Festo has launched a fieldbus-controlled proportional valve regulator that mounts directly on a valve manifold, resulting in control flexibility. The new VPPM-MPA proportional pressure regulator provides a means of varying the pressure of air supplied, via the valve manifold, to pneumatic actuators, facilitating accurate control of speed, force, pressure and torque. The VPPM-MPA proportional pressure regulator features a 1/8in proportional pressure valve and is available with a pressure range of 0-2bar, 0-6bar or 0-10bar. The 0-10bar model accommodates a flow rate of up to 1400 l/min. Programmable functions include setpoint, upper and lower limits, and a choice of three preset response profiles to facilitate fine tuning of the system without the need to set up complex PID loops. Both the programmed setpoint and the actual pressure value can be monitored locally or remotely, and users can choose to display pressure units in bar, MPa or psi. The regulators are capable of returning a comprehensive range of diagnostic data via fieldbus or Ethernet, and are also equipped with front-panel LEDs to indicate power and operational status. Festo’s VPPM-MPA proportional pressure regulators can be freely mixed with standard and proportional valves on the same manifold.
