exhibition preview
Festo highlights the benefits of standardised hardware
See Festo on Stand 27
builders of faster time-to-market, more efficient engineering, more functionality and higher quality. The company has joined forces with other international automation partners and the Industrial Digital Twin Association because standardisation is what machine and system builders expect. The advantages offered by digital twins was very effectively demonstrated by a collaboratively built machine for a labelling application at the Hannover Fair. Digital twins precisely replicate the capabilities of the components – if necessary, down to the physical behaviour. This significantly shortens customers’ project timelines and increases productivity. Even before a machine developer has assembled the machine hardware, they can simulate it, test it, and make adjustments. For example, they can design and program optimum, efficient handling systems using the virtual model. That is how errors can be detected and corrected at an early stage, which significantly contributes to efficient and stable operation later. Digital twins of automation components are much more than just 3D models that move virtually. They are digital representations that provide all kinds of information about the components, including a clear description of their capabilities, the documentation, the behaviour – for example, simulation of their kinematics and kinetics – and the communication with them, including the role they play in the machine. www.festo.co.uk
Festo says its standardised hardware and the ability to work with the industry leading control architectures makes its stepper and servo drives, remote I/O and valve terminals a natural choice for machine manufacturers and end-users. Being able to keep 90% of the field level hardware the same and
either simply select the preferred bus system through software, dip switches or a header plate keeps documentation common, maintenance and commissioning familiar and reduces the variety of ordered or stocked parts to a minimum. Festo is keen to show how easy it is to swap from one PLC manufacturer to another when using the Festo CMMT multi-protocol servo and stepper drives, and the versatile new CPX-API/APA distributed I/O and bus driven valve terminal ranges. Festo is also highlighting how the first of its automation components have got their digital representations, promising benefits for machine
See Micro-Epsilon on Stand 21
See Leuze on Stand 33
Discuss your measurement challenges with experts from Micro-Epsilon Micro-Epsilon UK will showcase a range of sensor technologies, including 3D surface snapshot sensors, 2D laser profile sensors, and 1D confocal chromatic displacement sensors, as well as infrared temperature sensors and thermal imaging cameras. Providing 3D snapshots and point clouds, surfaceCONTROL 3D is a range of high precision 3D measurement sensors that are suitable for automated, inline measurement of geometry, shape and surface quality of objects. The sensors offer extremely high resolution and repeatability, as well as a large measuring area. The stand will showcase the surfaceCONTROL 3D SC3510 version for inspecting rivets, beads and part positioning using Micro-Epsilon’s 3D Inspect software. The stand will also feature the scanCONTROL range of 3D laser profile sensors (scanners) with a demonstration on how to build 3D point clouds from 2D profile acquisition. Also on the stand is a demonstration of the new confocalDT 241x range of confocal chromatic measurement systemsn. These compact systems combine both sensor and controller together to save space and simplify installation in production lines and machines, as no fibre
Solutions for the challenges of the smart factory
Machine builders are facing new challenges due to increasing automation and the vision of the smart factory. From individual machine tools to fully networked production systems, flexibility and networking are becoming increasingly important – with the highest safety and quality standards. Leuze’s goal is to ensure customers’ production is even more flexible, efficient and safer through the use of its products and solutions, and at Machine Building Live 2023, the company will show examples of this, from its global sensor range for precise presence detection, to solutions for fast and accurate bar code reading applications, including its new range of Simple Vision products. On the stand will be the RSL 400 safety laser scanners which are characterised by their performance, robustness and easy handling. Thanks to their operating range of 8.25m and a scanning angle of 270°, they can monitor even large areas. Together with two protective functions, one RSL 400 can perform tasks that previously required two scanners. Also present will be the LBK safe 3D radar system, which was developed for the monitoring of hazardous areas in harsh industrial environments. It detects the bodies of people and in doing so monitors the protected area for access and presence. The system consists of sensors und controller, combining up to six sensors in one application. www.leuze.com
optic cabling is needed between the sensor and controller. One of the key advantages of confocal technology is its ability to measure on any surface including highly polished and even transparent materials. The stand will also showcase a selection of example sensors and systems, including inductive (LVDT) position sensors and draw-wire position sensors. www.micro-epsilon.co.uk
M achine B uilding .L ive 2023
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