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CloseROCKWELL AUTOMATION: PUTTING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN MOTION
In response to rising energy costs, geopolitical tensions, and nagging supply chain disruptions, industrial operators are now prioritizing investments that build resilience, flexibility, and sustainability into their operations.
MagneMover® LITE intelligent conveyor system is the smart response from Rockwell Automation to this challenging environment that manufacturers find themselves in. MagneMover LITE is a smart transport system providing a flexible modular concept, each of which is a linear motor section that fit together to form an almost endless variety of layouts to address any industry needs. It outperforms conventional belt and chain conveyors for OEM/in-machine applications and for demanding motion requirements, delivering new levels of process optimization and throughput. In fact, compared to a traditional conveyor system, Rockwell claims MagneMover LITE can help manufacturers potentially realize an increase in uptime by 10x, up to 25% energy cost savings, and potentially up to 25% to 30% savings on floor layouts depending on your application.
To enable this flexibility enhancing innovation, Rockwell Automation worked with Analog Devices and utilized their Trinamic® motion control technology including the TMC2130A solution—to implement the motion control functionality of MagneMover LITE completely. The precision and diagnostic capabilities of this solution helped allow Rockwell Automation to completely deliver the architecture and features needed in MagneMover LITE . The result is a system that is opening new doors for manufacturers’ desire for more flexible, energy-efficient operations.
AT A GLANCE
ABOUT
Rockwell Automation is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation, connecting the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible and making the world more productive and sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 28,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries.
GOAL
Enabling customers to achieve their operational and productivity goals by allowing them to move light loads quickly and efficiently.
CHALLENGE
Completely implementing the motion control functionality of MagneMover LITE and delivering the next wave of efficient industrial automation operations. For ADI this meant providing an IC with the precision and diagnostic capabilities needed for MagneMover LITE to function as intended.
ADI SOLUTION
TMC2130A integrated solution—with diagnostic capabilities for intelligently adapting in-use performance and the flexibility of controlling two motors using a single IC – seamlessly integrating in the motion control functionality of the MagneMover LITE.
ROCKWELL AUTOMATION MAGNEMOVER LITE
Intelligent Motion
Accurate positioning (no hard stops required), bidirectional travel, smooth motion, and continuous carrier tracking and reporting.
Process Optimization
Simulation and configuration tools simplify system design and optimization.
Complete Traceability
Know the unique ID of each carrier and where it is at all times, with complete reporting for audit trail, and with the ability to prioritize the routing of individual carriers.
Flexible Layouts
System layouts can be oriented in a number of different ways to fit the space.
Suitable for a Variety of Applications
Applicable for pharmaceutical manufacturing, sterile and aseptic filling, food and beverage packaging, laboratory automation, warehousing, automotive, medical device, and consumer products manufacturing.
Easy to Clean and Maintain
IP65 wash-down capable. Few moving parts mean less maintenance.
“Rockwell knew it had to partner with a company with cutting-edge motion control technology and ADI was the perfect fit. With the use of ADI’s Trinamic motion control technology, Rockwell’s MagneMover Lite system is able to perform with the precision and flexibility exactly as intended.”Anuj Mahendru
Global Industry Director, Semiconductor and High Tech | Rockwell Automation
ADI TRINAMIC MOTION CONTROL MOVES ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TO GREATER EFFICIENCY
Delivering this solution requires demanding precision motion control for bi-directional travel, intelligent stopping and starting of material carts, synching motion with other machinery on the factory floor, and responsive motor output that efficiently adapts to load size. Rockwell Automation worked with Analog Devices and its Trinamic motion control technology to create another level of industrial automation efficiency. The TMC2130A is a high performance driver IC for two-phase stepper motors and includes two very attractive features:
StealthChop™ Voltage Chopper
Trinamic’s sophisticated StealthChop voltage chopper ensures virtually noiseless operation combined with increased efficiency and improved motor torque.
CoolStep™ Technology
Trinamic’s CoolStep is a sensorless, load-dependent current control that drives motors at the minimum amount required for the actual load condition, reducing motor energy consumption and heat generation – critical parameters for improving efficiency and adapting performance to variable requirements.
By deploying these capabilities in the MagneMover LITE system, Rockwell Automation knew it would have the technology to deliver an energy-efficient AHMS, capable of precision motion control required of manufacturers in search of ever greater flexibility.
ADI LIKED MAGNEMOVER LITE SO MUCH, THEY’RE USING IT THEMSELVES
ADI was so impressed with the functionality of MagneMover LITE, ADI is implementing it into its fabs in Beaverton, OR and Limerick, Ireland. Rockwell Automation will deploy 2+ km of MagneMover LITE track into ADI fabs, which is usable for transportation and storage, and will allow ADI to reduce floorspace use, a valuable feature for factory operations.
Overall, this next-generation modular track system from Rockwell Automation can deliver key benefits to ADI. ADI chose it because it could help deliver:
Reduce internal transportation
Create efficiencies from material handling
Allow system deployment in previously impossible areas
The deployment can be scaled as we scale the FAB
Beyond this, even before one piece of track would be installed, Rockwell Automation and ADI together created a digital model of how the AHMS would integrate into the fab. This gave ADI a unique perspective of how the Rockwell Automation AMHS would connect all of ADI’s scheduling, dispatch, and MES systems all before any installation began—giving ADI unique insights into how the AMHS’ precision performance would improve future productivity and yield.
“We anticipate that implementing independent cart technology at our fabs will improve operator productivity by nearly 20%. The MagneMover technology will allow operators to focus on other activities rather than manually delivering lots across the fab. That would be a huge productivity gain!”José J. García
Managing Director, Wafer Fab Sustainability and Autonomous Enterprise | Analog Devices
ON TRACK TO EFFICIENT MANUFACTURING WITH ROCKWELL AUTOMATION MAGNEMOVER LITE
Overall, Rockwell Automation and ADI have very similar manufacturing/digital transformational goals: improve quality of life by making the world more productive and sustainable with the next generation of smart manufacturing. This mutually beneficial relationship with these groundbreaking technology solutions—Rockwell Automation MagneMover LITE and ADI’s Trinamic Motion Control—is proof positive that two major corporations can cooperate and deliver more efficient manufacturing processes that enhance productivity and minimize environmental impact.
