Development of machine steering with use of PLC as introduction to 4.0 Industry

Abstract

Article was written in order to make an attempt at developing a simple steering system for numerically controlled machines, with use of virtual modelling environment and an actual driver together with HMI panel. It was made as a response to demand of centralized system for steering a smart factory containing many machines. In the article, creation of a simple single machine steering system was described, which can be upscaled to the entire production hall. Used steering in this case is setting of position in an absolute system, in which only 3 variables X, Y and Z are known, and the operator can perform a correction of location and speed. Obviously, in real conditions these values will be set by a different program - like a post processor generating G-code. Usage of one data communication server can allow integration of devices within one production, and this allow creation of a smart factory suitable for 4.0 industry. In order to obtain such communication, an OPC server was used. Furthermore, the process of creating and connecting machines or programs to it was briefly presented.