X-Block, the Most Compact Wire and Cable Tension Controller on the Market

Wednesday, Aug 11, 2010

Latest in the MEROBEL digital controller range, the X-block has been specifically designed for multi-spindle wire and cable pay-off applications, whether using open loop or closed loop tension control systems.

The X-block has been designed to meet the demand for easy wiring, easy start-up, and to answer the need of compactness for cabinet backplane installation. These criteria are the most essential features for the integrators designing multiple wire and cable pay off equipments.

Its narrow profile and its rear-panel DIN rail mounting clip allow up to six units to be installed side-by-side in a width of 300 mm. The connectors are located on the front panel for easy access to the units installed on the cabinet backplane when cabling.

The electronic board provides very comprehensive functions, built around a dedicated PID controller. With its many professional integrated functions, it meets all the specific needs of tension control systems. It also includes a digitally fully-configurable sensor amplification module, enabling plug-and-play settings for all types of load cells currently available on the market. In addition, the same amplification module allows direct calibration of position measurement potentiometers (used for dancer roller systems) or distance measurement sensors (ultrasonic or laser).

Moreover, a built-in power supply function allows direct control from many types of electromagnetic actuators without any need of external powering modules, including of course the entire range of EMP brakes and clutches supplied by MEROBEL.

To make it short, using MEROBEL X-block simply eliminates the need of external wirings linked up to all the usual components of tension control systems between the sensor and the actuator.

Start-up is very substantially simplified by programming using the X-bloc PC software, which provides intuitive access to all adjustment settings. All the adjustment settings determined on one station can be copied without limit to all the other stations by simple drag-and-drop to the internal memory of each controller.

A data acquisition embedded function allows both the real time data and the associated operating set of parameters to be saved for archiving, and also, if necessary, to get efficient distant support through the Internet from MEROBEL network of specialists.

Source: ThomasNet