We have a machine that cuts thin pieces of steel in a couple of different lengths. The current cutting design is inconstant. We where looking now to use a rotary encoder that sent a signal into the Arduino uno after the certain amount of rotations needed to make lets say a foot, then the arduino would send a signal to the motor to stop feeding for x amount of time and send a signal to the blade to cut. This would be repeatedly done till we are finished with the size then we would like to be able to change the length. My question is what all components would be needed for this to able achieved?
What kind of motor and what is the motor driver/controller? What powers the blade and what is the controller for the blade driver?
groundFungus:
What kind of motor and what is the motor driver/controller? What powers the blade and what is the controller for the blade driver?
And is it a commercially made device or a shop-made device????
Paul
mpcaprio:
My question is what all components would be needed for this to able achieved?
As you yourself have recognized you need motors and encoders (or maybe stepper motors). But based on the small amount of information you have provided I don't see how anyone can give you any additional advice.
Have you figured out the mechanical design for your system including the speeds and forces that are involved? And the level of precision required?
...R
[u]Here[/u] is some information about rotary encoders.
You can check the datasheet for the particular encoder, but if you need any additional components you'll probably just need pull-up resistors. And, since the Arduino has internal pull-ups that can be enabled, you may not need any additional components on the input-side.
Then you'll want a keypad or switches and maybe an LCD display. You'll need to put some thought into the user interface and you'll probably need to do some experimenting before you finalize your design.
Then, you'll need some kind of motor driver/controller. What kind of motor do you have? AD?, DC?, Stepper? (A million years ago when I used a CNC milling machine in college, I believe it used stepper motors.)
I believe if this were a manual shear you'd have a mechanical stop. It seems like an automated/CNC shear would work similarly, and perhaps the stop should be automatically positioned. Once the stop is locked-down your cuts will be consistent within the limits of the machine.
groundFungus:
What kind of motor and what is the motor driver/controller? What powers the blade and what is the controller for the blade driver?
The motor type that we currently have is a WEG 0.37 HP 1730 RPM all purpose electric motor
The motor right now stops and starts by a manual switch wired to it
The blade is powered by a solenoid, 120VAC Coil Volts, Stroke Range: 1/8" to 1-1/4", Duty Cycle: Continuous
And what tells the blade to cut at the moment is a lamp that's placed in a certain spot for what length you need
and when the material crosses the light a signal is sent to the solenoid which tells the blade to cut.
DVDdoug:
[u]Here[/u] is some information about rotary encoders.You can check the datasheet for the particular encoder, but if you need any additional components you'll probably just need pull-up resistors. And, since the Arduino has internal pull-ups that can be enabled, you may not need any additional components on the input-side.
Then you'll want a keypad or switches and maybe an LCD display. You'll need to put some thought into the user interface and you'll probably need to do some experimenting before you finalize your design.
Then, you'll need some kind of motor driver/controller. What kind of motor do you have? AD?, DC?, Stepper? (A million years ago when I used a CNC milling machine in college, I believe it used stepper motors.)
I believe if this were a manual shear you'd have a mechanical stop. It seems like an automated/CNC shear would work similarly, and perhaps the stop should be automatically positioned. Once the stop is locked-down your cuts will be consistent within the limits of the machine.
The problem is the material runs through a set of gears to form the crinkled shape and has to remain as straight as possible. My boss doesn't want to "re-invent the wheel" he says but wants to make the current design better. We have an AC 0.37 Hp WEG motor on it now operating the gears which pull the material through. The material passes through a light at a certain distance to tell the solenoid controlling the blade to cut. But the biggest problem is the motor doesnt stop pulling material when it cuts therefor creating a small bend in the material.
mpcaprio:
The material passes through a light at a certain distance to tell the solenoid controlling the blade to cut. But the biggest problem is the motor doesnt stop pulling material when it cuts therefor creating a small bend in the material.
Why not get the Arduino to detect the light beam being broken, stop the motor and then signal the blade to do the cutting?
Can the motor stop fast enough for that sort of system to work?
...R
Robin2:
Why not get the Arduino to detect the light beam being broken, stop the motor and then signal the blade to do the cutting?Can the motor stop fast enough for that sort of system to work?
...R
The problem with the light is that it takes awhile to set up, it's never exactly in the same spot, and if the material happens to pass through the light and wiggles at all then it cuts twice making a short piece that then passes through the light giving a wrong sized cut over and over.
mpcaprio:
The problem with the light is that it takes awhile to set up, it's never exactly in the same spot, and if the material happens to pass through the light and wiggles at all then it cuts twice making a short piece that then passes through the light giving a wrong sized cut over and over.
Arduino can debounce the light sensor so that it only actuates on the first signal in a given window of time.
mpcaprio:
The problem with the light is that it takes awhile to set up, it's never exactly in the same spot, and if the material happens to pass through the light and wiggles at all then it cuts twice making a short piece that then passes through the light giving a wrong sized cut over and over.
Can you post some photos of the machine so we can better understand what you are doing and the problems you are experiencing.
A diagram showing the changes you have in mind would also be very helpful to understand your thinking.
I like to have a good understanding of the problem before proposing solutions.
...R