Control System For a Cut To Length Machine

Abstract

An implemented microcontroller system that controls a cut to length machine (CSCTL) has faced some drawbacks such as power failure. The microcontroller itself has defects regarding complicated troubleshooting and programming. The cut to length machine under normal operation should automatically cut sections of measured length from a coil of an elongated strip which has a roller holder for the coil, a feed conveyer belt at a constant speed to pull the strip from the coil, a hump table, a scissor, a device for measuring the length of the sheet and a landing area. The scissor is being driven by a constant speed motor at a circumferential speed less than the speed of the strip from the feeder, thus producing a hump between the feeder and pinch rolls. The objective of this study was to simulate a control system that controls the cut to length machine. The control system consists of a programmable logic controller (PLC) and an Arduino to achieve goals such as increasing the speed of production, increasing the accuracy of cutting and to know how many sheets have been made. So the system was designed and developed to cut the material automatically of finite length. The outcome of the simulation has shown that the newly developed control system is capable of controlling the machine properly to meet the intended requirements. It also showed that the achieved upgrade can not only help in cutting, but also prominently reduces the operating stafi' and accordingly.