Repair Shop for Rotor Motors at Oerlikon Schlafhorst Subsidiary of Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co. KG
Initial situation and project task
Oerlikon Schlafhorst is one of the market leaders in the field of production of spinning machines for the textile and clothing industry.
For test and repair of wearing parts, such as rotor motors, all over the world an improved measurement system, the so-called ‘Rotor motor repair shop’, was required. This LabVIEW-based tester system should be improved and extended in cooperation with NOFFZ.
By means of this system, it should be possible to do optical radial and axial measurement as well as leakage testing of a product. The existing tester system consisted of three independent separated systems, which should be united as a new compact tester system.
Implementation and challenge
When the project was implemented, special emphasize was put on the incorporation of the three existing stand-alone test stands into a single compact and mobile test stand. Another important task was the development of a new tool for image analysis, for which an entirely new software application was required, because the improved tester generation should also account for minimized hardware costs.
Cost reduction also strongly influenced the choice of a suitable camera. Finally, an innovative camera type by AVT was chosen, which can be connected to the tester via IEEE 1394 interface (FireWire).
Standard equipment, such as a compact Rittal cabinet building the system’s framework, has been reasonably combined with a completely new developed, mechanical testing installation. Therefore, a tester system, offering the required maximum modularity and compactness to the customer, could be implemented at least cost.
Comprehensive software functionality has been implemented, was well, allowing the system to be applied for ordinary serial testing or as a repair shop. The tester system also includes an option for full automation, because it will be applied worldwide and has to allow for easy handling by the user.
Oerlikon Schlafhorst is one of the market leaders in the field of production of spinning machines for the textile and clothing industry.
For test and repair of wearing parts, such as rotor motors, all over the world an improved measurement system, the so-called ‘Rotor motor repair shop’, was required. This LabVIEW-based tester system should be improved and extended in cooperation with NOFFZ.
By means of this system, it should be possible to do optical radial and axial measurement as well as leakage testing of a product. The existing tester system consisted of three independent separated systems, which should be united as a new compact tester system.
Implementation and challenge
When the project was implemented, special emphasize was put on the incorporation of the three existing stand-alone test stands into a single compact and mobile test stand. Another important task was the development of a new tool for image analysis, for which an entirely new software application was required, because the improved tester generation should also account for minimized hardware costs.
Cost reduction also strongly influenced the choice of a suitable camera. Finally, an innovative camera type by AVT was chosen, which can be connected to the tester via IEEE 1394 interface (FireWire).
Standard equipment, such as a compact Rittal cabinet building the system’s framework, has been reasonably combined with a completely new developed, mechanical testing installation. Therefore, a tester system, offering the required maximum modularity and compactness to the customer, could be implemented at least cost.
Comprehensive software functionality has been implemented, was well, allowing the system to be applied for ordinary serial testing or as a repair shop. The tester system also includes an option for full automation, because it will be applied worldwide and has to allow for easy handling by the user.
The measurement core of the system
consists of various devices by NI, of several components by Oerlikon
Leybold Vacuum and of a special Euro-card-sized electronic module, which
has been exclusively developed for Schlafhorst.
The main hardware components of the tester system are:
Conclusion and future prospects
The next generation of the rotor motor repair shop will be gradually implemented and delivered to our customer’s facilities all over the world.
Even at the stage of production, the test stand is continuously improved, because only by means of permanent advancement the system is able to meet the demands towards a modern product ‘made in Germany’.
The main hardware components of the tester system are:
- 4HU industry computer incl. measurement cards
- 19“ industry touchpanel
- Special electronic system for connecting to the devices under test
- Mobile measurement rack incl. camera unit and vacuum exhauster
- Mechanical testing installation for various product types and variants
Conclusion and future prospects
The next generation of the rotor motor repair shop will be gradually implemented and delivered to our customer’s facilities all over the world.
Even at the stage of production, the test stand is continuously improved, because only by means of permanent advancement the system is able to meet the demands towards a modern product ‘made in Germany’.