Rexroth Productivity Agent, a tool for efficiency

In this month's column, we're looking at the subject of diagnostics and preventive maintenance.

Quality, speed, flexibility and productivity are some of the indicators that are usually analysed in order to “judge” a machine or system, but it's statistically proven that one of the factors that has the strongest negative influence on the OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) is machine downtime due to problems or breakages (equipment failure); the effect on production loss varies from 7% to 27%.

Thanks to its 20-year experience in the field of servo-systems and scheduled maintenance programs (field service), Rexroth has developed the “Rexroth Productivity Agent” - a tool able to detect and analyse information concerning mechatronic system variations such as friction, blockages, play or mechanical hardening.
It's a powerful preventive diagnostics tool, as well as being the basis for predictive analyses. It lets you plan system maintenance in advance, thereby avoiding those costly and stressful production downtimes.

The analyses are based on the concept of intelligent drive, using the motor as a detection sensor and using the servo drive / controller to process the signals and information that are then made available to the user or higher systems.
The tool works alongside the normal production process, and doesn't require any additional external devices (sensors) or external software.
It can be used on all Indradrive drive platforms (compact, modular and motors with integrated drive) and MLC controllers.

The available functions and analyses are:
• mechanical analyses (e.g. friction, play, rigidity) and the relative definition of the tolerance thresholds;
• analysis of the frequency response - especially useful for detecting even minimum mechanical and electrical variations;
• monitoring of the envelope curves, i.e. monitoring of any signal (e.g. torque or current) during the entire production cycle, and definition of tolerance thresholds;
• monitoring, analyses and reduction of vibrations: this function eliminates/mitigates the detected system vibrations in real time, using dynamic algorithms of control parameter adjustment.

With all the functions, you can define the thresholds and limits for the automatic generation of warning messages.

Once again, Rexroth has come up with a simple but effective tool for improving the OEE, reducing costs and enhancing system efficiency, thanks to the reduced maintenance costs (up to 30%), less machine downtime (35-45%), and production stoppages (up to 75%).

MORE INFO
Packaging and Processing
Bosch Rexroth Italia
[email protected]
www.boschrexroth.com/packaging