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LOTOS LT – a cost efficient stand-alone measuring system.

22. February 2021, pzube - 3D measurement and inspection

LOTOS LT is a flexibly applicable standard measuring system and extremely cost efficient.
It is suitable for a wide range of applications in the automotive industry, in the field of medical technology, in the plastics and packaging industry, and also for fully automated testing of construction and insulation materials.

It has a height-adjustable operating touch screen and an integrated evaluation unit. Thanks to the small footprint, this standard module is extremely space-saving. The integrated evaluation unit ensures fast and fully automatic measurement evaluations. Inside, the LOTOS LC has various connection options to extend it with peripherals such as code readers. The stand-alone device is suitable for use in a production environment as well as in laboratory or measuring room.

Test parts can be measured at extremely high speed for 2D dimensional tolerances, as well as completely in 3D.

Example of measuring insulation materials:

Measurement objects for dimensional check

Video of a measurement run:
https://cloud.kocos.com/index.php/s/XWz6Bg3WG2iyA6S

Graphical measurement results:

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EPPE CX - Power Quality Analyzer with universal connectivity

16. February 2021, mjesinghausen - Power quality analysers

EPPE CX

Power Quality Analyzer with universal connectivity

 

The widespread use of power quality analyzers increases transparency in our power grids and reveals dangers as well as potential savings.

EPPE CX records and analyzes the power quality according to common standards and generates the required reports automatically. Network faults or disturbances are recorded via the transient fault recorder with high resolution.

In parallel to the tasks of power quality and fault recording, EPPE CX can be used via standardized interfaces and protocols, as a data source for third party applications like automation solutions. It also provides real-time visualization of measurement and process data.

Third party systems and automation solutions can access the EPPE CX measurement and process data via the standardized and widely used MODBUS TCP protocol, which is also part of the basic equipment of most PLC systems.

In addition, EPPE CX has been equipped with a modern and powerful webserver interface to display live measurements in numerical and graphical views on all common internet browsers on PCs, smartphones or tablets. Using this feature the live measurements can be monitored from all over the world without the need to install specific software applications.

The widget concept of the browser allows to arrange application specific views easily for each user.

 

The web server is available from device software version 2.06.0000.

Example view of the web interface
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PROMET R300/R600: Simultaneous resistance determination at three measuring points

03. February 2021, jdreier - Resistance measurement

Saving of working time through simultaneous resistance determination at three measuring points

For switchgear in the medium-voltage and high-voltage level, the switchgear standard IEC 62271-1 requires a static resistance measurement of the main circuit in order to exclude an unacceptable heating of the current path.

Traditionally, the measurements are carried out one after the other and individually at each phase. The main circuit is supplied with 100 A direct current and the voltage drop is measured. If the measured value, i.e. the voltage drop is within the specified limits, the test is passed and the results can be recorded/stored. This measuring procedure is time-consuming as the three phases are tested one after the other.

To increase productivity and improve reliability, the measuring method for resistance and voltage drop measurement can be optimized with the PROMET R300 or R600.

The PROMET R300/R600 resistance measurement systems are equipped with three voltage measurement inputs, allowing parallel measurement at three measuring points, for example to measure the resistance of three main contacts statically.

 

In order to perform a simultaneous measurement of three main contacts, the test objects must be connected in series and provided with a test current connection. Since a four-wire measurement is carried out, it is important to ensure that the voltage connections are between the high current connections and that they are connected exactly at the points where the resistance is to be determined.

Connection example for a measurement on three test objects connected in series, e.g. three interrupter units.

In stand-alone mode, the three static resistance results with the measurement details (actual test current and voltage drop, measurement ranges etc.) can be stored in the measurement device.

 

The data stored in the device can be read out and managed with an easy-to-use PROMET software. The clearly displayed measurement results can also be output in a PDF test report or exported as CSV data.

The described simultaneous measuring method for the acquisition of three resistances thus saves working, changeover and measuring time!

As a further automation option, PROMET R300/R600 are equipped with interfaces for connection to the ACTAS 2.60 switchgear testing software. Resistance measurement can be conveniently integrated via the ACTAS test software. Even without an additional ACTAS test system, automated test sequences and a comprehensive analysis of the test results can be carried out without any problems.

 

The method is not only applicable in switchgear testing, but also in applications such as e.g. in the field of e-mobility, where several resistors have to be detected at the same time.

If you have further questions, please leave a comment or contact us directly.

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Vacuum inspection as factory insurance

25. January 2021, gherrmann - Vacuum inspection

Ensuring the highest product quality is a primary and indispensable goal, especially in food production. One of the standardized methods for preserving food without the addition of preservatives is vacuum packaging. By reliably lowering the oxygen partial pressure inside the container, the growth of spoilage germs is suppressed and thus the minimum shelf life of these foodstuffs is significantly extended. However, if the vacuum packaging is not absolutely flawless and has leaks, food can spoil long before the stated expiry date.

fig 1: INDEC VD 100
fig 1: INDEC VD 100
fig 2: container types a selection
fig 2: container types a selection

Vacuum inspection for bottles, jars and cans

The test procedure is based on determining the vacuum-induced deformation of the container closures as they pass through. The tightness of the containers is assessed by comparison with a previously Golden sample. Depending on the existing basic conditions, vacuum tests are possible from 50 µm deformation or from 150 mbar differential pressure in the headspace to the external pressure.

 

fig 3: measuring principle
fig 3: measuring principle
fig 4: INDEC Complete system
fig 4: INDEC Complete system

The INDEC systems work with an optical infrared sensor head. This means that metallic and non-metallic closures can be inspected equally. Starting with flow-rates of up to 600 pieces/min in the basic model, up to 1,200 pieces/min are achieved in the highest expansion stage for cap sizes of 30...110 mm diameter.

Convincing advantages through optical measuring method

The optical measuring method of the INDEC model series has a number of satisfying advantages compared to conventional methods. Due to the large working distance of the sensor head of more than 100 mm, the system is able to fully tolerate a wide range of deviations caused by dimensional deviations of the containers, horizontal track misalignment of the test samples and the unavoi-dable inaccuracies in the manual height adjustment of the sensor head.

fig 6: Isolated drops of water do not interfere
fig 6: Isolated drops of water do not interfere
fig 5: large sensor distance
fig 5: large sensor distance

Even vibrations of the conveyor belt and occasional drops of water on the caps do not affect the correct operation of the INDEC system, in contrast to other measuring methods.

INDEC the business insurance

Complaints, image damages, loss of customers and high costs are possible consequences of leaking vacuum packaging. The consequences can be serious, especially for the existence of small and medium-sized companies. The use of appropriate vacuum inspection systems should therefore be a matter of course wherever vacuum packaging is produced.

Unfortunately, the consistent use of effective inspection systems in companies that fill food is not a matter of course. During our on-site visits, we repeatedly see production facilities where no such inspection technology is used. The INDEC inspection devices are easy to integrate into existing plants and offer the possibility of updating existing measuring technology to a modern standard at low costs. As a complete installation, the turnkey INDEC test systems offer an "all-round carefree package" with which reliable quality assurance can be achieved quickly and easily.

 

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25 years of Relay Testing with ARTES

16. December 2020, mkraemer - Protection relay testing

How it all began

As early as the beginning of the 1990s, KoCoS was able to offer products and solutions in the field of disturbance recording and switchgear testing which were unique in terms of their precision, functionality and simplicity of handling and operation. The basis for numerous innovations was a completely new hardware platform in 32-bit multiprocessor technology. 

 

DMSS - Digital Measurement Simulation System

For the research, development and product testing of these new device generations, a special signal generator was needed, which was not available due to the special requirements. In order to ensure compliance with the specifications and the quality of the products, a special signal generator, the Digital Measurement Simulation System DMSS, was developed. With this system, it was possible to generate any signal waveforms synthetically by using software and to output them as high-precision analogue values via the appropriate hardware.

At that time, the first digital protection relays were already in use. Their functionality also made great demands on the devices needed for testing. For the most part, conventional test equipment was still in use for relay testing, in which transformers were used to generate the signals. However, these devices were not sufficient for testing digital protection relays.

With the Digital Measurement Simulation System DMSS, KoCoS had developed a signal generator that could also serve as the ideal basis for a new generation of relay test systems. What was still missing were components for measuring analogue and binary quantities as well as current and voltage amplifiers to provide the test values with the necessary amplitude and power.

 

Ideas, innovations and a new standard

The decision was quickly made to develop a relay testing system. For the measurement part, there were already sufficient solutions available from earlier developments. So "only" powerful and precise current and voltage amplifiers were needed.

But before the development could really get started, a precise specification for the new system had to be created. Of course, we first looked at what the market had to offer specifically for testing digital relays. There was not a lot. In fact, very few, and it was therefore not difficult to find a lot of ideas for the new system. Talks with users in the field of secondary technology, with whom we already had contact from the fault recorder application, were certainly helpful here.

The most important requirement, however, was defined by the management. On the one hand, the new relay testing system should be significantly more powerful and cheaper than the products available on the market. On the other hand, it should have unique selling points and advantages that offer the user a high benefit.

In addition, the new system should also define the future standard for professional testing systems. Not an easy undertaking, but it was completely fulfilled with the introduction of the ARTES 440 25 years ago. The many innovations and special features that the first ARTES 440 already had to offer will be discussed in more detail in future articles about the ARTES USPs.

 

ARTES 440, product launch 1996
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