All about adapting low cost hi-tech automation on shopfloor
By Bhalchandra Chorghade
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Gandhinagar, in association with CNCTimes, organised a three-day workshop on ‘Low Cost Hi-Tech Automation’ as part of its continuous education programme (CEP). In all 20 participants representing the industry took part in the workshop conducted by Prof N Ramakrishnan.
The workshop contained four modules of one-and-half hour per day over three days that included a mixture of theory as well as practical sessions. Two modules were held on each day in the pre-lunch and post-lunch sessions.
The modules included introduction to LCA & LCHA and its fields of application which contained mechanisation and automation, rigid and flexible automation, degree of automation, manufacturing cycles, productivity and favourable conditions for the automation. The second module consisted of technologies for LCHA such as mechanical, pneumatics, hydraulics, electrical, hybrid, etc with comparative merits and limitations.
While the third module had system synthesis using different technologies, the fourth module had illustrative examples of industrial applications. The fifth and sixth module consisted of case studies and mechanical lab respectively.
Sensors and actuators that included sensing physical parameters like temperature, pressure, distance, sound, actuation of motors, relays etc was part of seventh module the eighth and ninth module explained basics of micro-controllers--Arduino, hardware and software concepts, codes for interfacing LEDs, LCDs, keypads, motor and sensors. An electrical lab which built a mini project or robot formed 10th and 11th modules while the 12th module consisted of brainstorming and concluding session.
The participants were thrilled after completing the workshop and hailed both IIT, Gandhinagar as well as CNCTimes for conducting this session so as to throw light on the latest advancements in the automation technology.