More packaging machine builders are recognising the importance of low acquisition costs as well as the overall costs of a system throughout its service life.
Condition monitoring and diagnostic systems are used to monitor critical components and to process statistics online in order to provide a timely warning of any deviations – making unexpected machine downtime almost a thing of the past.
With compatible valve terminals, electrical terminals and sensors sourced from Festo, original equipment manufacturers and system integrators can concentrate on their core business. When Wolf Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH created its VPP 250 bag forming and packaging machine it selected Festo to supply the diagnostic system. This provides continuous monitoring of the pneumatic components and of process-related parameters.
A Festo flowrate sensor (MS6-SFE) and pressure sensor (SDE1) monitor the compressed air. This measured data and the available valve control and proximity switch signals are read into the CPX electrical terminal and processed in the FEC controller module.
Within the machine, process parameters such as foil-dependent contact pressure and belt wear are monitored by measuring the position of the pneumatic feed cylinders using an SMAT analog sensor. The cooling air flow rate and pressure are also monitored as process and foil-related variables to avoid unnecessary use of compressed air. Wear and tear of the blade is monitored via the positioning time of the cylinders. Stoke counters on the cylinders and switching cycle counters on the valves provide information on the service life and recommended replacement times. The electrical peripherals of the CPX also monitor short circuits, wire breakage, over voltage and valve blockages.
Diagnostic results, malfunctions and the location of faults are detected and the results are displayed on the FED touch panel and made available to the machine controller through fieldbus.
Diagnostic information is presented on the Festo FED touch panel
This diagnostic solution is easy to integrate into an existing control concept and data can be accessed by service staff, machine manufacturers, maintenance personnel, machine operators and external service providers. These groups can use the data to help increase system availability and optimise maintenance processes.
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