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8.30 | Registration |
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9.00 | Chairman's introduction and welcome |
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9.15 | Designing big
Last year, film effects specialist Artem created ‘Big JT’ – an 8m high animatronic figure. It faced two particular challenges: how to replicate the realistic motion of a human being; and how to finish it within a punishing eight-week deadline
Speaker: Jamie Campbell, Artem |
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9.45 | Integrating intelligence with drives
Many automated systems house their intelligence centrally – such as within a PLC. But in many cases designers could sensibly migrate that intelligence to the drive – which can overcome problems in transmission delays, and create more compact automation systems.
Speaker: Gary Cork, Control Techniques |
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10.05 | Absolute encoders within drives
The advantage of absolute – rather than incremental – encoders is that they instantly ‘know’ where they are – so are routinely used in safety critical applications. But recent advances mean the devices could be used more widely in non-critical applications.
Speaker: Ludwig Schmidt, Heidenhain
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10.25 | Coffee and networking |
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11.00 | The impact of Industrial Ethernet
The use of Industrial Ethernet – in its many variants – is set to keep growing, thanks to its open nature and fast communication speed. But which ‘flavours’ are best suited to high-speed applications? And which automation components are most rapidly becoming ‘Ethernet-enabled’?
Speaker: John Morse, IMS Research |
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11.30 | Handling in automation: the future
The move towards automated handling systems over the last 30 years – whether it is simple conveyor belts or complex assembly machines – seems to be complete. But what are the likely future automation needs within product handling, and how are design engineers going to meet these needs?
Speaker: Nigel Dawson, Festo |
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11.50 | Q+A |
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12.15 | Lunch |
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1.00 | AFTERNOON SESSION |
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Training workshops
Each workshop is 40 minutes long, and is repeated – so delegates can attend every session in the course of the afternoon. |
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Session 1: Encoders
Heidenhain’s workshop will explain when – and when not – to use absolute encoders, and show them in action within a drive system.
“We’ll look at the type of data that comes out – and the difference between linear and rotary applications,” says Heidenhain’s Stuart Jenkins.
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Session 2: Drives
Delegates break into smaller groups and use a demonstration kit – a laptop, a motor and a Digitax indexer – to program a motion exercise.
The workshop will also take delegates through the issue of where to put the intelligence in an automated system – locally or centrally – and attempt to demystify the ‘black art’ of motion control
, says Control Techniques' Rob Stebbings.
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Session 3: System design
A readily available – and free – software tool called Positioning Drives will help delegates size the mechanical axis, linear bearing system, motor, controller and power supply very quickly.
“You can match inertia with torque much more quickly,” says Festo’s Nigel Dawson.
Two different applications – one simple, one complex – will show delegates how to filter down from many answers to the best one.
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| 4.00 | Event Ends |
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| For more detailed information on workshops, click here |
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