The application was for a cut-to-length flying shear system that utilised the rotating tube manufacture to cut around the wall of the tube. The system must cater for 100mm lengths up to several meters at rates of up to 90 cuts/min.

The solution that HMK provided, comprised of:

• A 5 axis Simotion system, with a Comfort HMI gatewayed through a S7-1200 PLC
• Motion optimised to give peak cut rate, factoring in several operator settings and dynamic operating range of the motors
• Virtual Master representing tube speed, calculated from an upstream encoder on tube ply
• Use of cam profiles for Carriage and Knife axes to give synchronised motion
• On the fly calculation and switching of profiles to give an operator the ability to modify settings during a run
• ‘Staged’ knife profile to allow fast movement towards tube and more gradual movement through the tube wall
• Knife Teach function to allow calibration in the case of blade wear
• WinCC Audit function to monitor operator login and settings changes
• First system was able to perform the shorter lengths at faster rates than the equivalent system that it was replacing

HMK also supplied a complete Integrated Drive System Package encompassing software, drives, motors, gearboxes, couplings and support. Along with eWON technology which allows for remote access for fault diagnosis 

If you would like more information or are interested in your own project with HMK please don't hesitate to contact us, alternatively call one of our team on 01260 279 411 who will be happy to help.