Sustainability by digitalization: Inventory machines become capable of communication

13.09.2022

What's old is far from bad. This also applies to machines – however, they are often not capable of communicating. Yet it is precisely this ability that is of interest when it comes to evaluating data or correcting errors. Does this mean that old machines have to fear for their jobs?

The machines from injection molding machine manufacturer LWB Steinl certainly don't have to, because the company has found a way to connect even older machines to a communication network. Peter Radosai explains how this works and why it is advantageous for the company in this K-MAG interview.

What functions are available to your customers through the DataBox upgrade?

Peter Radosai: Via the DataBox, the operating or system data of older LWB control generations can be tapped and passed on to a higher-level production data acquisition system (PDA) or manufacturing execution system (MES). This means that older inventory machines are no longer excluded from central monitoring including data evaluation and/or data visualization of modern production monitoring systems.

In its basic version, the DataBox is a "one-way system", which means that control data can only be read and forwarded to a higher-level system.

How is the system integrated into the existing machines?

Radosai: The communication connection to the installed control generation is made possible via two ways: either an RS 232 interface or via a connection using an RJ45 TCP/IP interface (Ethernet cable).

What are the benefits for companies of making their old machines communication-enabled?

Radosai: All relevant process data can be viewed centrally from outside via the DataBox:

• all axis movements: the paths during plasticizing and injection, the unit lift-off, the paths of the sliding table, the ejector, the core puller and the safety gate as well as the separator top and bottom
• pressures (back pressure and injection pressure) and speeds (injection speed, screw speed)
• specific process data such as job number, date and time, cycle time, heating time, shot counts, piece counts per shift, temperatures
• all system information such as operating mode (manual or automatic), system pressure, hydraulic operating time, alarms

What are the technical requirements to use the package?

Radosai: The central component is the "DataBox", a data gateway that is added to the machine control cabinet. In addition, only a 24V power supply is required. It can also be easily retrofitted if required.

How do you intend to further develop the system in the future?

Radosai: We are currently preparing the "Two-way System", which will also allow data to be written, tailored to individual customer requirements.