Application
Presses with stepped tools and bulk part transfer presses have integrated transfer systems which ensure the transport of the components from stage to stage.
The workpieces are transported by means of a gripper rail system with two or three directions of motion:
- Longitudinal motion for transport
- Lifting motion for lifting and lowering the workpiece
- Lateral motion for closing and opening the gripper system
Due to the growing demand for increased automation density in industrial production engineering, more and more machine manufacturers replace conventional, mechanically coupled transfer systems with freely programmable electronic transfer controls, using electric positioning drives.
Requirements:
Flexible production processes and constantly increasing output rates require highly dynamic motion control during handling tasks. This can only be achieved using state of the art drive technology and high-quality controls.
Gentle material handling must be ensured, and safety aspects must be considered.
Tool changing times must be as short as possible, requiring the use of an operating system with parts-respective tool data management. As well as tool data management, comfortable input facilities for motion and positioning data ensure user-friendly operation of the control system.
The increased use of automation components in field technology requires a fieldbus connection for transfer controls.
System solution
The electrical equipment system solution in the shape of the ELT 2000 electronic transfer control is based on the SINUMERIK 840D universal motion controller, a multi-axis controller integrated into the SIMODRIVE 611 digital modular drive system.
With the SINUMERIK electronic transfer option, the SINUMERIK 840D becomes the core component of the highly dynamic ELT 2000 transfer controller. Rounded off with an industry-specific technology software, the system offers a user interface, transfer modes and the required parts data handling.
In order to make individual adaptation and expansion as painless as possible, documentation is provided which describes all operating modes, functions and significant interfaces of the technology software.
Support through the use of new, innovative control and drive components offers significant advantages:
- Compact controller design,
- Digital drive technology,
- Distributed I/O,
- Implementation of operating components according to requirements,
- Configuration using SIMATIC S7, SINUMERIK and SIMODRIVE standard components,
- Optional use of safety functions (Safety Integrated).
Depending on the size of the transfer device, several drives can be involved in a motion axis. A typical configuration, for example of a transfer press, would comprise five drives, e.g. x axis: 1 drive; y axis: 2 drives; z axis: 2 drives.
For bulk part transfer presses, a much higher number of drives can be realized, depending on machine configuration. Because they are all coupled to the tappet master setpoint, all drives relating to a motion axis will, of course, operate according to the same motion law (VDI 2143).
Therefore, the electronic transfer will only carry out transport motions required by the currently produced part.
Via PROFIBUS, the ELT 2000 transfer control concept can be fully integrated into higher-level total automation concepts.
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