Want to check your oil, automatically? Engel Holding GmbH will present two more modules of its e-connect.monitor at the upcoming Fakuma 2018, used to monitor hydraulic oil and hydraulic pumps in injection molding machines.
Using sensors in the oil circuit, the condition monitoring system makes it possible to check the condition of process-critical machine components during operation and reliably predict the remaining service life — avoid unplanned downtimes.
The user gets recommendations on filtration time and duration, and can precisely plan an oil change based on the current condition of the oil.
The data is recorded during ongoing molding, and transmitted to Engel via a secure connection, then gets automatically evaluated using specially developed mathematical models. Results are immediately available in the Engel customer portal, e-connect.
The system also monitors fixed-displacement pumps in servohydraulic Engel molding presses. At the start, test runs on pump test beds and monitoring of various pumps in ongoing production provide the data from which Engel experts model the algorithms that show the customer the condition of their pumps.
Plastics processors typically only notice a critical pump condition when the machine cycle changes significantly, Engel said. The data monitoring system gives the user a basis for deciding whether and when to replace the pumps.
Engel's e-connect now has four modules: For plasticizing screws, ball screws for electric injection presses and now, for hydraulic oil and hydraulic pumps.
Engel initially is offering e-connect for its machines that use the CC300 generation of controllers, but officials said the machinery manufacturer is working on retrofit solutions for older controllers.
The company's U.S. location is Engel Machinery Inc. in York, Pa.
Tel. 717-764-6818, email [email protected]al.com
