Human-machine interfaces play a key role when choosing manufacturing equipment. Potential purchasers not only consider the quality of the machine and the products it manufactures, but user-friendliness and a robust, well-designed operator control system, often influence decision-making just as much.
Engineering specialist Laempe & Mössner produce several lines of core shooters and equips its’ core shooting machines with Rittal’s support arm and housing systems.
A programmable logic controller manages all processes within the system and the human-machine interface comprises a panel PC with a touch screen. This enables the user to operate the equipment and to monitor current status. In addition to the panel PC, a number of other elements, such as an emergency off switch, signal pillars, valves and a pressure indicator, are required. All these components are contained in compact housings from Rittal’s Comfort Panel range.
Each housing is divided into three sections with the panel PC mounted in the centre, whilst the lower third accommodates the switches, signal pillars and other control and display elements. The top part contains pressure and vacuum indicators, plus valves to control the pneumatic and vacuum systems. This logical arrangement, coupled with a spacious housing layout, enables a significant degree of standardisation.
To mount the housing securely on the machine, a solution is based on Rittal’s CP 120 support arm system. The strength of the support arm system, a very robust and reliable product, was pivotal in choosing Rittal’s solution as this has been an area where problems have occurred with previous vendors’ products in the past.