TPT May 2013

Article

Remote servicing without (technology) limits

Another almost more important reason for using the Simatic Technology CPU has been the integrated remote servicing that it allows. “Previously, everything always ended at the interface to the hydraulic controller and, in the worst case scenario, we had to drive to the site and investigate even the most basic faults,” says Ebm’s programmer, Robert Strauß. “With the now integrated Siemens solution, we can access any site in the world from our office on our machines. We can troubleshoot all of the electrical and hydraulic components and in many cases perform immediate shutdowns. This saves us time and money and the users benefit from minimal downtimes and increased productivity.” Program updates can also be imported remotely, which also eliminates the need for travelling in many cases. It is also important to many operators to be able to intervene in the programming directly themselves or via an automator or system integrator, which is much more difficult with a “special controller”. “In contrast to such a “black box”, almost anyone can program a Simatic PLC,” says Robert Strauß. Managers and technicians agree and are very satisfied with both the implementation and the results. The Simatic Technology CPU is the new Ebm standard for all machines that are controlled via proportional and servo valves. Potential innovation – safety After the integrated control of electric and hydraulic axes with one controller, Ebm is currently looking for other potential innovations. The focus is on new Simatic S7 317TF2 DP Technology CPU with integrated safety functions (Safety Integrated). This would allow all of the safety functions of the more complex metalforming machine tools to be implemented in a single device. The hardware and wiring overhead would be further reduced and, in particular, the implementation of the safety-orientated plant units would be decidedly more flexible. Open solution instead of “black box”

A Simatic TP177B Touch Panel with user interface under Simatic WinCC flexible is connected to the combined MPI/ Profibus DP interface of the technology CPU. The operator can use this to conveniently create, save and, if necessary, read subprograms back in (recipes). The machine operator can divide each processing step into up to 20 sub-steps. This means that it is possible to specify positions, speeds, delay times, etc for each individual axis or also to activate the turning function (to prevent marks on the component). Thus, the shaping process can be individually adapted to specific requirements by means of simple parameter assignment. Due to time considerations, the machine manufacturer made use of the support of an application engineer from Siemens, who was able to transfer all functionalities of the previously separate hydraulic controller to the technology CPU without loss and to put the first of eventually five machines into operation in only one day. The now integrated solution eliminates the overhead for any additional machine hardware and wiring and ultimately reduces costs. Figure 3 : The figure shows a typical non-linear characteristic curve of a hydraulic track. Without linearisation of the control track, optimal control quality cannot be achieved. With the technology template “GetCharacteristics”, the characteristic curve of a proportional directional control valve can be recorded and compensated (linearised).

Figure 4 : Pipes processed inside and outside on IO machines from Ebm for a wide variety of applications

Siemens AG – Germany Gleiwitzer Str 555 D-90475 Nürnberg Germany Email: corina.kirchner.ext@siemens.com

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May 2013