Smart Molding International 4-2022

24 smart_molding international 4/2022 machinery A t the K 2022 plastics and rubber trade fair in Düsseldorf, some of the exhibits of the machine manufacturer BOY were presented with a new visualisation of the machine control. The ALPHA 6 - the designated successor to the still current Procan ALPHA 4 control system - is immediately recognisable by its 16: 9 screen format. The TFT-colour display of the ALPHA 6 has a Full-HD resolution with 1920 x 1080 pixels (px) and operates with the Multitouch PCT-technology (projected capacitive). The display of the symbols has been changed to a design that is particularly comfortable for the eyes. Special focus has been placed on soft colours and a structured symbolism. Due to the modified and slightly wid- er screen format, the ALPHA 6 offers its users an additional input (widget)-area, that can be individually configurated with prefabricated modules as it is the case in a modular system. By clicking on an object from this library set values can be freely defined and edited at any time, and the actual values determined by the control system can be displayed. "With the updated visualisation of the user surface and a slightly updated symbolism, users who are already fa- miliar with the previous BOY-controls will be able to get easily and quickly along with ALPHA 6”, commented Thomas Kühr, Head of Electrical De- sign at BOY. The display of the ALPHA 6 with its touch-surface still offers the advan- tages of a clear and intuitive machine control. In the course of the increasing networking of injection moulding ma- chines, the ALPHA 6 also offers the use of a wide variety of "add-ons" (digital expansion programmes), such as the BOY-WLAN-Stick, the BOY-Software Moulding Assist and the BOY-Status- App. In addition, the possibility of a voice control was demonstrated at the exhibition booth. The BOY-WLAN-Stick - plugged into the BOY machine control - con- nects the injection moulding machine to the Internet via an ex- isting customer-WLAN or a hotspot. This en- ables a secure, remote- controlled monitoring of process sequences up to an immediate assistance via remote maintenance with the BOY-repeater from Neustadt- Fernthal. After its premiere at the K 2022, the ALPHA 6 control system will gradually replace the current Procan ALPHA ® 4. Company profile Dr. Boy GmbH & Co. KG is one of the leading worldwide manufacturers of injection moulding machines with clamping forces up to 1,250 kN. The very compact, durable machines work precisely, energy-saving and thus highly economically. With innovative con- cepts and solutions, BOY has proved itself again and again as a trendset- ter. Automation, digitalisation as well as sustainability and CO 2 savings are particularly in focus. Since the com- pany was founded in 1968 more than 50,000 Injection Moulding Machines have been delivered worldwide. The privately-owned company continues to put special emphasis on engineered performance and high-class "made in Germany" workmanship. BOY www.dr-boy.de Due to the modified and slightly wider screen format, the new ALPHA 6 offers customers an additional input (widget)-area, that can be individually configurated with prefabricated modules. By clicking on an object from this library set values can be freely defined and edited at any time, and the actual values determined by the control system can be displayed. BOY machine control system in a new format BOY XS E with ALPHA 6 (all pictures: BOY) Display of ALPHA 6