During work processes on production lines or manual workstations it often becomes necessary to temporarily remove a machine safeguard to enable settings, servicing or maintenance work to be carried out on an open laser beam or active machine components. In response to this application requirement Elcoma GmbH has developed a new type of safety device that contains several force guided relays. "These relays are connected to one another in a manner that prevents the contacts from sticking", explains Andreas Hilß, Manager of Elcoma. "A function test is automatically carried out on the relays at each switching cycle. Moreover, the connection logic has been designed to ensure that the complete switching unit is zero-voltage safe." The Elcoma module ensures by way of this designed-in feature that it is no longer possible to maintain the bypass mechanism as soon as the machine safeguard is returned to its original position.
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Innovative design and high-quality appearance
This development required a housing that encapsulated the electronics module in line with functional requirements. Elcoma turned to Weidmüller for a solution to its requirements: "For us it was important to integrate our development in a housing that offered both an innovative design and a high-quality appearance", relates Andreas Hilß, "and that is exactly what we found in Weidmüller’s electronics housing CH20M." One compelling benefit the CH20M housing system has to offer is the thought-through connection technology, which was specifically adapted to the housing and equipped with integrated coding.
"A further decisive factor as far as Elcoma is concerned is the large housing front that can be configured to meet individual requirements", explains Heinz Scharlibbe, product manager at Weidmüller. "All indicator functions available with the safety module can be placed, clearly structured, on the front of the CH20M. The black-transparent, hinged lid is designed to ensure safe protection of the front plate and allow the indicator LEDs to shine through."
Short product time to market through prompt sample production
Weidmüller provided support during the design-in phase with prototype production based on STL technology, which allows a sample part to be generated from the corresponding CAD data. With this input it was quickly possible to develop the first electrical prototypes at Elcoma. "With Weidmüller’s support a first prototype with off-tool parts were produced for the pre-production series soon after the project started, which enabled us to run through the first tests and approvals" Elcoma’s Andreas Hilß recalls. "This approach enabled us to keep our product time to market short."
The high levels of operational reliability offered by the electronics housing CH20M round off this advantageous package. Safe from finger touch on both sides, a leading pin contact and the integrated, captive coding system featuring "autoset" functionality provide a suitable framework for the new safety module from Elcoma.
