Bluetooth Embedded Amplifier for Fluid Power

August 1, 2015

Ryan Gehm

Sun Hydraulics Corp. has announced a new way to configure embedded amplifiers without using a PC or connecting with wires, calling the development “a major advance in the fluid power industry.” A new version of Sun’s Embedded Amplifier series can be configured via an iOS or Android app using Bluetooth for quick and reliable wireless calibration. The company believes the technology will find its way into a range of applications, both mobile and industrial, because of its ability to provide wireless configuration from a smart device while maintaining noise-emission compliance. For the fluid power cartridge industry this means that technicians can now be in close proximity to observe machine operation but remain untethered and therefore safer when setting up and calibrating the machine behavior. Setup is via a Sun Hydraulics app, AmpSet Blue, available free of charge for Apple through the App Store and for Android on Sun’s site. The app allows users to adjust all normally expected parameters of the proportional controller through several easy-to-follow, intuitive screens. Settings can be saved, loaded, and shared from the app. Password protection prevents unauthorized access to the amplifiers. The controller is CE and RoHS compliant, sealed to IP69K, fully encapsulated for harsh environmental usage, and has enhanced diagnostic LEDs giving real-time operational status.