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Motion Control: HMI and motion control - the Human Factor |
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By Oliver Obermeier
From conveyers and robots to fully-automated stamping plants ñ motion control systems are key to industrial automation solutions. However, while these technologies reduce the need for muscle on the production line, the human factor is still an important element in the production process. Itís just that now, instead of large teams of workers directly handling products and tools, we are more likely to encounter individual operators at control consoles, often located right next to the production equipment in a harsh environment.
A major driver is the ongoing trend, enabled by the rapid development of field buses and industrial Ethernet, to spread more and more I/O intelligence across the factory floor.
 Rugged and reliable control panels and workstations are key components of the human-machine interface (HMI). These provide the operator with real-time system status information so that he can take appropriate corrective actions. Experienced plant engineers and systems integrators know that getting the HMI ìrightî can spell the difference between a successful motion control system implementation and one that fails. A good HMI will provide the operator with the ìrightî information, presented in a clear format. It will provide the ìrightî controls, laid out in a manner that makes them easily accessible and minimizes the chances of inadvertently pushing the wrong button at the wrong time.
A good HMI will be convenient to work with. Displays will be easy to see; controls easy to reach. Devices should be easy to re-position. And finally, a good HMI will be robust and reliable. On the factory floor, where dust, heat, vibration and humidity are often the order of the day, displays and controls must be housed in enclosures that provide ìindustrial strengthî protection for the sensitive electronic equipment they house. Failure is no option! Reliability is crucial, particularly when downtime (in the automotive industry) can cost $30,000 per minute!
Rittal, a major producer of enclosures for industrial equipment, has offerings designed to meet the requirements of a wide range of motion control systems. The products are modular and scalable (for investment protection), and work equally well in centralized or decentralized automation environments.
For large-scale systems, there are enclosures and command panels (VIP series pictured) with scalable space and depth to house (and protect) industrial PCs, PLCs, bus modules, disk drives and other motion control devices. Where smaller panels are needed, there is the OptiPanel series such as Proctor & Gamble implemented in Belleville, ON. The series provides a more compact console well suited for LCD panels and/or touch screens. All Rittal HMI panels can be configured to include virtually any display and any arrangement of I/O devices that the application requires ñ including keyboards, switches, LED displays, keys, signal lamps ñ even the necessary ìpanicî (emergency stop) button.
 Rittal enclosures typically offer IP65 protection and can be fitted with a variety of cooling systems to ensure that the equipment inside will continue to operate reliably in the harshest factory environment. Thanks to a highly modular architecture, these features can be delivered at reasonable cost, according to Tim Rourke, business development manager for Rittal Canada. ìWe supply made-to-measure solutions, but can generally put them together from our range of standard components,î said Rourke. ìAnd naturally that is reflected in the price.î
Oliver Obermeier is General Manager, Rittal Systems Ltd. (rittal.ca), in Mississauga, ON (
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