Fitting a VLT Motion Control Option MCO 305 has decreased the process cycle time by more than 10 % and increased product quality and productivity for Hume Master Panel in Brisbane.
By using the safe stop input of the VLT AutomationDrive, the door sheet manufacturer was able to interface with the Siemens safety PLC and provide a category 3 safe stop system. The project benchmark was a 10% decrease in process cycle time, and this was exceeded.
Hume Master Panel makes hardboard door skins. The process was controlled by 15 year old DC drives and contactor controlled motors with mechanical brakes. The DC drives often needed calibration and parts were hard to get. The contactor controlled system was very hard on the mechanical components and all-in-all the system was unreliable and maintenance costs high.
“We have dealt with Danfoss for many years and have been extremely happy with their quality products, after sales service and technical knowledge”, says Bob Ramsay, who trusted Danfoss’ ability to provide a package solution with hardware, software, programming and technical support.
The DC drives were upgraded and the contactor system was replaced by VLT AutomationDrives with PROFIBUS and VLT Motion Control Option MCO305 positioning and synchronising system. The purpose of the positioning and synchronising control is to position wood fibre sheets into a multilevel conveyor and then move the sheets forward into a heat press for moulding the door skins. After the fibre sheets are in position the multilevel conveyors then synchronise and reverse from the press.
The project went as planned and was finished on time as per the project timeline.
“The key to having a synchronisation/ positioning project run smoothly is to define customer expectations and put these down on paper, write the program in advance and test, test, test!” says Matthew Lewis ( Danfoss Service Technician) “Once the planning is done all will go well on the day”.