Hello everyone!

In today's tutorial, I will show you how to design a a speed and position control for drill press mechanism.Also, I will be focusing on how to use one-way flow control valve as position and speed control for our pneumatic actuator. So, let’s start with the materials and software that we will be using in this topic.

Materials

Double-acting cylinder
3/2 way DCV, NC, PB actuated, spring-loaded
3/2 way DCV, NC, roller actuated, spring loaded
5/2 way DCV, double air piloted
One way flow control valve
Air supply unit

#Software

FluidSim Pneumatic

Objective

At the end of the tutorial, you would be able to simulate, using FluidSim Pneumatic, a fully functional design for a speed and position control for drill press mechanism...

Discussion

Pneumatic control can be implemented using contact and contactless sensors. Sensors can be actuated manually, mechanically or by #electrical means using solenoids. In this activity you will use a roller limit switch (#mechanical actuation) to control the retraction speed of the flow control valves. This set-up ccan be applied to drill press.

image source

Scenario

A double-acting cylinder is to extend when the pushbutton (sensor) is pressed and retracts when the limit switch (full travel of the cylinder) is reach. The extension speed is to be slow and adjustable via a one way control valve.

If you want to have a #preview of what i am to discuss here in this FluidSim #tutorial , feel free to watch the result of the simulation beforehand.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Open FluidSim

To open FluidSIm pneumatic, simply locate at your desktop shortcut icon of the software, or go to the start menu and select the FluidSim Pneumatic.

Step 2: Create a NEW Project

Locate FILE on the menu bar, and a drop-down option appears. Select NEW or you can directly use shortcut key CRTL + N.



Then, a new project workplace appears. (the same as the picture shown below.)

Step 3: Select the Materials to be used

To select the materials to be used, you click the symbol of material as indicated in the left pane in the worksheet. After clicking the material, you simply drag it to the new project workplace. Do it until you selected all the necessary listed materials. And, arrange the materials according to the picture shown below.

Step 3: Configure and connect

To rotate the one-way control valve, right click the "one way control valve". Follow the steps indicated in the figure below:

To configure the 5/2 way DCV, follow the steps as shown below:







To configure the 3/2 way DCV, first, you need to double click the 3/2 way DCV, and proceed to the step as shown:











Connect the components by click, hold and drag from one terminal point to the other terminal point. Complete all connection as indicated below:

Step 4: Configure air supply and exhaust point

To connect the pneumatic to air supply, select from the component pane "compressed air" then drag to the worksheet. Connect it to all terminal no. 1, as shown.

TO configure exhaust point, double click terminal, do these for all terminal no. 3 and 5, as shown.

This should be the complete circuit to be simulated at 100% flow.

Step 5: Configure distance ruler and limit switch

Follow the procedure as shown in figure. To start, drag the distance ruller from the component pane to the worksheet. Place it above the double-acting cylinder.

Step 5: Simulation at 100% flow

Click the play button to simulate the pneumatic #circuit.

Discussion: in this section of the #tutorial, I will show first a manually-positioned double-acting cylinder. The cylinder extend when the pushbutton (sensor )is pressed.

Before PB pressed


After PB pressed


** PB unpressed**

Step 6: #Simulation at 50% #flow, 50% retraction

configure the one way flow control valve to 50% opening.

Configure limit distance from the distance ruler. The limit point is set to control the actual expansion of the piston of our pneumatic cylinders.

Reconfigure actuation for 3/2 way DCV, PB actuated by including spring-returned.

Step 7: RUN #Simulation at 50% #flow, 50% retraction

Follow the video in running the #simulation. This is the actual video of the simulation.

Step 8: Saving the project

Follow the steps indicated in the snapshot inorder to save the project as "Speed control". However you may choose your own filename of the project

Thank you everyone for dropping by at this tutorials. See you next time for more FluidSim and engineering tutorials!

Redefining possibilities,

@juecoree

References:

1. One way Control valve module
2. Festo Pneumatic Basic Level
3. Festo Pneumatic Advance Level

Video and Image Source:

The video and image that being used in this tutorial is captured, recorded and taken by @juecoree. The Youtube video is upload from my YouTube account.