Automation and control solu- tions provider Festo has launched a new propor- tional valve, the VPPM, onto the South African market.
The company states that proportional valves are clever regulators for various pneumatic applications, since they regulate actuator movement at different speed and power levels. The new VPPM proportional valve from Festo, however, satisfies all requirements. Users can now individually select different proportional valves from a modular system to suit their applications.
Proportional valves enable different regulating characteristics to be set. This is often necessary in handling and assembly technology or in the furniture industry, where machine cycle times with lower drive speeds must be applied.
Proportional valves are also used by automotive parts suppliers and in manufacturing technology, conveyor systems or test engineering for travel according to individual acceleration ramps in cases where pneumatic drives must approach delicate goods gently.
The variable flow rates of the proportional valves adapt the cylinder speeds to the manufacturing process. The valves regulate the contact force during polishing or spin welding and the internal pressure for the extrusion of tubing. They also regulate the torque in the case of pneumatic impact wrenches.
Festo says that the new VPPM proportional valve is useful for astute designers. Design engineers can save space, as well as money, as they can move a cylinder with one valve and regulate the force by means of pressure regulation.
Savings can also be achieved through the flexible function modules, from which users can assemble the individual propor-tional valve functions they need.
Further, the VPPM features a multisensor control. For each individual application, users can select the relevant parameters from three presets, namely fast, universal, or precise.
The modular system offers two overall accuracy levels. An optional liquid crystal display shows the pressure and provides on-site diagnostic functions. With the multisensor control feature, integrated sensors ensure reliable control, whereby there is no pressure drift in the event of temperature changes and the possibility of overshooting is excluded.
In addition, the VPPM can be connected to the modular electrical terminal, called the CPX, which is also distributed by Festo, by using a hybrid cable, with IP65 protection provided directly in the application. The short cables and tubing provide reliable regulator results. With the CPX, it is possible to have a Fieldbus and Ethernet connection, easy commissioning on site and a comprehensive diagnosis.