HILLS INDUSTRIES - LADDER PRODUCTION MACHINERY Job No:#3389
DESCRIPTION
When Hills decided that their existing ladder production machinery was not keeping pace with improved technology and increased consumer demand, they commissioned MPA Engineering to design, supply and install a new control system for a fibreglass drilling machine. This new system uses a Servo Motor to drive a 4000mm long linear actuator with a gripper that draws ladder legs into the machine, a pair at a time. The machine then uses seven pneumatically operated vertical and horizontal drills to simultaneously drill customised holes down each side of the ladder legs. Various drills have additional cylinders, which allow the drill to be offset to different positions. Once the holes are drilled the ladder legs are automatically moved via a conveyor system.One of the primary benefits of the new system is its increased accuracy and reliability, resulting in identical parts and a reduced percentage of reject product. As well as being extremely reliable the position speed of the machine is capable of operating at an extremely rapid pace - up to 60m per minute. The new machine is completely programmable from a menu of functions using plain text for modifying the "part" programs with programs being entered via the TP170A. Easy commands that alleviates any PLC programming when modifying part programs, means that operators don't need PLC programming skills in order to update or create programs.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
The MPA designed automation system uses a Siemens AC Brushless Servo Motor (11Nm) and a Siemens Servo Drive (611U), together with a Siemens PLC (S7300 315-2DP) and a Siemens TP170A touch panel as the HMI. This hardware is complemented by a customised version of the MPA EasyBatch software. The 611U servo system is a closed loop positioning system, which is interfaced with the Siemens PLC via Profibus. The Servo Drive controls all the positioning functions, while the PLC provides the position and speed set points.
PLC
Siemens S7300
PROJECT COST $45,000
