Magnetics Business & Technology - May/June 2020 - 15

FEATURE ARTICLE
send position data to the control. That data is used to compensate
for dimensional variations before the EMAP is advanced to begin
forming the cup.
As the cup is formed, the TorquePRO articulates the joint through
a programmed set of motions and resulting torque values are monitored, communicated to the UltraPRO and stored. This real-time
data is used to control the ultimate functional characteristics of the
joint.
Suppose the articulation force is too low which indicates a loose
crimp. In that case, the EMAP is cycled again using a Move-ToForce algorithm rather than the initial Move-To-Position operation.
The articulation force is measured while the EMAP presses the cup
and the Press-Measure-Press process is repeated
until the specified articulation force is achieved.

that's true on the ground as well. The benefits simply are too compelling to ignore.
Based in Brighton, MI, Promess manufactures complete turnkey
monitoring and motion systems used in a wide variety of assembly and test applications around the world. Promess delivers the
complete system including the mechanics, control electronics, all
sensors, amplifiers and software. It also provides pre-project application engineering assistance, installation support, and training
services.
See www.promessinc.com.

The TorquePRO can even run a short "wear-in"
routine on the finished ball joint and then re-test
the articulation force as an additional quality control measure. All of the data generated during the
assembly process can be captured and stored to
provide individual ball joint traceability and forwarded to other systems and/or other quality software packages.
As noted above, the data generated by an electric
actuator is a serendipitous benefit of the technology that delivers extra value at no additional cost.
There is a similar benefit associated with the kind
of electrically based assembly technology used in
the ball joint manufacturing system just described.
That benefit is scalability.
Because the components used in the assembly
system are standard off-the-shelf items, they are
easily combined to produce interchangeable workstations. In practical terms that means that the system developed to prototype a product also can be
used to produce the product.
As demand increases more identical workstations
can be added without any additional design or engineering expense. Later, as demand decreases,
workstations can be removed and re-purposed
for new and/or different products. And, when the
product reaches the end of its lifecycle one or more
workstations can be placed back in production as
needed to meet the long-term demand for service
and replacement parts without tying up capital in a
system that is only used occasionally.
The building block approach also offers uptime advantages because each element is independent.
So, if one station requires maintenance the whole
system doesn't need to be shut down.
Unlike hydraulic systems that require constantly
running pumps whether the actuators are being
used or not, electrically based systems only use
power when they are actually functioning. That can
generate significant operating cost savings.

CONNECTING MAGNETISM
TO INDUSTRY 4.0
MAGNETIZING SYSTEMS AND QUALITY CONTROL
FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS IN AUTOMOTIVE
AND POWERTRAIN APPLICATIONS

MAGNETIZING SYSTEMS
FOR INDUSTRY

MEASURING SYSTEMS
FOR LABS & RESEARCH

Nerviano, Milan, Italy (HQ) +39 0331 589 785
Lake Orion, Michigan, USA +1 248 340 7040
Shanghai, CHINA +86 21 5401 9806
www.laboratorio.elettroﬁsico.com

Electric actuators rapidly replacing hydraulics in
the air and in space. It's only a matter of time until
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May/June 2020 * Magnetics Business & Technology

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Magnetics Business & Technology - May/June 2020

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