System connects machine tools

A Siemens Automation and Drives product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 5, 2007

With Profinet, machine tools can have a real-time Ethernet system that meets the requirements of IT, automation and motion control.

Siemens Automation and Drives (AandD) has released the Sinumerik 840D sl - the Profinet connection for machine tool control.

As a Profinet controller, the Sinumerik in the machine also controls the distributed I/Os or the Sinamics S120 system as a positioning drive.

Both cable-based connection and WLAN communication can be used for this purpose.

With Profinet, machine tools can have a real-time Ethernet system that meets the requirements of IT, automation and motion control.

A high number of axes and large data volumes with short cycle times can be managed via a bus using the 840D sl with Profinet.

For mechanical equipment manufacturers, this means more flexibility thanks to modular and mechatronic machine concepts, as well as powerful communication with other controllers such as OPC servers or the service programming device.

In this way, complex and modular machine tools, such as are found in the aerospace industry, can be operated simply despite being distributed across large areas.

The dimensions and flexibility of workpieces in the aerospace industry often require the use of distributed automation components, intelligent I/Os and positioning drives.

Here, connection via WLAN allows simultaneous wireless transmission of the diagnostics data and the display of important operating parameters.

Modular, object-oriented plant concepts are supported via Profinet CBA, enabling controller-controller communication between machine tools in real time.

Systems with more than a hundred machine tool controls connected by means of Profinet CBA are currently being installed.

The communication interfaces can be connected wirelessly to remote service centres using GPRS.

Plants and machines can thus be controlled regardless of where they are used.

This opens up additional savings potential for plant operators.

The MD740-1 module from the Simatic Net system is used for the Sinumerik control.

Important information about machine status can also be sent by e-mail.

The specialists in the service centre or the machine operator are informed of a fault without delay via an e-mail client.

For fast rectification of the problem, all the necessary machine data are reported to the service engineer in addition to the fault message.

This significantly speeds up fault identification and analysis and guarantees increased availability of the machine.

The Sinumerik control is secured against attack from the network.

With Scalance S from Simatic Net, the machine tool control is also protected against data spying, data manipulation, communication system overload, interaction, and addressing errors.

User friendly and simple configuration and administration are possible without specialist knowledge of IT security.

The existing network structure does not have to be modified or adapted in any way.