Bimba PCS Rod Lock - Manual

Thanks for demonstrating the Bimba pneumatic positioning control products!
Use these instructions to demonstrate PFC operation, adjustment, set-up, and capabilities. The cylinder has a rod
lock; instructions are provided to demonstrate its operation. We have also included instructions for integrating
the rod lock into an application.
The demo unit has been fully tested, and is performing well. All components are new, made to the latest revision. The
PFC has a rod insulator, typical of our latest design.
If on occasion you should find that the demo is not operating as it should, consider the following:
1.
Air pressure should be 70-80 PSI. Lower air pressures may produce erratic operation.
2. If there is noise on the AC power applied to the electronics, the noise will be superimposed on the DC power
supplied to the PFC. Most of the time this will not be an issue. For the occasions where it is an issue, an AC
line filter will solve the problem
line filter will solve the problem.
3. High amounts of ambient EMI may also cause erratic operation. Select an environment for your
demonstration away from potential sources of EMI, such as fluorescent lights, switching power supplies,
power lines, and electric motors.
To ensure top performance in field applications, always ask your customers:
Is the air clean? Are you using filters and desiccant driers? Are there contaminants in the environment? The
PFC is designed to operate using clean, dry, non-lubricated air. Enemies of the PFC are moisture, dirt, and
lubricants, especially silicon. Conductive inks silk screened onto the probe are eroded quickly when water or
contaminants condense onto the probe. In moist or dirty environments, filters and desiccant driers must be
used, and failure in these applications is a result of improper air prep, not defects in workmanship or
materials.
Is your PCS control connected properly? Fittings should be air tight, not cracked or leaking, sealed with Teflon
tape. Avoid small diameter air hoses; they reduce force. Avoid long lengths of hose between the PCS valve
ports and the PFC; long lengths slow response. All electrical connections, especially the control voltage to the
PCS
d th f db k i l f th PFC t b hi ld d I d t hi ldi lt i ti PCS and the feedback signal from the PFC, must be shielded. Inadequate shielding results in erratic
response. The simplest way to ensure adequate shielding and circumvent EMI interference problems
is to order a PCS control with the Q option and companion shielded cables. Power supplied to the PCS
should be clean.
Is your PCS control adjusted properly? Erratic operation is often caused by improper adjustment of the PCS
control. For smoother operation, increase the deadband and decel settings. If the control is set up under no
load and a load is applied, the deadband and decel may need to be increased. Trying to stop the load TOO
SUDDENLY will result in overshoot which will cause a correcting position signal to be applied which will
SUDDENLY will result in overshoot, which will cause a correcting position signal to be applied, which will
cause overshoot, and so on. The piston will buzz for a while back and forth before settling into position. The
adjustments on the PCS circuit board are via multi-(many)-turn pots. The pots do not have hard stops, so
they can be turned dozens of times; users sometimes lose track of what they are doing, and keep turning
them. To fix this problem, just follow the adjustment procedure in the enclosed instructions.
Have you specified the low friction option? For accurate positioning, always specify the low friction option. If the
customer complains about rough operation and the cylinder being used is not low friction, a low friction option
will help a lot.
What is your air pressure? At 70-80 psi, the PCS control and PFC cylinder operate normally. At low pressures,
operation will be rough and erratic.
Are you using flow controls? If flow controls are installed in the cylinder ports, erratic operation may result.