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Where to find learning material for Industrial Automation

Former Member

Hello there,

I'm new to industrial automation / robotics, but I have some experience in programming. I've got a project to create a machine that would test parts with air pressure. I'm looking for some good resources to learn a machine that would do that, with pistons, solenoid valves, pressure sensors. What servos, pistons should I use to achieve the goal with accuracy. Below there's a design I quickly made.

erd374.jpg

  • Hello Simas

    A good place to start might be youtube. Watching videos of automation can help give you some ideas and help you get used to typical components used and there sizes.

    You can look for things like pistons and valves on sights for manufactures like SMC or Festo. Servos, perhaps Omron or Oriental Motor

    You can find manuals and data sheets on most sites that should help.

    Since you are new to this perhaps a good option is to find people who work with each aspect of the project and sub-contract those parts out and price the project accordingly. I don't know anything about how you are set up but maybe you want to find a machine shop you can work with to fabricate the metal parts, an electrician to wire the control panel(s) and sensors, switches and valves, someone who is good with pneumatics etc.

     

    Regards

    Jeff Robertson

  • in reply to jrmaximus

    In my old factory we was upgrading to GE Programmable Logic Controllers or (PLC's) for short.

    They are very easily programmed, and some are graphical if needed.

    As far as the "hardware" i just had to use experience, and a granger catalog to full-fill the build.

    I would design the build behind a simple linear motion plan. Less movement is more.

    And where ever your located, use parts that a supplier can easily provide, in my case it was granger.

    And when you use parts, use the same parts throughout. In the case of a electrical project, its nor hard to have 5+ different resistors on a board, because that's what you need.

    But in a Production line setting, if you can use all the same laser eyes, and the same pneumatic cylinders throughout, it saves in the long run.

    Even if you need to adjust the design to do it. Same fittings, Switches, couplings, as much as you can the same.

    Fewer spare parts to stock, most parts will be interchangeable, ect.

    Don't move up, or down unless absolutely necessary.  Gravity is tough to work with.

    If i can assist you in any way please ask. I have designed, and built several industrial lines.

    Hope this helps.

    Example video:::::<<<<<<<



    WARNING LONG STORY, READ IF YOU WANT NOT NEEDED.

    A great example if this was, the pack line design I made, used all the same pneumatic cylinders throughout. Even tho some of them didn't engage until the last 2 inches of there stroke.

    My supervisors thought that it was a wast to use a 18 inch cylinder just to push a box 2 inches.

    Later, they replaced it with a smaller, cheaper, 3 inch cylinder, and had to upgrade much of the parts, and reprogram the PLC's for the new setup.(2 days downtime)

    After a month or so, the smaller cylinders began to fail, so they went to replace it, only to find that they couldn't find the spare so they FEDX'ed a new part over night.

    When the part arrived it ended up not fitting, because it had been revised.

    The line ended up being down for over a week, costing over 18,000.00 a day, and putting the line way behind on production.

    After all that they called me  back just to put in the original 18 inch cylinder, and system back into place after all.



  • The top-down approach would be to get a book on cybernetic control theory.