Act Now to Purchase VFDs with No Tariff Surcharge
In our own business here at Cross, we’re seeing daily notifications of price increases and tariffs due to the uncertain economic climate. It’s a lot to keep up with and our finance and purchasing departments are going crazy. In short, we’re feeling the same pain you are with constantly moving prices.
Which is why we wanted to let you know about one vendor who isn’t moving prices soon: Yaskawa and their line of Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs). You may remember that Yaskawa had immediate supply of their VFDs during the chip shortage following the pandemic due to the large parts inventory they keep on hand in the United States.
With this large inventory, which they estimate to be over $100m, combined with their USA-based manufacturing and assembly facilities in Buffalo Grove, IL, Yaskawa is able to hold the prices on their VFDs where other, larger competitors are raising theirs.
Why Yaskawa VFDs? They’re actually the world’s largest manufacturer of VFDs, with over 50 years of experience manufacturing in the States. They have over 1 million drives in operation in North America alone. Their VFDs feature:
- Simple motor set-up
- Flexible network communication
- Embedded functional safety
- No-power programming
- Mobile connectivity
They are reliable, energy efficient and well-made, under Yaskawa’s award-winning quality program.
The Cross Automation team is also highly experienced in programming and installing Yaskawa VFDs, so we’re able to assist if you need to retrofit to replace a brand which has increased in price. The only other advice we would give is to hurry. They’re holding prices for now, but we don’t know if that’s going to continue in the future.
Speaking of Yaskawa VFDs, learn how a car wash OEM achieved synchronized conveyor operation and optimized control of pumps, sprayers, brushes, and dryers in this case study.
What's New at Cross
When Maintaining a Secure Grip is Essential
Losing grip of a part in an automated process can result in scrapped parts, damaged equipment or serious safety hazards. The PGL-plus-P universal gripper with GripGuard from Cross partner Schunk ensures a permanent gripping force of a minimum of 80% of full pressure, even when there’s a pressure drop. It also ensures that no spontaneous jaw movements occur as a result of a pressure drop. In addition, as a certified safe grip maintenance solution, the risk assessment for the PGL-plus-P is simple and straightforward.
Other features include:
- Large jaw stroke
- IP64 dirt protection
- Food compliant lubrication standard
- Integrated sensor system for monitoring via IO Link
If you’d like more information on the Schunk PGL-plus-P or any other end effector, please contact us below.
Did you know?
Technical Guide: How Do Indexing Actuators Work?
Indexing actuators ensure precise positioning and reliable performance in applications which require high accuracy and efficiency. They provide rotary motion in increments to fixed stops with no accumulating error. Indexing actuators are used in applications like rotary tables, indexing conveyors, starwheels, walking beams and carousels.
Cross partner Rotomation has written a technical guide describing the operating principles of indexing actuators and their key features and benefits. Read the full guide and then get in touch with the experts at Cross to specify the indexing actuator which is right for your application.
Mechanical Versus Electronic Pressure Regulators
Both mechanical and electronic regulators have their place in engineering applications, and the right choice depends on balancing factors like performance requirements, cost, and system demands. Electronic regulators are a good option where:
- Real-time adjustments or dynamic control are needed
- The system requires high accuracy and adaptability
- Integration with other systems or automation is needed
Mechanical regulators are better suited for:
- Systems which operate in a stable, low-demand environment
- A simple, reliable solution is required which doesn’t need to be constantly adjusted
- Cost is a driving factor while still providing good performance
Cross partner Clippard has written this detailed guide on the features and benefits of both types of regulators, discussing controllability, accuracy, dynamic performance and cost.
Cross Provides Tangible Value for You
Improve Efficiency
Invented in 1973 by Cross partner Clippard, their patented spider technology is ideal for valves in critical applications that require reliability. The simple design features a flat armature with a center plunger that has very little movement, a fast response time, low vibration & noise, and, most importantly, longevity. Clippard publishes a valve lifetime of 1 BILLION cycles.
It is used in medical device applications like artificial hearts and ventilators. For these machines to perform reliably, they rely on components that are not only precise but also capable of enduring the demands of continuous operation. Cross Company can work with you to specify which Clippard valve is best suited for your device and its intended application. We can also work with Clippard to design a custom valve for your machine if an off-the-shelf product won’t work.
Improve Efficiency
The Sigma-X Servopack from Cross partner Yaskawa feature real-time data collection, speeds up to 7000 RPM, frequency response of 3.5 kHz, and multi-axis amplifiers with expanded functions to improve machine precision. They are EtherCAT-compatible to communicate seamlessly with our iCube Control platform. Available 200 V models range from 50 W up to 15 kW.
Other features include:
- Integrated data collection and visualization
- Speed ripple compensation and output torque compensation for improved precision
- Multi-axis servo amplifiers to reduce panel size and wiring time
Improve Efficiency
A manufacturer of water-powered shape cutting machines needed to improve the accuracy and flexibility of their product. They also needed to reduce the commissioning times of their machines and provide options for clean room environments. They worked with Cross partner Omron for the upgrade.
With OMRON’s PMAC (Programmable Multi-Axis Controller) platform at the core of the solution, the servo drives, motors and advanced safety system were seamlessly integrated, which, in turn dropped easily into the company’s machines. The PMAC controller provided state-of-the-art motion control capability, ensuring accurate and smooth movements. Advanced servo drive tuning provided positional accuracy and motion stability over the broadest spectrum of cutting speeds. The new architecture offers reliable and precise control over the machine’s movements, further enhancing the overall performance.
