The future of advanced automation continues to evolve. As technology is developed to meet manufacturer’s demands, customers continue to push the limits of machining speed and precision, leading to a continuous cycle of innovation in the field of precision machining automation.
Automation solutions entail a number of electronic and mechanical devices. One aspect of advanced automation systems, and perhaps the most obvious, is the electronic motion controller. Electronic motion controllers determine the velocity and position of the mechanical device, commonly a linear actuator or an electric motor. The first electronic motion controllers were built using cumbersome proprietary programming software unique to each machine manufacturer.
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As the need for system integration in the development of automated manufacturing cells grew, PLC controllers gained favor. This technology allowed users to program controls based on more common code and provided reliable and real-time control over machining processes.
As older technology becomes obsolete and requires replacement, the development of PC-based controls continues to grow. Prior issues with determinism prevented widespread use of PC-based controls. Time lags prevented controls from expediently responding to the real-time machining environment.
Exact knowledge of position and other machining variables is essential to achieving precise, accurate results. These timing issues have largely been resolved by isolating the control architecture from the PC operating system. In addition, traditional PC hardware often suffered premature failure in the manufacturing environment. This was initially subverted by isolating the PC from the shop floor, making usability an issue. Today, several rugged PC options specifically designed for use in harsh environments are widely available.
These improvements have led to widespread acceptance of PC-based motion control systems. PC-based controls are versatile, intuitive, and allow users to develop custom automated systems based on common platforms using off-the-shelf hardware. By employing PC-based controllers, user interfaces can be made consistent across all machinery and work cells. This provides advantages in operator training and eliminates costly programming errors.
PC-based controls can be integrated with data recording and machine monitoring software, which provides the necessary information used in statistical process control applications. This seamless integration of control and monitoring leads to reduced downtime on the plant floor and increased reproducibility in machined parts.
This article was originally published on ThomasNet News Industry Market Trends and is reprinted in its entirety with permission from Thomas Industrial Network. For more stories like this please visit Industry Market Trends.