MediaService February 2016 www.siemens.com Siemens MediaService February 2016 – Industry News The February issue of the MediaSer- vice kicks off with a new product an- nouncement: New firmware has been launched for optical readers. Applica- tions featured in this issue include commercial washing machines whose life has been extended with Siemens frequency converters, and logic mod- ules used for the temperature control of tunnel segments to guarantee sta- ble tunnel construction. We also learn how Associate Engineer trainees are familiarized gradually with the world of automation technology through step- by-step introduction using practically- oriented simulation models. Finally, we read about how Product Lifecycle Man- agement software is speeding up the simulation process for automotive in- dustry suppliers. « Content PRODUCTS 02 New firmware for optical code readers APPLICATIONS 03 30,000 washing cycles with just one drive 04 Stable tunnel construction 05 Practical training in automation technology 06 Reliability through simulation
Transcript
MediaServiceFebruary 2016
www.siemens.com
Siemens MediaServiceFebruary 2016 – Industry News
The February issue of the MediaSer-vice kicks off with a new product an-nouncement: New firmware has been launched for optical readers. Applica-tions featured in this issue include commercial washing machines whose life has been extended with Siemens frequency converters, and logic mod-ules used for the temperature control of tunnel segments to guarantee sta-
ble tunnel construction. We also learn how Associate Engineer trainees are familiarized gradually with the world of automation technology through step-by-step introduction using practically-oriented simulation models. Finally, we read about how Product Lifecycle Man-agement software is speeding up the simulation process for automotive in-dustry suppliers. «
Content
PRODUCTS02 New firmware for optical
code readers
APPLICATIONS
03 30,000 washing cycles with just one drive
04 Stable tunnel construction
05 Practical training in automation technology
06 Reliability through simulation
MediaService February 2016 2
In the new firmware version 7.0 for the Simatic MV420 and MV440 optical readers an array of new features has been integrated.
system without the need for any ad-ditional programming. Compared to the predecessor version, operation of the software has been made eas-ier by eliminating the program tem-plate. Character recognition for Text-Genius Plus and object recognition for Pat-Genius have also been im-proved and accelerated. The recog-nition of incompletely scanned 1D codes, in other words one-dimen-sional barcodes, has been en-hanced, cycle times for overall test-ing have been reduced, and test speed has been increased through the processing of partial images. An-other new feature of firmware ver-sion 7.0 is an image sharpness indi-cator which simplifies focusing of the
Nuremberg, Germany. Siemens has released version 7.0 of the firmware for its Simatic MV420 and MV440 opti-cal readers. In addition to an onboard verification report complying with the international ISO/IEC 29158 standard, the new release also comes with the current certified version 2.2 of the portable Profinet stack protocol soft-ware. Operation of the software is now substantially easier and character recognition clearly improved.
An array of new features has been in-tegrated into the new firmware ver-sion 7.0 for the Simatic MV420 and MV440 optical readers. The onboard verification report allows the readers to now be used as a quality testing
New firmware for optical code readersLatest firmware version 7.0 with array of new features
Depending on whether soot, oil, flour or blood have to be removed from the wash, a different washing program is applicable.
and Project Manager at Schulthess Maschinen AG.
Extreme demands on the drive
The core of every washing machine is its drive, which comprises a motor and frequency converter supplied by Siemens. The converter has to cover a wide setting range. During the actu-al washing cycle, the drum speed is slow. This means that during this phase, high torque levels have to be overcome – particularly during start-up. During the spinning phase, the frequency converter output is operat-ing at almost 400 hertz. Here, the drive is working in field weakening mode, and its design has to ensure that the required torque can also be delivered during this part of the cycle.
Long service life and improved work conditions
“Alongside the technical require-ments, we also attach a lot of impor-tance to reliability”, says Rauschen-berger. This prompted the engineers to opt for an 11 kilowatt converter from Siemens. “The converter passed the service life tests with fly-ing colors”. With a clock frequency of just 16 kilohertz, the converter en-sures particularly low-noise opera-tion. This makes a big improvement to working conditions for laundry em-
Zürich, Switzerland. Commercial washing machines are used heavily day in, day out. So when the engineers at Schulthess Maschinen AG consid-ered the development of a new appli-ance family, a long service life, out-standing reliability and low-noise operation were high up on the wish list. Stringent quality standards also applied to the beating heart of the ma-chine – the drive. This is why a deci-sion was taken to opt for the durable 11 kilowatt frequency converter from Siemens. The result: 30,000 washing cycles, corresponding to a service life of up to 20 years, high converter avail-ability and a reduced noise level.
Laundering functional and protective clothing imposes particularly stringent demands on the commercial washing machines used. The clothing has to not only emerge clean but also be treated with care. This is why washing programs are individually tailored to the clothing required in different in-dustries. Depending on whether soot, oil, flour or blood have to be removed from the wash, a different washing program is applicable. “This is the fundamental difference between com-mercial and domestic laundry: The commercial washing machine offers extreme flexibility as regards the pro-gramming and adaptation of dedicat-ed programs”, explains Marcel Rauschenberger, electrical engineer
30,000 washing cycles with just one driveFrequency converter increases service life of commercial washing machines
Sinamics V20 Basic inverter
http://sie.ag/1kOE7CK
Washing machine The core of every washing machine is its drive, which comprises a motor and frequency converter supplied by Siemens.
ployees. The Siemens converter also fulfills the EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) standards. Schulthess Maschinen AG maintained a close technical exchange with Siemens throughout the entire development process: “The support we received was great, not only in response to our technical questions, but also when it came to obtaining approval for the machine”, says Rauschen-berger. «
Schulthess Maschinen AGWashing machine manufacturer Schulthess develops and pro-duces domestic and commer-cial machines. The company has been in existence for more than 170 years and launched Europe’s first domestic washing machines just under 60 years ago. The company is the mar-ket leader in commercial wash-ing machine sector. The ma-chines are developed and produced in the Zürcher Ober-land area of Switzerland. «
MediaService February 2016 4
The Logo! 8 logic module from Siemens takes charge of steam boiler control, level control and temperature control in the boiler.
tors the hall temperature specified for the drying process. Holtermann Regeltechnik GmbH based in Riet-berg is responsible for the entire measurement and control technology for the project, and relies on the Logo! 8 logic module from Siemens for the central heating systems. Ac-cording to CEO Martin Holtermann, Logo! 8 is “exactly the right solution for this project, providing optimum switching and control functions as well as outstanding cost efficiency. We fit the analog outputs with sever-al controllers, which allows us to im-plement a large number of tasks without problems. Here, the logic module provides the flexibility we need when it comes to the rapid modification of individual functions,” says Holtermann.
Control and simulation of func-tional processes
In the steam boiler plant, the soft-ware developed by Holtermann for the Logo! 8 takes care of steam boil-er control, level control, temperature
Semmering, Austria. A tunnel con-struction project in Semmering in Aus-tria uses prefabricated concrete seg-ments for internal tunnel support. In the production halls used to manufac-ture these supporting segments, the Logo! 8 logic module from Siemens performs a range of switching and control tasks.
The concrete elements required for tunnel construction projects are pro-duced in specially constructed halls directly on site. In Semmering, central heating container systems are used for self-optimizing temperature regula-tion which are equipped with the Logo! 8 logic module from Siemens. The containers also accommodate the mobile heat and power generator’s pressurized boiler. The control tech-nology is accommodated in a control cabinet inside the central heating con-tainer. To ensure that the concrete ele-ments fulfill the statutory and safety regulations, and that the tunnel tubes precisely comply with the structural re-quirements once the construction is complete, Logo! 8 continuously moni-
Stable tunnel constructionTunnel segment drying temperature controlled by Siemens logic modules
Logic module Logo!
http://sie.ag/1Tu03yz
The Logo!8 module for switching and control tasks
control in the boiler and the conden-sate return system, as well as control of the heating coils. Here, probes in the halls measure the temperature level and the logic module switches the heating systems on or off de-
pending on the required ambient tem-perature. The Logo! Soft Comfort engineering software makes for simplified programming
of the logic modules and functional process simulation. The ease of working with the system has meant a high level of operator satisfaction, making Holtermann delighted with the Siemens technology. «
the heating systems on or off de-pending on the required ambient tem-perature. The Logo! Soft Comfort engineering software makes for simplified programming
of the logic modules and functional
SemmeringTourism and north-south rail traffic are on the increase in Semmering. Under construction since 2012, the Semmering Base Tunnel will form a vital link on the Baltic – Adriatic axis for both passenger and cargo transport once completed. Con-struction of the 27.3 kilometer long tunnel would not be possi-ble without internal supporting structures. The concrete ele-ments required for this are pro-duced in specially erected halls directly on site. Because the concrete parts must not be al-lowed to cool down too rapidly after casting, the concrete mix-ing plants and curing chambers are monitored and controlled by the Logo! 8 logic module. «
MediaService February 2016 5
Visualization of a car wash cycle on the LCD screen with a pictographic display of a vehicle and washing brush
ees have the opportunity to apply their previously acquired basic knowledge of engineering. In order to control the washing process under real-time conditions, the trainee As-sociate Engineers implement the control program on a computer plat-form which communicates with the installation via a bus system. They also learn how to implement several washing programs which can be se-lected within the simulation. There-fore a further requirement is to offer a graphical visualization and an intui-tive operation concept. This explains why creative design of the display on the LCD (liquid crystal display) is an-other focal point of training. The trainees also learn how to handle
Erlangen, Germany. Automation tech-nology made easy is the name of the game for trainee Associate Engineers in Erlangen. Graphical, practical simu-lation models imitating a car wash, for instance, are used to introduce the trainees to industrial automation. Be-sides learning how to actually control processes, they also learn how to op-erate the system in a simple and intui-tive way while developing an under-standing of potential corner cases in the control process.
Plant automation is a particular focal point of Associate Engineer training. Using simulation models comprising true-to-life industrial components such as those used in a car wash, the train-
Learning how to put a car wash into operationPractical training in automation technology
Car washThe first SPE Mini in Erlangen going through the car wash
corner cases they may encounter when operating the system in order to ensure that no disruption occurs in the control process and that the sys-tem remains fully operational at all times. Through continual trial and testing, the trainees learn in a direct and comprehensible way how pro-gram changes and error corrections made to the control program impact the system. This enables them grad-ually to successfully put the system into operation. «
“Since we began using NX CAE, we are able to go from CAD design to the FE model to simulation results all within a day,” says Alex Sandstrom, Senior NVH Engineer at AAM. This has made it possible to fast track the simulation process. The software used is based on the same platform as NX CAD, enabling seamless transfer between CAD and the simu-lation team without translation errors. The result: rapid design-to-analysis iterations.
Accurate prediction through reliable software
Introducing the PLM Software from Siemens has enabled warranty costs to be drastically reduced. In addition, AAM is now in a position to make concrete predictions about perfor-mance in the real world. Reliable simulation makes the construction of prototypes with over-specific or even unnecessary functions completely superfluous. «
Reliability through simulationPLM Software speeds up simulation for US automotive supplierDetroit, Michigan/USA. As a global au-tomotive supplier, American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (AAM) based in Detroit/Michigan is an expert when it comes to drive systems. Its customers attach importance to quiet, vibration-free drives which transmit power from the engine to the wheels without the driver even noticing. To guarantee that it meets these strict standards, AAM deploys a combina-tion of simulated and physical testing for its axles and drivelines. For this, AAM opted to use computer-aided Siemens PLM software, which has slashed warranty costs in comparison to its predecessor.
Simulation allows the engineering team to predict product performance without the need to produce physical prototypes. But even the best simula-tion is worthless if the data used and acquired during the process – for instance product performance – fails to correlate to its equivalent in the real world. This is why the AAM engineering team compares its simu-lated results to the results from physi-cal testing with the aid of Siemens
NX CAEhttp://sie.ag/1KLFF5w
PLM Softwarewww.plm.automation.siemens.com/en_us/
The simulation software NX CAE and LMS Test.Lab allow a comparison of data gathered during simulation with physical test data.
With an ideally coordinated driveline, the driver should not be aware of the trans-mission of power from the engine to the wheels.
Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global tech-nology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and inter-nationality for more than 165 years. The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digita-lization. One of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is No. 1 in offshore wind turbine construction, a leading supplier of gas and steam turbines for power generation, a major provider of power transmission solutions and a pioneer in in-frastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a lea-der in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2015, which ended on September 30, 2015, Siemens generated revenue of €75.6 billion and net income of €7.4 billion. At the end of Sep-tember 2015, the company had around 348,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com.
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