CDC Automation goes digital with milling machine

Best Application Contest 2021-2022

Project objective

Staying relevant as an automation partner: it's not an easy task. CDC Automatisation from Roeselare resolutely opts for the flight ahead. One of their most recent achievements is a fully digitally designed three-axis milling machine. By using digital twin technology from Siemens, the team at CDC Automatisatie managed to drastically reduce engineering time.

Structure of the application

The milling machine itself includes three Sinamics S110 servo drives (one for each axis), a Simatic S7-1500 Safety PLC and Sinamics G120C frequency control. This compact and simple drive is fully integrated into the TIA Portal platform, making it easy to commission the drive with the Sinamics Startdrive engineering tool. Of particular note is the way it was created. "We designed the machine completely digitally using Siemens NX drawings," explains founder Christofe De Craene. "In doing so, we made optimal use of Siemens' Mechatronic Concept Designer, the Simit simulation platform and TIA Portal with Technology Objects."

The complete design and realization took about two months. Today, the installation is one of the first "digital twins" to also run in reality. "The unique thing about this machine is that it is all-round applicable," says Christofe. "Provided a few adjustments are made, with the experience gained, we can provide our customers with a future-oriented solution tailored to their needs."

Benefits of the application

The servo-drives enable interpolation from the PLC, and the frequency control ensures that the speed of the milling head can be accurately determined. For CDC, the project marked an important milestone in working with virtual twin technology. Christofe: "The biggest advantage is that you can spot errors immediately in the simulation, rather than having to go back to the drawing board each time. In addition, you can start programming right from the design table, resulting in a significantly shorter time to market."

More about CDC Automation

CDC Automatisation has specialized for many years in the programming of Siemens PLCs and drives in a wide range of sectors. The team - now 20 professionals strong - is responsible for both the programming of new machines and the maintenance and optimization of existing installations.