The motorised size changeover of machine spindles or machine axes is now being implemented in various ways. The solutions to this are often relatively rudimentary with no hand-wheel or crank being rotated, but one or more buttons are pressed instead. While this does not meet the requirements of an Industry 4.0 process chain, intelligent positioning drives can offer an efficient solution in such cases.
Intelligent networks such as industrial Ethernet provide a high degree of diagnostic capability for fault analysis, in addition to the efficient and fast exchange of process data. For a smart size changeover, actuating drives are therefore necessary. In addition to the purely motorised changeover, these drives permit a complex data exchange with control systems, reliably detect operating states outside the fixed range, and communicate status or error messages, for example. As a result, a constantly increasing load current could signal that the adjustment axis may be heavily contaminated by pollutants and has to be cleaned during the next maintenance service. This is precisely where the intelligent actuators from Siko add their value. In addition to the pure exchange of process data, these actuators also make all diagnostic values available in order to be able to prevent unplanned downtime from erroneous format setting.
The all-in-one drive
With the new AG24, Siko has now expanded its portfolio of positioning drives with intelligent RTE (real-time Ethernet). In addition to the tried and tested positioning drives AG25 and AG26, which are characterised by their ultra-compact design, the AG24 has been released to expand the portfolio of actuators. Despite the considerable output power and speed of the AG24, all the components are still integrated in a single housing. No external components or junction boxes are needed to connect to higher-level controllers. This means that the drive is connected only to the supply voltage and the port for data exchange has to be connected directly to the controller or the next drive in the network. A simpler network connection is hard to imagine.
Power pack in all situations
With a maximum rated torque of 14 Nm, the AG24 is a real power pack. The compact drive reaches its maximum changeover speed of 150 rpm at a nominal torque of 6 Nm and can fully automate virtually any manual adjustment effortlessly. Due to the hollow shaft with clamping ring and torque support, the drive is very simply adapted to the existing machine shaft without the basic construction of the adjustment unit having to be changed. Other shaft diameters or the force transmission via a feather key groove is available as an option. The robust metal housing is designed with a protection class of up to IP65.
With the integrated 2-line LCD and the keypad, not only can individual IP addresses be assigned, but the current actual value and the respective setpoint can also be directly monitored for diagnostics. Furthermore, via the display and the keyboard, it is possible to check each stored parameter and to adjust it if necessary. Possible operating data can be read out and errors can be diagnosed without an analysis via the fieldbus being necessary.
With the integrated position controller, the setpoints are approached accurately with up to 1024 steps per revolution. With an optional integrated electromechanical brake, the position is also held securely in the case of external mechanical loads. Even without a brake, though, users never lose control of the positions. The integrated absolute value sensor also detects motions in the no-current state, which is why the actual position of the drive can be read back at any time when the system is switched on again.
For more information contact Instrotech, +27 10 595 1831, sales@instrotech.co.za, www.instrotech.co.za
| Tel: | +27 10 595 1831 |
| Email: | sales@instrotech.co.za |
| www: | www.instrotech.co.za |
| Articles: | More information and articles about Instrotech |
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