Digitalization does not stop at drive technology. What we can perhaps still easily imagine for motors is already becoming more difficult for purely mechanical systems. But a digital transmission? Can that even work?
In the Vision 2028 of SPN Schwaben Präzision Fritz Hopf GmbH, the digital gearbox plays a central role. Stefan Hubel explains when it will become reality and where the advantages lie in the video interview (https://youtu.be/Caygc7HdOVs) or read it here:
Dirk Schaar: What can you imagine by a digital gearbox?
Stefan Hubel: A digital gearbox independently collects operating data within the machine and communicates it to the existing infrastructure or to clouds. Embedded sensors, the transmission of measurement data and central processing in a cloud can provide meaningful and usable insights into a process. We distinguish between three possibilities:
1. condition recording via various sensors, e.g. measurement and documentation of torques.
2. condition comparison to increase machine efficiency by determining specific limit values. Both possibilities are known as condition monitoring.
3. diagnosis with data analysis in various time intervals (e.g. prognosis of long-term behavior). Here we want to create the possibility of condition-oriented maintenance. The keyword here is predictive maintenance.
Dirk Schaar: How do we get from classic mechanics to digital solutions? What are the steps that need to be taken and ultimately implemented?
Stefan Hubel: A sensor module is integrated or slightly modified in an existing gearbox with the same installation space. In combination with our web service, the gearbox and process data are then analyzed with SPN know-how and fed back into development to determine and extract the maximum quality from the process. The steps we need to take to achieve this are the coordinated use of miniature sensors with the appropriate accuracy. There is a lot happening on the market right now - we are always trying to get the optimum between new technology and proven standard. The provision of suitable interfaces for our customers (or their end customers) is a matter of course. Here, too, we can realize individual customer wishes. The development of the infrastructure as well as clouds, limit definitions, evaluation systems or even dash boards is in full swing. The last step for this path are various prototype applications with customers and test setups in our own transmission test field.
Dirk Schaar: Where do you already see a concrete need for this today? And which applications and industries would be petitioned for it?
Stefan Hubel: At SPN, we have preconfigured three industry-independent scenarios. The digital gearbox with our SPN DriveSense Pro is designed for prototype applications and for very precise measurement data acquisition, e.g. torque and vibrations. It counts the operating hours, the determined load spectra and this is exactly what is important for the customized drives to completely identify the operating behavior of new equipment and to match critical design parameters.
The second is the SPN DriveSense Multi is for field tests with a large number of networked gearboxes to ensure even a large number of measurement points economic measurement data collection. This provides the optimum basis for avoiding unplanned downtimes and ensuring ideal process sequences.
For individual applications, the SPN DriveSense Smart is used to implement medium-term field tests at critical points as well as long-term machine monitoring.
Dirk Schaar: When can users expect the first truly digital gearbox from SPN?
Stefan Hubel: We are already implementing digital gearboxes with various partners for customer-specific requirements for which it makes technical and economic sense. Various sensors are already installed in these applications and the data is stored via cloud. We as SPN and the customer can view their production processes at any time from any PC or smartphone or quickly and clearly check the dashboard whether all limits are met. Furthermore, the plan is to further test and release the rapidly advancing technologies and techniques with extensive field tests. The development of the necessary infrastructure and further pilot gearboxes is already in full swing.
