Ana-Digi Systems was recently approached by Wolf Laudien, director at Roemers Grinding Works, to upgrade one of its 2-ton flatbed planers. The machine had an AC motor to drive a DC generator which in turn provided power to a 55 kW DC motor, which drives the planing bed to and fro. The control systems were post WW2 German switchgear that wasted energy just by being in the cabinet.
The project was overseen by Brian Gross, director at Ana-Digi, and proved to be a great opportunity to control the machine with the LSLV iS7 VDS, LSIS iRU (Innovative Regen Unit) and LSIS control systems. Roemers are proud owners of a PV array with 3 phase 60 kW being generated and augment their power usage from time to time with a generator. Thus the LSIS-iRU and the energy saving capacity of the iS7 VSD were welcomed with open arms for on-grid savings.
Finally, after all the engineering and conversions were done to the Billeter Boehringer Planer and it had been fitted with a 37 kW motor, an LSIS iS7 37 kW inverter able to deliver the necessary 200% over torque on startup of the planer bed due to the high acceleration requirements was added. In turn, the LSIS iRU regenerates about 1/6 of the power to the grid at the end of each 6 second cycle of the planer.
The control panel housing the LSIS XEC-DR60SU and LSIS-XP10 function-key HMI and iS7 is more than 70% smaller than the original panel with far less to go wrong. The machine is now able to run with improved efficiency completing every cycle with more precision and the pleasing reduction of power usage. Laudien has subsequently commissioned Ana-Digi to implement changes to additional machines which are using the same archaic equipment, with similar results in performance and economy achievements expected.
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