| Example: Substrate
Cassette Merge Project
A leading manufacturer of thin-film disks needed a system to "merge"
partially-filled processing cassettes into fully-populated shipping cassettes. The
system must be fast, reliable, and highly configurable.
Result
Our solution uses high-speed precision motion control and a vacuum end effector to
move disks between cassettes. Multi-threaded techniques allow for simultaneous cassette
movement, singulation / escapement control, and merge operations while providing real-time
status and diagnostics displays. Bar code and RF tag devices are used for reading and
writing tracking data, which is also passed to a company-wide data collection system.
This system uses a PLC as a machine-level interface for all digital I/O, which enhances
reliability and provides additional diagnostic capabilities.
The machine runs in 24/7 operation and additional units have been ordered.
Technologies utilized
- Background (thread) motion sequencing
- PLC interfacing
- Encoder-verified motion control
- Conveyor control
- Part sequencing & singulation
- Production statistics
- Built-in operation log & debug log
- Built-in remote operation capability
- Real-time techniques under NT 4
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