CC-Link network offers productivity gains in vehicle press lines
CC-Link improves Vehicle Press Line System
The CC-Link automation network’s user association has introduced a way to dramatically reduced system design and system start-up times in vehicle press line systems. It features a new approach to press control based on the concepts of modularisation and decentralisation. One panel computer can directly exchange monitoring data to reduce the cost of hardware.
PC based control
Using PC based control and a CC-Link network, it achieves a faster system start-up and higher productivity. It is easy to integrate into operations, and provides flexible support for system changes. Structuring the press controller host with CC-Link has allowed construction of a decentralized production line, achieving a system with distributed load on each control system.
The openness of control and networks is being further promoted across technical control technical fields, with SCADA software and software PLCs being introduced to reduce development costs. Importantly, it operates using multi-vendor specifications for both the software and hardware to provide further productivity gains.
A panel computer is installed in a cabinet adjacent to the press line, controlling the pressing of up to 450 tons per hour of body parts. A CC-Link master board is built into the panel computer, and software PLCs (IEC-61131 programming) are used for press control connecting two CC-Link systems. The first is used mainly as a sheet metal material handling control system. The second is used to control the press. It is equipped with Digital-IO, DA/AD converters, and encoders, allowing control to be conducted while verifying press angle and position. Once the angle is finalised, the two systems synchronize with each other to control the charging and discharging of the press.
The 10Mbps transmission clock achieves short cycle time and data transmission time, resulting in a high-speed press line, and the shared CC-Link memory makes it possible to modularize the press line, drastically reducing the work hours required for system design and start-up.
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