In recent years, product life cycles for mechanical engineering have been shortening, and the trend towards product customization is becoming more and more significant. The market places a variety of demands on equipment manufacturers, such as:
◆ Constantly require shortened delivery time and commissioning time.
◆ Provide a higher degree of modularity in its products.
◆ Increase the productivity of their equipment – especially by reducing downtime and set-up time.
◆ Able to cope with the complexity of the equipment through the easy-to-operate user interface.
The above requirements mainly focus on the use function of the device.
These requirements inevitably lead to an exponential increase in the amount of resources that must be invested in software, and this growth is no longer influenced by traditional structures and R&D methods. As a future-oriented company, the involvement of a global R&D team and innovation partners is indispensable if a mechanical engineering company aims to meet rapidly growing software demands.
Software is playing an important role in device functionality like never before. Today, the focus is no longer on replacing electrical or mechanical functions. It is more likely that software functionality will be found and continuously added to existing systems or machine controllers to push or expand the boundaries of the system.
As a result, these companies must take into account new resource investments and may need to build new skills in problem areas that have not been relevant to their portfolios to date[5].
Medium-sized mechanical engineering design company in the midst of change
This growing relevance of engineering to IT means that in the future, mechanical engineering companies will need to specify the requirements for software systems and/or program, test, and maintain their own software [8].
Despite the growing importance of software, which is bound to bring new perspectives in all aspects, mechatronic systems will always be the starting point for any successful product in mechanical engineering (Figure 2). Therefore, the software must simulate at least the degree of customization of the relevant equipment and workshop according to the specific needs of the customer.
Modular software architecture – is it the key to success?
Configurable system of machine modules and function modules is now widely used in mechanical engineering and has been used to efficiently implement customer-specific solutions through the standardization of compatible interfaces and the modularization of machine functions. In addition to this, the software must meet the modularity and scalability of the system, so that these functions can be reused with minimal effort and cost.
Principle 1: Software architecture should be designed in a structured way
The general structure of a software system is determined by the software architecture. Software architecture design is a core element of managing system complexity. The main influencing factors in the design of software architecture include quality requirements such as performance, maintainability, reliability and security, while purely functional system requirements can in principle be executed with completely unstructured software. Unstructured, evolved software (often referred to as wool balls, yarn balls, and mud balls) can quickly introduce the risk of small functional expansions, resulting in changes to the overall software solution (see Figures 3 and 4).
Principle 2: Each system component should be assigned only one task
The basic primary design principles should ensure that these quality requirements are met. These principles can be considered as the basic principles of software design. In the principle of problem separation, each system component is assigned only one task. The better a single component can perform a logical task, the more consistent it is. In order to avoid shared functionality being copied rather than reused, it is necessary to ensure uniformity.
Principle 3: Software architecture must be applied at all levels
Software architectures are generally structured in a hierarchical or stepped manner, and the principles described earlier must be applied to all levels. Similar to building elements, architecture patterns or reference architectures provide design templates for the basic organizational structure and interactions of software components based on a reliable solution.
Different principles in practical use
The principles of opt-out and opt-in are often used to sell or deliver software produced in this way to implement a variety of functions in a variety of mechanical engineering scenarios. In the case of opt-out, the delivered software essentially includes all the functions that can be used in the modular system. However, in specific devices and customer configurations, only features that are required or specified by the customer will be activated. If the opt-in method is used, each necessary software extension will be added to the base system according to the configuration. In both cases, it is possible to directly configure and/or build software based on customer order data in the enterprise ERP system (Figure 6, top half).
Software as a cost driver?
1. Software as a cost-driven
When developing software with a future-proof framework, organizational structures and processes often present obstacles. This decision and information bottleneck have a certain causal relationship in software development and are reflected in Figure 7.
As a result, shortcomings in the development process often lead to quality and time issues, which can drive up costs. Therefore, the key to the efficient management of software architecture and the competitiveness of enterprises lies in the organizational structure of enterprises.
2. The status quo of software development in mechanical engineering design enterprises
Today, many medium-sized mechanical engineering companies often have only a handful of software developers responsible for creating the entire application and the visual interface. These developers often run the software directly on the device. At the same time, they are also responsible for building the communication network.
In the future, these problems will become even more acute – as described above – and the importance and role of software in modern production systems is increasing and will continue to intensify.
This dilemma can be solved by introducing the latest software development methods and modular software architectures. A tightly intertwined and iterative hardware and software development process with coordinated synchronization points optimizes project planning. Maintainable, coherent, reusable and recognizable software will bring several advantages to mechanical engineering design companies throughout the year.
|
More on that
|
Lenze total solutions for thermoforming machines
1 Introduction
With the innovation of technology and the continuous upgrading of molding equipment, the traditional hydraulic blister machine can no longer meet the needs of the market, and the servo system with a higher degree of automation is gradually replacing it. Under the fierce market competition, by improving the degree of automation of machinery and equipment, ...
|
|
The representative of the German Chamber of Commerce in China in Shanghai walked into Lenz
On the afternoon of May 10th, representatives of the German Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai visited Lenz. Mr. Xie Weidong, President of Lenze Group Asia, and Ms. Wang Xuejing, Director of Strategic Marketing Department of Lenze, received Dr. Constanze Wang, Senior Director of Government Business of the German Chamber of Commerce, and Daisy Zhu, Regional Manager of the German Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.
|
|
Success comes in the details
Lenze is one of Germany's leading industrial innovators, and its operations reflect its family business roots in spirit. Based on many years of experience in the field of drive and automation technology, Lenze offers complete drive and automation solutions, including those dedicated to automation processes.
|
|
Lenze servo drive i700
The innovative servo drive i700 can be used for central motion control and is characterized by compactness and high flexibility: the two-axis design ensures a minimized product structure and dynamic motor control enables a wide range of applications. In addition, its unique installation concept and simple engineering design greatly simplify the integration of the equipment.
|
|
Lenze and Lissec The joint road to the smart factory
For more than 60 years, LISAICK has been developing and manufacturing glass cutting and sorting systems, individual components, complete lines for thermal insulation and laminated glass, as well as glass edge processing equipment and quenching systems. From simple hand-held devices to spacers and sealers ...
|
|
Act for love and help the intelligent manufacturing of pharmaceutical packaging equipment
The movie "I Am Not the God of Medicine" was released in the depressed Huang Meitian, and the slightest cool breeze could not calm the heated discussion. In the face of death, people seem to be equal, but they also seem to be not. To all those who have worked hard to live, may we be healthy every day.
Pharmaceutical packaging is ...
|
|
Application of 93EV inverter on wire drawing machine
First, the working principle of the wire drawing machine:
The wire drawing machine is a small continuous production equipment composed of multiple drawing heads, and the steel wire can be cold-drawn to the required specifications at one time through step-by-step drawing, so the work efficiency is relatively high. However, due to the drawing through each stage, the wire diameter ...
|
|
C750 cross-platform high-speed controller
Product Introduction
More flexible, intelligent devices mean more complexity and, therefore, higher demands on controller performance. The new cabinet-mounted controller from Lenze is in line with this trend and has already made new technological breakthroughs. With its C500 series, Lenze achieves a controller that has never been seen before...
|
|
Automation solutions for the packaging industry
70 years of experience in the packaging industry
As one of the leading drive technology and automation experts with extensive expertise and a global network of experts in the packaging industry, we work closely with you to find the best solution for your needs. We love being able to bring your ideas to life, whether you're ...
|
|
【Case Study】Simple procedure, convenient operation - Lenze FAST helps the label printing industry
As a global leader in the label printing industry, AB Graphic International (hereinafter referred to as ABG) has a rich career experience, and the scale of sales covers the world. In addition to the innovative scale of label converting machinery, comprehensive technical support also makes it a leading printing and converting design.
|
|
The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce came to Lenz to carry out a visit and research
On the afternoon of March 11, Zhu Yi, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, and his party came to our company for on-site investigation and investigation, accompanied by relevant leaders of the Lingang New Area Management Committee.
During the investigation, Dr. Li Chenghong, Vice President of R&D at Lenze, introduced the history of Lenze and the development process of Lenze in China to the guests.
|
|
Lenze helps develop green energy – applications in the wind power industry
Reading guide: The big windmill squeaks and turns, the scenery here is really good-looking, the sky is beautiful, the ground is beautiful, and there is a group of happy friends...... (Internet picture, the theme song of CCTV's children's program "Big Windmill")
I miss the summer vacation when I was a child, a bamboo bed, a fan, a few slices of watermelon...
|
|
Lenze drives digital business to create the key to success for your products
With the gradual digitalization, intelligence and green needs of the manufacturing industry, Lenze has been actively responding to the challenges of the ever-changing and upgrading industry and becoming a pioneer in the industry. By once again participating in the 4th VDMA Industry 4.0 Flagship Conference of the Germany Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing Federation, Lenze has joined forces with ...
|
|
The application of Lenze automation products in the retrofit of the KDF2 filter rod forming machine
1 Introduction
As the mainstay of the development of China's tobacco industry, a well-known tobacco machinery company is one of the earliest enterprises engaged in the research and development and manufacturing of tobacco machinery products in China. In order to build world-class tobacco equipment, the company has always been committed to continuous technological innovation and independent research and development of new products.
|
|
Let Lenze print solutions wake up your dopamine this summer
Through printing, we can add the element of "dopamine" to more objects. So, how to make the printing press a "happiness machine", a steady stream of happiness? The key is to control the print quality accurately.
1 Corrugated production line Create the perfect corrugated for cardboard
...
|
|
Small man, big smart: Lenze c300 controller
Remember the c300, the smallest member of the Lenze controller family? The C300 has always existed as a single logic controller, and now it has another interesting feature, let's take a look.
C300 at a glance
The c300 is based on the ARM chip, which has ultra-low power consumption, and integrates ...
|
|
Lenze China i500 Success Case Sharing | Drive the possibilities
In many applications, modern servo drives, as well as frequency converters, are important drive components in many well-designed solutions and are the real mainstays of open-loop control of electric motors.
Lenze frequency inverters are highly scalable, suitable for speed and torque controlled movements as well as position-controlled single-axis ...
|
|
The 2021 Lenze "Blue Automation" Roadshow Xi'an was successfully held
The "Blue Automation" Xi'an Station Roadshow was successfully held on May 12. China's economic momentum and political environment have given the Lenze Group confidence at the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan. In order to achieve this goal, the headquarters has formulated a strategic development plan for China in the next five years, and regards China as a leading driver of global economic growth.
|
|
Lenze is on TV again!
Standing at the forefront of manufacturing transformation, Lenze does just that!
At present, in the context of vigorously developing the digital economy, digital transformation is no longer a multiple-choice question but a mandatory question for many industries, and even more so for the manufacturing industry.
|
|
CIBF ended perfectly, and Lenze solutions helped improve the quality and efficiency of battery manufacturing
On May 18, 2023, CIBF 2023 was successfully concluded at Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center. At the same time, Lenze's first trip to CIBF came to a successful conclusion.
In this exhibition, the "battery tower" demonstration equipment at the Lenze booth became the focus of the audience, which dynamically demonstrated ...
|
|
Contact
working hours
