Flexibility, short cycle times and optimum use of materials: these were the requirements for the new machine for the production of credit card slots for wallets. Autec, a manufacturer of automation systems for shoe and leather goods factories in Pisa, Italy, developed the machine for a prestigious Italian brand. The Festo Motion Terminal is the ideal solution.
The software and apps played a major role in system implementation. They define the functions of the valves and make a crucial contribution to the flexibility of the machine. In addition, the apps enable various tools and the machine operation to be controlled remotely. Ilario Barsacchi, Engineer and Project Manager at Autec, explains: "Reconfiguring the Festo Motion Terminal is now extremely fast. Instead of ordering, installing and reconfiguring additional proportional valves, all we have to do is activate an app."
Autec’s new machine controls the gluing of two pieces, one made of leather and one made of silk. A servo robot then transfers the glued pieces to a leather folding machine. "In this space-saving, compact solution, eight credit card slots can be glued and folded in 14 seconds," continues Barsacchi.
The system is then just like a reprogrammable piece of hardware and the software content is adapted to the relevant application. The days when a valve only had one function are gone. A management software program was developed for this machine and installed on a PLC that is used as the interface for controlling the device. The entire process was very simple and trouble-free.
This genuine Industry 4.0 solution has eliminated the error rate associated with manually manufacturing these credit card slots and optimum use is made of the available raw material.