As a replacement for the conventional control cabinet, the MX-System from Beckhoff offers some significant efficiency advantages. It also provides optimisation potential with regard to the growing shortage of skilled workers and the expanding presence of dc supply networks across industry. Thus it supports streamlined continuity in industrial production, with benefits for machine and system engineering companies as well as end users.
The latest window profile processing machine from Schirmer Maschinen GmbH showcases the benefits of the MX-System.
The MX-System is a uniform modular automation system where function modules can be used to replace traditional control cabinets completely in many applications. The system is waterproof and dustproof and can be mounted directly on the machine. It comprises a robust aluminium baseplate with integrated module slots, featuring EtherCAT for data communication and integrated distribution for different voltages. The extensive portfolio of function modules includes the mains connection, drives, power supplies, industrial PCs, and I/Os. With these features and more, the MX system covers the full range of functions of conventional control cabinets.
The function modules can be easily attached to the baseplate and simply screwed into place. This eliminates the need for any mechanical assembly of the control cabinet and its mounting plate, and there is no need for time-consuming manual wiring. These straightforward steps are directly reflected in the time required to set up the MX-System: including the necessary tests and checks, an MX-System can be set up in just one hour, in contrast to at least 24 hours for a comparable control cabinet. In this way, the MX-System also assists in overcoming the shortage of skilled workers, as individual employees are not tied to a single task for too long and can move on to the next project quickly.
A further advantage is the straightforward pluggability of the function modules, which means they do not need to be connected by specialised electricians. This is a real benefit for companies that do not have such expertise in this area.
A notable application scenario involves the use of a higher-level dc power supply. The dc supply for complete production halls is based on the strategy of providing electricity from renewable energies (photovoltaics, for example) in combination with storage technologies for machines and systems as a mains voltage of 600 V dc. The MX-System is designed to be dc-ready in that it can distribute dc voltages and can also be used directly for protective extra-low voltage power supply lines or modules, controlling synchronous and asynchronous motors. By facilitating the continuous use of dc voltage, the MX-System offers the major advantage of buffering the braking energy of the motors in the storage units of the dc networks, rather than losing it through braking resistors. This possible use of the MX-System is already being implemented in a trial project.
For more information visit: www.beckhoff.com