TECHNOLOGY | ROBOTS
very high-performance and above all secure communications model, and we are confident that it will establish itself as the standard in the plastics industry,” he says. In the Engel system solution, machine, robot and peripherals all access a common database, which reduces the risk of errors and, above all, increases efficiency. “For example, the early start of the robot can be
Above: Engel demonstration of its Clearmelt method for the highly automated fabrication of decor elements with real wood veneer
Holzner, who handles management of project planning for Engel’s Automation and Periphery division. “We guarantee uniform operating logic and common data management across all Engel products, which means that whoever can operate the injection moulding machine can also operate the robots and the peripherals. In particular, this makes the use of articulated robots much easier.” Holzner highlights the growing importance of 3D simulation in planning systems. “When several robots and various peripheral units are interacting with each other, it is difficult to understand the process based on a two-dimensional drawing,” he says. “In 3D, on the other hand, we can precisely simulate all sequences and interactions, detect interfering contours and conduct a realistic cycle time analysis.” Matthias Mayr, who heads the newly established
Right: Engel says that graphic visualisation of the process makes its Easix articulated robot as easy to use as one of its Viper linear robots
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Engel Composite Systems, says this feature takes on particular importance in production systems combin- ing injection moulding with thermoplastic composite processing and handling technolo- gies. “3D is essential, especially when using articulated robots,” he says. “In composite systems, we often have multiple interactions between the articulated robots and the periphery. The goal is to produce composite components in the cycle of injection moulding processing. In the case of thermoplastic composite processes, we are already frequently achieving this. Steps such as warming up and consolidating preforms follow the rhythm of the injection moulding step.”
Smart factories Discussing the use of robots in “smart” factories, Holzner highlights the importance of the OPC UA communications protocol. “This provides us with a
INJECTION WORLD | April 2018
very easily set via a standardised entry field in the CC300 display of the machine. Furthermore, our Easix articulated robots can synchronise their movements with the movements – such as of core pulls or ejectors – within the mould. Engel Easix robots are currently the only ones on the market that do not require any additional, expensive hardware for this. Especially in large systems, this typically results in a significant reduction of cycle times and investment costs.” Engel may be a leader in robotics among injection machine makers, but it is not alone. At Fakuma 2017 last October, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery said it is expanding its expertise and capacity in order to introduce automated production processes into the injection moulding of plastic parts. This includes a wide range of standard automation options with the addition of tailored options to meet specific customer needs. Production and the integration of automated solutions for customer orders will take place at the company’s Wiehe site. In parallel, the company is also stepping up its cooperation with partner companies in order to develop very specific and complex automated processes for injection mould- ing production. Strengthening and expanding the company’s automation business is a strategic goal, the company says. It is enhancing its sales, service and engineering systems to achieve these goals, as well as manufacturing capability. At the same show, KraussMaf- fei showed off its new LRX small robot, which digitally controls its own vacuum to make component demoulding more
energy-efficient and cost-effective. The new control monitors the compressed air consumption and identifies leaking material
early, while an additional blow-off function makes it easier to store small components on the conveyor belt taking them away from the machine, the supplier says. “The air saving function is comparable with the auto- matic start-stop mechanism
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