Oct 1 2014
Bimba Manufacturing, an industry leading innovator of actuation technology, today announced the introduction of IntelliSense®, a technology platform that will enable users to be proactive about maintenance and system optimization. A one-of-its-kind breakthrough in pneumatics, IntelliSense® combines sensors, cylinders, and software to deliver real-time performance data, enhancing productivity without sacrificing quality or efficiency.
Bimba's IntelliSense(R) for condition-based monitoring (Photo: Business Wire)
“In today’s competitive global market, manufacturers and OEMs are under intense pressure to meet their production targets,” says Tom Wood, Director of Marketing at Bimba. “Machines running at maximum load are increasing wear on pneumatic components and are more likely to break down, compromising operational efficiency. Bimba created IntelliSense® to deliver precise and accurate performance-related data with which users can make smarter decisions to ensure maximum uptime and component effectiveness.”
IntelliSense® is an example of the Internet of Things, the Industry 4.0 movement that is linking machines and their components to technology platforms. In helping to create intelligent production systems that communicate real-time information to evaluate the potential life cycle of pneumatic components, Bimba is showing that industry and technology can be combined to help manufacturing reach its full potential.
The intelligence of IntelliSense® is embedded inside the Sensor Interface Module (SIM), a remote monitoring device connected to sensors attached to Bimba cylinders using pneumatic fittings. Users receive operational insights about cylinder condition, cycle time, pressure (to one hundredth of a psi), and temperatures (down to a hundredth of a degree).
In addition, IntelliSense® delivers predictive intelligence for pneumatics in the form of up-to-date condition information that predicts when a cylinder will fail. IntelliSense® can also identify when a component is achieving its desired performance specification. For example, users will be alerted if a cylinder that should be actuating in 1 second is taking 1.5 seconds. This is especially important in sequencing applications that depend on precise stroke rates.
Ultimately, this machine-to-machine technology enables users from a wide range of industries to move from emergency repair to proactive maintenance, thus optimizing production as a whole.
IntelliSense® is compatible with Bimba cylinders in pneumatic systems but the company plans to extend its capabilities to other Bimba products in the future.
Wood says, “The pneumatic industry has never seen an innovation like this. IntelliSense® is unique, not just in the way it works, but in how it will benefit industry from the c-suite to the factory floor. In short, IntelliSense® is more than just a technology platform. It is the solution to one of the most pressing concerns of manufacturers today, the need for maximum uptime. It is the advance that will propel pneumatics into the future. Welcome to Pneumatics 2.0™”
For further information, please go to: www.bimba.com/smarter/