
Industrial Electric Joysticks

Pilot devices provide control and condition monitoring of different types of processes, equipment and machinery in industrial and commercial applications. They are used for communication from a machine to an operator or from an operator to a machine. Pilot devices can be an audio or visual indicator, or an actuator that is used to control the flow of energy to a process. Visual indicators are: pilot lights, signal towers, strobes and beacons. Audio indictors are: buzzers and sounder horns. Actuators are: push buttons, selector switches, toggle switches and potentiometers.
Joysticks are devices that are used to control, position and steer a wide range of heavy-duty equipment, machines and systems. Joysticks are devices that have a shaft mounted onto a base which houses an electrical circuit. A potentiometer is connected to the joystick shaft. When the shaft is moved, the potentiometer produces a corresponding movement, varying the resistance and altering the electrical current in the circuit. The circuit is connected to contact terminals that send electrical signals to a processing unit. The processing unit translates the analog electrical signal into a digital electrical signal which is then communicated to the piece of equipment. There are different types of industrial joysticks, from thumb and finger joysticks all the way up to fully customized hand grips. There are different mounting styles, actuator options, and controller specifications including, number of axes, friction hold and spring return.
Products
Cutouts are very common when modifying enclosures for push buttons, indication lights, conduit entries or mounting hardware. Cutting into an enclosure runs the risk of eliminating the protective nature of the NEMA rated attributes. Proper steps must be followed in order to preserve the NEMA rating of an enclosure.
Devices mounted to the enclosure must have the same NEMA rating as the enclosure. This means that if the devices are installed to the manufacturer's specifications, they will be able to maintain the NEMA rating of the enclosure.
Water tight conduit hubs must be used when running wire through a cutout in an enclosure. There are many different types of conduit hubs that are used to secure conduit to an enclosure. However, only certain conduit hubs are rated for a watertight seal. By using water tight hubs, the NEMA rating of the enclosure is maintained.
Bonded washers are necessary when mounting hardware to an enclosure. If standard mounting hardware is used, the NEMA rating of the enclosure will no longer be maintained. Bonded washers have rubber gaskets that make a watertight seal around the drilled hole. It is also important to make sure the material used for the bonded washer matches the material of the enclosure. Stainless steel enclosures require stainless steel bonded washers.