Are you curious about the inner workings of automated factories and how they are revolutionizing industrial production? From controllers to robots, sensors to solenoid valves, this article explores the essential components that make up a standard automated factory.
Discover how these components work together to create an efficient and intelligent production system that is changing the face of manufacturing.
Whether you are a seasoned industry professional or simply interested in the latest technological advancements, this article is sure to capture your attention and leave you wanting to learn more.
So, fasten your seatbelt and get ready to delve into the world of automated production line components!
Top Components of an Automated Production Line
In industrial production, the use of automation and intelligence is becoming more widespread. Let’s examine what constitutes a standard for an automated factory.
1. Controller
Automated factory brain
The controller is a master device that alters the wiring of the main circuit or control circuit in a pre-determined order, and adjusts the resistance value in the circuit to control the starting, speed, braking, and reversing of the motor.
It is composed of a program counter, instruction register, instruction decoder, timing generator, and operation controller, and serves as the “decision-making body” that issues commands and coordinates and directs the entire computer system.
Common controllers used in automation plants include Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and industrial computers.
A PLC, for example, uses programmable memory to store programs internally and execute user-oriented instructions such as logic operations, sequence control, timing, counting, and arithmetic operations. It controls various machinery or production processes through digital or analog input/output.
2. Robot
Automated factory executor
A robot is a machine that carries out tasks automatically.
It can receive commands from humans, execute pre-programmed procedures, or operate using principles based on artificial intelligence techniques.
Its purpose is to aid or substitute human labor in areas such as production, construction, or hazardous work.
Robots typically comprise actuators, drives, sensors, control systems, and sophisticated machinery.
3. Servo motor
Muscles that power the automated plant
The servo motor is a type of engine that controls the operation of mechanical components in a servo system, serving as an indirect auxiliary motor.
It can precisely control speed and position accuracy and converts a voltage signal into torque and speed to drive the controlled object. The servo motor’s rotor speed is regulated by the input signal and responds quickly.
In automatic control systems, it acts as an actuator and has features such as a small electromechanical time constant, high linearity, and low starting voltage. The electrical signal received can be transformed into an angular displacement or angular velocity output on the motor shaft.
Servo motors can be divided into two main categories: DC servo motors and AC servo motors.
One of its key features is that when the signal voltage is zero, there is no rotation, and the rotation speed decreases proportionally as the torque increases.
4. Sensor
Automated factory touch
A sensor is a device that can detect information and convert the detected information into an electrical signal or other suitable form of output information to meet the needs of information transmission, processing, storage, display, recording, and control.
It represents the first step in achieving automatic detection and control.
In modern industrial production, especially in automated processes, various sensors are utilized to monitor and regulate various production parameters, to ensure equipment operates normally or optimally, and to produce the best quality product.
Therefore, it can be said that modern production would not be possible without the use of many high-quality sensors.
5. Inverter
Automated factory exchanger
The frequency converter is a power control device that regulates the AC motor by changing its operating frequency through the use of frequency conversion and microelectronic technologies.
It is mainly composed of rectification (AC to DC), filtering, inverter (DC to AC), braking unit, drive unit, and microprocessing unit, and detection unit.
The inverter adjusts the output power supply’s voltage and frequency by switching the internal IGBT, providing the necessary power supply voltage based on the motor’s actual requirements, thereby achieving energy efficiency and speed control.
Furthermore, the inverter has several protection functions, such as overcurrent, overvoltage, and overload protection, among others.
6. Solenoid valve
Automation factory switch
Solenoid valves are electrically controlled industrial equipment that serve as basic components for fluid control. They act as actuators and are not limited to hydraulic and pneumatic applications.
They are utilized in industrial control systems to regulate the direction, flow, speed, and other parameters of the medium.
The solenoid valve can be paired with various circuits to attain the desired control, while ensuring precision and flexibility in control.
There are various types of solenoid valves, each serving a different role in the control system. The most commonly used types include check valves, safety valves, directional control valves, and speed control valves, among others.
7. Industrial camera
Automated factory eyes
Industrial cameras play a crucial role in machine vision systems. Their most fundamental function is to convert optical signals into organized electrical signals, such as those produced by the AFT-808 compact HD industrial camera.
Industrial cameras are typically installed on production lines in place of the human eye for measurement and assessment and convert optical signals into image signals using digital image pickup targets, which are then transmitted to a specialized image processing system.
The image system then performs various operations on these signals to extract information about the target and then controls the device’s actions based on the result of the analysis.
8. Instrumentation
Automation plant’s conditioning system
Instrumentation refers to instruments or devices used to detect, measure, observe, and calculate various physical quantities, material compositions, and physical parameters.
Examples of instruments include vacuum leak detectors, pressure gauges, length gauges, microscopes, multipliers, etc.
In an automated factory, various instruments and meters are required. For instance, measuring pressure, liquid level, flow rate, temperature, and other parameters necessary for control processes requires the use of appropriate instrumentation.
9. Automation software
The heart of an automated factory
As the industrial control system becomes connected to traditional IT management systems and the Internet, the use of general control software, hardware, and protocols is becoming more widespread.
One of the more commonly used systems is SCADA automation software.
SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) automation systems are essentially data acquisition and monitoring systems. They are primarily computer-supported systems that carry out the automatic scheduling of various production processes.
SCADA automation software can continuously and accurately monitor production without supervision and provide valuable information data, serving as a powerful evaluation tool for regulatory administrators.
10. Control cabinet
Automation plant’s central system
The control cabinet also includes many types, including:
- Electrical control cabinet
- Frequency control cabinet
- Low voltage control cabinet
- High pressure control cabinet
- Pump control cabinet
- Power control cabinet
- Explosion-proof control cabinet
- Elevator control cabinet
- PLC control cabinet
- Fire control cabinet
- Brick machine control cabinet
Control cabinets for electrical, frequency, power, water pump systems, etc. are used in automation plants.
Different control cabinets are chosen based on varying needs to achieve specific control functions.
