Software Design

Software design service for automation

Our many years of experience in the field of industrial automation has found its natural evolution in software development.

In particular, software design is carried out in an internal department of the company, allowing us to satisfy all customer requests, thus achieving the desired result. Using the most advanced technologies, we develop software applications for industrial automation, on PC, PLC, SCADA, HMI platforms, depending on the different needs.

This activity is carried out by highly qualified personnel who, operating within the company and/or at the end custumer’s site, are responsible for designing software for:

Based on a development process, which includes: the acquisition and analysis of customer specifications, the study and implementation of the application, a series of on-site tests, commissioning at the construction site and final testing in production, we can validate the project in total correspondence with the other requirements.

At a time when digitalization is an essential process, as it allows us to mantain high competitiveness in the industry, we have combined software design with an outsourcing service, able to accelerate the implementation of projects and guarntee the achievements of objectives with low direct costs.

Control of the automatic tightening system

The system interfaces with the MES thanks to electronic torque/angle tightening systems, present on an automotive assembly line.

The MES system sends to the Web Service, of the MODEL service, the codes of the operations that must be performed on each station of the line. The MODEL service is responsible for communication to each FIELD the operations to be performed, any results already acquired and the configuration of the devices of each station. On each of them, the FIELD service activates a communication agent and, for each operation carried out, seds feedback to the MES system, wich updates the information of the operation for the user on its front end.

The result of the oeprations and statistics can also be consulted via an intranet website. Through the visualization of the X-R cards, generated with the results obtained by the tightening devices, the torque team can identify any drifts anche recalibrate the field devices.

Technologies: windows services, windows desktop, MS SQL database,  ASP web, SOAP web services, SAP MES, BOSCH and ATLAS COPCO torques, PLC Siemens, OPC DA, MODBUS, TCP, scripting system with C# language, VB Net

END-OF-LINE CONROL SYSTEM

The readings taken by the measurement function are represented in graphic form in the central area of the Measurement View. The bar graph shows the error detected on the individual sensors, while the polar graph displays the error of each individual acquisition with respect to the diameter of the bar. The results are sent to the PLC, wich interfaces with the line automation.

The system, with the help of a series preceision probes, checks in different sections that the diameter of the bar is in tolerance.

The system, with the help of a series of precision probes, checks in different sections that the diameter of the bar is in tolerance.

Technologies: windows desktop, MS SQL database , PLC Siemens, OPC UA, D/A National Instruments cards

Guided pipeline system for hydraulic assembly

The application checks that the operator performs all assebly operations in the default order. Each steps of the opera is shown to the operator in text form, possibly associated with a synoptic image. The operations can be manual or automatic. Specifically, automatic operations can interface with different devices such as: electronic screwdrivers, scales, pick to light systems, digital I/O. The grid displays the list of steps encoded in the assembly rule. The active step colum is highlighted with the yellow background of the text. In particular, the step column indicates, in addiction to the assembly step numberm also the status of the operation:

Active

Indicates the active assembly step

Complete

Indicates that the step has been performed

Faulty

Indicates that the step has not been completed and the component has been classified as defective. The vise on wich the deviation occurred is excluded  from the guided conduct.

The information of all prices of the batch is stored in the central database at the end of the assembly. Consequently, in relation to the results of the assembly, the system provides the operator with a graphical feedback that qualifies the productivity of the station.

The most optimistic goal has been achieved.

The minimum target has been achieved.

The minimum target has not been met.

The value cannot be calculated.

Tecnologies:  MS SQL database,  BOSCH remote I/O, OPC UA, RFID BALLUFF, BOSCH and ATLAS COPCO devices, BM Electronic scale, INSPEKTO and COGNEX cameras, MODBUS, TCP

Maintenance management system

The system allows to plan and contol the maintenance interventions necessary for the different machines of an industrial plant. These can be scheduled according to the date of counters of the machines. In addition to this, each maintenance can be associated with a graphic widget, wich indicates the status of maintenance in a mimic synoptic. The synoptic display can be observed simultaneously on a desktop or tablet application. In addiction, scheduled maintenance on a weekly, monthly or annual basis is visible on the calendar page.

For each machine or maintenance it is possible to observe the technical documentation, which allows the maintenance technician to know the operations can be carried out and the space parts to be used. The documents that can be consulted are of various formats: PDF, Word, Excel, images and movies. Maintenance can be associated with notes, spare parts costs and time spent spent on various operations. The administrator can filter maintenance events and generate a task report.

Technologies: windows desktop, windows services, MS SQL database , ASP-Core web, BLAZOR web client, Dapper framework, jscript, OPC UA.

Flat bar straightening machine

The straightening function of the machine is achieved by applying a force opposite to the measured deformation. Each body, or more properly, every continous isotropic system subject to stress, deforms in proportion to the intensity of the applied effort, the nature of the material and other physical conditions.

In general, an elastic deformation disappears when the stress ceases, otherwise there is a plastic or a permanent deformation. Specifically, there are materials that mainly have plastic deformation and materials that are elastic up to a certain value of stress, after which there is plasticity until breaking is achieved. In order to use corrective plastic deformation it is therefore essential that the machine can learn the mechanical behavior. In order to learn this behavior, the Learning tab is available in the materials management section, which allows the characterization of the material. Once the physical characteristics of the material have been determined, the machine is able to correct the deformations of the bar, measuring them in various sections and applying an appropriate correction logic.  

Technologies: windows desktop, MS SQL database, OPC UA, PLC Siemens o CNC Siemens, Power MES, D/A National Instruments cards.

PLC AND MOTION DESIGN

At Infomotion we have thirty years of experience in the creation of software for the automation of machines and automatic lines in the most varied sectiors including: packaging, food & beverage, ceramics, automotive, tobacco, logistics, medical and much more. Our aim is o put our knowledge at the service of our costumers, historical and potential, for the development of new project and/or prototype machines, for the consolidation of machines, or lines in production and for any assistance.

PLC

PLC software design makes use of the main development environments. Depending on the needs and requests of the costumer, we are able to operate on different platforms, including:

Siemens Rockwell Beckhoff B&R

Used in its most recent version, such as the TIA Portal, it is used for the construction of machines in the metalworking, packaging and logistics sectors, but also for assistance and modifications on older PLCs, going to use development environments such as Step 7.

Known worldwide for its reliability, it is used in various fields. In particular, we at Infomotion, use it mainly in the packaging and logistics sectors, as well as in more niche sectors, such as glass and plastics transport.

A PLC with great potential in terms of performance and programming possibilities, open to the development of various software layers thanks to the most complete openness to the development proprietary libraries, given by the TwinCat development environment.

A platform that in recent years has been gaining grounds especially in applications that require high performance in terms of motion.

In addition to this, within our staff, we have expert figures able to develop on less common environments, such as Schneider, Omron, Bosch.

MOTION

In recent years the evolution id automatic machines has led to a transition: from mainly mechanical machinery to equipment in wich the electronic part is becoming increasingly relevant. All this has led us to greater flexibility in any format changes, less need for mechanical manteinance and, consequently, lower costs, associated with an increase in productivity. Electronic cams, synchronous controls and activations with controlled environtments and vision systems are the order of the day.

This necessity has led all PLC manufactures to integrate motion management instructions into their system.

The revamping of obsolete machine represents a fundamental opportunity for companies, in order to mantain high competitiviness on the global market. That’s why infomotion has acquired over the years the knowledge to support customers in the transition to this type of machine, helping them in the conversion of old mechanical cams to electronic ones.

DESIGN

Our department of developers is istructured to follow the needs of costumers in order to offer customized solutions, starting from the preliminary study of the project, following the functional specifications provided by the companies or jointly agreed, and then focusing on the electrical project and finding the most efficient and effective solution for the indicated needs, such asm be realiable, secture, have excellent scalability and complete the project on time and on schedule.

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