SMC's Pneumatone

"Inspired by rock-n-roll.  Designed by world-class engineers."

SMC's Pneumatone is a pneumatically automated machine playing the game Rock Band 3.  The machine plays all four instruments in Rock Band 3 (guitar, bass, drums, and keyboard) and was displayed for the first time at the PackExpo in Las Vegas Sept 2011.  The machine was designed and built by SMC's design engineering team in Indiana.

Take a look at the video links below to see the machine in action:

Pneumatone plays Break on Through from the Doors

Pneumatone plays China Grove from the Doobie Brothers

For more background on the Pneumatone see the website:  http://www.pneumatone.com/

SMC Pass Through Regulators

Pass through regulators have been around for years.  People often forget about them when designing a system with multiple pressure drops and instead use individual regulators, running a supply to each one.  Pass through regulator manifolds consist of a common supply with multiple independent pressure drops. SMC has several options for pass through regulators:

NARM Series

The NARM series is one of our favorites.  Made of metal it is built like a tank and has a gauge port allowing you to select from a variety of standard gauges.  The unit comes in 4 sizes.  The smallest size has 1/8" NPT inlets and 1/8" NPT outlets.  The largest size has 1/2" NPT inlets and 3/8" outlets.  Inlet pressure can enter the unit from either direction. SMC is even kind enough to include a plug you can use in the other side if you only want to port the unit from one end.  

For more information:   NARM Catalog Link

ARM Series

The ARM series is SMC's smaller manifold regulator system.  Available in a pass through version this manifold can be configured with many options. Some of the options:

• Built-in gauges
• Handle facing Up, Front/Forward, or Down.
• Mix and match cartridge fittings (elbows & straights).
• Relieving / Non-Relieving
• 0-50 psi reduced pressure version.
• Manual Shut Off Valve
• Pressure Switch

While not as rugged as the NARM series the ARM series regulators work great in panels.  The pass through version must be din rail mounted because it depends on the din rail end clamps to keep the manifold compressed together.

Discs are used between each regulator and depending on the disc used the unit will either pass a common supply or pull from it's own supply port.  Thus, it is possible to create manifolds with multiple pressure inlets from each end or even mix individually supplied regulators onto a manifold with common supply manifolds.

For more information:  ARM Catalog Link

New SMC Electric Rotary Table

SMC has released a new electric rotary table series LER. The LER is a nice compliment to SMC's rapidly expanding line of electric linear actuators and grippers. Series LER achieves a low profile and space saving design by building the motor into the housing.

• Built-in motor
• High torque - Special low backlash (30x) worm gear
• Shock-less/high speed actuation (Max speed: 420 degrees/sec)
• Positioning Repeatability:  +/-0.05 degrees
• Up to 320 degrees rotation
• Possible to set speed, acceleration/deceleration, and position for up to 64 points
• Manual override screw on both sides to adjust the table position when the power is off.
• Automatic energy saving mode - 40% power reduction after the table has stopped
• Hollow shaft to pass through cables to attached components

Like all the new electric actuators from SMC the control and programming is familiar and easy because it utilizes the same LE series controller, software and optional teach pendent.

When fully configured the LER series is priced competitively.  A fully configured LER10 series including actuator, motor, cables, drive/controller is around $1,130.  The largest size LER50 fully configured with high precision bearings, motor, cables, drive/controller is around $1,800.

For more information:

Link to Catalog:  SMC LER Catalog
Contact Scott Equipment:  http://www.scotteq.com