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Machine Monitoring System
Location: Malaysia
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This SEMCODE SYSTEM is a machine monitoring system in one of the leading audio manufacturers in Prai Industrial Estate, Penang, Malaysia. Before they applied the Panel PC in their machine monitoring system, they had conventional computers with 14" CRT monitors, close to the SMT machine, and a bar-code reader was connected to COM1. The COM2 was connected to the SMT machine controller's RS232 port (Japanese IPC System). This system occupied quite some space at the production floor because the monitoring station needed to be close to the SMT machine, which presented problems whenever the operator or maintenance technician wanted to operate while the machine was running.
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Prior to the completion of this monitoring system, there were some minor technical problems that needed to be taken care of. Initially, the customer insisted the touch screen driver be installed at COM1. However, Advantech Singapore suggested we should take the extended touch screen controller cable from COM1 and reconnect it to COM4, utilizing an ELO touch screen driver Ver. 2.0C.
The PPC units are powered by 5V and 12 VDC. This kind of DC voltage is needed for the machine's light indicator. The customer merely needs to unplug the DC voltage connector from the onboard power source and connect the Y junction power cable in its stead. One side of the Y junction is plugged into the DC voltage source, while the other side is connected to the light indicator.
A bar-code reader is connected to COM1 for data entry/storage. For example, when a specific part needs to be refilled, all the operator has to do, is scan the part's serial number and scan the employee number to identify the person on duty. The PPC unit's COM2 is connected to the SMT machine controller RS232 port (Japanese IPC). Thus, the PPC is always on-line with the SMT machine to monitor machine-down times and error checking. 
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In the monitoring system, the application software is written in Visual Basic Version 5.0 as their SCANDA software. The PPC unit itself runs under Windows 95 with an AMD-5x86 133Mhz CPU, 32M RAM and touch screen ability. Basically, the software displays the machine status, downtimes, alarm messages, and machine error reports. It also records the serial numbers of parts that need to be refilled, as well as shift scheduling.
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 - After applying the Panel PC in their system, space scarcity was eliminated. The PPC is swing arm mounted and connected to the SMT machine as a MMI Level for system monitoring.
- 4 COM ports: every PPC unit is equipped with four COM ports (two more than an average PC). This enables customers to execute multiple tasks at the same time.
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