WCA March 2016

Technology news

State-of-the-art control systems at Whitelegg

For the end user, these features translate into the following benefits: • monitor and maintain a constant tension in the material being wound • layer wind the material very accurately • layer control for spooling and de-spooling • programmable winding with an onboard memory for storing winding programs • data logging for each winding so that the number of turns, pitch and winding tension can all be recorded Whitelegg developed and manufactured the first MRI (body scanner) winding machines in the world in 1982. This then-new technology was developed at Oxford University, which led to locally formed companies producing the first full body scanners. Eventually half a dozen companies were spawned from the initial manufacturer in and around Oxford, one of which was Oxford Magnet Technology. This company became the first volume manufacturer and was supplied with over a dozen machines by Whitelegg. Oxford Magnet agreed to license this technology to other medical equipment manufacturers, resulting in Whitelegg receiving machine orders from GE of the USA, Siemens in Germany and Furakaiwa in Japan. The first body scanner was built in a concrete bunker outside Oxford. Oxford Magnet Technology was purchased by Siemens, since when Whitelegg designed and manufactured a special-purpose machine for winding small coils from special materials, with sophisticated tension control. All of Whitelegg’s large coil winding machines are built to customers’ specifications and the latest machine is capable of winding coils of 2,000mm maximum diameter, with lengths of up to 2,000mm, and with a maximum coil weight of 4,000kg. An integral de-spooler is servo-controlled and operates in conjunction with the servo-driven main rotation axis and the tensioning pulley, with a load meter providing the necessary feedback for the tension control system. All of the servo motors and servo drives are Lenze products,

WHITELEGG Machines has shipped a machine that will be used to wind body scanner coils for a Korean multinational company. This is the first machine of its type on which Whitelegg has installed state-of-the-art servo-controlled axes, together with an intuitive touchscreen graphical user interface and a PLC with custom software for controlling the overall process and a touchscreen HMI.

and FMS Force Measuring Systems provided the tension control load meter (comprising a load cell and amplifier). A further servo motor controls the axial movement of the de-spooler as each turn of wire is laid down adjacent to the previous turn. The HMI for this machine is entirely new and has been developed by Whitelegg specifically for the manufacture of body scanner coils. The graphical touchscreen interface prompts the user to enter parameters such as the number of layers, the number of turns, the traverse position and the wire tension. The HMI is mounted on an arm that traverses the length of the machine as winding progresses in order that the operator always has the best possible view of the winding process. Additional push buttons are installed on the HMI housing to control the de-spooler, and a joystick provides for manual fine control of the de-spooler traverse. Another set of push buttons on the reverse of the machine, where the de-spooler is mounted, allow for easier set-ups. The use of state-of-the-art servos and a specially developed HMI and control program offers clear benefits for end users. ❍ The latest large coil winder from Whitelegg

Whitelegg Machines Ltd – UK Website : www.whitelegg.com

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Wire & Cable ASIA – March/April 2016

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