MOTORS | CONTROL
and individual machines, with
as little panel wiring as possible.
Another key requirement for us was
safety, so we wanted drives with inbuilt
functional safety,” explains Rose.
After a thorough supplier
evaluation process, which included
on-site demonstrations, Rose chose
KEB Automation for its servo drives
with FSoE (FailSafe-over-EtherCAT),
as well as HMIs, a smart controller
and the Combivis 6 software that
provides a common development
platform.
“At present, we have around 10
Combivert S6-A servo drives and
some F6 drives from KEB operating
on the production line. The lower
powered drives tend to perform
lighter duties such as transporting
the web material, whereas the larger
drives control the conveyors and
mixers for the cement, the main web
forming process section and the
centre winding machine, as well as
performing general positional and
control tasks. Some of the drives
are linked so that they operate
synchronously, which is critical when
controlling line speed set points and
the intricate, varying tensions of the
web material,” he adds.
Compact, flexible and powerful,
the Combivert S6-A is suitable for
a wide range of highly dynamic
servo applications, including highly
automated, safety-oriented machines.
The drives provide optimal motor
control in real time, integrated safety
functionality and are designed in
a compact, space-saving bookstyle
format for easier mounting in
control cabinets where space can
be limited. The drives are 100% inhouse
designed and built by KEB
and can be customised with a variety
of design options to suit the specific
application. Safety functionality can
be selected from three modules to
suit the requirements of the machine.
“We use a variety of electric
motors on the line including
synchronous and asynchronous
induction motors, permanent magnet
motors and servo motors. The S6
drives are so flexible that they can
drive any type of motor, with or
without encoders, so this was never
an issue for us,” says Rose.
The S6-A drive is a flexible,
modular design that allows scalable
functional safety, from basic STO to
flexible and powerful,
the Combivert S6-A is
suitable for a wide range
of highly dynamic servo
applications, including
highly automated,
safety-oriented
encoder-based safe
motion. Optional use of
current speed-based
safety functions (e.g.
Safe Limited Speed,
Safe Maximum Speed,
Safe Operating Stop, and
Safe Direction) is available.
All safety functions can be used in
applications up to IEC 62061-SIL3 in
accordance with IEC 61508 or up to
PLe in accordance with ISO 13849.
The safety functions are controlled via
secure digital inputs or via FSoE. The
S6-A also provides more real time
fieldbus control options and safety
PLC communications (EtherCAT,
ProfiNet, Powerlink), giving Concrete
Canvas a genuine future-proof,
Industry 4.0/IoT-capable servo drive.
“In terms of safety, we need
some of the drives to be capable
of breaking or ramping down at
controlled rates, so we’re already
using some of the drive safety
functions. In the future, as the line
expands, we’ll use a lot more, as
we’ll need to introduce more safety
systems to the line, including safety
gates, light curtains and safe interlock
switches. With KEB drives, we can
support this expansion quickly and
easily using the KEB Combivis 6
development software platform,” he
explains.
Combivis 6 enables start up,
administration and analysis of
KEB drives. This includes start-up
Wizards for quick and easy product
configuration, direct access to
device documentation, as well as
enabling online drive parameter list
comparisons and the setup of key
safety indicators and functions. With a
foundation built on libraries, devices
and template databases, COMBIVIS
6 allows rapid, simple solutions to
be generated for a wide range of
applications.
Concrete Canvas also installed
a C6 smart controller from KEB to
control and manage all the automation
and safety programs. The C6 SMART
is perfectly tailored to the runtime
environment and real-time capability
with a powerful processor for
performing complex automation
tasks. The integrated micro
UPS and spacious onboard
memory make it a robust,
reliable system. The device
takes up just 47mm on
the DIN rail and supports
direct coupling with remote
I/O modules. Operators on
the line are also benefiting
from the use of KEB HMIs,
which allow them to alter
or control set points on the
machines, visualise the complete
line or individual machines, and to
look at key production parameters and
performance indicators.”
“Our environment here is
digital fieldbus and EtherCAT, so
in the future I can add safety and
functionality to the machines easily
and quickly, with reduced panel
wiring. The Combivis 6 software is
critical here, as it allows us to quickly
add new safety features to the drives
and gives our engineers a common
platform for the development
environment,” says Rose. !
Compact,
machines
32 WWW.EUREKAMAGAZINE.CO.UK | FEBRUARY 2020
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