Reduction of Cycle Time of An Electro-Hydraulic Circuit Used in an Automated Rod Both Ends Chamfering SPM by Simulation and PLC

Abstract

The rods which are automatically chamfered on both ends simultaneously by this SPM uses electro-hydraulics control system for all of its operations. The operation such as loading-unloading of job onto the v-blocks, clamping- de-clamping of job and feeding the tool over the rod ends all is done by hydraulic cylinders controlled by DCV?s which are solenoid operated. The hydraulic circuit used previously is replaced by a improved circuit which is more efficient, reduces the cycle time, all operations are synchronized and improves the production eventually leading to more profits out of same inputs. The existing circuit had unsynchronized clamping, less efficient, idler running pumps and less production than what could have been achieved. These drawbacks were overcome by using two extra DCV?s and a sophisticated circuit which is synchronized, more efficient no idle running pumps and yields more production. The new and improved circuit is simulated in FESTO Fluid-Sim hydraulic software using a PLC ladder diagram which agrees with the results obtained analytically.