March 18, 2009

Enhanced Control System for Blow Molding

Davis-Standard, LLC recently introduced the MACO® 6500RSE control system for blow molding. It will be on display at NPE 2009 in June. This cost-effective system, an upgrade from the MACO 6500RS introduced in 2005, is available for retrofit to existing systems. It offers a number of enhancements including screen updates nearly three times faster than older systems. The Operator’s Graphical User Interface has been upgraded to Wonderware® 8.0 and Windows® XP Professional that communicate with the PLC over two separate servers instead of one. This allows for transmission of set points over one server while values are transmitted over another, saving time and improving functionality.

Other significant upgrades include machine screens in several languages, an upgraded set point change log to track changes made by the machine operators, a Statistical Process Control program to continuously track 34 items each cycle, and a recipe “save” function to verify recipe names and eliminate the potential for lost recipes. A new “Heat Soak” feature reduces the chances for a cold start-up by requiring machines to be above the low temperature alarm for at least two hours before the extruder and head tooling programming hydraulics will run. In addition, now both the PLC and Operator’s Station have an uninterruptible power supply to keep them from shutting off during momentary power failures.

As with the MACO 6500RS, this system includes closed loop synchronous shoot/fill, adaptive speed control and a PLC ladder logic that can be viewed in real time. Davis-Standard also offers a range of on-site training programs as well as 24/7 telephone service. Especially advantageous is the availability of real time computer-direct machine service through the Internet.

For more information about the new MACO 6500RSE control system or a retrofit, contact Frank Kennedy at kennedyf@bc-egan.com.