Cabinet-free technology
IT'S THE SUM THAT MAKES THE TOTAL. Cabinet-free technology: the modularity and energy efficiency of automatic machines
What's the solution that combines hardware modularity requirements (essential for automatic machine manufacturers) with the need for energy efficiency - increasingly important for the end users?
Bosch Rexroth's answer is the new "cabinet-free" approach, presented at Interpack (Hall 06 Stand D62) as the evolution of the on-board integrated drive technology introduced by the company in 2006.
Technological progress has allowed us to far exceed the limits in the maximum number of axes that can be connected on a single line, as well as increasing the continuous power available on the hybrid cable (that distributes both the synchronisation signal and the power to the motors): with a power supply unit separate from the panel (with IP65 certification), and the greater continuous power available for the “near-the-motor” solution, the most common packaging machine automation architectures can be created with power devices entirely separate from the electric panel.
This solution provides an immediate advantage for the end user in terms of electricity savings, thanks to the reduced heat dispersal inside the panel and the possible elimination of conditioning systems.
The modularity of the cabinet-free solution also applies to the integrated safety functions, divided into two distinct areas. The first concerns the SafeTorqueOff solution, with wired commands and the possibility to sub-divide one line into several safety “areas”, each governed by a specific activation signal that's completely independent from the others.
With the more complete version, the safety functions are included in the SafeMotion package (activated via a certified BUS such as CIP Safety on Sercos).
To complete the specific requests for a modular platform, Bosch Rexroth offers a solution in which the motor with on-board drive can extract the connection to a remote fieldbus node, for the field connection of IO units or other actuators on one of the profiles available as a MultiEthernet command interface (Sercos III, Sercos Over EtherCat, Profinet IO or Ethernet IP).
The “near-the-motor” solution - i.e. on-site activation - offers the possibility to pilot third party or special motors (torque, linear, asynchronous even in open loop), guaranteeing the maximum flexibility of machine architecture.
But the advantages for end users aren't just limited to energy savings: the notable reduction in wiring (thanks to a daisy-chain type connection between the motors), and the possibility to easily replace the motor-drive unit in the event of a fault, means far less need to reset the functions following a fault, so the mechanical intervention merely involves the replacement of the component.
The inherent modularity of the cabinet-free solution is a guarantee for the future expandability of the lines themselves, with the possibility to include both integrated safety function activation and the connection of remote-controlled IO unit blocks in the hybrid cable connection.
