Injection molding machinery manufacturers test new digital interface

FRANKFURT, Germany—Manufacturers of injection molding machines and robots met at Baumuller in Nuremberg for a so-called "plugfest" to test the new digital interface OPC 40079.

The focus of the meeting, which took place April 5-6, was on connecting devices from different manufacturers with each other, according to a Euromap press release.

Euromap reported that, while at the "plugfest," the specification still had weaknesses. The association noted that OPC 40079 is currently published as a draft—and the first to standardize communication between machines based on OPC UA publish-subscribe technology.

In contrast to client-server communication, which has already been tested in several specifications for different types of machines, publish-subscribe provides a real-time capable technology, it further pointed out.

"This is needed to ensure safe interaction between the machines so that, among other things, collisions are reliably prevented even during fast movements," the industry body said.

Experience gained during this month's meeting will be incorporated into the further development of the standard, with the final version expected to be published later this year.

"Even if the rubber machine manufacturers are not actively involved (in the testing exercise), the standard will also be usable by them," Harald Weber, technical commission at Euromap and VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery, informed European Rubber Journal.