Example: Data has to be acquired fast in order to reduce cycle times.

In critical processes it is even necessary to acquire data in real time within a predefined time period.

Finally, data must be transferred promptly to a superordinate control system, thus allowing adjustments in the production to be effected as soon as possible.

 

Speed versus data volume

To improve the productivity of factory lines increasingly often machine data is transferred to superordinate analysis systems, because a fast reaction to a tolerance value being exceeded helps reduce the amount of defective pieces.

 

To make an exact and significant analysis on production level it is on the one hand necessary to acquire as much data as possible and on the other hand to transfer this data as fast as possible. Both at the same time means a high data volume at high speed which is not easy to realize.

 

First, the machine and facility data is processed in the control level. There are different solutions reacting more or less immediately to an event such as transfer of sensor data:

 

• SPS: ms range (depending on the type between 5 ms and 50 ms per cycle)
• Ethernet (Standard Ethernet, optimized): 5 ms
• PC (without real time system): ca. 1 ms (Windows)
• Real-time Ethernet: min. 100 µs (EtherCAT, depending from master)
• PC (with real time system): <= 10 µs, depending on the operation system
• MSX-Box: 3.5 µs

Not only the response time of the control system is relevant but also the ability to process a large amount of data:

Conclusion:

To capture and process as much signals as possible within a short time period the measurement and control systems have to be the closest possible to the sensor (for example to decrease transfer times) and to be programmed hardware near in order to process large amounts of data, like for example the MSX-Box can.

 

Do you wish to learn more about the potential of your facility?

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