Cimtec Automation Blog
Showing posts with label Engineering. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Engineering. Show all posts

Friday, December 11, 2015

CIMTEC Problem Solving


This piece consists of three separate case studies, which highlight the problem-solving ability of CIMTEC. The company names will remain anonymous.

1) Problem / Requirement:

Problems holding tolerances on upstream processes and manual assembly, resulting in high scrap levels of finished products.
Solution: Precision Assembly System
CIMTEC developed an automated assembly using two six-axis robots, with the robot presenting each component to a camera for inspection prior to assembly so out-of-tolerance sub-components would not result in a scrapped final assembly.
Result:
The customer not only achieved huge savings by eliminating the amount of scrap, but also increased overall quality and production by detecting faulty components before final assembly.

2) Problem / Requirement:

Scrap on a multi-layer web line was too high, due to problems with web movement causing poor seals.
Solution: Dynamic Tracking System
CIMTEC engineers provided a system that added cameras to measure the web position in both X and Y axes, with servos to move the press based on data from the camera.
Result:
The accuracy provided by this measurement system resulted in a measurable reduction in scrap, thus increasing product quality. The savings were dramatic, and the customer is moving forward with similar applications on more lines of productions within the facility.

3) Problem/ Requirement:

The company needed to maintain tighter tolerances on steel plate thickness used by their customers in stamping operations.
Solution: Laser Thickness Measurement System
CIMTEC developed and installed laser thickness monitoring to log dimensions and reject out-of-tolerance steel plate. Data derived from logging over time allowed a reduction in plate thickness from the previous manufacturing method.
Result:
The company saved a considerable amount by reducing raw material cost. Data derived from logging over time allowed a reduction in plate thickness from their supplier, saving them hundreds of thousands of dollars.


Monday, July 15, 2013

CIMTEC Automation Invites You to Attend PROFINET Training on Sept. 12th

CIMTEC Automation LLC is participating in the upcoming PROFINET training seminar being held in Raleigh North Carolina on September 12th 2013.

CIMTEC Automation sees this event as a unique opportunity for engineering and technical professionals to gain a thorough understanding of PROFINET. This event is sponsored by CIMTEC and other member organizations making this a free event for all registrants.

profinetThis event will cover:

Introduction
- Organization behind PROFINET
- System Architecture: PROFINET and other buses

PROFINET Fundamentals
- Industrial Ethernet Overview

PROFINET: How do I…
… connect IO & a legacy fieldbus?
… get data from sensors/actuators?
… integrate machines & do motion control?
… install my infrastructure & use wireless connections?

Wrap-up and Resources

  Register Now,
  Seating is Limited!



Event Details

Training Class DATE

September 12th 2013Training Class LOCATION

Raleigh, NC (Hilton North Raleigh)


Training Class TIME SCHEDULE


8:00am                Registration and Light Breakfast

8:30am                Class begins

10:00am              Morning Break, coffee and other beverages

12:00noon           Hosted Lunch

1:00pm                Class resumes

3:15pm                Afternoon Break, snacks and beverages

4:30pm                Class ends


  Register Now,
  Seating is Limited!



Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Computer Dynamics, A Division of Cimtec Automation, releases i5Processors on the WN Product Platforms

dp_i5_wnComputer Dynamics, A Division of Cimtec Automation, is pleased to announce the addition of the Intel Core i5 processor to the DisplayPac-WN family of products. The DisplayPac-WN family of Industrial Panel PCs is one of Computer Dynamics longest running product lines and it now incorporates the newer 3rd Generation Intel Core i5 processors.  In addition to the performance boost from the newer processor technology, the new Mini-ITX Intel HM76 based motherboard supports up to 16GB of DDR3 memory.

The Core i5 processor is an excellent choice for customers that need higher performance, but want to balance cost and power consumption.  The DisplayPac-WN product family continues to offer a wide selection of panel sizes, packaging options, and touchscreen technologies.  Computer Dynamics Sales Engineers are trained to suggest the right product for our customer’s applications.  The Intel Core i5 offering gives our Sales Engineers another way to help our customers choose the right product for any industrial PC application.

Based on the third generation Intel Core i5 processors, the DisplayPac-i5-WN series of Panel PCs are an excellent performance solution for Industrial Computing needs. The platform offers flat panels ranging in size from 15" to 21.5" and come with a touchscreen. The systems can be configured either with a panel-mount plate or with a stand-alone chassis. Additionally, the displays can be made sunlight readable.

The Core i5 version of the DisplayPac-WN fits in same footprint as the Core 2 Duo DisplayPac-WN systems for easy upgrade.  The DisplayPac-WN-C2D products will continue to be sold as they are today.

Please visit our website at www.cdynamics.com for more information.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Camber Inspection System (CIS) from Cimtec Engineered Products

Often during manufacturing process of bars, beams and machined parts maintaining a tight tolerance for straightness, run out and roundness is required. Automating this inspection process can improve productivity, efficiency, quality and throughput.

The Cimtec Camber Inspection System (CIS) utilizes a high accuracy SICK laser based sensor to measure the distance from a fixed position on the users machine to the part to be inspected. As in the most recent example of a bar straightening system for major metals manufacturer in North Carolina, the sensor head was mounted to the ram of the hydraulic press for straightening large diameter metal bars.

During the straightening operation the system performed two (2) full rotations and provided a stop signal to alert the customer’s machine controller of a high or low point during the product rotation. A Horner PLC with integral HMI coordinated the dimensional measurement information and displayed the results to the operator.



The Camber Inspection System (CIS) interprets analog signals from the SICK DT20 HI high accuracy Laser based sensor. This allows the system to determine the high and low positions throughout the product rotation very quickly and accurately. The Camber Inspection System (CIS) can be easily programmed and provides simple product set up selection for the operator.

A visual indicator light and option for audible alarm is also provided to alert the operator when the high or low point is identified around the product circumference. The physical mounting considerations take into account the potentially harsh working environment. The controls are typically housed in a NEMA 4X cabinet capable of being mounted at a typical operator control station.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

GE-IP Innovation Showcase - Wrightsville Beach - Oct 15



Come see how new collaborative automation solutions from GE Intelligent Platforms will enable you to transform your business

GE Intelligent Platforms is changing what is possible in the world of industrial automation. We invite you to join us for the unveiling of GE’s revolutionary new automation solutions at one of our global Innovation Showcase events.

To register for the Monday, October 15th showcase, please Click Here

Wrightsville Beach Location
The Blockade Runner Beach Resort
275 Waynick Boulevard
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480

Agenda:
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Presentation
3:00 Labs



The Future of the Industrial Revolution begins here


Monday, July 23, 2012

Cognex DataMan 300 & 302 Achieves Higher Read Rates

The new DataMan 300 series barcode readers from Cognex allow you to take a quantum leap in reading performance. Become more efficient and achieve higher read rates with the DataMan 300 and 302 unit.Dataman 300

The new DataMan 300 series of readers was developed to handle the difficult-to-read DPM (Direct Part Mark) codes as well as provide high read rates for challenging 1-D barcodes and 2-D Data Matrix codes.

  • 1DMax+™ with Hotbars™ technology provides higher read rates of damaged 1-D linear barcodes at a faster pace than ever before.

  • Controllable, field interchangeable lighting modules allow you to create the best possible lighting for your part, ensuring the highest read rates.

  • Intelligent tuning automatically adjusts the settings of the integrated lighting to find the optimal light setup for the part.

Additional Features and Benefits:

  • Enhanced 1DMax+ and 2DMax+ code-reading algorithms for reading the most challenging 1-D and 2-D codes

  • Flexible lens options C-Mount lens, S-Mount or a variable focus liquid lens to provide maximum depth of field flexibility? One reader does it all!

  • Cognex Connect communications suite supports industrial protocols as well as RS-232 connectivity for integration into legacy systems.

DataMan 300 series is available in two base models:



DataMan 300 : 800 x 600 pixels
DataMan 302 : 1280 x 1024 pixels

And with two algorithm options:

'L' for 1-D codes and 'X' for 1-D and 2-D codes.

So the four complete models are: DataMan 300L (DMR-300L-00), 300X (DMR-300X-00), 302L (DMR-302L-00), and 302X (DMR-302X-00).

The DataMan 302 is ideal for reading for reading very small DPM codes in a large field of view or on small components. Click here for more information on the fixed mount ID readers!

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Cimtec 3D Surface Inspection



For the full-length version of the video, click here.

Cimtec Engineered Products is pleased to announce the release of 'Cimtec3D' software paired with 3D laser line profile sensors and cameras.  This capability allows us and our customers to move beyond the traditional 2D image inspection to the realm of true 3 dimensional surface inspection.

The 3D laser line profile sensors and cameras provide a scan of the part or surface outputting the full x, y, and z data to Cimtec3D.  They are precalibrated sensors that house the camera imager and laser line generator together for very precise real-world readings.  Cimtec3D has the ability to view and analyze a surface profile-by-profile, or stitch them altogether to view as a 'whole part' scan in a 16-bit grayscale image.  Statistical analysis and other image preprocessing is also applied to the image for nominal surface detection.

The 3D inspection finds surface flaws and reports their location in x, y, and z along with size characteristics such as:  area, length, elongation, spread, and volume.  After inspection, you have the ability to save the 16-bit images with or without the graphical results, and the ability to save the data to csv file.

Lastly, the GUI can be customized for your application and need, including a run-time display with operator interface.

Please contact your Cimtec representative today for more information or click here.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Cimtec to Host GE-IP Innovation Showcase

Cimtec will host the Innovation Showcase stop at GE-IP Headquarters in Charlottesville, VA. on July 10th.

This will be a great chance to see  the GE-IP factory and meet the design team there.   Also be the first to demo GE-IP's new family of products including the RXi



Bernie Anger,  GM of GE-IP Controls and Communications Systems will give his vision for the future of the automation industry.



Sign up below.   http://www.ge-ip.com/showcase or call us

GE Intelligent Platforms is changing what is possible in the world of industrial automation. Our innovative new PROFINET-enabled PACSystems controller and I/O solutions, industrial PCs, HMI solutions and cloud-based collaborative automation platforms are re-defining application development, deployment and management, and eliminating the traditional confines of manufacturing and process automation to deliver:

• Improved plant performance

Increase uptime

Lower total cost of ownership

Whether you are developing or deploying new equipment, expanding an existing process, or modernizing your facility, these emerging technologies will transform your approach to automation and dramatically improve productivity.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Cimtec is Hiring!

Do you know of anybody that would be a good fit for our team?

Please have them contact Kelly:     h r @cimtec.com

Job listings here:
http://www.cimtec.com/careers/

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

New GP4000 Pro-face HMI


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Pro-Face America has launched the New GP-4000 series - an innovative new Operator Interface HMI offering extensive connectivity, energy efficient LCD with LED display, and comprehensive features with GP-Pro EX 3.01 HMI Development software.

Pro-Face GP-4000 Series uses the NEW GP-Pro EX v3 with extensive features, expanding functionality and connectivity for every HMI unit.

GP-4000 Series Operator Interface has Best in Class Connectivity, Powerful HMI Functionality and Full Compatibility with Pro-face GP-Pro EX 3.0 and GP-4000 products and projects.

Pro-face Operator Interface Series Overview:
     
  • Easy to Use: Operators can easily monitor conditions and the operating environment in real time using 3D real parts.

  • Saves Energy: Reduces on-site power consumption in a variety of ways including an on-board LED backlight in all models, and a dimmer setting used to decrease and eventually stand-by the display after being idle for a set period of time.

  • Quick On-site Recovery: Simply touch the alarm message to check the relevant data in chronological sequence.

  • Remote Monitoring: GP-Viewer EX software provides various remote monitoring functions, such as checking the screen of the GP located on a production site from a remote office.

  • Additional information on the GP-4000 series can be found on the Pro-face America website at www.profaceamerica.com/gp4000



Tuesday, March 6, 2012

GE-IP Releases Proficy Historian 4.5

The latest 4.5 release of Proficy Historian expands on the unparalleled power of our 4.x series Enterprise Historian platform with significant scalability, performance, and functionality improvements.  This release allows our customers to fundamentally change the way they use Historian to aggregate and accelerate information across their enterprises.

For customers new to the product, this is an ideal opportunity to take advantage of Proficy Historian as a foundation for operational excellence, and for our existing customers, a chance to upgrade their Historian implementations and take advantage of the powerful new features.  Start thinking about the expanded role Proficy Historian can play in improving your competitive advantage!

The following outlines the high level benefits of the latest version 4.0 release:

Major Scalability & Performance Enhancements

Proficy Historian scales to significant new levels, allowing customers to leverage data across their operations, both in plants or across global enterprises.  Across-board gains have been made in volume of information that can be collected per server, data throughput, and connectivity.

Expanded Functionality

New functionality required to deliver next-generation solutions in a wide range of operating environments, including condition-based collection, unsolicited tag compression timeout, and a new hybrid retrieval mode for enhanced data analysis.

Improved Compatibility & Integration

Proficy Historian empowers administrators to reduce operating costs, with flexibility & agility to support dynamically changing business conditions.  Key enhancements include a powerful new client access API, enhanced application examples,embedded applications support via Windows XPe, continued support for the latest Microsoft technologies, and full backward compatibility with 32-bit operating systems.

Ease of Use and Reduced Overall Cost of Ownership

Proficy Historian empowers administrators to reduce operating costs, with flexibility & agility to support dynamically changing business conditions.  Features such as enhanced archive management, improvements in system monitoring and management, and enhanced support for intermittent/low-bandwidth networks help our customers rapidly realize business benefit and sustain their advantage in a cost-efficient manner.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Migrating from older GE PLC’s

CIMTEC Automation  has been selling GE PLC’s since the mid-eighties introduction of the Series Six. Many of the PLC’s are still running factories today but there is an ever present fear that should they fail a replacement would not be easy to find. Many controls engineers also recognize that a proactive migration while the system is functioning would be less costly, less risky, and less stressful to all those involved.

While it can be easy to push the latest and greatest technology there can be roadblocks on the path to a newer control system. CIMTEC has developed and executed many migration projects using these steps to ensure a migration can be done with no surprises and for as low a cost as possible.
  1. Customer provides current program running in old system
  2. GE product specialist will review program to develop comprehensive proposal
  3. Upon acceptance of proposal migration begins and involves many steps:
    1. Hardware evaluation:
      1. What modules can stay as is?
      2. What modules require new firmware or chips?
      3. What modules need to be replaced?
    2. Program evaluation:
      1. How many rungs of logic are we dealing with?
      2. How many instructions won’t convert well?
      3. Are the rung comments in the right place?
      4. Do tag names follow current software rules/conventions or will they need to be manually changed?
      5. How complex will the I/O map change be?
      6. Should functions that are available now but were not historically be used to simplify logic?
      7. Are there portions of the program that should be removed entirely as they won’t be necessary?
      8. How much manual intervention will be required?
    3. Program conversion
    4. Proof read of converted program (3 hours to 3 weeks depending on length)
    5. Manual intervention of converted program
    6. Acquisition of proposed hardware
    7. Testing of program in proposed hardware

Delivery and installation of new hardware and converted program.

For more information please contact us

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Hirschmann offers lifetime warranty

New Lifetime Warranty Program Provides Customers the Ability to Register Their Devices and Receive an Extended Lifetime Warranty

Hirschmann extends the limited warranty of specific Hirschmann Ethernet products purchased after May 1, 2011 to lifetime.

CIMTEC Automation, an Authorized Hirschmann Distributor, invites you to take part in a limited-time offer from Hirschmann.  Hirschmann is extending the limited warranty on many of its products to a LIFETIME Warranty.

This program applies to purchases made in the United States and Canada and includes the following Ethernet switch families:

RS20, RS30, RS40, RSB20, MS20, MS30, RSR20, RS30, MACH100, MACH1000, OCTOPUS, as well as the BAT family of wireless Ethernet radios and the FiberINTERFACE series of fieldbus fiber media converters/transceivers.

To learn more or to register your switch, go to http://www.registermyswitch.com.



Friday, October 14, 2011

Identifying Registration Marks in Laminate Films

By using a registration mark, not only is the final print of higher quality, but less scrap is created by print passes that do not line up.

Many manufacturing processes rely on registration marks to line up sheet materials for cutting or printing. Some packaging companies use multi-laminate films for their packaging applications, and can require elaborate printed graphics that include several colors. If even one of the colors is offset, the resulting print can appear blurred. In order to maintain a high level of quality with these complex printing systems, printers use registration marks on the base film to act as an orientation point for multi-color printing so that all of the color passes a realigned. By using a registration mark not only is the final print of higher quality, but less scrap is created by print passes that do not line up.

The registration mark is only one part of the alignment process. The printing system has to be able to identify the registration mark and align either the base material or the printing apparatus accordingly. Traditionally, registration marks were aligned visually by the operator, and relied on the judgment of the operator to achieve accuracy. Other types of registration marks, such as perforations in the base material allowed the material to be aligned on pins to maintain the correct orientation. However, the human eye can only provide so much accuracy, and alignment pins are not always appropriate, depending on the type of material and its final use.

Additionally an eyespot is provided to assist with registration both by the manufacturer and by the end user. The consistency of the eyespot-to-eyespot dimension is not only of value during the printing process, but is also used to determine correct seal and cut-off dimensions for the packaging filler. Variation in either printed registration or eyespot repeatability can lead to packaging quality issues and value added product returns to the printed films manufacturer.

Using Digital Imaging to Improve Printing Quality

Today, advancements in digital imaging allow this technology to be applied to the printing process and to greatly improve the overall quality. Digital imaging can also be used to measure the distance between printed registration marks to minimize the amount of scrap that is generated.

Cimtec's Solution for Printing

Cimtec has developed a custom solution for this application specifically for the printing industry. A digital imaging system for this application consists of an optical sensor, such as a SICK high switching frequency (10 KHz) sensor, that will read the printed eyespot that is located along the edge of the material web. An SICK-Stegmann optical encoder is utilized to calculate the line speed based on the drive roll. The impression distance is then calculated by the PLC controller based on the time differential between eyespots multiplied by the line speed. The system includes a human machine interface (HMI) that has the capability to display multiple values. These values are called up individually by function keys on the controller front control panel:

  • Single impression distance measurement (F1)

  • Average impression dimension (F2-over X number of impressions as input by the operator F3)

  • Impression length tolerance value (F4-high and F5-low)

  • Impression count set point (F6)

  • Linear compensation factors (F7)



Output signals are provided when the dimensional tolerances values (F4) and (F5) are exceeded or to stop the line upon reaching the predetermined impression count (F6).

The alerts provided by this specific Cimtec solution will allow manufacturers to have a better handle on their printing operations and to maintain higher quality of the printing process. Through higher quality, manufacturers will reduce the amount of excess material as well as mis-printed material, which will in turn reduce overall production costs. Also, the improved consistency of the printing process has direct influence on maintaining a quality package during filling operations and improved end user satisfaction.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Design. Engineering. Automation. Support. We're with you every step ofthe way

CIMTEC increases productivity through process efficiency improvements for a wide variety of industrial automation clients. In updating and implementing hundreds of successful automation projects over the last two decades, our design engineers and project managers have a proven track record of improving manufacturing processes and streamlining engineered production systems.

Our system design engineers work closely with you to understand your existing processes and your desired production goals. Applying our many years of automation engineering experience in implementing automation projects, we can recommend the factory automation products and engineering design approach that will best solve your application to meet your goals.

Under the direction of a Project Manager assigned to your automation solution, our team of automation engineers will bring together the mechanical, electrical and software engineering aspects of your control system. The goal of each engineered system is to deliver improvements in productivity, efficiency and quality that will allow your process and factory to operate at its greatest capacity.

Once the solution is operational in your factory, you can count on continued support for the life of your system. Whether you need help to troubleshoot the system, spare parts,parts repaired, or start-up assistance, we're with you every step of the way. You can count on CIMTEC's Automation Engineering services for the life of your automation system.

Share your engineering issues with our team of automation engineers:

Phone: 1-877-524-6832

engineering@cimtec.com.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Software Services - SCADA and HMI Systems, Cimplicity, iFix Configuration

We specialize in identifying customers' core business issues and designing data collection systems that allow them to create visibility into their processes so as to best manage and control their operations.

Information Systems Survey

An initial audit of all existing automation and information assets provides the starting point for any successful Software implementation. Coupled with interviews with key staff to assess business requirements, we deliver a report outlining current strengths in your data systems and identifying possible risks or areas for improvement, with a suggested path forward to optimize information effectiveness.
Data Integration

Accurate and timely information is key for making major decisions in a manufacturing environment. Data collected from plant floor controllers and processes are invaluable to the operation of any manufacturing facility. Our engineers are experts at:

  • Making disparate SCADA and data collection systems communicate.

  • Eliminating the 'pen and paper' logging of data from the plant floor.

  • Integrating plant systems to ERP and business systems.

  • Applying tools to analyze plant-floor data.


Our team of engineers is versed in applying many of the leading software tools in the industrial market, including:

  • GE Intelligent Platforms's Proficy Suite

    • Statisical Process Control (SPC)

    • Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)

    • Plant Historian

    • Web Portal

    • Plant Apps and MES



  • Intellution iFix


Sunday, September 19, 2010

Dancer Control

High-speed multi-axis coordinated servo motion control.

Industries Served:

Textiles, Films, Packaging, Converters, Printing, Publishing
Products Used

  • ISA-Bus Multi-Axis Motion Controller
  • Industrial PC
  • Servo and Vector Drives and Motors

The Advantages:

  • Improves machine performance and reliability.
  • High-speed coordination combined with automatic adjustment and easy setup.
  • All motion and logic are centralized in one location.
  • Tight control and high-performance servo motors increase machine speed and throughput, and prevent the introduction of any tension disturbance to slitters.
  • Powerful torque/inertia ratio and bandwidth results in rapid and accurate accelerations and decelerations.
  • Safer work environment for operators due to significantly lower machine noise.
  • Increased flexibility from the use of an open-architecture PC-based control system.

How It Works:

  • The multi-access servo control board works in conjunction with high-performance servos.
  • These servos are controlled by the multi-axis motion controller board in the industrial PC.
  • To coordinate unwind and winder drive control with the motion control system, Vector Drives are tied into the same multi-axis motion controller board that controls the servo drives.