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New Software Improves Machine Uptime and Cost of Ownership

Oct. 8, 2010

Bosch Rexroth’s new IndraDrive Productivity Agent takes machine performance monitoring to a new level, creating a host of productivity, uptime and cost benefits.

The product, a software addition to Rexroth’s industry-leading IndraDrive intelligent drive platform, uses intelligent IndraDrive units as sensors monitoring the status of axis mechanics. The software analyzes that information based on the drive-integrated motion logic and translates it into actionable information.

Productivity Agent is a powerful tool designed to enhance the performance of a wide range of automation applications including food & packaging systems, machine tools, plastics, material handling & logistics systems, semiconductor and micro machining.

With the Productivity Agent, machine operators can:

Reduce or eliminate costly failures or shutdowns
Maintain equipment as mechanical conditions warrant, not by an arbitrary schedule.
Save cost by eliminating unnecessary maintenance
Ensure that the dynamics and precision of their axes are maximized, reducing wear and cutting the cost of ownership
Get advance warning of wear-related damage, without additional hardware
Improve quality, quantity and performance of their end products
Lower energy consumption by running equipment at optimum performance

If the defined tolerance thresholds are exceeded, the Productivity Agent immediately notifies the user of wear before problems occur or the machine fails. Users can set the tolerance thresholds and sensitivity themselves, based on their specific application and experience with the machine. Retrofitting is also possible as a software option.

The software-based Productivity Agent also incorporates an active vibration damping and counteracting function in addition to the diagnostics, so users can address other mechanical issues in a targeted manner and improve the machine’s overall performance.

"The IndraDrive Productivity Agent takes standard preventive maintenance and improves it significantly," says Bosch Rexroth’s Vice President of Technology Scott Hibbard. "It turns our intelligent drive architecture into a productivity-enhancing watchdog that’s on the job 24/7/365."

For more information, visit www.boschrexroth-us.com/BRC