Cheese eaten motion control: the cubeer machine from Engima and Catael

Best Application Contest 2021-2022

Project objective

Certain cheeses just taste better in cubes. At a large West Flanders cheese importer, they know this all too well. That's why the company commissioned machine builder Engima (Izegem) and engineering firm Catael (Kortrijk) to replace an existing cubing machine with a completely new model. The goal? To improve product quality, switch faster between different types of cheese, drastically reduce waste per product and shorten cycle times.

Structure of the application

It consists of six servo axes driven by a modular SINAMICS S120 drive and SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU with Technology Objects. The SINAMICS S120 guarantees optimum performance in multi-axis applications with servo functionalities. In addition, users enjoy increased productivity and flexibility. The robust, compact SIMOTICS S-1FK7 servo motors enable dynamic and precise movements and provide a high level of control.

The conveyor feeds a block of cheese, the piece is automatically measured, and the machine determines the most efficient cutting pattern. The thicknesses of the waste cuts - the first and last in the block - are also automatically calculated and minimized. On the display, operators and technicians can easily select parameters and recipes.

Benefits of the application

Engima and Catael cleverly took advantage of the simulation capability of the Technology Objects in TIA Portal V16. This allowed them to test their program faster, thus shortening the commissioning time considerably. Once operational, the cubeer machine met all expectations. For example, the design allows different types of cheese to be entered in quick succession. Thanks to more efficient cutting patterns and optimized motion profiles, the processing time per block is much shorter. The amount of residual waste is also a lot lower. Moreover, the machine is easy to use for both experienced technicians and novice operators.