At the Hanover Trade Fair 2024 (Hall 6, Stand B57), mayr® power transmission shows how intelligent, talking brakes and couplings can be used smartly for process monitoring. These brakes and couplings not only help to reduce or even completely avoid errors and downtimes, but also support demand-based maintenance and automated remote maintenance.
Smart couplings help to detect errors and wear that are gradually becoming apparent at an early stage and then to act with foresight. “These days, all users expect to know about the torques in the drive line,” Ralf Epple, Head of Product Management at mayr® power transmission explains. “However, this only works if there is enough space provided for the implementation. And of course this also means that costs are a topic to be addressed. We are trying to reduce costs significantly. Our development focus is on the interface.” The ROBA®-drive-checker is a new component in the proven modular system of the backlash-free disk pack coupling ROBA®-DS. Core elements are the multi-gateway and the ROBA®-drive-checker sleeve. As all connection options of the ROBA®-DS steel disk pack coupling are available, this process monitoring system can easily be integrated into many existing applications, also in the area of robotics. “This approach is particularly attractive in the field of process monitoring, where both accuracy and cost-effectiveness play an important role”, Ralf Epple adds. We are deliberately setting ourselves apart from measurement technology and measurement systems in the testing area, which pursue a different goal.”
Intelligent brake monitoring for the digital twin
mayr® power transmission also offers smart solutions in the field of safety brakes. “Our brakes are capable of communicating without additional sensors and provide information directly from the component”, explains Andreas Merz, Product Manager at mayr® power transmission in Mauerstetten. Monitoring of the mayr® safety brakes takes place with the retrofittable ROBA®-brake-checker module, which is clamped into the voltage supply of the brake. The module detects the movement of the armature disk through extended analysis of current and voltage, and knows what condition the brake is in. In addition to monitoring the switching condition and critical coil temperature, the ROBA®-brake-checker also performs preventative function monitoring for wear, functional reserve and malfunctions. In an extended version, the module is equipped with an additional PCB with a customer-specific interface (e.g. Ethernet based). Via this interface, it can provide data on the switching time, current, voltage, resistance, performance und relative attraction current. This means that processes can now also be evaluated, anomalies in the process can be detected quickly and conclusions can be drawn from complex interrelationships; and also the integration into remote maintenance systems is possible. All in all, many advantages – not only for the predictive maintenance, but also, as a result, to lower maintenance costs and reduce technical defects and downtimes or to set up and validate a digital twin.
Sensorless monitoring für integrated, small brakes
Reliable monitoring solutions are important for the safety of people and machines, especially also when it comes to servo brakes. With the ROBA®-servostop® series, the company has developed safety brakes for servo motors which are not only easy to monitor, but also specially tailored to the high demands of the robotics sector – in the industry, but also in the field of medical technology, for example. “The new standard modular system not only creates a high degree of flexibility for the various installation situations,” Andreas Merz explains. “It also provides users with easy and uncomplicated access to the brakes and a quick overview of the individual solutions, at an attractive price level.” And Mr. Merz adds: “We also provide access to the data necessary for dimensioning and selection, such as the definition of braking torques, switching times, mass inertia, friction work in the event of an emergency stop, the number of permitted emergency stops under various application conditions, or even information on the geometric connection. This in turn provides excellent guidance.”
mayr® power transmission at the Hanover Trade Fair 2024:
VDMA joint stand for power transmission and fluid technology: Hall 6, Stand B57
Simone Dauer
