The value of digitization in the industrial sector has been viewed with renewed importance starting at the beginning of this decade, with companies investing more into adopting it. This has given rise to a new industrial culture; one that moves towards proactive maintenance rather than reactive maintenance.
There are numerous efficiency and regulatory standards that design engineers must follow without asking any questions. Efficient and reliable systems are necessary for maximum productivity. In order to guarantee this, engineers must make sure all common motor/VFD specifications issues have been resolved.
Motion control applications utilize a plethora of servomotors and machine actuators. Proper selection and integration are necessary for top-level accuracy and profitability. There are some factors that must be considered during and after the design process to ensure that the system works at peak efficiency and accuracy. The type of load, duty cycle and mechanical transmission all effect the accuracy of the system.
Robots aren’t plug & play devices, especially not in an industrial setting. They require considerable prep-work, ranging from the initial design stage, to implementation, to regressive testing & troubleshooting. Things can get even more complicated when you are trying to achieve a great degree of automation through robots that work in conjunction, not just from the technical point of view, but from the financial side as well.
There is a common misconception among industrial circles regarding network security, that since their OT networks are isolated from the internet. They are never exposed to the same types of malware, which otherwise wreak havoc through IT systems. This may have been true decades ago, when plant floors were truly isolated in all aspects, but with increased digitization and onset of IoT technologies, companies can’t rely on “isolation” alone as a protection mechanism.
It can be stated without a doubt that economic efficiency serves as the prime motivator for adopting automation technologies. Directly, or indirectly, operational efficiency also leads to a reduction in waste products and allows companies to minimize their energy needs. The US Environmental Protection Agency has repeatedly recognized these benefits and encouraged shift-over to automated electronic reporting and advanced monitoring technologies.
Motors form the backbone of almost all major industrial operations, irrespective of the industry chosen. Motor failure can lead to unscheduled downtime and increases in costs from replacement and/or maintenance.
Robotic material removal processes are capable of instilling considerable economical and operational benefits within plant floors. Compared to manual processes, robotic grinding is more robust, streamlined and manageable.
Maintenance of electrical motors and related equipment is one of the most mission-critical tasks for an industrial plant, and for good reason. Motors are the primary source of productivity and form the backbone of all operations within a plant, driving virtually every major equipment from pumps to conveyors. If an interruption arises then it can greatly affect the productivity and with that the economic efficiency of the plant.
The infamous Stuxnet worm made headlines in 2009 when it penetrated Iranian Nuclear Facilities, resulting in the destruction of their centrifuges. The debate regarding the origin of the worm spanned political boundaries, but nonetheless it uncovered the next generation of zero-day attacks that could disrupt industrial processes relying on inter-connected components.