Motion Control & Drives


Integrated printing applications

December 2008 Motion Control & Drives

Motion control and drive solutions for the graphics industry.

Integrated drive packages for the graphics industry and modular automation solutions for printing machines have been introduced by Siemens Drive Technologies. Software and integrated communications solutions shorten the time to market for machine manufacturers, and offer a high level of investment security to users. The solutions include integrated register control and the Printstandard software package, both of which can be integrated seamlessly into the Simotion controller. Safety functions included in the Sinamics drive system as well as logistics systems with RFID round off the product range.

Communications

Profinet with Industrial Realtime (IRT) is used as an integrated communications solution for multi-axis applications in the graphics industry, for example with illustration and newspaper rotary offset machines and for the further processing of printed material. Up to 80 axes are coordinated in order to guarantee production, for example, in an illustration rotary offset machine with several printing groups, folding apparatus and folder. The axes are distributed on axis networks with Simotion D and Sinamics, and communicate over IRT Profinet. In addition to realtime communication, Profinet is also used for IT tasks such as HMI or diagnostics. In this case, the OPC XML server integrated in Simotion D is accessed which is at process level and provides drive data.

Drives and efficiency

The Sinamics S120 available from Siemens offers the printing industry a drive system for both high-performance single-axis applications and multi-axis applications. A wide range of AC/AC devices with different performances is available for single-axis applications, for example for retrofitting. Siemens Drive Technologies offers compact DC/AC modules for the modular design of multi-axis applications. The Sinamics S120 drive system also has additional integrated safety functions. These support the implementation of innovative safety concepts with complete observation of existing standards. The safety functions safe stop 2, safe operating stop, safe brake ramp, safely-limited speed and safe speed monitor supplement the basic safety functions previously integrated.

Energy efficiency and the capability for energy regeneration are of increasing importance for drive systems in the production industry. This technology has already become established in the printing industry for high performance requirements. Smart infeed and active infeed from Siemens Drive Technologies are two regenerative concepts for the Sinamics range of drives. The current from the regenerative operation of drives is fed back into the network. Depending on the requirements of the application and its environment, Smart infeed is suitable as the standard solution or active infeed for particularly high plant availability and network quality.

Motors

The Siemens range is supplemented by water-cooled and air-cooled servomotors as well as linear and torque motors. As a result of the increased use of direct drives in the printing industry, it is becoming increasingly important to select the correct drive solution at the design stage. Siemens provides support in this context by means of the mechatronic support service with which the drive system of a machine can be appropriately selected and optimised during the design phase.

Powerful simulation tools simplify commissioning, and can also be used to train operators.

For more information contact Keshin Govender, Siemens Southern Africa, +27 (0)11 652 2412, [email protected], www.siemens.co.za



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