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Motion Control
Special Edition
for the engineer, development for
the manufacturer, commissioning
for the mechanic and day-to-day
business for the operator. Eaton
therefore incorporates these factors
for all our products in this area.
Which products?
Ischen: Some of Eaton’s specific
solutions involving the varied mix
of considerations include the all-
in-one RMQ compact solution,
which can be installed directly in
the machine thanks to the high
degree of protection it offers and
its extra flat contact elements keep
space requirements to an absolute
minimum. The AFX fast assembly
solution allows assembly of torsion-
proof selector switches. Complex
work phases can be easily visualized
with the operator-friendly Galileo
software.
Eaton’s Application Engineering
Services Team also helps develop
operating
concepts.
Another
version is the pre-assembled
operating units and set formations.
Mechanical engineering companies
can then concentrate on their core
business.
What challenges does a
design engineer generally
have to deal with in a modern
operating concept?
Ischen: They have to create added
value in the machine project with
the operating unit by adding new
functions, for example. Being able
to do so is a key advantage in global
competition. At the same time, they
need to make sure that the human
machine interaction always meets
statutory regulations and workplace
safety rules. They also must need
to make sure their system is a
secure investment by being able to
integrate the operating levels into
an overall approach to the machine
for use in smart factories.
Can you name a few possible
solutions?
Ischen:
Compact
HMI/PLC
devices with low-cost resistive
touch technology - i.e. HMI or
combined devices - are suitable for
manageablemechanical engineering
applications. Operating and control
units are also available for more
demanding applications, where the
design is visually appealing and
includes high-performance multi-
touch and embedded technology.
The attributes include intuitive
operator guidance, precise gesture
control and multimedia options.
And where is all this going?
Ischen: Anything is possible. Quite
a few of the big developments will
come from consumer electronics.
Smart watches as a compact
operating unit equipped with
context-specific menus. Augmented
reality applications will soon
find their way into the industrial
environment. At the 2017 Hannover
Trade Fair, Eaton presented the first
applications using the Microsoft
Hololens. New touch technologies
such as 3D touch or swipe
movement operation with off-screen
display - as found in high-end cars
Image 2+3:
The “all-in-one” RMQ
compact solution also has a high
degree of protection at the back and
can be installed in the machine itself.
- are also interesting. Hologram
touch operates by interacting with
holographic projections. The area is
truly exciting.
But it all comes down to how
practical the relevant procedure is.
56 l New-Tech Magazine Europe