PLCs take control of bar feeders

In 1994 FMB opted to replace its outdated control technology with modern programmable logic controllers and chose the GE Fanuc Series 90-30 PLC.

FMB is a successful manufacturer of magazine bar feeders for lathes.

A multitude of new products developed over the past 10 years have enabled FMB to continuously expand its market position.

GE Fanuc's Series 90-30 PLC has been a part of this success story.

FMB has been a partner of many companies in the lathe industry since 1980.

With a worldwide service net and a portfolio ranging from consulting to design and implementation of customer-specific applications, FMB is one of the leading players in this sector.

FMB's current product range comprises 1.5 to 100mm diameter magazine bar feeders and standard bars of 3 and 4m (with purpose-made bars up to 7.5m).

Standard products are available in a broad variety, eg low-cost series, stopless precision plug-in modules and loading/unloading systems for multispindle machinery.

These handling systems are used to convey unworked bars to the lathe where turned parts are mass-produced for a wide variety of applications.

By using the bar feeder magazines, machining shops can significantly increase their productivity.

The story of the German machine manufacturer FMB begins in 1980, when the production of bar feeder magazines was first started, with stepping mechanisms used for control purposes at that time.

These were later gradually replaced by single-board controllers from various manufacturers until the control approach was entirely reviewed at FMB in 1994 and the decision was taken to replace the outdated control technology with modern programmable logic controllers.

Following a competitive tendering process involving all leading PLC manufacturers, FMB opted for GE Fanuc's Series 90-30 PLC.

When asked about the choice made then, Helmut Wichtlhuber, General Manager at FMB, replied: "That was a decision we have never regretted.

With GE Fanuc, we have found a partner who shares our philosophy: top quality means even higher reliability".

When FMB opted for the Series 90-30 PLC, there were a number of decisive selection criteria.

In difficult economic times, cost-efficiency becomes more than ever a major objective, however not at the expense of compromising on quality.

With the Series 90-30, FMB has found a PLC offering a balanced relationship between cost and benefit.

With its modular approach, the Series 90-30 PLC enables a virtually seamless transition from standard products to customer-specific modifications and even fully customised machines.

These can be handled autonomously by the hardware/software departments at FMB.

As a heavily export-oriented company, FMB also needs a global operating partner.

With its worldwide service net, GE Fanuc is ideally suited to support FMB and thus to ensure FMB's rapid and high-quality service.

Consulting: FMB attaches great importance to its consulting services for both customers and suppliers.

Whenever required, a GE Fanuc application engineer will be available to assist with individual development projects.

The use of bar feeder magazines produces vibrations in the machine.

This requires a controller as robust as the Series 90-30 PLC.

The Series 90-30 is equipped with an integrated axis positioning module (APM).

This module takes care of positioning the bars and thus relieves the PLC processor.

Also, with no need for a serial connection between the PLC and a separate axis positioning controller, parameters and data can be exchanged much faster.

At FMB, the PLC directly controls all motion sequences, including the highly complicated torque procedures which are typical of magazine feeders.

FMB and GE Fanuc have been working together for many years now.

Helmut Wichtlhuber summarised this co-operation, "GE Fanuc has shared our very successful development in recent years.

And we shall continue to be successful with this partner in the future".

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