Application of Solidot CC-Link IE Field Basic protocol products in the automobile industry

Actual Point Technology has maintained a long-term, sound partnership with Mitsubishi Electric. Since the company's founding, it has established a close relationship with the CLPA organization, and over the years has accumulated deep expertise in CC-Link, CC-Link IE Field Basic and CC-Link IE TSN protocol products.

Engine industry background

In recent years, China's automotive industry has developed rapidly, with hybrid and new energy vehicles becoming the main focus of the industry. The government has also introduced a number of supporting policies, including subsidies for purchasing new energy vehicles, as well as corresponding changes to license plates, using vivid green to promote new energy and environmental protection concepts.

The emergence of new energy vehicles has driven the upgrading of multiple industry chains within the automotive sector. As is well known, the power engine of a car is its core component, and the crankshaft, as one of the most critical parts of the engine, has been in short supply in the market. Crankshaft manufacturers, in response to government policy, have upgraded their workshops, introducing MES systems and connecting the machine tool equipment on every production line to the internet. This initiative has brought about a comprehensive leap in manufacturing equipment, processes and core technologies on the production line, driving and realizing intelligent manufacturing. It has both improved production efficiency and reduced costs, bringing the entire crankshaft production line to an excellent state.

Application of the CB4 series Integrated I/O Module in automatic loading and unloading of engine crankshafts

Engine crankshaft Weight ranges from 20 kg to 200 kg. Previously, manual labor and cranes were used to handle the flow of each process. The introduction of KUKA and FANUC robots has greatly reduced manual labor. Forged crankshafts pass through machine tools for loading/unloading logistics, precision milling, precision top machining, straight oil hole drilling, angled oil hole drilling, semi-precision grinding of the connecting rod journal, semi-precision grinding of the main journal, precision grinding of the main journal, precision grinding of the connecting rod journal, big-end drilling, small-end drilling, sampling inspection, turnover station, polishing machine and deburring machines. Among these, the robot control cabinet uses an FX5U, the FANUC robot performs loading and unloading of the machine tools, and each unit has a loading logistics FX5U and an unloading logistics FX5U.

▲ FANUC motion flow diagram

The FANUC robot gripper has an A jaw and a B jaw. The detection Inputs for the A and B jaws (clamped position, released position, material presence detection) and the Outputs (solenoid valve control for jaw opening and jaw clamping) are all implemented via the CB4-1616A, which provides 16 Inputs and 16 Outputs.

1. Loading logistics:

The FANUC robot moves to the loading logistics station to pick up the unmachined crankshaft (the loading logistics PLC FX5U communicates with the FANUC robot's FX5U).

2. Machine tool #1, OP10:

The shaft picked up by the robot from the loading logistics station is processed at machine tool #1, first gripped by the B jaw, then placed down by the A jaw. The machine tool's emergency stop, online status, loading request, unloading request, loading complete, unloading complete, and robot entry into the machine tool area are all implemented via the remote CB4-1616A.

3. Machine tool #2, OP20:

The shaft picked up by the robot from machine tool #1 is processed at machine tool #2, first gripped by the A jaw, then placed down by the B jaw. The machine tool's emergency stop, online status, loading request, unloading request, loading complete, unloading complete, and robot entry into the machine tool area are all implemented via the remote CB4-1616A.

4. Machine tool #3, OP30:

The shaft picked up by the robot from machine tool #2 is processed at machine tool #3, first gripped by the B jaw, then placed down by the A jaw. The machine tool's emergency stop, online status, loading request, unloading request, loading complete, unloading complete, and robot entry into the machine tool area are all implemented via the remote CB4-1616A.

5. Unloading logistics:

The robot moves to the unloading logistics station and places the finished crankshaft onto the unloading logistics line, completing the entire production process (the unloading logistics PLC FX5U communicates with the FANUC robot's FX5U).

ShiDian Technology I/O PLC program configuration diagram

▲ CC-Link IE Field Basic

▲ Distribution cabinet diagram

▲ ShiDian Technology remote I/O PLC program control

▲ ShiDian Technology remote I/O signal HMI Monitoring and control

Advantages of using the CC-Link IE Field Basic device-level Network

(1) A network can be built with a smaller Configuration

(2) Simple Startup and easy troubleshooting

(3) Coexists with TCP/IP Communication

(4) A growing range of connectable products

▲ Evolution from crankshaft rough machining to crankshaft finish machining

CB4-1616A product introduction

ShiDian Technology is a well-known domestic I/O manufacturer. The CB4-1616A supports the CC-Link IE Field Basic Network, with a total of 16 Inputs and 16 Outputs.

On-site I/O points are relatively scattered, including I/O collection from robots as well as interaction signals from machine tools, and the machine tools on site are independent of one another. The CB4-1616A is an Integrated I/O Module that only requires one network cable and one set of power lines to achieve both power supply and Communication, making wiring installation extremely convenient and fast.

The CB4-1616A is an Integrated I/O Module with both Inputs and Outputs. It takes up very little space, is easy to install in cabinets, and is cost-effective.