Siemens' motion control solutions for metal forming

First Quarter 2007 Electrical switching & drive systems & components

At the Euroblech trade fair in Hanover, Germany, Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D) presented comprehensive motion control solutions especially adapted for metal forming. With the software package Metal Forming Solutions, users get a total solution for press operation and press-related applications. This allows the press shop to adapt more quickly to changing production requirements.

The presentation also focused on energy efficiency in drive systems. The Sinamics S120 drive system provides inverters with regenerative feedback capability that can make a significant contribution towards reducing operating costs.

Metal forming requires flexibility, fast adaptation to changed manufacturing conditions, and higher machine productivity. Siemens A&D presented automation solutions, software applications and services for operating and automating presses. Centre stage was occupied by the Simotion motion control system from Siemens and the software applications specially adapted to metal forming. The Metal Forming Solution Package encompasses a total solution for operating presses. Use of this package allows mechanical equipment manufacturers to significantly reduce the time to market entry. With the support of the software package, users can adapt the press shop quickly and flexibly to new production requirements. The Simotion motion control system is platform-independent and, in addition to the compact version, it is available for the PC-based platform and the drive-level platform.

As in general mechanical equipment manufacture and plant building, the question of life-cycle costs, and energy efficiency in particular, is a defining topic in metal forming. Energy costs take up a considerable share of life-cycle costs. Siemens offers machine-level energy management for presses here. With the Sinamics S120 active lines module (ALM) drive, for example, stabilised intermediate circuit voltage can be guaranteed using feedback units. This decouples the connected motor modules from the system voltage. System fluctuations within permissible system tolerances thus do not affect the motor voltage. In conjunction with the clean power filter, system harmonics are largely suppressed, and in addition to energy savings, the economic effectiveness of the machine is also increased because the press line produces fewer rejects.

Siemens A&D's presentation was rounded off with drive components such as torque motors, configuring tools like Simatic WinCC flexible and Simotion Scout, and safety solutions.

For more information contact Siemens Southern Africa, +27 (0) 11 652 2000.

Further reading:

Understanding standby, prime and continuous gensets
WEG Africa Electrical switching & drive systems & components
The increasing reliance of South African businesses on generator sets to mitigate power disruptions highlights a crucial need for proper selection based on specific operational demands. Despite their growing usage, there is still widespread confusion about how to choose the appropriate genset, often leading to inefficient and costly decisions.

Read more...

---

PC-based control for advanced hydrogen storage technology
Beckhoff Automation Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
The proportion of renewable energies from solar, wind and water is rising continuously. However, sufficient storage options are of the essence to use these energies as efficiently as possible. GKN Hydrogen offers a particularly compact and safe option, low-pressure metal hydride hydrogen storage systems with PC-based control from Beckhoff.

Read more...

---

Axiom reaches new heights
Axiom Hydraulics Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
When Rula Bulk Handling could not source a cable tensioner large enough for a new cableway, the engineers knew they had to come up with an inventive solution. After discovering that no such tensioner was immediately available, Rula approached Axiom Hydraulics and ifm to assist with building their own.

Read more...

---

Local range of planetary units
SEW-EURODRIVE Electrical switching & drive systems & components
s SEW-EURODRIVE South Africa actively extends its offerings to customers, the SEW PPK and SEW P2.e industrial gearbox ranges are good examples of solutions that are well suited to the local business environment.

Read more...

---

At least 60 million strokes
Horne Technologies Editor's Choice Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Designing and constructing compact automation systems is one of the core activities of the Austrian machine manufacturer, STIWA. Its modular LTM-CI system has been optimised for small parts assembly. Linear and rotating micromotors from Faulhaber perform key tasks in these systems.

Read more...

---

Innovative five-axis laser precession scanner
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Motion control specialist, Aerotech has launched the AGV5D, an innovative five-axis laser precession scanner specially developed for laser micromachining. This makes it possible to create high-precision bores, contoured slots and other complex geometries with dimensional tolerances in the sub-micrometre range.

Read more...

---

A leap forward in electrohydrostatic pump technology
Customized Motion Controls Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Moog has launched the EPU-G, the latest addition to its Electrohydrostatic Pump Unit portfolio.

Read more...

---

Minetruck with electric drivetrain combines power and innovation
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
The new Minetruck MT66 S eDrive is the first of Epiroc’s large-capacity mine trucks to feature the latest generation electric drivetrain. Along with an upgraded and powerful diesel engine, the hauler combines the cost-effectiveness of a traditional mine truck with the productivity of an electric one, without requiring changes to a mine’s infrastructure.

Read more...

---

Modular hydraulic control blocks for brake actuation
Electrical switching & drive systems & components
Electrohydraulic brake release valves are exposed to extreme loads, and can become uncontrollable in the event of a power failure. The experts at WEBER-HYDRAULIK GMBH have developed a practical, modular solution that ensures the safety of construction machinery, and is also suitable for a wide range of other vehicles with hydrostatic drive systems.

Read more...

---

Modular assembly platform for clean manufacturing
Beckhoff Automation Electrical switching & drive systems & components
JR Automation delivers custom automated solutions for numerous industries. It has done this through its scalable, modular automation platform, FlexChassis, which speeds up time to market while cutting costs. The company chose the XTS linear transport system from Beckhoff because of its speed, and modular design that allows for multiple configurations.

Read more...

---