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B usiness
|CASE STUDY|
Daniel Roy believes that TwinCAT CNC
delivers several benefits. “It makes the
machine faster overall while reducing
grinder wear and delivering faster
process execution. We also use the
software to generate programs for
curved path control more efficiently,
either with code programmed manually
or via interpolation. The automatic
mechanical correction function, i.e.
the possibility to rule out axial non-
linearities with TwinCAT CNC, also
played a major role in the decision
process. Other functions like offset
compensation played a critical role in
reducing the conversion time between
two production series, which was cut in
a system that would
integrate axis control
functions
seamlessly
and without separate
control hardware. It
also had to be able to
accommodate
third-
party components. Such
an all-in-one automation
solution with PLC and NC
functionalities was only
available in PC-based
control systems from
Beckhoff. In addition,
Beckhoff Industrial PCs
(IPCs) are extremely
powerful. For example,
Global
MDA
Journal
With TwinCAT CNC software, Dentsply Sirona considerably
improved the performance and efficiency of its dental drill
grinding machines.
protective doors, and the drive safety
functions for the motion axes. According
to François Mottier, PC Control also
enabled an exceptionally space-saving
design of the IM4P’s handling system:
“The handling functions of the IM4P,
such as the loading and unloading
operations, are implemented via a total
of seven servo axes. Here we benefit
from an extremely compact design,
enabled by the EL7211 servo drives in
terminal block format, designed for
use with the AM8100 servomotors
equipped with One Cable Technology
(OCT).
Compact all-in-one automation: the C6920 control cabinet IPC and the modular EtherCAT I/O
system with integrated safety and drive technologies.
half from three hours with the previous
model to one-and-a-half hours today.
With additional improvement and more
operator training, we expect this time
to be cut even shorter in the future.
In addition, the operator interface is
much more user-friendly, which makes
inspections and machine monitoring
operations much easier than ever
before,” Daniel Roy points out.
Open all-in-one automation in single
unit
Dentsply Sirona has employed PC
Control technology from Beckhoff
since 2002 and EtherCAT since 2003,
all with great success. Daniel Roy
recalls: “We were mostly looking for
57 | may-june 2019
a C6920 IPC with a quad-core Intel®
CoreTM i7 processor is all you need
to control the entire IM4P machine –
including all four machine modules,
tool handling via PLC functionality and
integrated safety functions.”
François Mottier points out another
aspect: “EtherCAT also delivers many
benefits for us. It is extremely powerful,
making it ideal for data transmission
to the drives. And since it has become
an established industry standard,
many different devices can be easily
integrated. The same applies to the
machine’s safety requirements, which
are well-covered by Safety-over-
EtherCAT and TwinSAFE. This includes
the emergency STOP function, the
The One Cable Technology of the AM8100
servomotors reduces required cabling and
connectors, installation time and space.
Email : info@beckhoff.co.in
www.beckhoff.co.in/cnc
Global MDA Journal