DRIVES, CONTROLS & AUTOMATION | INJECTION MOULDING
FAOURT POLMASATTICIOSN Taking a closer look at the options available for
When it comes to
selecting drives,
controls, automation
systems and software
for plastics machinery such as
extruders and injection moulding
machines, KEB Automation can
provide a complete tailored
solution for machine manufacturers,
including servo motors, gearmotors,
permanent magnet brakes, drive
controllers (with integrated functional
safety if required), PLCs, HMIs and
application software.
As Tim Aufderheide, application
engineer plastics machinery
at KEB Automation states: “Our
customers in the plastics industry
expect a complete solution for the
automation of their machine. The
aim is to implement a system with
coordinated components. In the
field of extruders, for example, we
can offer a 360-degree solution. We
supply not only the hardware in the
form of HMIs, drive controllers and
servo motors, but also the software
including appropriate visualisation.
Today, users of smartphones and
tablets are used to finding a clear
and intuitive user interface. When
creating software for our HMIs, userfriendliness
and intuitive operation
play an important role. This also
selecting a complete 360-degree solution for plastics
injection moulding and extruder machines
includes the development of a
modern HMI interface, which not only
takes the function into account, but
also the design.”
KEB’s extruder software consists
of two project parts: one for the PLC
and one for the HMI interface. Both
are project frameworks that the
customer can use to extend their
software project with the desired
features. As Aufderheide puts it: “The
customer can expand the range
of features using KEB’s Combivis
studio software, which is similar to
dealing with open source software.
By combining hardware with
corresponding software, we
are offering our customers
advantages and set ourselves apart
from other solutions in the industry.”
In order to save time and
resources in their own software
development, customers can use
an existing software core to build
additional functions on top of. Due to
the extendable nature of the project
framework, it is possible to provide
the machine with its own ‘business
card’. As Aufderheide explains:
“We want to give small and medium
sized companies the opportunity
to bring their machines up to date
with a multitude of features already
implemented in advance and a
modern HMI design, without having
to create complete control software.”
“In addition, when developing the
software solution for extruders, we paid
particular attention to compliance with
Euromap standards, so that it’s ready
for use in Industry 4.0 applications
thanks to the use of open interfaces. For
example, the machine can simply be
connected to the Internet via a router,
so remote maintenance and secure,
online access are not a problem.”
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