February 2007

By DE Editors

Editor's Pick of the Week—February 28, 2007Get DA at the Point of Measurement Pair of devices extends your reach wirelessly.Measurement Computing Corp. (Norton, MA) has released the WLS-TC andthe WLS-TEMP, a pair of two wireless temperature input devices thatprovide the flexibility and convenience of installing data acquisitiondevices at the point of measurement. Based upon the company's USB-TCand the USB-TEMP devices, the WLS-TC and the WLS-TEMP enable you toacquire and process temperature data for monitoring and controlapplications at distances up to 150 feet indoors or as much as 2460feet line-of-sight outdoors.Essentially identical to the USB devices, WLS-TC and the WLS-TEMP areequipped with an RF module that supports low-power wireless sensornetworks as well as meets the IEEE 802.15.4 standard fortelecommunications and information exchange between systems. Bothmodules require minimal power and operate within the ISM 2.4 GHzfrequency band.The WLS-TC and the WLS-TEMP leverage a small PC interface module(WLS-IFC) that you connect with your computer's USB port. This, in urn,enables communications with a virtually limitless number of WLS-TCs andWLS-TEMPs, according to the manufacturer.The WLS-TC unit supports eight channels of J, K, R, S, T, N, E, and Btype thermocouples. The WLS-TEMP also supports eight channels of datafrom the same group of thermocouples as well as RTDs, thermistors, andsemiconductor temperature sensors.The WLS-TC and the WLS-TEMP come with all software drivers andTracerDAQ data management and analysis software. TracerDAQ converts andsaves temperature and alarm data to standard, comma-delimited .CSVfiles, and it also plots and analyzes real-time data or historicaltemperature files.The units also come with InstaCal, an all-in-one installation, loggersetup, calibration, and test application. InstaCal makes setting up andretrieving data from the logger as simple as a few mouse clicks. Clickhere for a small PDF that describes setting up the WLS-TC and theWLS-TEMP. Additionally, the WLS-TC and the WLS-TEMP come with UniversalLibrary and UL for LabVIEW, programming interfaces.A complete WLS-TC system including the WLS-IFC RF modules and softwarecosts $599. A similarly equipped WLS-TEMP is $799. The WLS-IFC modulealone is $149. All units are available immediately. For moreinformation, click here.

Editor's Pick of the Week—February 21, 2007 3D Systems Plans New Desktop Modeler Compact digital printer is plug and play set up.3D Systems Corporation (Rock Hill, SC) recently announced its plans tointroduce a compact office modeler, the V-Flash desktop modeler, thissummer. The V-Flash will be able to build ready-to-use 3D models inoffices, the classroom, or in home offices.The V-Flash measures 25 x 26 x 27 inch or about the size of a compactrefrigerator. It weighs about 100 pounds and has a maximum build volumeof 7 x 9 x 8 inches. It will have standard power requirements and aplug-and-play set-up.A key component of the V-Flash is its compact material cartridge. TheV-Flash Cartridge provides integrated material metering and dispensing.This means that you can simply remove an old cartridge, toss it away,and install a new cartridge.  The V-Cartridge also contains suchparts such as pumps, dispensers, re-coaters, transporters as well asroutine maintenance elements. As a consequence, V-Cartridgemaintenance means popping out and replacing a cartridge, not calling in a servicetechnician.

A pair of models produced with the V-Flash desktop modeler from 3D Systems. Click images to enlarge.