Case Studies
Multiple Channel High Accuracy Position Control for Servo Hydraulic Control System
Hardware/Software – CRIO, LabVIEW, LabVIEW RT & FPGA
Description – LabVIEW user interface on Microsoft Windows PC for setup and visualisation, communication via ethernet to 3 cRIO controllers providing high accuracy servo control. The architecture of the control system used 3 cRIO controllers with a computer system providing the user interface. Each cRIO controller and computer system is connected to a local network providing the communication backbone for the system. Synchronisation of the controllers is provided so each actuator moves to the desired position at the right time. As this is critical to forming the part correctly a digital clock signal is transmitted by the system master cRIO controller to each cRIO system. The profile of movement to be achieved by each axis is downloaded to the each cRIO controller which then generates the required set-points for each control loop. Generating the data stream for each control loop is performed on the realtime platform therefore minimising the network traffic while providing smooth axis movement.
Custom design electrical control and acquisition system and safety systems.
R & D Test System
Hardware/Software – CRIO, LabVIEW, LabVIEW RT & FPGA
Description – LabVIEW user interface on windows PC for setup, test management and visualisation, communication via ethernet to CRIO running a test engine with local PC logging and audit log to server. The R&D test system which runs PID control on FPGA with alarm features on the CRIO controller chassis. Scan rates on some channels upto 10KHz (configurable).
Custom design electrical control and acquisition system to manage power systems, serial communications to external instruments for product monitoring and safety systems.
Aero Engine Fuel Test Cell Control System
Hardware/Software – SCXI & PXI system with 5 FGPA cards and Data acquisition cards, LabVIEW, LabVIEW FPGA
Description – Full control of fuel test cell with FPGA 18 PID, 4 incrementor control channels and 156 data acquisition channels. 90% of channels for Atex Zone 2 area therefore intrinsic safety hardware installed. Pilz programmable safety system.
Multi-pass Rheometer
Hardware/Software – C series modules & Expansion chassis, PCI FPGA, LabVIEW, LabVIEW RT & FPGA
Description – LabVIEW user interface on windows PC for setup and visualisation, RT system for high logging and control signal generation. FPGA multi channel PID control of servo hydraulic system.
Custom design electrical control and acquisition system.
Automated Production Programming and Functional Test Cell
Hardware/Software – Industrial Computer System, Touch Screen, PCI Data Acquisition & Control, LabVIEW
Description – LabVIEW user interface on windows PC for setup, Product Configuration, Test and visualisation.
Full sequence control will product specific recipes allowing for 50 product variants to be built with full functional testing without operator interaction.
Detailed report provided on product failure or label printing upon successful operation.
Automated control of water pumps, control valves, product clamping and safety guarding. Visual inspection for confirmation of product type and rig connections. High voltage electrical tests to 1800 VDC with automated interface to product and control.
Fast response water pressure and flow control using specialist intelligent control valves. Product ECU programming with embedded processor programming interface.
Custom design electrical control and acquisition system and rig manufacture by one of our Engineering Partners.
Automated Endurance Test System
Hardware/Software – CRIO & EtherCAT, LabVIEW, LabVIEW RT & FPGA
Description – LabVIEW user interface on Microsoft Windows PC for setup and visualisation, communication via ethernet to CRIO running the test sequence engine with local & FTP logging to server. Long term testing which can run without PC software once setup. Auto recovery of data logging to FTP server if network fails with local data storage exported on recovery. Systems runs with CRIO controller chassis and 4 EtherCAT chassis’s using FPGA for PID control alongside Scan engine for slower data acquisition. Scan rates configurable on channels up to 1KHz (configurable).
Custom design electrical control and acquisition system to manage power systems for product and safety systems.