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Rockwell Automation Optimizing Exceptional Machines

October 2004
Today’s OEMs are constantly challenged to provide flexible, high-performance, differentiated machines as end users call for increased machine variability and minimized changeover times. To meet the demands of end user production requirements, many OEMs are migrating from mechanical to electronic-based machines that are easier to reconfigure for fast changeovers and easier to maintain.

Staying abreast of current and emerging industry standards and guidelines can save both OEMs and end users valuable design, validation and maintenance time. And maintaining awareness of emerging technology is important to helping OEMs understand end users’ changing needs and buying behaviors. For example, end users have traditionally carried the burden of line integration, but the responsibility is shifting as end users begin placing orders for complete lines (i.e., machine-to-machine and enterprise-level integration).

New information-enabled technologies from Rockwell Automation can help OEMs prepare for the ongoing changes impacting the marketplace. Rockwell Automation is one of the few automation suppliers with expertise from one end of the factory to the other, equipping OEMs to successfully increase profits and attract new customers with high-performance, cost-efficient machines.

New Rockwell Automation Products Help OEMs Optimize Exceptional Machines
Rockwell Software® RSLogix™ 5000 with PhaseManager™ Feature – Available in the next version of RSLogix 5000 programming software, the PhaseManager feature provides a framework for entering machine state logic and enforcing a machine state model. This enables OEMs to follow a standard state model, resulting in different OEM machines working in one standard way.

Allen-Bradley® CompactLogix™ 1769-L35CR and 1769-L32C Controllers – New CompactLogix controllers provide flexible machine control in a compact, space-saving package. With integrated ControlNet™ network connectivity, the controllers eliminate the need for separate communication modules—simplifying programming and cutting both installation and configuration costs for OEMs.

Allen-Bradley Kinetix® 6000 Digital Servo Drive Enhancements – The expanded power range and features in the Kinetix 6000 digital servo drive help machine builders who need increased servo drive power and functionality in a compact, space-saving package. New power ranges of 1kW to 11kW (230V) and 2kW to 22kW (460V) are used in demanding motion applications that require high power, such as packaging, material handling or converting. Other new features include Line Interface Modules (LIM) with expanded capabilities, enhanced power rails, Resistive Brake Modules (RBM) and an additional feedback-only axis.

Allen-Bradley ClearSight™ RightSight™ Photoelectric Sensor – The RightSight sensor with ClearSight technology improves machine performance using an enhanced optical system for improved detection of clear objects (i.e., plastic bottles). The sensors are built for packaging and material handling applications and feature a compact right-angle housing that fits into smaller spaces than other clear-object sensors.

Allen-Bradley Bulletin™ 44B Photoelectric Sensor with Adjustable Background and Foreground Suppression – The 44B photoelectric sensor is the first in a new family of photoelectric sensors using the popular 50mm rectangular form factor. The 44B is ideal for applications where reliable suppression of background (such as shiny surfaces or reflections) is required. By eliminating the need for a retroreflective sensor and reflector, the 44B helps OEMs reduce set-up time and costs.

Performance Solutions for Manufacturing: Discrete Machine Performance – A new series of software and service offerings called Performance Solutions for Manufacturing helps manufacturers increase operating efficiencies and speed time-to-market. Discrete Machine Performance is one module that offers a pre-integrated software and hardware solution to increase asset utilization by monitoring equipment throughput and performance. Machine Performance accelerates OEM time-to-market and time-to-value, allows OEMs to stay focused on domain expertise, provides access to pre-integrated best-of-breed functionality, reduces implementation time and costs and provides certainty, because the solution has been tested and qualified.

For additional information about Rockwell Automation’s OEM capabilities, visit the company’s Web site at www.rockwellautomation.com/thecompleteoem.

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