Feature

Data capture solution for the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre

Argenta has delivered a paperless shop floor management solution to the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC). The solution used Argenta's expertise in implementing LabVIEW for data capture and in developing bespoke software.

18/12/2018 16:03:42

"We chose Argenta following an open tender because nobody else was able to demonstrate that they could meet our requirement to capture and store sensor data directly from the shop floor," said Jon Stammers, Technical Fellow at the AMRC. "It is challenging to integrate the various systems in a manufacturing environment, but Argenta had valuable experience working in similar environments."

The new solution provides a single centralised document repository, based on the Windchill product lifecycle management software. All the research and machining information is now available in one place for any queries arising. Being able to access the repository digitally from the shop floor ensures that operators are always using the latest version of the programs that will run on the machine, and the latest version of the associated experiment documentation.

LabVIEW is used to capture data from the machines directly and store it in a SQL database. By capturing sensor data from the machines, the AMRC can analyse excessive vibration and any occurrence of chatter, so it can refine future programs run on the machines. It can also capture data about machine usage to understand and demonstrate utilisation rates. Argenta created a visual reporting solution that makes it easy for the AMRC to analyse real-time and historical sensor data.

Read the full article in the January issue of DPA

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.