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Applications > Machine Automation
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Solar Cell Loader/Unloader Application
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Introduction
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In the solar cell manufacturing process, cells need to be loaded into each in-line system and then unloaded after the process is complete. In order to properly handle these cells, the position control of the conveyor belt and robotic machines must be highly accurate, or there can be significant risk of damaging the cells or ruining an entire batch. Advantech PAC products helped create a solution for this complex solar cell loader/unloader project, which was aimed at reducing wiring costs and improving the reliability of communication.
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System Requirements
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The traditional control system for this application was highly complicated, making maintenance and troubleshooting very difficult. This customer needed a distributed motion control architecture to help increase the reliability of the communications between subsystems. In addition, the installation space was very limited, so a DIN-rail mounted controller was necessary.
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Other requirements are as follows :
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Real-time distributed motion control
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A simplified distributed real-time cabling infrastructure to reduce wiring
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The ability to integrate all production information into MES and CIM systems
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Project Implementation
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APAX-5570XPE
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PC-based Controller with Celeron M 1 GHz CPU
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APAX-5202P
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2-port AMONet Master Module
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AMAX-2243/YS2
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4-axis AMONet Motion Module for Yasakwa Sigma-II
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AMAX-2752SY/AMAX-2754SY
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32-ch AMONet lsolated Digital Input/Output Slave Module
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System Description
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Advantech provided the AMAX-2243/YS2 to control the conveyer belt and the solar cell lifting mechanisms. A junction cable and wiring terminal board was also provided to allow the AMAX-2243/YS2 to connect with a Yaskawa servo motor. The AMAX-2752SY/2754SY are used to integrate all light indicators, switches and buttons. The APAX-5570XPE is the main controller for this project. It communicates with the solar cell process controller and issues the motion control commands to the AMAX-2000 slave I/O modules. All the production information is also stored here for further integration into MES and CIM systems.
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Conclusion
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High speed capabilities with accurate position control are the key to efficient performance on a semi-conductor production line. Leveraging the flexibility of a decentralized motion control system is the best way to meet the strict demands of this kind of application. Advantech’s PAC solution with AMONet is the best solution able to increase performance by simplifying the system architecture and replacing the centralized motion control architecture with a decentralized motion control solution.
This new system is easier to maintain and troubleshoot. In the past, this customer needed to stop production and open the chassis of their machine to maintain the plug-in motion control and DAQ cards, which is not necessary any longer with this APAX-5000 solution.
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System Diagram
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