- No errors during guided format change
- Ultra-flat sensors for wafer production
- Intelligence included
- Faster cartoner changeovers with Balluff’s Guided Changeover Solution results in 50% less downtime
- Enhancing maintenance strategy with Balluff's Condition Monitoring Toolkit (CMTK)
- Never run out of compressed air
- Precision gearbox assembly machine for residential water meters
- Continuous production monitoring in folding machines
- Reliable container test with artificial intelligence
- Flexibly expandable and modular image processing system
- Image processing in hospitals
- Not just “click clack”
- Easy guided format change
- Condition Monitoring for a clear view
- Reliable Tap Water Supply – Setting a Sustainable Standard
- Flexible feeding systems using reliable sensors
- Reliable clamping processes and reduced downtime with ultrasonic sensors
- An AI-powered pharma line clearance solution
- Efficient cleaning of food tanks
- Industrial cameras in steel processing
- UK Battery Industrialisation Centre
- Training Tomorrow’s Engineers with Balluff IO-Link and Condition Monitoring
Training Tomorrow’s Engineers with Balluff IO-Link and Condition Monitoring
Equipping future engineers with practical skills using industry-grade connectivity and sensor technology.
Industry: Hydraulics I Customer: National Fluid Power Centre
The National Fluid Power Centre is a BFPA certified CETOP Education Centre and recognized training provider for Integrated Systems Engineering, offering training courses and services to over 300 major companies both across the UK and Internationally.
The NFPC has 3 fully equipped technical centres offering a range of courses for those involved in the maintenance and management of fluid power systems.
Challenge
The NFPC want to create a set of new training courses to teach their students about how diagnostic information can be used as part of a preventative maintenance routine in practical terms. The goal was to collect, monitor and display status feedback from Motors, Pumps, Hydraulic Equipment, Pressure Sensors, Flow Sensors, Temperature Sensors and Electrical Controls on the teaching rigs. The data consists of both Digital and Analogue signals.
Solution
The Balluff Condition Monitoring Tool Kit –CMTK was installed along with Condition Monitoring BCM Sensors, IO-Link Signal Converters, IO-Link Power Supply and an Ethernet IP IO-Link Master onto each teaching rig. Feedback from standard sensors were collated via the IO-Link network by direct connection or by using the Balluff IO-Link Signal Converters into the CMTK via the Ethernet IP IO-Link Master. The metric data was then displayed remotely on large LCD Screens above each training rig using the Grafana Platform generated from the CMTK.
Benefits
- Quick and Simple Installation, Plug and Play connection
- Instant feedback with the flexibility to manipulate alarm levels
- System is easily expandable to add additional data points including standard analogue or digital signals
- Data is displayed in a user-friendly format locally on the training rig and also remotely
How does it work?
The training rigs are assembled by the students with multiple pieces of equipment that can be interchanged. The Balluff IO-Link Ethernet Master is used to connect all the IO-Link pressure sensors and analogue converters for the analogue temperature sensors and 3rd party flow sensors.
Various metrics on the rig are monitored such as Hydraulic pressure, temperature and flow of the hydraulic pressure, even the power supply status is monitored. The data is displayed locally to the rigs via LCD screens , each rig is also networked so the data can be accessed anywhere in the facility.
The Balluff BCM condition monitoring sensors are mounted to the motors on each of the hydraulic power packs supplying the teaching rigs. Vibration and temperature are monitored with the ability to show alarm levels via the Grafana dashboard created via the Condition Monitoring Tool Kit.
Products
To enhance hands-on training, the NFPC uses and recommends high-quality components such as Balluff IO-Link Masters, pressure, temperature, and flow sensors, and analogue signal converters. These industry-standard products ensure reliable performance and give trainees experience with real-world technologies used in modern fluid power systems.