Macchine per il converting: funzionalità e implementazione di tecniche di controllo

The functionalities of Converting machines and the related techniques to control the production process remain at the center of this work, carried out in collaboration with the company IMS Deltamatic SpA, that needed to renew the electrical drive systems in order to create a new standard to be implemented on all machines produced. Working systematically within the industrial framework, the principle of operation of machines - consisting briefly in the transformation of webs wound on reels - was analyzed to detect the control parameters which allow to obtain optimal products. The way is to make an accurate web tension control, which is obtained by implementing the specific winder functions in the control systems of electrical drives. In particular two configurations were examined: in the first one the management of drives is provided by a PLC; the second one is characterized by the introduction of a system dedicated to motion control. The projects have been tested and validated by commissioning the orders of the company, getting an acceptable operation of the machine with either configuration. Tests revealed also the differences of the two systems: the higher performance of the new controller, compared to the PLC, allows to perform more effective regulations, a faster update of the speed reference and a more correct torque compensation. These advantages result in a better tension control in all phases of operation of the machine, in particular during critical situations. In consequence of the greater complexity in designing and programming the device dedicated to motion control, the company has considered valid both solutions, deciding to choose, for each next order, the most suitable configuration for the required performance.