The machines in this new Apollo family feature a small footprint to conserve floor space, high speed for greater throughput, Beckhoff PC architecture for advanced servo motion control, and PackML compatibility for fast start up and ease of operation.
In the design of the new platform, Matrix engineers compared a number of control hardware and software solutions. A Beckhoff PC based solution out-performed the others in terms of high speed and precise motion control. This PC-based control system ensures off-the-shelf availability of PC hardware and ever increasing processing power as the PC industry progresses. The system features the open EtherCAT communication network for effective communications with other machines and business systems.
The control architecture is PackML compliant, which speeds up system integration and operator training as well as facilitating consistency in operation across PackML compliant machines. A 15-in. (381 mm) operator interface offers capabilities similar to a tablet computer, allowing operators through touch and swipe actions to call up the screen most helpful to them and to have several screens open at one time. The HMI’s capabilities are designed to aid operators in maintaining high equipment effectiveness and quality packaging.
