Semyx LLC out of Dalton, Ga., creates custom machines to meet the waterjet cutting needs for a variety of industries, from metal and stone to food and textiles. Semyx is the only OEM that designs large, custom waterjet cutting machines for companies around the world.
Semyx LLC out of Dalton, Ga., creates custom machines to meet the waterjet cutting needs for a variety of industries, from metal and stone to food and textiles. Semyx is the only OEM that designs large, customized waterjet cutting machines for companies around the world.
When Semyx looked into upgrading the wireless remote pendant on its waterjet cutting systems, there was a concern that they would not find a remote pendant with all the desired features. While reliability and ease of use were top requirements, the company wanted a remote pendant that could address customers’ safety issues and boost productivity. With goals to expand operations in other countries and continents, Semyx needed to find a company that could deliver products and services globally.
When the engineering team at Semyx looked at the Harmony XAR wireless remote pendant from Schneider Electric, the search was over. The Harmony XAR industrial wireless remote pendant is part of a range of devices designed for simple and safe operation in material handling applications.
The wireless remote pendant has a transmission frequency of 2.4 Hz, so it can be used in many countries and its housing is designed to handle harsh environments. To keep production going, the remote can run for 30 hours before it needs a recharge, and once the remote is plugged into the charger, it takes only 15 minutes to get back to full power. The panel and LCD display simplify operation for even a less experienced worker.
In an average 8-hour shift, an operator may go back and forth from the bevel to the control 30 to 40 times, which can be more than an hour just in walking. The wireless pendant cuts down this time by
50 to 75%.
Operators may be holding a remote pendant for hours at a time, so the ergonomic handle on the XAR remote gives Semyx operators a more comfortable grip, and they can operate with one hand using the thumb trigger. With other wireless remote pendants, operators need two hands to do the same work.
For operators running waterjets from a wired control station, it usually required back-and-forth eyeballing and adjusting from the opposite side of the table to get the cutting head in the right place. On larger equipment, that time for adjustments can add up. In an average 8-hour shift, an operator may go back and forth from the bevel to the control 30 to 40 times, which can be more than an hour just in walking. The wireless pendant cuts down this time by 50 to 75%.
With the wireless XAR remote pendant, an operator can move the cutting head in place from anywhere around the equipment, saving valuable uptime. In addition, the waterjet can be left to run while the operator works on two or three other machines across the room. An operator can even check diagnostics remotely on the pendant.
For additional safety, the XAR remote has a built-in e-stop in case of an emergency. If an operator is across the room and there’s a problem on the line, the e-stop button will shut down the machine immediately.
Schneider Electric
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Filed Under: ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL