Robust control in industrial roll-to-roll systems: New approaches using finite element modeling of the web

Roll-to-roll systems handling web material such as papers, polymers, textiles or metals are very common in the industry. Web handling systems are recently used to produce new technologies such as printed semi-conductors, thin solar panels, printed electronics, etc. In web handling systems, one of the main objectives is to reach a good accuracy of web tension and web speed. For the tuning of machineries, one-dimensional models are commonly used and they do not take into account several three-dimensional mechanical phenomena initiated by lateral components of the elastic web dynamics. It is necessary to develop new models in order to optimize roll-to-roll systems. This paper presents for the first time robust control applied to web dynamics modeled in 3D. Moreover, for the first time, 1D and 3D modeled roll-to-roll systems (including controllers) are compared.