Implementation of a PLC and HMI-Based Control System on a Prototype of Portable Plastic Injection Machine

Abstract

The portable plastic injection machine is one of the technological innovations in plastic production, adapted from industrial-scale injection molding machines to support laboratory-scale production or learning programs. Previous research has produced a prototype of a horizontal-type portable plastic injection machine with dimensions of 672.5×308×308 mm and a weight of 19.12 kg. However, the machine still has several issues. One of the main issues is the control system, which is based on a microcontroller and considered less reliable for long term automated operation. Additionally, the lack of operational efficiency is due to the absence of a clamping distance adjustment function, which currently can only be modified by changing the arduino program. The control system was improved by replacing the microcontroller-based system with a PLC-based system and adding several necessary functions. The development process included a study of the existing control system, followed by programming planning, component assembly, and software programming. After programming, the improved systems were tested. The test results show that switching to a PLC and HMI-based control system makes machine operation easier and more efficient. Additionally, the electrical system of the machine becomes simpler compared to the previous microcontroller-based control system.

Keywords: Plastic Injection Machine, Control System, PLC, HMI