The Application
- The machine applies torque to a truck steering assembly through a servo motor and speed reducer connected to the steering input under test.
- A hydraulic system of pumps and proportional valves circulates oil through the steering assembly under controlled conditions.
- A load cell measures the applied torque in real time; the PLC evaluates the readings against configured min/max thresholds together with hydraulic flow values to approve or reject each part.
Scope of Work
- Removed obsolete control, mechanical and electrical equipment; installed and wired the new platform.
- Migrated the control platform from Allen-Bradley PLC5 to ControlLogix, and drives from Allen-Bradley 1394 to Kinetix 6500.
- Complete reprogramming of the PLC control logic — not a like-for-like port.
- Commissioning and post-commissioning on-site support.
Technical Highlights
- 3-servo torque control, using Motion Control instruction libraries on the new platform.
- Closed-loop hydraulic control of pumps and proportional valves synchronized with the torque test sequence.
- Telesis part-marking control integrated into the test cycle.
- Barcode reader and encoder configuration and programming for part identification and position feedback.
