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TRM International

Motion Control & Automation Manufacturers

Case Studies

Milling Machine

Our client wanted to upgrade its milling machine with new technologies without spending lots of money on a CNC controller, motors or drives.

This second hand milling machine did not have a controller and its only automated equipment was a digital read out (DRO) and the linear encoders for X and Y axis. Using our 2 axis motion controller, 2 servomotors, 2 DC drives and 2 encoders, electrical cabinet, toothed pulleys and belts and our own software MAP we upgraded the milling machine for a fraction of the cost that it would have been using a CNC controller system. This is an ideal solution for upgrading milling machines that need a quick set up time between jobs but still need faster production than manual operation. The machine is used for manufacturing different sizes of motor brackets and aluminum cases for electronic equipment. The installation was quick and easy thanks to our pre-made wires and connectors. Once the toothed pulleys, servomotors and electrical cabinet were in place the job was almost done. After plugging
Photos courtesy of Bespoke Machines Ltd.www.bespokemachines.com all the cables into the electrical cabinet the machine was ready for the initial software parameters to be setup on our Motion Application Programme 'MAP'. Milling machine with a 2 axis TRM Motion controller

Parameters setup

MAP is very simple to install and few parameters have to be entered to ensure the accuracy of the system. Some of these parameters are the number of encoder pulses per revolution (PPR), number of encoder pulses per meter of travel per axis (this depend of the PPR and the gear ratio used), maximum and minimum speed, assignable inputs and 2 filters to ensure the stability of the system. This normally does not take more that 30 minutes after which the machine was ready to start production. MAP can store up tp 100 different jobs in memory and as in any machine too it takes some time toset up but once it is done the machine executes the jobs much faster than manual operation, it means that few weeks later the machine had recovered the investment and was able to manufacture more pieces in a fixed period of time.

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