Cost effective tool monitoring system from PCS

Now available from Positive Contact Sensors is the new PCS-100 tool, object and free space monitoring system that can be used on a wide variety of machine tools and automatic processing machines.

A simple, effective, affordable and practical solution for preventing the chain reaction of broken tooling that leads to down time, scrapped parts, re-manufacturing and machine tool damage; the PCS systems are designed and manufactured to be simply installed and operated in the toughest environments. 

The PCS-100 is a mechanically adjustable sensor system that enables the customer to simply set or change the sensing needle sweep from 0 to 180 degrees in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction.  Capable of over 200 cycles per minute, the PCS-100 can keep pace with the fastest of machine tools.

The sensors can be easily installed, it only requires a 24V DC power supply and a spare machine M function or an existing sensor/alarm circuit for the corresponding SCU-100 control unit. Installation instructions are provided with each PCS-100 package, whilst the sensors can be mounted horizontally or vertically with magnetic bases that complete the flexibility and ease of use philosophy the PCS system employs. With magnetic bases and bespoke brackets, the PCS-100 can be installed on a vast selection of machining centres and turning centres.

The tool monitoring system can check for breakages on cylindrical tools such as drills, taps, reamers, milling cutters and special form tools. The PCS-100 can monitor problematic tools regardless of diameter changes on vertical and horizontal machining centres. On single and multi-spindle lathes and drilling machines the positive contact sensors are a popular choice credit to their small size that fits into compact work envelopes. Additionally, the checking speed on highly automated machines and the sealing that protects the sensor and the main slide tooling all contribute to the ideal cost effective tool monitoring system.

For free space and object monitoring, the PCS system can check mis-feeds on barfeeders, provide cut-off confirmation on lathes and monitor part pick-up on sub spindle turning and component ejection.

The PCS system consists of a uni-body design with a gearbox free construction and unique V-cup cap seal that makes the units capable of operating under coolant streams, severe swarf and heat contact that is commonplace in congested machining envelopes. The standard sensing needle is 140mm long with a 200mm needle available as an option. The needles can also be bent into configurations to suit the needs of the end user.

For a more advanced solution Positive Contact Sensors can also supply the PCS-250 sensor system. This sensor learns and remembers tool or object location at the touch of a button through a 300 degree clockwise or counter clockwise swing direction. The PCS-250 has a tough and compact construction that can be expected from a high quality rotary positional tool sensor with advanced software that provides the narrowest standard checking window currently available. The result is a high speed sensor that's capable of combating the toughest of machining environments. For further details on the PCS-100 and PCS-250 tool monitoring system, please contact Positive Contact Sensors. For further information, view website: www.positivecontactsensors.co.uk or e-mail: sales@positivecontactsensors.co.uk

Eplan Operational Sequence module:
Documenting operational sequences better

Knowing the sequence of operations is always helpful, especially in machine and plant design and the programming of their control systems. ´Eplan Operational Sequence´ now documents the functional timeline of a machine/plant by using convenient process descriptions. You have the choice between a functional diagram or a GRAFCET standard. PLC programmers will benefit from the seamless documentation, controlling the interactions of actuators and sensors.

It has become increasingly difficult to represent a functional timeline for machines and plant systems clearly, because of an ever-increasing complexity and the mechatronic interaction of sub-elements, even though it is an indispensable component for planning a steering and control system. Eplan introduces the solution with 'Eplan Operational Sequence´. The new Eplan Platform module option conveniently includes process descriptions into the overall control systems documentation. The software offers various flexible ways of describing these operational processes: frequently used function diagrams as well as the newest version of GRAFCET diagrams are supported as well. The benefits are clear: The PLC programmer receives timely information about the necessary actuators and sensors and their desired operational interaction and timeline. It provides valuable preplanning time for machine controls and accelerates the engineering processes. Changes to electrical and fluid engineering plans can then be integrated into the process descriptions automatically and documented perfectly afterwards.

Insert the values - and its done
The device navigator will from now on be the central dialog for inserting Eplan functions into a function or GRAFCET diagram. It doesn't matter if the function has already been placed into the schematic, or if it will be created as a new device. Only the values for time/step scales, as well as the process sequence, must be entered into the diagram after placement. The necessary forms are included and values may even be inserted as macros quite easily. The only remaining manual step will be the process sequence with the aid of graphic elements such as polylines. An automatic translation into foreign languages is available right from the start, as well as other quality increasing functionalities in the process sequences.

Flexibility for any application
The ´Eplan Operational Sequence´ module option will be available with the release of Eplan Electric P8 2.1 in the autumn of 2011. Is it part of Eplan Fluid, the second Platform system, included with the delivery scope of version 2.1. It doesn't matter if the fluid software has been installed as an individual program, or as an add-on to the CAE System P8.

Background:
Operational sequence sheets are an important component of the engineering process and are indispensible for the following and planning of machine and plant controls. Furthermore, they are often required in customer documentations (automotive suppliers for example), to optimise the cycle time of the system as a whole. In regards to GRAFCET standards, GRAFCET diagrams are representations of sequence controls for which a specification language according to DIN EN 60848 has been developed. In this case, the representation is about the function of a machine from the view of the PLC programmer, whereas functional
diagrams offer only a simple mechanical view.

Operational Sequence.jpg: With the introduction of ´Eplan Operational Sequence´ the operational sequence sheets may be shown clearly as function diagrams, or also as GRAFCET diagrams (according to DIN EN 60848).

For further information, view website: www.eplan.co.uk or e-mail: kchristie@eplan.co.uk  Refer to page 120 

World's No. 1 Process Engineering Tools, 3D design software provider 

ARC Advisory Group, the leading research and advisory firm for industry and infrastructure, has again ranked Intergraph® as the world's No. 1 software provider, this time in its recently released "Process Engineering Tools (PET) Market Analysis and Forecast through 2015."

The ARC study provides an in-depth analysis of the PET market for process manufacturing by industry segment and geographic region. The tools and applications covered in the PET study include a large portion of those necessary to manage engineering activities that create or use engineering data throughout the life cycle of a plant or marine asset. Profiles for major suppliers servicing the PET market are also listed.

In addition to ranking Intergraph as the overall global leader, the ARC Advisory Group study also places Intergraph first in numerous individual categories, including the No. 1 provider of engineering design tools and engineering design 3D software. ARC ranks Intergraph as the top supplier to many industries, including chemical, mining and metals, oil and gas, pharmaceutical and biotechnology, and refining. Intergraph is also ranked No. 1 geographically in all three of its regions: North and Latin America; Europe, Middle East, India & Africa; and Asia-Pacific.

"Intergraph has a large and comprehensive product portfolio that provides users with a compelling value proposition," said Janice Abel, principal consultant with ARC Advisory Group and the study's co-author.

"Intergraph has established itself as the premier enterprise engineering company by understanding that engineering data is a valuable corporate asset and must be properly managed at the enterprise level."

Gerhard Sallinger, Intergraph Process, Power & Marine president, said, "The ARC Advisory Group's PET analysis validates what we see and hear in the marketplace each day: Intergraph provides the best and broadest solution portfolio through our SmartPlant® and SmartMarine® Enterprise suites. Our solutions are the most advanced and productive ones available to the process, power and marine industries, allowing our customers to increase safety, quality and productivity, while shortening project schedules."

Intergraph SmartPlant and SmartMarine Enterprises offer a powerful portfolio of industry-leading, best-in-class design and data management solutions, enabling companies in the process, power and marine industries to capture integrated engineering knowledge at the enterprise level for the competitive advantage needed in today's and tomorrow's markets. Intergraph enterprise solutions enable proven productivity gains, improving engineering efficiency by up to 30 percent.

ARC Advisory Group in profile
Founded in 1986, ARC Advisory Group is the leading research and advisory firm for industry and infrastructure. Its coverage of technology extends from business systems to product and asset life cycle management, supply chain management, operations management, energy optimization and automations systems.

For further information, view website: www.arcweb.com