Using Digital Twins for the Optimization of Control Cabinet Engineering

Abstract

The digital twin adds a great value to the interlinking of work steps in control cabinet construction. The model is created in electrical design and during assembly planning. The twin then accompanies the entire production process and provides the individual departments with their information. The unique feature: customer, switchgear manufacturers, and their suppliers work with the same model. The device manufacturers supply macros in which all the properties of their products are mapped. The electrical designers insert these devices into their schematic and thus generate a logical version of the model. The layout planner then puts the model into physical form by arranging the devices in the virtual switchgear cabinet. The finished model includes all dimensions and shows the individual devices inside the realistic 3D digital layout. Also included is the entire wiring with all wire paths, cable ducts, top-hat rails (position and length), and all drill holes and cutouts. The haptic representation simplifies many activities, as individual positions in the cabinet are more easily recognized. As a result, production is less time-consuming, and the susceptibility to errors is significantly reduced. Such a solution is presented using the EPLAN platform and the products Data Portal, Electric P8, Pro Panel, including the connection of the software to the actual machines, which have the task of creating a real construction out of the simulation of a digital twin.