Business News
PC control for injection moulding and blow moulding machines
Wednesday 27. October 2010 - At K 2010, the international trade show for plastic and rubber which will take place between 27 October and 3 November in Düsseldorf, Beckhoff will demonstrate its PC- and EtherCAT-based control solutions for plastic machines and introduce a new turnkey solution for injection moulding machines. The Beckhoff control architecture is based on tried and tested PC control technology and supports servo-electric, hybrid and hydraulic drive concepts.
The “TwinCAT Injection Molding PLC Framework” from Beckhoff is the basis for the turnkey solution for injection moulding machines. Field-proven technology modules such as the controller for injection and holding pressure offer optimum solutions for the injection moulding process. The open, PC-based architecture of the Beckhoff control system enables the machine manufacturer to use in-house expertise or ready-made software components from Beckhoff.
TwinCAT, the software PLC for PC-based control technology, helps to unlock the capabilities of modern PC architectures for increasing product quality and machine efficiency. A Windows CE or XP based visualisation system is available for machine operation, which together with the “Injection Molding PLC Framework” forms an integrated solution for injection moulding machines. In this way the development time is reduced without limiting options for in-house technology developments. To accompany the software solution Beckhoff offers a 12-inch Panel PC customised for injection moulding applications. The key arrangement is optimised for the injection moulding process and facilitates operation of standard machines with different options.
Beckhoff also developed a new compact and cost-effective control solution for blow moulding machines based on Intel Atom processors. It consists of a 6.5-inch Panel PC and a technology software for blow moulding machines, including visualisation. This means that PC control from Beckhoff with high-quality I/O components and EtherCAT is now also available for cost-sensitive applications.
Universal high-speed Ethernet
The application of EtherCAT, the fast real-time Ethernet fieldbus system, in plastics machines increases the machine efficiency and the quality of the end product. For logging temperatures directly at the injection cylinder or the tool, the tried and tested Beckhoff fieldbus modules of the FM series are now also available for EtherCAT.
To increase the energy efficiency of injection moulding and blow moulding machines there is a trend towards using servo-electric drives instead of hydraulic valves. This is the first time that Beckhoff will show the complete range of its servo drive series AX5100 to 170 A at a plastic industry fair.
A pick-and-place robot with delta kinematics will be used to demonstrate the technology for handling systems. New extrusion control options complement the Beckhoff range for system solutions in the plastics industry.