Upton offers PLC-based control systems for fully automatic operation of thermal process lines. The system integrates individual furnace controls with a single automated material-handling system. Selectable touchscreen displays let operators monitor and control system functions.
Selectable Program Routines
Enlarge photoPLC-controlled systems offer automatic, semi-automatic and manual programs. Automatic programs can include operator-selectable routines for cycle times, bath set-point interlock temperatures, and quench-water addition frequency and duration. Upton customizes programming to each customer’s process requirements.
System Operations Monitoring
Standard monitoring features include individual furnace operating temperatures and primary amperages, water flow, quench-water addition, heat-exchanger operation and ancillary-device operation.
Motion, Cycle and Fault Monitoring
Standard PLC programming monitors motion warnings and faults for load/unload carousel operation, rotary swing-arm transfer and automatic-hoist travel.
Cycle warnings and faults include a system watchdog timer, temperature-recovery and swing-arm interlocks, high- and low-temperature faults for individual furnaces, SCR overcurrent and short-circuit faults, and Upton transformer overheating and reset faults.
Monitored conditions and faults are displayed and recorded with a date/time stamp and operator acknowledgment.
SPC Data Retrieval and Communications Options
Upton offers SPC data retrieval capability for communication with customer host PC systems.