Posted to News on 30th Jul 2007, 19:39
Vision-based press control and safety monitoring system
Pilz Automation Technology is launching a highly innovative monitoring and protection system for press brakes. Based on a camera and fail-safe machine vision system, the Pilz PSENvip helps users of press brakes to improve productivity and achieve a high standard of safety.
Suitable for press brakes up to 10m long, the system comprises an LED-based light source and a camera unit with an integral display. This camera unit is connected to either a PNOZmulti modular safety controller or a PSS (programmable safety system).
Easy to configure, the system creates protected fields that are constantly monitored and represented on the camera unit's display. Should any object, finger-sized or smaller, breach the protected fields, the press is stopped immediately (the system reaction time is less than 3ms). The PSENvip system is suitable for use on safety-related control systems conforming to Safety Category 4 of EN 954-1, Performance Level e of EN ISO 13849-1, and SIL 3 of EN IEC 62061. It also conforms to the requirements of EN DIN 12622, Safety of machine tools - Hydraulic press brakes.
Measurement and feedback
Moreover, as well as performing a safety function, the PSENvip also measures the angle of the bend being formed. This data can then be fed back into the press brake's CNC system, thereby helping to make the forming operation as accurate and efficient as possible.
After a tool change, the transmitter and receiver are easy and quick to realign thanks to the 'vision parallel' optical system. Both units are mounted on the upper die to save space, and they are resistant to vibration, diffused light and interference.
