MACHINE BUILDING, FRAMEWORKS & SAFETY FEATURE Taking control of automated fabrication
A drive solution from STOBER has enabled ROMA, the manufacturer of roller shutters, venetian blinds and textile screens, to improve process reliability while removing the need for costly reworking
used for the Z-axis. To ensure that the
five heads do not collide with each other on the gear rack, STOBER engineers implemented threefold collision protection that included controller monitoring of the positions in relation to each other; software limit switches that were parameterised
R
OMA, the international manufacturer of roller shutters, venetian blinds and textile
screens, had to drill and screw up to three aluminium or plastic profile rails using an unmonitored screw-fed unit. Frequently, the drill screw created chips between the screw head and the profile rail, meaning that the system had to be reworked manually. So, needing a new solution, the company turned to STOBER. “ROMA’s brief to the design team was for a
system that, as well as eliminating the need for manual intervention and reworking, enabled them to process pre-drilled profile rails in lengths from 710mm to 5.7m,” explained Martin Preece from STOBER. “A further requirement was that the new system needed to be sensitive to the torque properties of plastic in the final tightening process. The design was also to be equipped with two drawers for loading the profile rails for processing, either separately or synchronously.” To meet the demands, the company helped
create a new multiple screwing unit that joins profile rails, and monitors screw depth and tightening torque. Working with machine manufacturer
SOGA Gallenbach, STOBER supplied the automation technology.
THE NEW SOLUTION The new drive solution feeds the profile rail screws automatically and inserts them pneumatically. It also includes one PE series planetary gear with a belt and ballscrew drive combined with an EZ synchronous servo motor for each drawer, enabling them to move automatically using two Y-axes. The unit is also equipped with five mounting
heads that move independently of each other in the X direction on a gear rack. Each head was equipped with a Z-axis and drilling axis, as well as providing ZV_PE series rack and pinion drives with EZ synchronous servo motors for the X-axis. EZ-motors with ballscrew drive are also
with the permitted travel range for each X-axis; and a mechanical safety switch located on each head. Furthermore, the lightest possible compact motor was installed for the drilling spindle, which allowed rapid positioning for the five axes. In addition to drilling, countersinking was
made possible by the integration of STOBER’s encoderless LeanMotor (LM), which is said to
be significantly lighter and more compact than an asynchronous motor. With the same output, it is more cost-efficient and more rugged than a servo drive and uses a single, standard, power cable. This made it possible for ROMA to set speed and torque to any point, from standstill to maximum speed, with full torque control. Each head has three motors located as
closely as possible. These reach the energy efficiency class IE5 with up to 96% efficiency, which gives the added benefits of lower energy consumption and long service life. Preece added: “STOBER combined the motors
with new double-axis controllers from their SI6 series. This highly dynamic solution also makes challenging movements possible, with enhanced safety aspects provided through the integration of STO (Safe Torque Off) and SS1 (Safe Stop 1) safety functions, certified in accordance with EN 13849-1 (PL e, cat. 4).”
STOBER T: 01543 458858
SICK’S OPEN SERVICE FOR IO-LINK FUNCTION BLOCKS
A pioneering open software service that creates ready-made IO-Link function blocks to integrate data from any IO-Link device into a wide range of common PLC control systems has been launched by the sensor manufacturer SICK. The SICK Function Block Factory is the first web-based service of
its type that enables users to create function blocks automatically from any IO-link device with an I/O device description (IODD), no matter what the device type or its manufacturer. Using the SICK Function Block Factory service, users without
specialist IO-Link knowledge can configure and create their own function block libraries and reuse them in their PLC programs as often as needed. The new 24/7 service offers to save time and cost, for example when setting up an IO-Link device for the first time, replacing a device, or adjusting parameters during operation. To create a function block, users simply sign in to the SICK 24/7 web service, select the IODD file
for the IO-link device and the chosen PLC system. The name of the function block can be edited to suit naming conventions. Then, the IO-Link parameters and key features of the function block are selected. With a click to finish, and an easy e-cart payment, the function block is ready to go. The function block created can be used to read and write parameters and service data for any
IO-Link device. It handles the entire acyclic IO-Link communication including data interpretation, index and sub-index resolution as well as byte-swapping, if required. As part of the library provided, the data structure already contains all required variables, so the
need for manual variable declaration is eliminated. The scope and content of libraries can be defined individually through free selection of the available device parameters and can be adjusted at any time. In addition, process data parser functions can be generated, simplifying and speeding up PLC
programming considerably, as well as helping to avoid errors. The process data parser function makes it possible to systematically access any individual piece of information in the IO-Link process data without having been previously informed of its structure and contents from manuals. In factory or logistics operations, dozens of sensors could be performing the same function. The
ability to create function blocks quickly and easily will save time, cost and prevent production delays. SICK
/ DESIGNSOLUTIONS
www.sick.co.uk DESIGN SOLUTIONS | DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 9
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