Barrel Temperature Control Module

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Barrel Temperature Control Moduler

(Catalog Number 1746-BTM)

Description

Our Barrel Temperature module expands the control capabilities of SLC 500 controllers to include injection and extrusion machine barrel temperature control. The single-slot 1746-BTM module provides temperature control logic that executes independent of the SLC processor and frees machine builders and integrators from the exacting task of writing and debugging complex temperature control loops in relay ladder logic. On-board cold-start logic helps bring multiple barrel zones to their desired setpoint quickly, with little or no overshoot.

By communicating through the SLC controller to the appropriate output module, the BTM module provides one output for heat and one for cooling for up to 4 loops. This lets the module provide the heating and cooling strategies for up to four temperature loops. By controlling temperature within the 1746-BTM module, memory is freed up within the SLC controller for additional applications, such as mold part storage and basic machine sequencing instructions. The SLC controller's memory can also be used to store production and machine utilization data for report generation. An autotuning function built into the logic of the 1746-BTM module simplifies the looptuning procedure.

Features Applications | Installation | Operation | Autotuning | Process Improvement | Specifications | Description

Occupies a single slot in a standard 1746 series rack

Works with SLC 5/02, 5/03, and 5/04P processors

Controls 4 independent temperature loops

On-board autotuning

Supports J and K type thermocouples

Module configuration parameters are stored in the SLC processor, where they are readily available to configure additional BTM modules.

Applications

This module is designed to replace multiple single-loop controllers often used to control the temperature of extruder and injection molding barrels. It also provides an alternative to custom temperature control routines written in relay ladder logic. This module helps reduce the time required to integrate temperature control into the application. In the case of single-loop controllers, it is often necessary to establish communication between them and the SLC controller. This requires additional integration effort to create a custom communications driver. Generating custom temperature control routines in the SLC processor's native program language is likewise time-consuming, since the processor's instruction set doesn't include temperature-specific functions. The result: you spend additional time coding, testing, and debugging custom routines, and the application still requires one or more thermocouple input modules. On the other hand, the BTM module comes with on-board heat/cool and multi-zone logic designed to address critical control issues presented by barrel temperature control applications.

Installation Operation | Autotuning | Process Improvement | Specifications | Description | Features | Applications

The module is installed in a single slot of a 1746 chassis. Module configuration is accomplished using a standard relay-lagger logic editor. Editor packages from Rockwell Software are perfectly suited for this task. The modules four input channels permit direct connection of either J or K type thermocouples.

Operation Autotuning | Process Improvement | Specifications | Description | Features | Applications | Installation

Advanced control strategies built into the 1746-BTM simplify the control of extruders and molding machines barrel temperature. Its exclusive Tuning Assisted Process (TAP) is designed to quickly arrive at, but not overshoot, the process setpoint. This is especially important where overshooting can create production delays of several minutes or, with larger machines, hours. The TAP function includes cold start-up and setpoint change strategies, and autotuning of temperature loops during machine start-up. The module also provides a multi-zone control strategy.

Autotuning Process Improvement | Specifications | Description | Features | Applications | Installation | Operation |

The 1746-BTM module's integral autotuning simplifies maintenance of barrel temperature control loops. An on-board autotuning feature automatically calculates initial PID values, and can be invoked by the machine operator when control loop values require re-calculation.

Process Improvement Specifications | Description | Features | Applications | Installation | Operation | Autotuning

The modular nature of the Allen-Bradley control architechure is designed for future expansion. Additional I/O points can be easily added to the initial control system, including additional 1746-BTM modules, if required. Since SLC processors come with built-in communication ports, it is possible to communicate production reporting data to higher-level plant computers.

Specifications Description | Features | Applications | Installation | Operation | Autotuning | Process Improvement

Applications Injection molding and extrusion machine barrel temperature control (Heat, Heat/Cool, Cool)

Number of Channels 4

Inputs Thermocouple, Type J and K
(-50 to +50mV and -100 to +100mV)

Temperature Scale 0.1 degree C or 0.1 degree F

Isolation 1000 Volts peak transient channel-to-channel isolation
150V AC continuous channel-to-channel isolation

Backplane Current Consumption 110mA @ 5V DC
85mA @ 24V DC