Allgemein Archive - SMC Fluidcontrol

Products for all components

Allgemein

Temperature control units are used in many processes in the industrial sector where heat is generated. With us, however, you not only get the chillers, but all the products you need for your entire cooling line.

A cooling line not only consists of the connecting hoses, but also includes all components that are installed between the temperature control unit and the customer’s application.

The bypass

If the minimum flow rate cannot be guaranteed via the temperature control unit, a bypass is required. Too low flow rate can occur due to small cross-sections of the lines or applications and also if solenoid- or manualshut-off valves are installed. In this case, bypasses prevent damage to the chiller due to defective solenoid valves or accidentally closed manual shut-off valves.

Filters and pressure sensors

While filters protect the entire cooling system from contamination, pressure sensors can take over the monitoring of the filter elements.

One of the many possible applications is, for example, an automatic switching between two or more filters. As a result, your temperature control devices can run through during filter replacement.

Our FQ1 Series Filters allow filter elements to be replaced in less than two minutes, including draining the medium. In addition, no tools are required for the filter replacement.

The pressure sensor (ZSE20/ISE20 series digital pressure switch) allows the measured value to be checked during the setting process. The response time is a maximum of 1.5 ms.

Manifolds and flow meters

With our PF3W manifolds, your tempered water can be distributed exactly. Our manifolds are configurable: with needle and shut-off valves, flow sensors, temperature meters and a variety of digital- and analog outputs.

The digital flow sensor for water (PF3W series) detects problems before they even occur, improves machine availability (integrated temperature sensor for measuring media temperature, flow control valve and IO-Link compatible) and lets you keep track of all process data (simultaneous display of the current flow rate and definable parameters like temperature).

Usable media: water, aqueous ethylene glycol solution, deionized water
Integrated display: 3-color / 2-piece display
Integrated temperature sensor
Mounting for multi-connection plate available
Nominal flow ranges: from 0.5 to 250 l/min

Drip-free couplers

If you unplug water-carrying hoses – for maintenance purposes or if you want to change the application – drip-free couplers are recommended. These couplers allow you to lock hoses without water leaking, and you don’t have to refill or drain the pipes.

Features of our drip-free couplers of the KKA series:

Housing material completely made of stainless steel
Sealing material made of special FKM
can be used for water and air
Operating temperature range: -5 to +150°C
Pressure: up to 10bar
Low pressure drop via coupler
Flow optimized

Would you like to learn more about our cooling line components and their specific properties?
Contact us – our team will be happy to answer your questions.

Direct temperature control of chemicals using HED thermos-con

Allgemein

With our HED thermo-con series, the temperature of chemicals and high-purity media can be controlled directly.

Direct temperature control of chemicals with the SMC thermos-con ensures temperature stability of +/- 0.1° Celsius. The part which are in contact with the chemicals are made of chemical resistant plastic PFA, which prevents contamination from metal ion leaching.

A compact design and low weight are the result of the specially developed heat exchanger, which we have specially adapted to the shape of the Peltier elements.

Peltier-technology for cooling and heating

A Peltier element is an electrothermal converter that generates either a temperature difference when current flows through it or a current flow when there is a temperature difference. Peltier elements are suitable for cooling and for heating (with current direction reversal).

The biggest advantages of Peltier elements are their small size and light weight, as well as enabling fast switching and precise temperature control.

The Peltier effect is based on the contact of two semiconductors whose conduction bands have different energy levels. With increasing current, the efficiency decreases, with good supply and dissipation of heat, it increases.

Applications of the HED thermos-con

Applications of our thermo-con series HED are mainly in the semiconductor industry, for example in cleaning devices, coating systems and wet etching systems. But chemicals tanks can also be tempered with it.

Chemical processes require stable temperatures

In the semiconductor industry in particular, the requirements for stable temperatures in chemical processes are becoming increasingly demanding. The structures, which are constantly becoming smaller, require maximum purity and precise processes.

Conductive molecules, i.e. metals, must not get onto the wafers (thin silicon discs that are processed into microchips). To do this, all the media required to process the wafer must be fed into UHP (Ultra High Purity) systems. Since even the smallest traces of metal in the thin tracks cause short circuits, these fine structures are manufactured in clean rooms.

Applicable media for direct temperature control

Examples of media hat can be tempered directly using the SMC thermos-con series HED are:

Pure water
Hydrofluoric acid
Sulfuric acid (except fuming)
Copper sulphate solution
Ammonia hydrogen peroxide solution
Sodium hydroxide
Ozone water

The operating temperature range for the media mentioned is between 10 and 60° Celsius.

Would you like to find out more about our HED series thermo-controller and its possible applications?

Get in touch with us – our team will be happy to answer your questions and work out solutions that are precisely tailored to your needs.

Ionizing devices for the reduction of electrostatic charge

Allgemein

SMC ionizers of the IZS and IZT series protect electronic components such as chips in the semiconductor industry during production against electrostatic charging and the resulting defects. To do this, they capture and neutralize the electrostatic charge by producing positively and negatively charged ions and emitting them to the respective workpiece.

IZS series with integrated controller

Our IZS series (IZS40/41/42) are all-in-one devices with a height of approx. 10 cm: ionization, electronics and high-voltage units are all in one device.

Dual-AC ionizers (IZS42) reduce the potential amplitude on the workpiece. The simultaneous discharge of positive and negative ions ensures that both reach the workpiece evenly and thus the potential amplitude on the workpiece is reduced.

The IZS41 dissipates static electricity very quickly due the optional feedback sensor. The sensor detects the electrostatic charge of the object to be discharged, measures the charging voltage, and then emits ions of reverse polarity.

Our standard version IZS40 ionizer is very easy to control by just switching on the ionizer. The discharge time is 3.2 seconds (41% faster) when installed at long distances (1,000 mm).

IZT series with separate controller

In the IZT series, the ionization bar can be constructed separately from the electronic and high-voltage unit. The ionizing bar has a height of approx. 37 mm and is therefore well suited for narrow, built-in, and space-limited places in the system.

With this design, electromagnetic particles that can result from the electronic and high-voltage unit can also be minimized. This series is available with IO-Link (manufacturer-independent fieldbus connection to the PLC).

Our IZT series is available in bar version (IZT40/41/42) and nozzle version (IZT43). Ionizers with nozzles remove dust and discharge static electricity, for example from plastic bottles, by means of a blow-out pulse.

IZT series ionizers are available in dual-AC (see IZS series for details) and AC (IZT41+43) versions. In the AC version, positive and negative ion layers alternately reach the workpiece, which ensures the maintenance of a constant offset voltage.

The controller allows easy monitoring of the individual ionizers and can be used to control a maximum of 4 ionizers, whereby a mixed connection of bar and nozzle is possible. It quickly detects ionizer faults and monitors contamination of the electrode needles. Compressed air is blown off on their surface, which minimizes contamination of the emitters.

Areas of application of ionizers

In semiconductor production when processing wafers for chip production.
Prevents glass substrates from being damaged by static electricity produced when the substrate is lifted from the surface plate.
Discharge of static electricity on printed circuit boards: Prevents fractures of components caused by discharges and adhesion of dust.
For plastic and rubber workpieces: Prevents bottles from falling on the conveyor belt and dust deposits, for example, and improves the detachability of objects made of press molds.

Benefits for our customers

Low potential amplitude of maximum 25 volts minimizes defects and unplanned downtimes
High discharge speed (3.2 seconds at a distance of 1 meter) allows faster production
Feedback sensor to optimize discharge speed
IO-Link for manufacturer-independent fieldbus connection to the PLC
space-saving (IZT series) and therefore ideally suited for installation in confined spaces (e.g. rotary presses)
less waste
Cost reduction
higher production reliability
durable solution

Would you like to learn more about our ionizing devices of the IZS and IZT series and their areas of application?

Get in touch with us – our team will be happy to answer your questions.

Temperature control units for 19-inch racks

Allgemein

Are you faced with the challenge that you only have a limited floor space available for your cooling units?

Then our Thermo-Chillers of the HRR series as well as our Thermo-cons of the HECR series are particularly suitable because they fit into a standardized 19-inch rack. This allows you to save more than 50 percent of floor space – our short video will give you a first impression.

HRR Series Thermo Chiller

HRR thermal chillers combine a lightweight, compact design with high cooling capacity and can both cool and heat. A temperature stability of +/- 0.1° Celsius is guaranteed. The cooling capacity ranges from 0.95 kW to 4.5 kW in the air-cooled version, and up to 5.0 kW in the water-cooled version.

Temperature control units of the HRR series are easy and convenient to maintain, as all maintenance parts can be reached via a maintenance flap located on the front. In addition, maintenance can be planned thanks to the self-diagnosis of the chiller.

A bypass valve and a flow sensor are built in as standard, which makes it very easy to adjust the flow rate in the application. Both flow rate and pressure control can be displayed on a colour display. An angled filler neck facilitates the filling of the circulation medium.

By installing it in a 19-inch rack, the footprint can be reduced by 53 percent (according to EIA standards) because several HRR thermo chillers can be installed in one cabinet at the same time. So, you only need a very small parking space.

Thermal chillers of the HRR series are specially designed to meet the needs of the laser industry. However, they are also suitable for electron microscopes, digital X-ray machines or the cooling of samples and reagents.

HECR Series Thermo-cons

Our HECR-Thermo-cons are high-precision temperature control units in Peltier design that can be mounted in 19-inch racks to save space. Peltier elements can be used for both cooling and heating.

The adjustable temperature range of our Thermo-cons extends from 10 to 60 °Celsius, the temperature stability is extremely high at +/- 0.01 °Celsius. In the air-cooled version, our devices provide a cooling capacity of 200 to 1,000 watts, the water-cooled version is available with 800 and 1,200 watts.

Thermo-cons are suitable for precise temperature control of a heat source or process media. They are refrigerant-free, environmentally friendly and impress with their low-noise and energy-saving design. The construction without a compressor naturally has fewer moving parts – this results in less vibration and less turbulence, which ensures a greatly reduced noise development. Due to the lack of blowers, the water-cooled version in particular is quieter.

The filling connection is located on the front, so the medium (tap water or ethylene glycol 20%) can be supplied without having to remove the device from the rack. The volume of the circulating medium can be checked by means of a viewing window located below. Draining the circulating medium is possible without removing the hose, as the outlet connection is also located on the front.

HECR-Thermo-cons are suitable for high-precision applications that require low-vibration operation, such as:

Laser beam processing and laser markers – cooling of the laser-irradiated part
UV drying system for printing, varnishing, gluing and sealing – the UV lamp is cooled
digital X-ray machines – monitoring the temperature of the tube and light sensor
Electron microscope – the temperature of an electron-irradiated part is monitored
Ultrasonic Wave Tester – Temperature Monitoring of the Ultrasonic Laser Part

Would you like to learn more about our space-saving HRR and HECR series temperature control units that can be mounted in 19-inch racks?

Contact us – our team will be happy to answer your questions.

Interaktive Auswahlhilfe für AP Tech Druckminderer

Interactive selection guide for AP Tech pressure regulators

Allgemein

A suitable pressure reducer (also known as a regulator) is essential for any gas supply, because a constant and precisely adjustable pressure is just as important as selecting the right gas.

Regardless of whether you use inert, toxic, corrosive or high-purity gases: With us you will find the right regulator for your needs – with our interactive selection guide you will get a good overview of which models are suitable for which applications.

Standard Series Datasheets

High pressure – high flow – near cylinder
AP12 – pdf | AP14 – pdf | AP90 – pdf

High pressure – low flow – near cylinder
AP15 – pdf | AP19 – pdf

High pressure – low flow
AP10 – pdf | AP16 – pdf

Low pressure – very high flow
AP90 – pdf | AP91 – pdf | AP92 – pdf

Low pressure – high flow
AP13 – pdf

Vacuum
AP11 – pdf | AP14TA – pdf

Special Series Datasheets

Mini
AP500 – pdf | SL52 – pdf

Springless
SL52 – pdf | SL55 – pdf | SL54 – pdf | SL58 – pdf

Two Stage
AP17 – pdf | AP27 – pdf

Backpressure
BP10 – pdf

Crossover
AKM6 – pdf | APM6 – pdf | AKM80 – pdf

This is how you can make your selection easily and conveniently: Move your cursor over any model and you will see a preview of the corresponding data sheet. If you click on the data sheet, it will open in full and you will receive extensive information on the selected model.

How a pressure reducer works

The name says it all: A pressure reducer reduces the pressure in a gas-filled line to exactly the level that is ultimately required in the respective application. This reduction can take place in one step, but it is usually a two-stage process in which two pressure reducers are used in series.

Applications of AP Tech pressure reducers

AP Tech (Advanced Pressure Technology) was founded in the USA in 1987 and within just a few years has become the leading supplier of pressure regulators and valves that are used in many different areas. SMC acquired AP Tech in 2007 but has retained the original name.

AP Tech products are particularly suitable for the following industries:

Semiconductors and general electronics
Photovoltaic
fiberglass manufacturing
aviation
automobile
petrochemicals
biotechnology
pharmacy
analytics

Controllers for general and clean room applications

Our AK controllers meet a wide variety of requirements in analytical, technical, food technology and medical applications. Depending on the model, AK regulators are suitable for pressure ranges up to 69 MPa (690 bar).

Regulators of the AP and AZ series were developed for operation with a wide variety of ultrapure gases in the semiconductor and electronics industries. Each product in this series is manufactured, tested and packaged under clean room conditions. AP and AZ controllers can be used for pressure ranges up to 31 MPa (310 bar).

In addition to our interactive selection guide, we would also be happy to personally answer your questions about our pressure regulators from AP Tech and their possible applications – you can contact us here .

CYPO: Pneumatic cylinders with build-on positioners

Allgemein

A cylinder positioner (CYPO) is a pneumatic cylinder with a mounted positioner. Usually, the piston rod of pneumatic cylinders can only be fully extended or fully retracted. However, the built-on positioner allows any desired position in between to be approached and held, which has numerous advantages.

With Smart Positioner in potentially explosive environments

SMC offers different variants for different applications. The most common CYPO is implemented with a so-called Smart Positioner and is universally applicable. It is individually designed and manufactured according to customer requirements and is available in many kinds of ATEX versions.

ATEX (French abbreviation for ATmosphères EXplosives) covers directives in the field of explosion protection for equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

With normal (non-ATEX) devices, there is always a risk of a spark being triggered and escaping gas, dusts or flammable liquids igniting on it. CYPOs, on the other hand, can be designed so that they can also be used in potentially explosive environments. To achieve the desired ATEX category in each case, the individual components of the CYPO must be selected accordingly.

Advantages and applications of CYPOs

The use of CYPOs has many advantages:

They are robust, resistant, durable, and easy to handle.
Suitable for aggressive environments.
High temperature or low temperature versions available.
Require little maintenance.
Need almost no power when in the hold position.
Are available with fail-safe circuits and compressed air reservoir: brings the cylinder to a safe position in the event of power or compressed air failure.

CYPOs are used for large butterfly valves, control dampers, knife gate valves and multileaf dampers as well as wherever considerable quantities of different media such as exhaust gases, supply air, exhaust air, water vapor, gases or liquids have to be controlled.

Previous image

Next image

Models of CYPOs

There are two main different types of mechanical transmissions for standard CYPOs. They are available with guide plate (this is the most used version) and with articulated rods.

A simple, affordable and at the same time robust solution is the CYPO with pneumatic positioner IP200, for which ATEX versions are also available. They can be easily combined with an electro-pneumatic pressure regulator series ITV and can thus be controlled with many different electrical signals.

If a positioner cannot be used directly on the cylinder due to vibration, temperature and harsh environmental conditions, or if there is not enough space, CYPOs with remote positioner and position sensor are a perfect solution.

The Air Servo Cylinder (IN-777 series) is a very fast and precise all-in-one solution for knife gate valves, large butterfly valves, control dampers, louver dampers, dart valves for flotation cells, etc.

You want to learn more about our CYPOs and their many applications?

Contact us – our team will be happy to answer your questions.

Energy saving with new JSXF pulse valves for industrial applications

Allgemein

Many industries that are already confronted with high energy costs are hit particularly hard by the current situation with escalating energy prices. Our JSXF series impulse valves offer a lot of savings potential and can thus help to reduce costs.

In our short video you will find a summary of the main advantages of our JSXF valves compared to conventional pulse valves.

Pulse air for cleaning of pulse-jet filters in various industrial applications

Pulse valves are used wherever the filters of dust collectors are to be cleaned with the help of a pulsed air blow. This cleaning of filter bags is also called reverse pulse jet cleaning.

In this article you will find a detailed description of how impulse valves work and how they are used.

Pulsed air blow can be used in a variety of industrial applications:

general production facilities
steel and cement industry
Mining
pharmaceutical industry
agriculture and animal farming
food industry
wood processing industry
textile processing
and many more

Lots of potential for energy savings

JSXF impulse valves are available with electric or pneumatic control, in connection sizes from 3/4 inch to 2 inch, with compression fitting, for direct mounting or with pipe thread connection and can be used for temperatures from -40 to +60°C.

If you use our optimized models of the pulse valve series JSXF, you will have numerous advantages and associated savings:

Long service life: The JSXF valve is capable of 10 million cycles or more – based on one pulse per minute and non-stop operation, this would be a service life of more than 19 years. Many times the cleaning intervals are even longer.
This results in very long maintenance intervals.
Which in turn has the positive effect that the system has less downtime.
In addition, maintenance is very easy to carry out because there are fewer parts (high-strength elastomer diaphragm instead of spring).
Thanks to the optimized geometry, the flow rate has been increased by around 40 percent.
The 15 percent higher peak blow-out pressure means that the filter can be cleaned with less pressure.
This reduces the compressed air requirement by around 35 percent and you save valuable electrical energy, since the compressed air has to be generated by a compressor.
The approximately 45 percent reduction in response time when switching off saves energy too.
By saving valuable and expensive energy, you not only reduce your expenses, but also contribute to protecting our environment.

How we can support you

If you are currently using conventional valves but want to use the savings potential of our JSXF pulse valves, we will be happy to provide you with advice and assistance:

when testing the valves
when calculating possible savings and ROI (return on investment)
by providing you with samples to test

Simply contact us – our team will be happy to answer your questions.

Measurement of particle performance

Allgemein

In principle, nobody wants them and yet – or precisely because of this – they are a major issue in the semiconductor industry: particles. In the production of wafers, much revolves around avoiding particles as far as possible because they can lead to problems and damage.

What exactly are particles?

In principle, particles are small particles. In the semiconductor industry, one speaks of particles in connection with the clean room and the contamination of the wafers. This refers to all small particles that are harmful to the circuitry, such as tiny dust particles, skin flakes and photoresist chips, or abrasion that occurs when valves are switched, but also foreign atoms such as heavy metals.

Wafers are flat, approximately 1 mm thin slices of a semiconductor material on which microchips are manufactured. According to Moore’s law the distance between the semiconductor tracks on a wafer must become smaller and smaller. From this point of view, it is understandable that even the smallest particles, like particles, can lead to problems in production.

Optimized processes by measuring particle performance

The biggest problem that customers in the semiconductor industry often face is that, on the one hand, they don’t even know which of the components used emit particles, and on the other hand, they don’t know how many particles these are.

SMC customers have a clear advantage here: we can measure the particle output of our PFA-Valves in real time, i.e. when the valve is switched. This so-called particle performance shows how many particles a product releases during use. This works with an optical particle counter for liquids: A laser shines into the liquid – if the light is refracted by the laser, it means a particle has been detected. This knowledge of particle performance enables our customers to optimize their processes accordingly and increase their output.

You want to know more about particle performance measurement to optimize your processes accordingly? Contact us – our team will be happy to answer your questions.

JLV – the new, particle-optimized SMC valve series

Allgemein

We have developed our new JLV valve series (JLV20-Z07 and JLV30-Z11) especially for processing wafers in the semiconductor industry. If SMC valves of the JLV series are used, there is significantly less abrasion compared to similar valves and thus particles that could disrupt the production process and damage the wafer.

Microchip production requires highest purity

A wafer is the raw material from which microchips for computers are created, and translates as “thin slice.” Microchips are getting smaller and better, and their circuits are extremely small. This is why production in the semiconductor industry requires the highest purity – even the smallest traces of metals can cause short circuits.

How particle-optimized JLV valves work

In the microchip manufacturing process, the on-off valve ensures that the fluid flow of the medium is switched on or off – for example, when a chemical is applied to a wafer. The process must be particularly clean so that no impurities (particles) get onto the wafer, as this could disrupt the production process and damage the wafer or even destroy parts of the wafer.

JLV series valves are equipped with a so-called “piston shutter”. It reduces the closing speed in the last third of the shut-off process and thus reduces the kinetic energy acting on the valve seat. Less kinetic energy means less abrasion and therefore fewer particles.

Since SMC JLV series valves generate particularly few particles during the on and off switching process, the output on the customer side is increased.

Want to learn more about our new particle-optimized JLV valves and their potential applications? Contact us – our team will be happy to answer your questions.

Thermo-chiller Monitoring Software

Allgemein

We developed the Thermo-chiller Monitoring Software especially for cooling units of the HRR series – it is designed to make your work easier.

Conveniently, this software does not need to be installed on the user’s PC – all you must do is copy the .exe file to the target directory and start it.

The connection to the cooling unit is made using a front USB port.

Functions of the HRR-Software

The purpose of the HRR software is to display the current measurement data of the chiller and to save it (if necessary). However, you can also carry out other functions with the software:

Download of measurement data
Delivery of graphical process data (live data of the operating parameters during operation), which facilitates an overview of the current conditions of the chiller
Monitor the operating status and log data such as temperature, pressure and flow rate
Execution of tests in the respective application
Setting and checking all parameters as well as saving the settings in the settings menu
General inspection of the chiller
Planning of preventive maintenance intervals
Error analysis
Display of alarm descriptions and history with process data

Features of the HRR-Software

The clear user interface consists of a control bar, navigation bar, process values, product information, display area and status bar.

The diagram that supplies the graphic process data automatically adapts to the chiller used (air or water-cooled, with or without DI control function).

You can display, change and transfer the settings and reset them to the factory settings. The configuration can be saved and copied.

The intervals of the maintenance overview can be adjusted either directly on the chiller or via the HRR software.

The software is available in ten languages: German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Turkish, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean.

Would you like to find out more about our HRR-Software and how it works?