PC-based control technology offers the highest degree of performance and accuracy for the photovoltaic industry

PC Control: ideal for photovoltaic production

Beckhoff will present its PC- and EtherCAT-based control technology for photovoltaic production for the first time at Photon’s Photovoltaic Technology Show in Munich, Germany. With PC Control, Beckhoff offers a universal control platform for the entire spectrum of the photovoltaic industry. At the Beckhoff booth, the focus will be on how the solar power industries can optimise processes using Industrial PCs, automation and motion as well as EtherCAT and XFC technology.

The complex demands in the photovoltaic industry – from wafer production and processing, to solar cell manufacturing, to module production – require not only sophisticated control solutions for material handling, loading and unloading, transport, palletisation and gluing, but also require tight networking of the individual manufacturing steps. Beckhoff PC-based control technology, including ultra fast communication via EtherCAT, optimally fulfils these demands.

Open and fully scalable automation technology

With high-performance Industrial PCs, EtherCAT I/Os, a large number of fieldbus components, the latest Servo Drive Technology and TwinCAT automation software, Beckhoff provides engineers with a universal and modular control concept that is ideally suited for every task in the creation of photovoltaic products. The scalability of hardware and software components from Beckhoff makes tailor-made solutions possible, which, compared to conventional controls, can significantly reduce costs and help secure a competitive advantage.

EtherCAT – top performance and flexibility

EtherCAT, the ultra-fast Industrial Ethernet communication system, offers outstanding real-time performance and is ideally suited for use in the photovoltaic industry. EtherCAT demonstrates some of its many advantages in the classification of solar cells: the flexible EtherCAT topology permits the connection of up to 70 classification stations within a plant, each of which can be individually switched off without impairing the operation of the plant. The fast communication between the I/O terminals and the controller – without special hardware – offers the machine manufacturer a wealth of possibilities: Motion Control with multiple axes, synchronised through distributed EtherCAT clocks with nanosecond precision.

Motion Control

Beckhoff Drive Technology, in combination with TwinCAT Motion Control and EtherCAT, offers the perfect solution for high-precision positioning requirements, such as during stringing, when the solar cells are soldered together and interconnected.

XFC increases machine efficiency

Perhaps the ultimate combination of the leading edge industrial technologies from Beckhoff is XFC – eXtreme Fast Control Technology. With XFC, already high-speed machine controllers can now have the highest possible reaction speeds. This leads to much improved control quality and faster, more dynamic machine processes. Special auxiliary controllers and expensive measurement technology cards of the past are replaced with standard, cost-effective I/O terminals.

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