MAC


leave the protection field of a safety light curtain where PSDI is applied.


At the heart of the technology is a safety light curtain, like SICK ’s high- performance deTec4 light curtain. The deTec4 light curtains can be used in conjunction with a SICK Flexi Soft safety controller to implement PSDI. The SICK Flexi Soft has flexible, user-friendly, safety certified PSDI and ‘press contact’ function blocks offering a safety control system meeting the highest levels of safety. Additionally, since Flexi Soft is a modular controller, it could also be used for additional safety functions on th e machine like Emergency stop or guar d interlocking .


PRESENCE SENSING DEVICE INI


PRESENCE SENSING DEVICE INITIATIONATION


IA


PSDI is a technology that uses safety light curtains to initiate a safe start to a machine such as a mechanical press. When an operator has placed a


hands are withdrawn, the l component in the machine


and their ight curtain can safely detect that there is no


obstruction and the press will start the press cycle automatically. In the


meantime, the operator’s hands are free to pick up the next piece to be machined and have it ready to replace the one being worked on.


If the operator reaches through the light beam when there is a hazardous movement, this is detecte d and th e


machine is stopped and a reset is required. However, trips due to infringements can be minimised by implementing techniques such as ‘upstroke muting’ which means that when the press moves upwards, and is not dangerous, the light curtain can be ignored.


When the finished part is retrieved, a new one can be inserted at the same time. If the process changes, the PSDI technology is flexible enough to allow the option of increasing the number of times an operator needs to break the light curtain field before initiating another cycle. This is known as single break or double break and the number of infringements could, in theory, be increased to any number required.


However single or double break normally covers all applications and standards such as EN 693 and EN 692, for presses, limits the number of breaks to two. The application of PSDI to replace a conventional two-hand control system means that there are four actions instead of six, and the time savings are very easy to see (see www.youtube.com/watch?v=- kRaO6-jrQE). The timings are enhanced by the smooth workflow instead of stopping and starting, with less cumulative operator fatigue.


One precision presswork manufacturer, Birmingham Speci demonstrated the


productivity increases alities, has


that can be achieved by using th e


PROFI AFE M DULE FOR DRIVE ELECTRONICS controller, NORD frequency inverters now provide


PROFISAFE MODULE FOR DRIVE ELECTRONICS In PROFINET environments with a safety


safe functions for drive axes according to SIL3 and Performance Level e (category 4). A PROFIsafe interface module connects up AC vector drives with a safe PLC. The optional module can integrate safe input and output signals such as for emergency stop buttons and light barriers. It can also evaluate safe rotary encoder signals. The module features two redundant microprocessors and self-monitoring capability. A separate, safely isolated power supply ensures availability. Five safety modes can


to four new


functionality, thus coverin TU4-PNS module is availa range (SSR), safe direction


motor-integrated units.


A developer andmanufacturer of drive technology for over 50 years, NORD DRIVESYSTEMS employs more than 3,300 people and is one of the world's leading suppliers of full-scale, comprehensive drive sol NORD’s portfolio ranges fromstandard drives to customized solutions for demanding application requirements, e.g. based on energy


gy-efficient or explosion-protected drives. Subsidiaries and distrib


utors in utions.


89 countries around the world and an extensive service network ensure minimal lead times and provide customer-oriented services wherever needed on short notice. NORD’s wide variety of gear types covers torques from10Nmto 250kNmandmore. The company also supplies motors with outputs from.12kWto 1,000kWandmanufactures frequency inverters up to 160kW. NORD’s inverter line-up features conventional models for installation in control cabinets as well as design types for fully integrated drive units in decentralised automation environments.


NORD GEAR UK T: 0 : 01235 534404 /AUTOMATIONATION /AUTOMAT www ww.nord.cord.com


be parameterised to suit the required application profile: safely limited speed (SLS), safely limited speed input (SDI), safe operating stop (SOS), safe speedmonitoring (SSM). The SK ble for NORDAC LINK, NORDAC FLEX and NORDAC PRO series inverters with STO g drive electronics for control cabinet installation, field distribution systems, and


MACHINERY SAFETY FEAT RE SAFETY FEA ATURE


SICK’s high-performance deTe


with a S K Flexi Soft


safety controller to implement PSDI, aI, a technology that uses safety light cur ains to initiate a safe start to a machine such as a


K’s high-performance deTec4 light curtains can


Tec4 light cur ains can be used in conjunctbe used in conjunctionion with a SICK Flexi Soft safety controller to implement P


technology that uses safety light curtains to initiate a safe start to a machine such as a mechanical pressmechanical press


system. Says operations manager, Frazer Kelly: “Since our introduction of the PSDI, we have seen productivity increase by 30 per cent and setting times reduce by 50 per cent, allowing ease of access for maintenance, tool setters and all operations around the machine.”


In addition, the operator has to move and stretch less and as a result, there is better ergonomics with less employee strain, and operators remain more alert; a less stressed employee earning more money is a happier one. As is the production manager and factory management.


As well as meeting the latest E N


standards, the deTec4 has no blind zones and offers optimum positioning and protection against unsafe access while enabling ongoing efficient operation. This advance in ‘smart’ light curtain development has been recognised with an International Forum (iF) Product Design Award.


The deTec4 is configured and its range adjusted automatically, without requiring any additional set-u p and diagnosti c codes are simple to follow and additional functions can be set up with the Flexi Soft safety controller.


Safety distances can beminimised to achieve best-possiblemachine


integration as well as higher operator productivity. The deTec4 range offers protective field heights in increments from300mmto 2,100mmand a choice of finger (14mm) or hand (30mm) resolution providing protection against operator intervention reliably with a range up to 2 1 metres. In addition, it complies with performance level ‘e’ (EN ISO 13849), Type 4 (IEC61496) and SIL 3 (IEC61508).


SICK UK


T: 01727 831121 www.sick co.u


T: 01727 831121 ww .sick.co.uk


AU AUTOMA MAT ATION | DECEMBER//JANUAR 201 JANUARY 2017 27 27


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