Configure The Best Modular Suspension Arms For Your HMI/Control Equipment

PAYLOAD CAPACITY VS FLEXIBILITY

Quick to configure and assemble, modular suspension arms are the smart way to support HMI enclosures for industrial electronics. They’re tough, dependable and offer excellent range of motion for the convenient viewing and operation of touch screens.

But the sheer range of individual components in all the various arm systems can sometimes make it tricky to spot opportunities for optimum configuration. Buried deep within the mass of similar-looking joints, adapters and profiles may well be the exact component for your ideal configuration.

All that choice may also tempt you to configure an arm that’s more flexible than necessary – adding range of movement but compromising overall load capacity. Ask yourself, do you really need an arm that’s quite literally double jointed? Is the load sacrifice worth it? Simple is often better.

SPECIFYING MODULAR SUSPENSION ARMS

Load capacity is the crucial consideration. And don’t just look at the headline figure – delve into the detail of how longer profiles or the addition of joints can reduce the maximum safe load for an arm. The laws of leverage can have dire consequences for overlong horizontal booms, especially if they feature an elbow. Load capacity dips noticeably past the one-metre mark – and an intermediate joint will cut capacity by 40%, and a base by 25%. Leave yourself some headroom in the capacity equation. Don’t cut it too fine – the last thing you want is a large screen weighing heavily on an under-specified arm that’s creaking at the margins of its capacity envelope.

Think also about profile width and depth. How much space is there for power and data cables inside each profile section? And are the profiles and joints designed in such a way that the network/DVI cables remain protected while the arm is being moved and the screen swivelled? Can the joints be adjusted quickly at set-up to prevent excessive movement, or are they fiddly and time consuming?

INSTALLING MODULAR SUSPENSION ARMS SECURELY

Does your preferred arm system offer a wide choice of bases for screwing the arm securely to a wall, floor or ceiling? Is there the option of mobile bases (of varying capacities) for easy movement and additional flexibility?

And not every screen in your factory or technical facility will require a suspension arm. Some may need something simpler – particularly if they’re smaller secondary displays. For this reason, consider suspension arm ranges that feature wall pivot brackets.

Ideally, these brackets should match the design language of the main support arms. And it helps if they offer a degree of movement. This enables screens to be either tilted to the optimum viewing angle or folded away for protection (or to create space in the immediate working area).

FITTING TOUCH SCREENS AND DISPLAYS TO SUSPENSION ARMS

VESA adapters are the obvious starting point for connecting panel PCs to suspension arms – but there are also dedicated solutions available for various display models. Our premium profiPLUS 50 modular arms include a whole host of adapters that make it easy to bolt on Siemens, Beckhoff and B&R displays.

The range also features a 70/50 adapter that enables profiPLUS 50 components to be fitted to the stronger and more cable-capacious profiles of the profiPLUS 70 range. One simple adapter is all it takes to open up a world of possibilities. Both ranges also feature patented one-screw adjustment, making it easy to fine-tune the arm once you’ve bolted it in place.

PROFIPLUS 50 AND 70 MODULAR SUSPENSION ARMS

Our profiPLUS 50 arms for light-to-medium loads offer a choice of:

• 12 bases, joints and pivot brackets
• five standard profile lengths from 250 mm to 1,500 mm (or profiles can be cut to your precise required length)
• 16 different adapters including VESA, Siemens, Beckhoff and B&R
• 52 couplings and elbows.

In load-bearing terms, profiPLUS 50 sits in the middle of the ROLEC suspension arms range. With a system length of one metre or less, it can handle headline loads of up to 80 kg (before deductions for a base and intermediate joint). That makes it stronger than arms such as taraSMART and taraPLUS.

If you need greater load capacity than profiPLUS 50 can muster, then look at our profiPLUS 70 and QUADRO 80 ranges. Robust profiPLUS 70 can handle 120 kg loads while QUADRO 80 is good for 150 kg. Again the same qualifications apply with regard to bases and intermediate joints.

The profiPLUS 70 range features:

• seven joints and bases
• five standard profile lengths from 250 mm to 1,500 mm (or profiles can be cut to length on request)
• a 70/50 adapter
• 32 couplings and elbows.

Both profiPLUS ranges feature integrated cable protection in all system parts. The diecast aluminum system parts are powder coated in light gray (RAL 7035) with anodized silver aluminum profile sections. The arms are rated IP 54 for ingress protection, with fully integrated electrical bonding.

PROFIPLUS 50

PROFIPLUS 70

OTHER ROLEC SUSPENSION ARM SYSTEMS

taraSMART

taraSMART (IP 54) suspension arms offer advanced technical features – similar to profiPLUS – but at a lower price point because they are simpler. Specify taraSMART for displays, HMI enclosures and panel PCs weighing up to around 99 lbs (45 kg).

Configure your taraSMART arm from six couplings/adapters, eight system elements (base, joints, elbows) and a choice of either round (⌀ 1.89") or rectangular profiles that are 2.36" x 1.57" with modern convex contouring on the long sides. These silver anodized profiles are each available in four lengths from 9.84" to 39.37". The system components are light gray (RAL 7035) diecast aluminum with anthracite gray (RAL 7016) thermoplast covers.

taraPLUS

taraPLUS (IP 54) is again designed for light-to-medium payloads but has a slightly higher load capacity (around 110 lbs, 50 kg) than taraSMART. Proven taraPLUS is quick and easy to assemble on site. The system combines round (⌀ 1.89") and 2.36" x 1.57" rectangular profiles.

Choose from nine system elements (including six joints), 13 profiles (from 9.84" to 78.74") and 14 couplings, elbows and bases. The system parts are diecast aluminum in window gray (RAL 7040) with drawn steel profiles in light gray (RAL 7035).

QUADRO 80

QUADRO 80 (IP 54) is our strongest arm for loads up to 330 lbs (150 kg). The range takes its name from the 3.15" square steel profiles that form the basis of the system and give it such high static equilibrium. High-load spheroidal graphite iron is used in the joints and couplings.

There are five system elements (base, elbow and joints), two adapters, four support profiles (19.69" to 78.74") and three couplings. Like taraPLUS, all the system parts are window gray (RAL 7040) with drawn steel profiles in light gray (RAL 7035).

HMI ENCLOSURES FOR SUSPENSION ARMS

ROLEC offers two main HMI enclosures to fit our suspension arms: premium multiPANEL (IP 65) and versatile profiPANEL (IP 65). Both are manufactured from aluminum profiles, enabling them to be made to any size from 5.91" x 5.91" to 31.5" x 31.5.

There is also a more cost-effective way of specifying profiPANEL if you’re happy with ‘off-the-peg’: profiPANEL STANDARD (IP 65). It’s available in four sizes to fit a range of displays – 10"-12", 12"-15", 15"-17" and 17"-21".

Compare multiPANEL, profiPANEL and profiPANEL STANDARD >>

Prefer a diecast aluminum housing with a higher IP rating? Opt for commandCASE (IP 66). It’s available in three versions: fixed lid (screw fixed at the rear), hinged lid with quick-action closure or hinged lid with screw fixing at the rear. It’s particularly well suited to profiPLUS and taraSMART arms.

CUSTOMIZATION BEYOND CONFIGURATION

By definition, configuring your own modular suspension arms puts customization at the very heart of the specification process – right from the start. But the journey doesn’t end there: you can customize your arms still further by requesting machining, bespoke colors and printing of legends, logos and photo-quality graphics.

GET EXPERT TECHNICAL ADVICE

Need more information about suspension arms, HMI and command enclosures for industrial electronics? Contact our expert team Ask us about customization – and don’t forget to request a sample.