Interface connection for CNC machines with FabEagle®Connect
Make it Becker - with this slogan, Gebr. Becker GmbH, a dynamically growing family business, is advancing internationally in the field of vacuum and compressed air technology and relies on state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies and tools from the field of digitalization, one of these tools being FabEagle®Connect from Kontron AIS.
FabEagle®Connect is the key component for integrating over 40 CNC machines into Gebr. Becker GmbH. It transmits all important machine status data and signals to the higher-level MES. Even data from existing machines without a modern data interface is provided by evaluating digital signals.
The project
- Machine connection with FabEagle®Connect
The susietec® plattforms
- FabEagle®Connect
- IoT-Box
The challenge
- Connection of different CNC machines from various manufacturers
- Interface integration without longer downtimes
- Machines without data interfaces
The solution
- IoT modules for recording digital signals
- Processing of simple machine status signals
- Provision of an OPC UA interface to the MES
The result
- Reliable and high-performance data transmission
- Scalable and future-proof integration
- Connection of all existing machines via one interface standard
A production facility seeks connection
Over 40 CNC machines at two locations demand the highest level of quality and efficiency. At the same time, evaluations and visualizations from the MES are to be supplied with meaningful data. With machines from different manufacturers and generations, this can certainly be a major task. Existing machines without an interface or closed control software are the biggest challenge.
The solution to this is IoT boxes for data acquisition and software for converting the interface standards. They record digital signals at available terminal strips and signal transmitters. FabEagle®Connect then accesses the data via the Modbus protocol, processes it using state mapping and uses it to generate machine data, quantity counters and error states.
Newer machines with their own OPC UA interface are also integrated via FabEagle®Connect. All collected information isprovided to the MES in a structured manner via a standardized OPC UA server. This allows the MES to monitor and visualize the machine data from production.
Customer Benefits
- Commissioning during ongoing production
- No machine downtime
The interface to EMS
For production control, Gebr. Becker uses the MES from MPDV called Hydra. This MES uses OPC UA as a standardized interface to the automation level. Thanks to the existing partnership between Kontron AIS and MPDV, connectivity was not a problem when implementing this project.
The interface used was already a standard in the FabEagle®Connect application from Kontron AIS and the integration of the machines could be implemented quickly and efficiently for the customer. Thanks to FabEagle®Connect, the MES can now monitor and visualize the machine data from production. The resulting transparency enables the optimization of production processes and an increase in machine utilization at Gebr. Becker GmbH.
About Gebr. Becker GmbH
Gebr. Becker was founded in 1885 as a machine factory in Wuppertal-Barmen. Today, Becker is an internationally leading manufacturer in the field of vacuum and compressed air technology, now in its fourth generation of ownermanagement.
With its vacuum pumps, compressors and air supply systems, Becker has made a name for itself worldwide and in numerous application markets as a component and system supplier to the mechanical and plant engineering industry.
Around 120,000 devices and systems leave the factories every year. With a high level of innovation, state-of-the-art production technology and future-oriented, strategic investments with a stable ownership structure, the dynamically growing family business offers its customers and suppliers a long-term and fair partnership.
You can find more information at:
www.becker-international.com
About susietec®
We see digital transformation as a holistic approach. With the susietec®® toolset, we support companies in recognizing the potential of the IoT and digitalization: The combination of software, hardware and expertise enables functional and smart solutions for equipment providers, suppliers and manufacturers.
This enables us to implement changes in a targeted and effective manner - with the aim of driving digitalization forward in the long term. susietec®® solutions can not only be used in an existing environment, but can also serve as the basis for the new development of machines, devices or production systems.
As part of the Kontron group of companies, we help you to take the decisive steps towards digital transformation with our experience from numerous digitalization projects.
You can find more information at:
www.susietec.com