Pneumatic systems are a tried and true motion control
technology. A plumbed system is low-cost, fast and powerful compared to
electric motors and actuators. On the other hand, electrical systems are better
suited to the needs of Industry 4.0: integrated diagnostics, adaptability and
greater precision mean electrical motion controls can play nice with IIoT,
smaller batch sizes or changing production needs.
FESTO's motion terminal is one way to bring pneumatics into Industry
4.0. It’s a standardized platform that controls a combination of piezo pilot
valves and diaphragm poppet valves using software apps, eliminating the need
for a PLC or other control system.
The system uses machine learning to adapt on the fly and offer
intelligent self-regulation. This avoids productivity loss due to leaks and other
unplanned pressure changes, eliminating the need for tweaks during production.
The terminal described in the video only supports up to 550
liters (145 gallons). However, many pneumatic systems are often over-sized for
their application. To help their customers with integration, FESTO uses
software to calculate the flow requirements of the system, and may recommend
using smaller cylinders or otherwise reducing the flow requirements.
Watch the video to see more about this unique product, as described
by Conrad Rickhoff, product manager at FESTO Canada Inc.
For more on industrial automation, check out this
article.
To learn more about FESTO products, visit
their website.