Page 18 - MetalForming October 2010

TechUpdate the movement of the various servomotor
axes used during bending, such as the carriage, plane of bend and clamp roller. Bend quality and wall thickness can be improved thanks to finer real-time control over the motion profiles used by key bend- ing axes, which move as the rotary draw bending process takes place, such as the carriage and the follower die. Other bene-
fits include improved diagnostics and data collection that can assist with programming and maintenance; and easy connection to factory networks for changing programs, reporting production metrics, etc.
Among dozens of new and improved fea- tures in v10 of Unison’s Unibend software package is a collision-checking feature that helps users program the machine for new
parts. Bending operations are visualized using a 3D model of the machine. If they note any potential collision problems, bend sequences can be reversed, and intervening carriage and rotation move- ments can be employed to ensure the part can be easily manufactured.
Horn Machine Tools: 559/431-4131;
www.hornmachinetools.com
All-in-One Siemens Controller
The Siemens Drive Technologies Group in Elk Grove Village, IL, introduces the Simotion PAC machine controller, designed to handle the entire monitoring and control process, including PLC logic, motion control, drive control, motion safety, robotics control and PID control for elements such as force and pressure regulation. Not only does this greatly min- imize panel space and wiring, but it also simplifies (and sometimes elimi- nates) field-bus configuration.
Programming in an object-oriented environment allows Simotion to convert from running a third-party drive to running a Siemens Sinamics drive with no changes to the user-code. All that’s required is to reconfigure the axis object to communicate with the Sinamics drive for quick, easy retrofitting. Additionally, metalformers need not direct hardware addresses, as everything is referenced by name and Simotion handles the hardware-address allo- cations automatically (I/O is optional).
Another benefit of handling all machine control functions in a PAC is that the metalformer need not synchronize multiple hardware components. For example, there is no need to pass infor- mation such as axis position to the PLC to calculate new setpoints that then must be sent back down to the drive. This simplifies the user code and improves machine response times. Metalforming applications for the controls include transfer presses, blanking lines and hydraulic and mechanical presses. Siemens Industry, Inc.: 847/640-1595; www.usa.siemens.com
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METALFORMING / OCTOBER 2010
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Demonstrating Precision Parallelism Control and Sheet Hydroforming at FABTECH
Active Leveling Control

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