How sensor screws detect loads on machines

Challenge: avoid machine failure

When it comes to presses, rollers, machining centres and other machinery, damage often has serious financial consequences for businesses. Cost drivers in such an instance include not just direct material and personnel costs for replacement parts or repairs, but also operational delays due to reduced production capacities. Downtime for bottleneck systems even threatens full-blown business interruptions in the worst-case scenario. In addition, high claim ratios can then lead to increasing premiums for the associated insurance policies. ‘Often, machine damage is incurred by a business which the systems are not designed to handle, like constant excessive peak loads, extreme load changes or off-centre loads,’ explains Manuel Zimmermann, Beyond Insurance Manager at Funk.

Smooth process management or improved tool designs can somewhat reduce mechanical loads – but this approach can often not be implemented in practice. The reason: there is frequently no or not enough precise information on the real loads on the machine. Moreover, data analysis in many practical applications is so complicated that there is no analysis capability in the day-to-day running of the business.

Solution: detect loads with sensors

Funk Beyond Insurance partner ConSenses has collaborated with different machine manufacturers, press operators and tool engineers to develop a suitable range of sensors. The patented sensor screws can be used to quickly and precisely detect mechanical loads on production systems, such as presses, forging hammers or rolling mills. These sensors look like conventional machine screws with a plug-in connection in the head and meet established screw standards in terms of their design and load-bearing capability. As conventional as they seem on the outside, however, on the inside they have special sensors integrated, which are constantly detecting data. The data is analysed efficiently using in-house developed evaluation devices and control components. 

‘Since the sensor screws act as a connecting element, force signals can be read much more accurately than in, say, a solution using frame sensors,’ explains Dr Alexander Skorna, Head of Business Development at Funk. When the screw sensors are used in combination with special acceleration or reference sensors, relevant load parameters can be detected directly on the machine or even on or in the tool itself. Already existing information from controllers and IT systems is read in as needed via individual interfaces and the measured values from the sensor screws are automatically assigned. As a result, the course of loads for the individual working steps of the machine can be intelligently and precisely analysed over time. 

Benefit: risk management meets process optimisation

Using the ConSenses solution, peak loads on technical production systems can be identified and reduced in a targeted way. This approach reduces the likelihood of machine damage, as load-intensive processes or parameters can be adjusted in due course. There are different financial and insurance-related benefits to this: for one, the high costs of system damage can be avoided through comparably cost-effective maintenance that anticipates problems before they occur, an approach known as predictive maintenance.

On the other hand, this approach produces direct touchpoints with Technical Property insurance, as the likelihood of cost-intensive major claims can be reduced. The recorded data can also be used perspectively as a basis for innovative parametric insurance solutions.

The installed sensors from Beyond Insurance partner ConSenses can even play a special role in the context of business interruption or loss of earnings insurance. After all, from a business and operational perspective, preventing business interruptions arising from machine downtime is often even more crucial than the damage to the property itself.

In addition to the scenario of just pure damage prevention, the technology also offers the potential to optimise processes, while simultaneously providing benefits to manufacturers of technical production systems such as presses or rolling mills. Currently manufacturers employ a mix of experience, calculations, assumptions and simulations to design their products and sell them to customers, without receiving any feedback after the fact besides the information received in the usual course of the aftersales processes. As Manuel Zimmermann says, ‘Datasets from installed ConSenses sensors give machine manufacturers direct insight into the practical use of their products. This can be used as a basis for optimising the systems and even be incorporated in the design of the systems with a view to how they will operate later.’ Machine manufacturers are increasingly adding operator models (‘pay-per-use’ or ‘as-a-service’ models) to their range of services. The load data from the sensor screws can be used to integrate availability guarantees for such business models with calculable residual risk into guarantee insurance policies.

Project progress: analysis based on individual need

The ConSenses technology is used in different setups:

• as a system on loan for screening critical systems or tools in the course of a project
• as an ‘edge device’ – a transmitter for data packets – when digitising existing and new systems
• as a protective against overloads in miniaturised systems

The typical course of a project is strongly based on the planned scope. ConSenses usually works in one of three types of project, which always involve an initial meeting, support during running operation and follow-up. 

1. One-day measurement

A typical question here would be, for example, why do screws keep breaking in a forging tool? With a specific problem like this, ConSenses sets the objective in advance within a few days. After continuing exchange of information about the mechanical structure, the data to be recorded and the expected measured values, the necessary hardware is defined and integrated on site at the client’s premises within 20 minutes. 

2. Measurement campaign alongside production

Problems such as unexpected cracks in machines take longer, as the systems are analysed during normal operation. In this case, for example, suitable hardware in the form of adapters is loaned to the customer for several weeks. ConSenses can then help conduct the measurements remotely via WiFi or UMTS and deliver regular status reports.

3. Small to large IoT installation 

Where permanent monitoring and analysis are desired, ConSenses and the Funk Beyond Insurance team work together with their clients to implement entire IoT installations.

For example, a standard package for monitoring pressing force was developed, comprising the following components:

• Con-rod sensors
• Solution for moved cables
• Charging amplifier with peak value memory
• Accelerometer

In larger IoT installations, the values are not just processed in the machine controls; an additional system for data processing is implemented on the machine. This system transmits the data to corresponding software for analysis. This way, a connection to the client’s existing IT infrastructure can be realised.

Suitable for: businesses with industrial production systems

ConSenses delivers quality data from technical systems for all industries. The aim of measurement technology is to create a balanced industrial production system. ConSenses has extensive experience and particular expertise in the area of presses and rollers and can offer systems for these directly. This expertise can also be transferred to other systems, however, such as flat rollers, rotary swaging, milling or turning. The Funk Beyond Insurance team is happy to help answer your initial queries.

More information about the ConSenses measurement system can be found in this video: