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

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, April 18, 2012

Sick IVC 3D Demo setup



3D machine vision proof of concept demo of the Sick IVC-3D.   We inspect a metal bracket with a small 0.5mm imperfection and show the rendered model after the laser scanning.

NOTE:  the screen capture is full screen,  for best results,  right click the "video" link and save the target file, then view the video in quicktime

Setup video

Screen Session video

Final images of the intensity image and the 3D image



Monday, March 5, 2012

Encoders – Measurement in a Compact Size

SICK has a full line of encoders, including Incremental, Absolute, Wire-draw, Linear & Wheeled encoders. These are now the smallest encoders on the market, and SICK offers a complete function set to help solve your most challenging encoder applications.  In addition to its compact size, we offer the DFS-60 series which is completely customizable & programmable to every encoder application.


The new DFS-60 small footprint & compact size mean it can be mounted in space constrained areas and is easier and less expense to install.  The DFS-60 provides encoder solutions in an ultra-compact size from SICK, the innovative, global market leader in encoders.

For distances, positions and angles when precise positioning is required, an encoder is unbeatable. For distance measurement applications, the resolution of the encoder is in the micrometer range.

When making angular measurements, it is equivalent to a few thousandth of a degree.

Features:

Face mount and servo flange
Compact 2.0 inch housing
Electrical interfaces include TTL/RS422, HTL/push pull, PROFIBUS, CANopen, DeviceNet

Typical Markets:

• Wind turbines                                • Tire assembly equipment

• Servo motors                                 • Sheet and web offset presses / printing machinery

• Overhead cranes                            • Automated storage / retrieval systems

• Packaging machines                      • Robotic systems



Support:

SICK has decades of encoder application experience, a vast network of encoder expertise from our application engineers and a highly technical sales force.

About us: From providing product availability and pricing information, to resolving technical problems, the team at CIMTEC is prepared to work closely with you to ensure complete application solution support. For assistance, please call 704-227-4600, click on this link:  SICK Encoders or e-mail our applications group at jellen@cimtec.com

Thursday, December 22, 2011

S300 Mini Safety Scanner is Released



SICK has released the S300 Mini Safety Laser Scanner.  It is the world's smallest and lightest safety-rated laser scanner on the market, and offers a unique function set to help solve your most challenging safety applications.  In addition to its compact size and reduced weight, the S300 Mini is the industry's first to combine a 2 meter safety field range, a scanning angle of 270 degrees and 16 switchable field sets.

The new S300 Mini’s small footprint & compact size mean it can be mounted in space constrained areas and is easier and less expense to install.  The S300 Mini provides safety in an ultra-compact size from SICK, the innovative, global market leader in safety laser scanners.

Typical Applications / Markets:

Anti-collision applications
AGC / AGV

Replacement of safety mats
Small robot areas, turntables, insert stations, pick and place machinery

Small machine tool, printing machinery, cutting and forming

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.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Sick Safety Scanner for multiple field protection



For mobile applications like AGV's where field of view for safety must change based upon speed or direction or for fixed mount where field of view changes on the state of the machine's operation,  Sick's laser based safety scanners are a great fit.  The Sick safety line offers:
  • Easy Integration
  • Wide product options to fit budget and technical requirements
  • Long history of success in industrial applications.

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