customization Archives - AUTOMATION INSIGHTS

Maximize the Benefits of Open-Source Code in Manufacturing Software

The rise of many players in manufacturing automation, along with factories’ growing adoption of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and automation solutions, present a suitable environment for open-source software. This software is a value-adding solution for manufacturers, regardless of their operation technology and management requirements, due to the customization, resiliency, scalability, accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and quality it allows.

Customization

Software developers who use open-source code provide software with a core code that establishes specific features and allows users to access it and make changes as necessary. The process is much like being able to complete an author’s writing prompt or change the end of a story. Unlike a closed system that locks users in, open-source allows them to adapt and modify the code to meet a particular need or application.

This add-on coding system provides endless customization. It enables communities (i.e., users) to add or remove features beneficial in an integration phase, such as features for user testing or to find the best solution for a machine.

Customization is also valuable regarding data visualizations; users can develop dashboards and visuals that best describe their operations. Suppose a sensor provides real-time condition monitoring data over a particular machine. In that case, it’s possible to customize the code supporting the software that gathers and processes the data for specific parameters or to calculate specific values.

Resiliency

Additionally, open-source code is resilient to change because it can be modified quickly. The ability to quickly add or remove features and adapt to cyber environments or specific applications also makes it volatile. Like exposure to pathogens can help strengthen an immune response to said pathogens, so can an open-source code be made stronger by its exposure to different environments and applications to be ready to face cybersecurity threats. Implementing an open code isn’t any less risky (cybersecurity-wise) than closed codes due to the testing and enhancements made by so many coders or programmers. However, it is up to the implementer to use the same rules that apply to other closed source software. The implementer must be aware of the code’s source and avoid code from non-reputable sources who could have modified it with negative intentions. Overall, the code is resilient, adaptable, and agile to adapt given a new environment.

Scalability

The add-on and customization aspects of open-source also allow the code to be highly scalable. This scalable implementation happens in two dimensions: adoption timeline and application-based. Both are important to guarantee user acceptance and that it meets the operation and application requirements. Regarding the adoption timeline, scalability allows modification of the software and code to meet users’ expectations. Open-sourced code enables the implementation of features for user testing and feedback. The ultimate solution will include multiple iterations to meet the users’ needs and fulfill operation expectations.

On the other hand, this code is scalable based on the application(s), such as working on different machines, multiples of the same machine with different purposes, or adding/dropping features for specific uses. Say, for example, there are three of the same machine (A, B, and C), but they are in different environments. Machine A is in an environment that is 28°F , B is at room temperature, and C is exposed to constant wash-down. In this case, the condition monitoring software defines the acceptable parameters for each scenario, avoiding false alarms from erroneous triggers. In this example, the base code is adapted to include specific features based on the application.

Accessibility

In general, cost-effective and high-quality open-source code is available online. There are additional resources such as free coding tutorials that don’t require any licenses as well. Moreover, when programmers update an open code, they must make the new version available again, ensuring that the code is accessible and up to date.

Cost-effectiveness and quality

Regarding cost-effectiveness, using community open-source code significantly reduces the cost of developing, integrating, and testing software built in-house. It also reduces the implementation time and makes for better production operations. Essentially, it is high-quality, reliable code created by trusted sources for multiple coders and users.

“The application drives the technology” mantra is at the heart of open-source software development—a model where source code is available for community members to use, modify, and share. IIoT enablers and providers in the manufacturing industry own a particular solution that is then available for manufacturers to adapt to their specific operational requirements. With the increasing adoption of data-collecting technologies, it is in manufacturers’ best interest to seek software providers who grant them the flexibility to adjust software solutions to meet their specific needs. Automation is a catalyst for data-driven operation and maintenance.

Custom Sensors: Let Your Specs Drive the Design

Customized sensors, embedded vision and RFID systems are often requirements for Life Science devices to meet the needs for special detection functions, size constraints and environmental conditions. Customization can dramatically raise costs and you don’t want to pay for stock features, such as an external housings and universal outputs, that are simply not needed. So, it comes down to your specification driving the design. A qualified sensor supplier can create custom orders, allowing your specifications to drive the design, building just what you need and nothing you don’t.

It’s as easy as putting a model together.

The process is fairly straight forward. After reviewing your specifications, the sensor supplier develops a plan to supply a functional prototype for your testing phase. Qualified sensing companies can quickly build prototypes either by starting with a standard product or using standard modules. Both methods have advantages.

Standard Product approach: This is the fastest method to get a prototype up and running. Here, the focus is on providing a solution for the basic sensing/detection application. Once testing confirms the functionally, a custom project is started. The custom project ensures seamless integration into your device. Also, cost control measures can be addressed.

Standard Module approach: This will handle the most demanding applications. When a standard product is not able to meet the basic required functionally, we turn to the base component modules. An ever-growing field of applications are solved by combining options from the hundreds of available modules. While this takes more time, the sensing company can deliver a near final prototype in much less time than if they were creating an internal development.

Qualified sensor companies can easily handle the production side as well. With significant investments in specialized automated manufacturing equipment, production can be scaled to meet varying demands. And as components go obsolete, sustaining engineering projects are routinely handled to maintain availability. This can be disruptive for internal production or contract manufacturers. Sensor companies will take on the responsibility of life-cycle management for years to come. It’s part of their business model.

So, make sure your sensor, embedded vision or RFID supplier has a large model kit to pull from. Your projects will exceed your specification and be completed on time without long-term life-cycle issues.

For more information , visit https://www.balluff.com/en/de/service/services/productbased-service/.

How flexible inspection capabilities help meet customization needs and deliver operational excellence

As the automotive industry introduces more options to meet the growing complexities and demands of its customers (such as increased variety of trim options) it has rendered challenges to the automotive manufacturing industry.

Demands of the market filter directly back to the manufacturing floor of tier suppliers as they must find the means to fulfill the market requirements on a flexible industrial network, either new or existing. The success of their customers is dependent on the tier supplier chain delivering within a tight timeline. Whereby, if pressure is applied upon that ecosystem, it will mean a more difficult task to meet the JIT (just in time) supply requirements resulting in increased operating costs and potential penalties.

Meeting customer requirements creates operational challenges including lost production time due to product varieties and tool change time increases. Finding ways to simplify tool change and validate the correct components are placed in the correct assembly or module to optimize production is now an industry priority. In addition, tracking and traceability is playing a strong role in ensuring the correct manufacturing process has been followed and implemented.

How can manufacturing implement highly flexible inspection capabilities while allowing direct communication to the process control network and/or MES network that will allow the capability to change inspection characteristics on the fly for different product inspection on common tooling?

Smart Vision Inspection Systems

Compact Smart Vision Inspection System technology has evolved a long way from the temperamental technologies of only a decade ago. Systems offered today have much more robust and simplistic intuitive software tools embedded directly in the Smart Vision inspection device. These effective programming cockpit tools allow ease of use to the end user at the plant providing the capability to execute fast reliable solutions with proven algorithm tools. Multi-network protocols such as EthernetIP, ProfiNet, TCP-IP-LAN (Gigabit Ethernet) and IO-LINK have now come to realization. Having multiple network capabilities delivers the opportunity of not just communicating the inspection result to the programmable logic controller (via process network) but also the ability to send image data independent of the process network via the Gigabit Ethernet network to the cloud or MES system. The ability to over-lay relevant information onto the image such as VIN, Lot Code, Date Code etc. is now achievable. In addition, camera housings have become more industrially robust such as having aluminum housings with an ingress protection rating of IP67.

Industrial image processing is now a fixture within todays’ manufacturing process and is only growing. The technology can now bring your company a step closer to enabling IIOT by bringing issues to your attention before they create down time (predictive maintenance). They aid in reaching operational excellence as they uncover processing errors, reduce or eliminate scrap and provide meaningful feedback to allow corrective actions to be implemented.

Hydraulic Valves – Customize your Feedback

Hydraulic actuators can be used to open and close a valve’s position. In automation architectures, a linear position sensor is used within the hydraulic actuator to provide continuous position feedback.

The linear position sensor is installed into the back end of the cylinder. The sensing element resides in a cavity that has been gun-drilled through the piston and cylinder rod, extending the full length of the mechanical stroke. A magnet ring is used as a position marker and mounted on the face of the piston. As the piston (and the position marker) move, the linear position sensor provides a continuous absolute position by way of an analog or digital signal.

In some applications, a cylinder’s position may only be moving across a small portion of the overall stroke or a specific portion of the stroke. The end user could benefit from altering the transducer’s signal based on the application’s specific stroke requirements instead of the entire cylinder’s stroke, thereby maximizing available position resolution. When this situation arises, most transducer manufacturers offer the ability to customize or “teach” a modified output of the stroke via push buttons or from wiring inputs. When this is done, the process does require the cylinder (and position marker) to move to these defined locations for a “teach”.

A more user-friendly and repeatable approach for customized stroke lengths with linear position sensors is to use a graphical software package. The software can be connected
from a PC via USB to a compatible linear position sensor. Starting and ending stroke values can be precisely entered into the software and a graphical representation of the output curve is created. For a more straightforward approach, you can also drag and drop these stroke points by a click of a cursor. The file can be saved on a PC and downloaded to the transducer. In either case, the cylinder’s piston doesn’t need to be actuated.

In projects where multiple, identical actuators and linear position sensors need to be customized, the setup would only need to be done once, the file saved, and simply uploaded to all the sensors for the project. A great time-saver over manually teaching each and every sensor.

Another benefit to using software with linear position sensors is to be able to upload programs for replacement units in a safe user environment (e.g. lab station or office) and shipping them to various job sites. These different locations (or locales) can be in harsh environmental conditions (extreme cold or heat) or areas that contain ignitable or explosive gases or dusts which may be difficult to work in.

Other software features include inverting the output curves, offering position or velocity outputs, and more.

For more information on Balluff’s Magnetostrictive Linear Position Sensors, visit www.balluff.com.

Customization of RFID tag holders and mounting accessories

Does your RFID application require a customized tag holder? What about special brackets for read/write heads and processors? Don’t have the bandwidth to design the mounting hardware required for your unique application? The Balluff Customizing Group can help! If you are implementing the BIS C, BIS L, BIS M or BIS U RFID systems we will make sure you get the performance your application demands.

For several years the Balluff Customizing Group has been working directly with engineers and maintenance personal to provide design and development services for RFID mechanical accessories. The process is streamlined and very straight forward. Please contact Balluff’s Technical Support Professionals to discuss your RFID application.

Here are a few recent examples of RFID projects in the Customizing Group:

1) RFID Pistol Grip Read/Write Head for BIS M data carriers. The modular design can be used with M12, M18 and M30 tubular read/write heads for logistics tracking of incoming and outgoing shipments.

2) Keyfob with embedded BIS C data carrier. Individual access codes are programmed to the tags allowing only authorized personnel to enter restricted areas.