Electronics. “Now, with the introduction of the RX23E-B with a high-speed delta-sigma A/D converter, we anticipate many customers will be able to experience the benefits of its enhanced conversion performance, compact board design and reduced component count.” 

Similar to the RX23E-A, the RX23E-B incorporates a 32-MHz RXv2-based CPU with digital signal processing (DSP) instructions and a floating point unit (FPU), and combines the AFE into a single chip using the same fabrication process. It offers new peripheral functions such as a 16-bit D/A converter, which enables measurement adjustments, self-diagnosis, and analog signal output. The device’s +/-10V analog input enables +/-10V measurement with a 5V power supply without requiring external components or additional power supply. An LCD controller with a maximum of 40 SEG x 4 COM and a real-time clock (RTC) function are also included.

In large-scale instruments that need to control and take measurements of multiple targets such as robot arms, gas and liquid analyzers, there has been a significant demand for distributed processing architecture. In distributed processing design, instead of relying on a dedicated MCU to manage all functions, each function can operate as a separate module, responsible for tasks such as motor control, sensor measurement and temperature control. This modular approach allows for independent development, offers greater design flexibility and simplifies maintenance. As each module needs an MCU for calculations, engineers can develop sensor modules more easily using an MCU with a built-in AFE, than combining a discrete AFE chip and a separate MCU.

The RX23E-B offers a version that supports an A/D conversion data rate of up to 125 kSPS, and a version that supports up to 31.25 kSPS. Both products offer flexible data rate settings ranging from 3.8 SPS to the maximum value, allowing users to choose the best balance between data rate and noise for their specific system requirements. The products are available in a 5.5 mm square 100-pin BGA package and a 6 mm square 40-pin QFN package for compact applications, as well as wide pin packages ranging from 48- to 100-pin options.

Winning Combinations

Renesas has combined the new RX23E-B MCU, designed for precise pressure measurement and control, with intelligent power devices tasked with driving solenoid valves, to develop the high-speed Pressure Control Solution. The integrated high-precision AFE provides precise pressure control and minimizes the component count for the design which reduces the BOM costs and board mounting area. These Winning Combinations are technically vetted system architectures from mutually compatible devices that work together seamlessly to bring an optimized, low-risk design for faster time to market. Renesas offers more than 400 Winning Combinations with a wide range of products from the Renesas portfolio to enable customers to speed up the design process and bring their products to market more quickly. More information can be found at renesas.com/win.

Availability

The RX23E-B is available now, along with a Renesas Solution Starter Kit for RX23E-B. Using this kit, engineers can evaluate the operation and functionality of the AFE and signal conversion without the need for software development. More information about the RX23E-B and the starter kit is available at www.renesas.com/rx23e-b.

Food traceability is not just a matter of compliance, it’s also essential for maintaining customer trust and brand reputation. According to a survey by the US’s Center for Food Integrity, 55 per cent of consumers have changed their food purchasing behaviour in response to food safety concerns. Here, Ryan Guthrie, vice-president of Shibaura Machine partner, TM Robotics, explains how advanced artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and machine learning technologies can help manufacturers improve food traceability, ensure the safety of their products and build trust with customers.

Among the many worries currently surrounding the rapid evolution of AI is a potential lack of transparency and accountability. A report by the AI Now Institute, titled The State of AI 2019: Divergent Trends in AI, discusses how many AI systems are opaque and difficult to understand, which can make it challenging to hold them accountable for their decisions.

However, AI could help improve transparency and accountability for food manufacturers — particularly against one of the food industry’s biggest challenges, maintaining traceability. Manufacturers need to know where their products are coming from, where they are going, and who handled them in between. Being able to track a product from its origin through to the end consumer is critical, especially in the event of a recall or outbreak. Earlier this year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) linked a Salmonella Infantis outbreak back to a specific flour manufacturer.

Automated traceability can help, here. For example, sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) devices can monitor environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity and light level. Or, barcoding and radio-frequency identification (RFID) allow for the easy tracking and identification of products as they move through the supply chain, providing real-time information on their location and status.

However, automated traceability has aways been a particular challenge in the food industry due to the variability of products. An obvious example is that no two bananas are exactly the same, and can vary significantly in shape. Any other given foodstuff can have its own unique set of ingredients, production processes and packaging requirements. An automated traceability system needs to be flexible enough to accommodate these variations and capture relevant data accurately.

The food industry also deals with complex supply chains and multiple stakeholders such as farmers, suppliers, distributors and retailers. The industry is also heavily-regulated, with strict rules and guidelines that manufacturers must comply with to ensure food safety and quality.

Previously, automated traceability systems that could deal with these complex factors were expensive to implement and maintain, requiring significant investments in hardware, software and training. The automated systems themselves were complex, requiring specialised knowledge and expertise to design, implement and operate effectively. They were also difficult to integrate with existing manufacturing processes and IT systems, requiring careful planning and coordination. So, what’s changed since then? The answers include robotics, AI and machine learning.

Affordable technology

Advances in vision systems, processing power and machine learning algorithms mean that manufacturers can now identify and sort different cuts of meat, fruits, and vegetables.

While these technologies are nothing new — the meat packing industry has been using X-rays to scan carcasses for robotic trimming for well over a decade — they were previously only accessible to higher-echelon manufactures. Automated traceability requires the integration of various technologies such as sensors, radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, barcodes and data analytics tools. These technologies have traditionally required technical expertise and were expensive.

But this is changing. The adoption of automation technologies is increasing among small-medium-sized manufacturers due to improved accessibility and affordability. Additionally, the cost of IoT sensors, which are crucial for enabling automation, is decreasing rapidly. In fact, according to a report by IoT Analytics, the average cost of IoT sensors has dropped by 50 per cent over the past decade, making them more accessible to smaller businesses.

Storing large amounts of data used to be expensive, and difficult when dealing with large volumes of data from multiple sources. Costs have since lowered with the proliferation of cloud-based software and services, businesses can now access automation solutions on a pay-as-you-go basis, without the need for large upfront investments.

With the latest advancements in technology, it is now easier for manufacturers to access these technologies, reducing the need for manual labor and ensuring that every product is sorted correctly. But, how do robotics help in the traceability of food products?

Put simply, robots are designed to move products from one location to another safely and repetitively.

Adding scanners and RFID tags on each of the individual crates will help identify and trace products from one location to another, which is essential for ensuring the safety of the food supply chain. This way, manufacturers can scan the RFID tag and know that a particular container belongs to a specific pallet and, as the pallet leaves the factory, they could scan that the pallet was taken away by a certain delivery truck. This information helps manufacturers trace products and ensure that they are delivered to the right location at the right time.

TM Robotics offers a range of services and offerings to help manufacturers integrate robotics into their manufacturing processes. Its Shibaura Machine robots are designed to be flexible and can be customised to fit a range of applications. With its robots, manufacturers can improve the accuracy and consistency of their operations while reducing labour costs.

Improved sorting accuracy

Robot-assisted quality-sorting is one of the most effective ways to improve food traceability. The process uses robots to sort food items based on specific quality standards, and involves using advanced technologies such as AI and machine learning to ensure that the sorting is accurate and efficient.

The robots are programmed to recognise various shapes, sizes, colours, and defects in the food items and sort them accordingly. Machine learning algorithms enable the robots to continuously improve their sorting accuracy by learning from past data. This process ensures consistent quality control, reduces waste, and increases efficiency in the food manufacturing industry.

Advanced 3D vision systems, including Shibaura Machine’s TSVision3D, can read barcodes, check for defects such as in engine parts or wood quality, inspect packaging and inspect the end product.

The latest addition to vision systems is the TSVision3D system from Shibaura Machine, which is designed for industrial robots. This system is capable of recognising objects without the need for complex CAD data. The TSVision3D system uses two high-speed stereo cameras to capture real-time 3D images continuously. It can detect any object that appears in its field of vision, even non-uniform products such as bananas.

To ensure that a cheese manufacturer’s robot-assisted quality sorting system was accurately picking up and placing the cheese in the correct place, Elliptical Design, a design and manufacturing company, turned to TM Robotics. However, the cheese’s softness and unusual non-round shape created a margin of error. TM Robotics developed an ultrasonic cutting system specifically for this task.

TM Robotics’ engineers utilised their collaboration with Shibaura Machine to identify the appropriate algorithm within the vision program that enabled the robot to accurately select the cheese. The outcome was an automated quality-sorting system that not only improved efficiency but also reduced waste.

As the food industry grows, it’s essential to keep up with the latest technological advancements. Robotics and AI help manufacturers meet the demand for transparency in the food supply chain and ensure the safety and quality of our food supply.

For more information on Shibaura TSVision3D system, visit its website.

Cherwell, specialists in cleanroom microbiology solutions for the pharmaceutical, healthcare and related industries, has welcomed five new recruits to its growing team to meet industry needs for increasingly rigorous environmental monitoring. Cherwell aims to support these needs by creating new and modifying existing roles to grow capacity, and become the go to provider for cleanroom microbiology, reliably offering consistently high-quality products and services.

Key drivers to growth in the pharmaceutical microbiology industry in recent times have included: regulatory changes such as GMP Annex 1 increasing quality stringency; technological advancements in pharmaceutical manufacturing; plus, the escalating use of personalised medicines and advanced therapeutics. All require additional levels of environmental monitoring meeting exacting standards for drug manufacture to ensure final product quality and patient safety. To support customers in these areas, the new roles cover production, technical, customer communications, business development, as well as HR.

“It’s an exciting time at Cherwell, we have ambitious growth plans, however, we don’t want to lose our focus on delivering excellent support to our customers. Our growth is creating new opportunities for existing employees but is also allowing us to welcome new people into the business, which is great for everyone, including our customers. The energy and buzz created from new thinking and ideas is exciting and bodes well for our future,” said Andy Whittard, Managing Director, Cherwell. 

As production has increased at Cherwell, so a recent review has identified that the business would benefit from splitting the current Production Manager position into two roles. Therefore, joining with broad industry experience, Leonid Cemezov expands Cherwell’s production team as the new Production Manager; while the former manager, Sue Ellis, is appointed to the new position of Supply Chain Manager. Working together, Sue and Leonid will drive the production department forward to ensure sufficient manufacturing capacity to support future company growth and evolving customer needs.

With extensive microbiology, scientific and technical skills, Dr Wan Li Low joins Cherwell as Microbiology Product Specialist with expert cleanroom microbiology knowledge to support customers with technical advice on environmental monitoring applications and products. As a Chartered Biologist, her proven professional skills will also be valuable in driving Cherwell’s continued excellence in delivering high quality products to customers, in conjunction with the rest of the Company’s well-established, highly successful team.  

Two other new roles are linked to effective customer communications and relations. Melis Parmaksiz joins as Channel Business Development Manager; as the primary point of contact for all pharmaceutical industry channel partners and export customers, she will be providing them with guidance, support and training. Within the new role of Content Creator, Martin Sketchley will work alongside Cherwell’s technical experts to create useful educational videos, articles, blogs, plus product and industry updates to inform and inspire customers.

Clare Child is an experienced HR professional who joins the team as a dedicated Human Resources Manager to support Cherwell’s strong workplace culture and company values in commitment to excellence and ethical business practice. Cherwell recognises that good people are one of its most valuable assets, and with an expanding company, finding, developing and retaining top talent is vital for continued success and delivering service excellence to its customers, enabling them to effectively manage their controlled environments and processes.

Nanusens, a British electronics company that is re-inventing sensor technology, has appointed Dr. Phil Daniell as its VP of ASIC Engineering. He has over 25 years’ senior design experience at Cypress, Maxim, GF Micro, Trameto and Phoelex.

Nanusens CEO, Josep Montanyà, said, “Phil will play a crucial role in the next growth phase of Nanusens. We have solved the challenges of making MEMS-within-ASICs and Phil’s huge experience of ASICs will ensure that we can support customers with very easy integration of our embedded sensors solutions into their ASICs.”

Dr Phil Daniell added, “In my 25 years of silicon ASIC engineering, I found that the integrated MEMS technology innovated by Nanuses to be one of the most exciting and disruptive technologies that I have seen in my career. The prospect of implementing MEMS on the same die as more typical digital and analogue CMOS circuits is truly ground-breaking, and I was keen to work with Josep Montanyà and his team of experienced and dedicated engineers. I felt privileged to be offered a position of VP of ASIC engineering in such a dynamic start-up company with such a bright future ahead. I particularly look forward to growing the ASIC team to develop the product and IP portfolio to realise the potential of this cutting-edge technology.”

Technology backgrounder

Nanusens is the only company to have perfected the building of sensors within chips. The sensors, called MEMS, are built using the standard chip manufacturing techniques, called CMOS, that are used to build the electronic circuits on chips and at the same time as the rest of the chip circuitry. This means that chips with Nanusens embedded sensors can be made in any of the many CMOS fab in virtually unlimited numbers and with the high yields that are normal in such fabs with all the benefits of low unit costs that fab production provides.

A key new innovation by the company is development of a novel control circuit that measures the capacitance changes within the sensor to provide sensor data. Like the sensor itself, this is also a digital IP block so it can be incorporated in the floor plan of the device’s control chip, or ASIC, using standard EDA tools. This pairing for sensors and control circuitry as IP is unique as no other sensor solution can be turned into an IP block and made using standard CMOS techniques within the layers of the chip structure. This also significantly reduces the complexity and bill of materials costs for an AIoT device.

Nanusens has already built accelerometer sensors into an ASIC chip using this unique technology. It is developing many other different types of embedded sensors such as gyroscope, magnetometer, pressure sensor, microphone, IR imagers and gas sensor as most of these are variants on the accelerometer design. These open up many other massive markets for its embedded sensors such as smartphones, earbuds, wearables, automotive, medical equipment and aerospace, to name but a few. As a result, the company has started a Series A funding round.

Further details of Nanusens MEMS-within-ASIC™ technology can be found at www.nanusens.com

Excel Precision, a prominent player in the UK’s EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) sector, recently worked with Bowers Group to address a complex machining challenge faced by a machine tool company. The solution cut the client’s component setting time from around a week to less than an hour, also resulting in a 12-week reduction in production time.

Steve Batt, Technical Director at Excel Precision, said, “Our innovative solution transformed a complex and time-consuming process into a highly efficient one. By incorporating innovative technology from Bowers Group and smart engineering from our team here at Excel, we not only met the client’s precision requirements but also significantly increased their annual production capacity by reducing production time.”

The client had a precision issue with a deep-seated bore, complicating visual inspection and accurate adjustments. The initial approach involved using a conventional DTI (Dial Test Indicator) but proved inefficient, taking 5-8 days to achieve the required runout. This was primarily due to the inability to observe the part’s movement during adjustments in the confined bore, which extended to a depth of 350mm. Excel were tasked to significantly reduce the time required for achieving precise runout within the project’s necessary tight tolerance.

The initial approach involved creating a ball screw adjustment mechanism using a three-point system. This system featured one fixed point and two adjustable points to improve flexibility. Despite this enhancement, the client was still operating without visual cues on the part. As a result, the challenge of time-consuming testing persisted.

With the team having to repeatedly probe the bore horizontally, making minor adjustments until it met the desired tolerance, it quickly became apparent that having real-time visibility into the part’s movement would be paramount to helping speed up the setup.

After extensive research, Excel Precision turned to Bowers Group to supply the technology that would streamline adjustments and offer the much-needed visibility of part movement. The SYLVAC D62S Digital Display and PS12D Digital Probe were the identified as the ideal solutions to help solve the visibility issue.

The SYLVAC D62S table display unit and digital P12D measuring probes offer an array of user-friendly features. With functions such as MIN/MAX/DELTA, these tools provide the versatility needed for accurate measurements. They also feature both USB and RS232 data outputs, accommodating different systems.

The D62S was mounted on a carbon fibre tube and a wire passed through, connecting it to the two digital probes. A mechanism was also developed that allowed one probe to take measurements in the X direction and the other in the Y direction, ensuring precision despite the tight confines of the bore. This advanced assembly allowed real-time measurement of the part’s movement, enhancing precision during adjustments.

The immediate feedback reduced setup time dramatically, enabling the client to set the component within an hour, a significant improvement from the initial 5-8 days. Additionally, when combined with a custom fixture, it improved the client’s annual production capacity by reducing production time by at least 12 weeks.