Software and simulation

When people connect, the future is wide open Indeed, Sepro has already taken significant steps toward Industry 4.0, with its proprietary Visual control platform: one control, developed specifically for plastics injection molding that can be customized to control the simplest sprue picker or the most advanced 3-, 5– or 6-axis robots; that can control one robot or an entire automation cell. This same control can be used to operate not only Sepro robots, but also robots developed by other companies, including Sepro partners Stäubli Robotics, Yaskawa Motoman and Machines Pagès. It can integrated into the control systems on injection-molding machines made by Sumitomo Demag, Billion, Stork and others, making it easier for molders to set up and operate manufacturing cells. Today, Sepro is collaborating with various IMM partners to offer three different levels of control integration 1. More Ergonomic: The robot control can be mirrored on the operator panel of the injection molding machine. The IMM doesn’t control the robot, but it does provide the interface to the robot control. In this configuration, it is possible to control the robot from two different locations. For instance, on the operator side of the machine, the machine control interface can be used and on the back of the machine, the robot control pendant can be used. This can greatly simplify the fine-tuning of robot movements without the operator having to move back and forth from one side of the machine to the other. 2. Quick Access: This configuration represents a middle range of control integration. It offers the same operational features and benefits as Level 1, plus the ability to use shortcut icons and keyboard functionality built into the IMM control. For instance, the operator can start up the whole production cell on one touchscreen. Other shortcut operations like ‘Reset’ and ’Home Return’ are also available. Also, IMM set-up actions – like selecting or entering a mold or job code – automatically trigger similar actions in the robot control. When a specific user (operator) profile is entered on the IMM control, similar access is automatically granted in the robot control. Communication is via Ethernet TCP/IP. 3. Integrated Operation & Data Storage: Here, the robot application program is fully integrated in the IMM control and all application data, including robot programming and possibly other auxiliary equipment like mold temperature controls, are filed in one place in the IMM control memory. Operation is similar to Level 2, but this configuration files and backs up application parameters of the entire cell in one single archive. This arrangement is best for molders that want to centralize management of plant production and prevent any chance of a conflict between robot and machine controls. This integration technology is already reality, as each of these configurations has been implemented to some degree with certain Sepro partners. Sepro Robot on Sumitomo Demag IMM at K2016.