Programmable digital winder drives

It is noted that fully programmable digital drives in winder applications lend the flexibility and accuracy required to implement a variety of control schemes, while providing interfacing and network capabilities to integrate the control with machine, operator, and maintenance functions. Control features designed to protect product quality can easily be programmed into the drive without complex hardware usage. Possible control algorithms include diameter calculations, taper tension, length or time remaining to transfer, and inertia compensation. Digital control eliminates errors due to component tolerances and drift, and reduces machine downtime required to return control parameters. Machine and drive control can be performed in a single controller, thus reducing the interface delays and improving the accuracy and speed of operations such as turret positioning, spindle transfer, and splice tracking. In a distributed control environment, programmable winder drives can integrate product roll handling with machine and process control.<>