cylcle testing..plc? 1

[brents]

Hi all,

I do not have a good electrical background,hence the reason for my question..

I need to cycle test a unit to see if it will last over a certain amount of cycles (approx. 10,000 cycles)..

Its basically a hydraulic cylinder that I need to run up to full pressure(10,000 psi) and then retract, and then run up to full pressure again, and so on, and so on...

I think I need a PLC, so I am told..I need it to cylce every 20 seconds and I need it to have a counter on it so I can see how many cylces..

I have a high pressure pump with a button switch to activate. I obviously can't sit there and activate this cylinder 10,000 times. So I want to automate it so I can walk away and do something else.

So basically, I am clueless here..any suggestions??

thanks,
brent

 

[Skogsgurra]

I do not think that you need a PLC. There are universal timers that can be set to deliver a contact closure every 20th second. Hook that parallel to the push-button you were supposed to push, but don't like to.

Set the contact closure time (the ON time) so that there is enough time for the pressure to build up and the piston to do a full stroke.

Add a simple event counter to totalize the number of strokes.

See

http://www.inotek.com/Catalog/abbe16cn.html

for an example of the type of relay you need. Google "universal time relay" for more stuff.

Of course, a simple PLC (Siemens Logo! for instance) would also do the job admirably. But you don't seem to want to do the programming. Or, if I am mistaken there, just do it. They cost just above USD 100.

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

 

[analogkid2digitalman]

You may be able to get away with a predetermining cycle counter with timer. I think Eagle Signal Controls (now Danaher)is a manufacturer of one such unit. Basically a device that you set how many cycles and the on/off time for each cycle.

Look at the SX110 for example

http://www.dancon.com/products/PresetTime/presettime3.htm

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