Drives increase productivity on new generation winding machines

What makes this generation of winding machines different is that the system changes the reels automatically. This means that production at the upstream punching machine does not have to stop, as the reel is simply changed for the next available reel as soon as the preselected quantity has been reached. After components are punched, the new machine automatically winds them in a few minutes. The reels are driven by coaxial synchronous servo geared motors and it takes barely two seconds to change from reel to reel with a planetary gear unit. Another space-saving right-angle gear unit handles the precise feeding of the strip.

At the heart of the machine are highly dynamic, space saving drive controllers operate from Stober. A total of seven of the SI6 drives are installed in the system, operating reliably and functioning unobtrusively in the background, even during the most challenging operations. Jurgen Leicht, managing director of Leicht Stanzautomation, says: “Dynamics and speed are extremely important for the user to be able to operate cost effectively. The faster the processes are, the more productive the machine is, as the time factor is critical for customers if they are to be competitive.”

To ensure complete reliability, Stober’s STO (Safe Torque Off) and SS1 (Safe Stop 1) functions are integrated within the Leicht systems. In the SI6 series, these are certified in accordance with EN 13849-1 and can be used without function tests that interrupt production.

“The drive controller has a width of only 45mm and is designed as a multi-axis drive controller,” says Stober representative Markus Stolowski, who has worked alongside Leicht Stanzautomation for many years. “A single SI6 drive controller can control up to two axes. Thanks to the multi-axis drive design, the number of axes to be controlled can be scaled without limit.”

Installing individual Stober components could not be easier. The patented Quick DC-Link modules were simply clicked into the standard copper rails for power distribution, which enables the simple installation and connection of the drive controllers.

“The electronic geared motor is available with the Heidenhain EnDat 2.2 encoder system and easily and reliably handles parameterisation of the motor and gear unit data,” the Stober expert explains. “Previously, only motor parameters could be transmitted, but now we also make it possible to transmit additional application-relevant gear unit data completely electronically.”

The individual devices are connected to the central PS6 supply module. As a result, there is no need for decentralised supply modules or fuses and cabling for each axis, and Leicht saved a tremendous amount of space within the control cabinet. This means that Leicht’s new generation systems enable customers to have a considerable number of winding machines in a small installation area. Additionally, the new ASW is easily accessible, and the user can conveniently operate the system using a ten-inch display.

Jurgen Leicht underlines this saying: “The development of the new multiple winder system is based on our own experience and in collaboration with Stober to integrate and design the drives. They have been with us from the beginning and have supported this new machine from conception, through the design phase, right up to commissioning.”

Stober’s SI6 drive controller is a modular and scalable rack system for machine builders. It has multiple axes that save end-user costs in hardware, energy use and installation. The double axis module, which provides two 5A supplies, is just 45mm wide yet delivers a position, speed and current cycle time of only 62.5 µs.