FEATURE MOTION CONTROL
MOTION CONTROL SUBSYSTEM HELPS SENSOR EVALUATION W
hen designing its new Process Analytical Technology (PAT) powder-stream conditioning chute (a full-scale development platform
for characterising analytical sensors for use in continuous pharma or similar manufacturing processes), ExpoPharma needed a standalone Ethernet- based three-axis micropositioning sub-system, complete with planetary gear units, pre-programmed HMI and a temperature controller. To meet the requirements, Mclennan’s distribution partner JVL supplied
three positioning axes: MIS232 series integrated microstepping motors which combine motor, drive, controller and comms in a single package. Fitted with Mclennan’s IP57-M01 10:1 ratio planetary gear units to provide high resolution angular positioning, each drive micropositions special ‘wheels’ or ‘flipper-shaped’ end-effectors that are designed to collect sample material from the powder stream and present it to the sensor being assessed through a probe window. The sensors are typically particle image analysers,
Raman spectroscopy probes and near infrared (NIR) spectrometers, so the characterisation process necessitates its corresponding and different shaped end-effector to manage the sample collection (and for some a PAT probe cleaning regime) with different positioning sequences in terms of angular travel, speed, acceleration and deceleration. According to the company the solution, which was
both compact and easy to install, helped with the product development process while less cabling aided the installation process. Of further benefit, JVL’s integrated motor technology is proven to be inherently better protected against electrical noise, an important requirement for the sensitive sensor equipment under evaluation on the platform.
Electrical installation for the microstepping motors was achieved through
on-board M12 connectors for drive power and the daisy-chained Ethernet connection to the HMI. Although an ‘open-loop’ microstepping motor solution was used, to boost positional accuracy and to ensure that axis position is always known on power-up (with no homing procedure required), optional absolute encoders were included and wired directly to the HMI from another M12 connector on the integrated motor. Mclennan also provided the wiring for the temperature controller – each end effector includes a heater and temperature sensor that is used to reduce the possibility of powder material sticking as well as to aid the cleaning of PAT probe windows. Mclennan’s scope of supply covered the programming and commissioning
of the complete sub-system for the Multi-Probe Chute, with the three motor axes part of a Modbus TCP protocol network segment which also included an MT400 series HMI from Kinco and an EMKO PIDQuadro temperature controller. The three motion axes, pre-programmed for comms interfacing and configuration, are slaved to the HMI which is assigned as the sub-network master. Kinco’s HMIware configuration software was used to programme a series of graphical screens that display or assign values for the positioning axes. There is also provision for manually positioning each axis with jogging and other functions to help develop specific motion sequences used during sensor evaluation. The temperature controller’s display, level setting and alarm functions for each of the three end-effector mechanisms are also slaved to the HMIs. As a result, each axis with its different positional and dynamic
motion requirements, and corresponding end-effector temperature settings, are all easily selected, interrogated or diagnosed.
Mclennan
www.mclennan.co.uk
34 JULY/AUGUST 2020 | DESIGN SOLUTIONS
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