I've stumbled into the opportunity to work on a really cool project- it will be a machine designed to impact test objects for extended periods of time.
I have made simple Arduino projects in the past (steppers, servos, and limit switches etc.) however nothing on the scale of this project. So I am a little lost on how to proceed.
I've attached a rough diagram of the project. The machine will have a pneumatic cylinder as well as a motor driven slider crank mechanism.
Controlling a pressure regulator with an Arduino. I'm planning on using a load cell to provide feedback on what pressure should be used, so I am wondering if it is possible to just make my own jury-rigged stepper motor to a pressure regulator.
Controlling an industrial 3 phase motor with an Arduino. I have found a couple of videos of Arduinos controlling a variable frequency drive. I just worry about compatibility as I'm unfamiliar with the specifics of these systems. Does anyone have past experience using Arduino and a VFD? I'm not sure how to go about selecting the right drive.
Can this be done with just Arduino? Otherwise the only electronically controlled pressure regulators I've found are for industrial PLCs, which sound fun to get into but also intimidating and kind of cost prohibitive.
I've already spent hours digging through the internet and it seems like everything should be possible with Arduino. I'm just wondering if it would be smarter to switch to an industrial PLC. Any thoughts or feedback is really appreciated!
you will need a much more detailed description and spec for all the components to find the right drivers, interface chips or circuits... Your arduino won't solve for that...
For reliability reasons I would highly recommend you use a PLC, it would be industry hardened where the Arduino is not and you have to protect it from all the nasties. Seriously consider this if you want the next job.
It certainly seems like a PLC-oriented task to me. It seems particiularly short-sighted to to try to save a couple hundred bucks on the computing element when the other components of the "system" run in the thousands...
what Arduino Portenta is not industrial enough for ya’ll?
No, it's not. It doesn't have the sort of "hardened" interfaces, nor standard interconnections to industrial controllers that you'd (probably) get on a PLC.
doesn't mean that it won't require a bunch of additional effort on "the other parts."
Probably (IMO) as much effort as it would take to "industrialize" any other Arduino board. They're just trying to avoid the stigma of years being labeled as a "board for hobbyists and Artists."
Thank you for the input! I was also considering Arduino simply because I am more familiar with it. New systems like that seem intimidating to me, particularly with a large price tag attached, but it's not my money haha
You don’t just “envision” something as hard sell point if your product is not up for it. I’m sure Portenta exceeds most industrial controllers in quality, abilities and reliability, otherwise Arduino would be tied in lawsuits for the rest of their existence
I disagreee on that one. They envision it because of the performance factor, they don’t say it passed all the industrial qualifications not where it would fit in the solution or be suitable next to a big engine etc. This is left to the solution builders and engineers who are responsible for making the architecture decision.
They have no liability whatsoever for making that claim.
@codeplzjustwork why don’t you let this decision to the customer?
PLCs are ruggedized and designed to deal with Industrial Application Communication Protocols(PPI, MPI, Profibus, etc.) whereas Arduino is designed to deal with more basic protocols such as SPI, I2C , USART etc.
Possibly- I did not see any compliance or reference to IECEx, ATEX, IEC 60601, ISO 9001, Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, EMC Directive 2004/108/EC or usual marks …
Arduino's can deal with analog pumps, large numbers of thermal couplers,
and 4-20ma pressure sensors, flow control values, and outputs from analytic
units.
sometimes you just need to use a few Arduino's to get the job done.
Reliability is an important factor in the PLC world. The packaging they are in is rugged and protects the internal electronics. You need to do that with your Arduino, that is not inexpensive. You are going to have some nasty electrical noise etc. Are you experienced in working in this environment? The Arduino is not protected from this, you have to package it accordingly. What if a power line hits an input or output, it could be several hundred volts to ground in the US. I suggest you busted some money for expertise you do not have. I envisioned winning the Wimbledon, it was great but I don't play tennis, a minor problem.
