Mitsubishi Electric Corporationannounced that on April 28 it will launch the "MELSOFT Gemini" 3D
simulator, which will expedite the design and construction of production facilities by using digital space to simulate and verify envisioned production operations in a 3-dimentional environment. By connecting to a variety of software and factory devices, MELSOFT Gemini will visualize, simulate, and help streamline manufacturing work processes ranging from design of production facilities to operation and maintenance.
Features include as follows:
1) 3D Digitalization of Production Facilities for Easy Verification
MELSOFT Gemini simulates the operation and control of production lines and equipment using a PC-based 3D digital space, so that digital verification can be made to support the fast and simplified launch of actual equipment and lines later on. MELSOFT Gemini connects to MELSOFT simulators, which are available separately as part of the "MELSOFT iQ Works" software package, to simulate the control of devices, such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and motion controllers (Servos). During the verification process, facility engineers can check the status of the planned production facility by looking at the PLC sequence program, reviewing displays of operational waveforms and/or video data when an error is found.
MELSOFT Gemini directly connects to the MELSOFT simulator and factory devices without having to go through an OPC server, enabling 3D data to be updated in digital spaces approximately 12 times faster than OPC environments, according to Mitsubishi Electric. Detailed checks for possible operational interference can also reduce the need to rework processes as well as helping to improve quality.
In the operation and maintenance phases, the causes of abnormal occurrences in the production line can be determined quickly using visual data, which is provided to line operators through MELSOFT Gemini.
2) Diverse Hardware Menu as well as Graphical and Statistical Functionality for Extensive Analysis
The supported hardware menu (e-catalog), offers hardware selection from approximately 2,500 types of diverse production equipment, including robots, conveyors, processing machines and more, which can be combined in a simulated 3D production facility via easy drag & drop operation. Also, various parameters can be easily set on the 3D screen to adjust the layout of the production line.
Line, area, bar, and circle graphs can be used to visualize and analyze simulation data on different operating rates of production, thereby supporting the design of extra-efficient production lines. Equipment operating status, production task duration, worker wait time, etc. can also be statistically quantified and displayed with graphs to identify different production yields and operating rates, enabling lines to be designed and upgraded with efficiency.