Application example 004 - Plastic moulding

Summary description :
The customer wanted to refurbish the control portion of an older generation plastic bead dryer. Ideally suited for this application, an ISaGRAF equipped 7188EG controller from ICP DAS was chosen. New control algorithms were developed, which was impossible using the old proprietary controller.

Specific challenges:
Cost had to be kept to a minimum and no changes were permitted on the equipment. New routines had to be developed to optimize energy consumption. Drying had to be closely controlled to avoid the presence of moisture on plastic beads going into the injection moulding machines. The client was also particularly interested in being able to use a PID function block that he could tune easily.

Specifications:
-Control at 100ms;
-About 16 I/O hooked up to the 7188 Xcard and two remote I/O modules;
-1 8" VGA touchscreen HMI per dryer for local control/monitoring;
-1 operation station running PlantVue for parameters and supervision;
-OPC connectivity between 7188EG controllers and HMI system.