All drives above 1,1 kW used in the vast new factory – which was built specifically for a new model of the Mercedes Sprinter – were supplied by Control Techniques.
Around 600 drives were used, and production was optimised by direct communication between PLCs and the drives. Unidrive SP was specified as the standard for all applications over 1,1 kW. These included open loop and closed loop applications for both synchronous and induction motors, and all position-controlled axes in the entire facility. This embraces a wide range of different tasks, from control of conveyor belts, scissor lifts, automated guided transport vehicles and advanced compact storage systems, up to ventilation and extraction systems.
Control Techniques drives control essential functions throughout the three core areas of the facility: body shop, paint shop and final assembly. In the body shop, the Sprinter bodies are built from preformed sheet metal, using welding robots and a fully automatic material transport system. Over 200 Unidrive SP drives are used in this area. They are operated in open loop mode for transport tasks and in closed loop mode for hoist units. A typical precision application can be seen in the automatic welding cells where two Unidrive SPs, coupled with servo motors, are used in a master/slave configuration for the lifting mechanism, synchronised with a third Unidrive SP with Unimotor in position control.
Most of the Unidrive SP drives are fitted with an application module for additional onboard processing and Interbus communication. Profibus DP or CANOpen bus protocol is used on some axes. Others have an additional encoder module to enable a second transmitter signal to be processed.
Around 200 more drives rated at up to 110 kW are used in the Dürr paint shop for ventilation and extraction tasks. In addition a number of blowers and pumps for hydraulic axes have to be controlled. Most of these drives run in open loop mode, with Interbus communication links to the corresponding PLCs. Synchronous motors with resolver feedback to the controlling Unidrive SP drives are used in the 15-workstation cathodic electro-dip coating plant, not only for forward movement, but also to rotate the body shells within the dip. In this section, Profibus communication is used for all drives, including the open-loop elevator drives.
The most demanding drive applications are found in the final assembly, where approximately 400 Unidrive SPs are used in both open-loop and closed-loop mode. Each of the open-loop transport units in the overhead conveyor system is supplied with DC power for its onboard drive/motor system via a specially designed busbar system that also enables CANbus communication. The Unidrive SP drives were installed using through-panel mounting technology to keep the control cabinets very shallow.
Automated guided transport vehicles, used for carrying components such as the complete power transmission system of a Sprinter – engine, gearbox, drive shaft and axles – are supplied by induction from conductors laid in the floor. In addition, the 6 Unidrive SP inverters (1,1 to 1,5 kW) are supplied at 500 V DC. Two induction motors are used for movement and steering, whereas two Unimotor type 142 UMD synchronous servo motors are required for the scissor lift, and two Unimotor type 115 UMD motors for trim. Control signals are picked up from feed points let into the floor, so the vehicle is instructed when it should move and which movement profile it should follow. A CANbus/Interbus gateway is located in the interior of the vehicle and communication with all six inverters takes place via Interbus.
For more information contact Bianca Botha, Control Techniques +27 (0)11 462 1740, [email protected],
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