Rodix FC-200 Plus Series Guide

FC-200 & CFR-90 Plus Series
Control with Constant Feed Rate
Option
Fig. 2 The arrow shows the direction of vibration
which is at a right angle to the spring pack.
Warning: Avoid dropping the sensor before
installation. Dropping the sensor on a hard
surface could damage it and void the warranty.
© 2000, 2019 RODIX INC.
1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Vibratory feeders are inherently unstable and are
very susceptible to changes in part load and power
line voltage fluctuations. These changes can
cause part jams or very few parts to be fed to the
machine. The Constant Feed Rate feature
corrects for fluctuations in the vibratory feeder
speed by using a sensor attached to the feeder to
monitor the vibration level. The control then keeps
the vibratory feeder operating with a constant
amount of vibration and thus a constant part feed
rate.
When something has caused a large change in
vibration, an approximate feed rate is restored
almost immediately. Then, the preferred feed rate
can be fully restored within a couple seconds.
Small changes in vibration are usually corrected
without the operator even knowing that a change
has occurred.
The sensor design incorporates a 4-20mA style of
output to provide immunity to electrical noise.
2. INSTALLING THE SENSOR
Note: Failure to adequately prepare the
feeder’s surface properly may result in a
sensor that will not bond to the feeder. The
sensor will not be mounted until step C-6.
A. ORIENT THE SENSOR so that its sensitive
axis is in the same direction as the vibration of the
feeder. The double-ended arrow in figure 1 shows
the sensor’s sensitive axis. Align the sensitive axis
of the sensor in the same direction as the vibration
(see figure 2). The sensor must be oriented
correctly for proper operation.
B. CHOOSE A LOCATION for mounting the
sensor on the feeder that is smooth and that will
allow the adhesive on the sensor to bond. Avoid
mounting the sensor over ridges and bumps which
can reduce the ability of the adhesive to stick to
the feeder. The correct location will also have
enough space for the sensor’s cable to hang
straight down without touching anything else.
C. SURFACE PREPARATION of the feeder is
crucial for proper bonding between the sensor and
the feeder. Please follow these steps completely.
1) The feeder should be kept between 70 and
100 F for ideal tape application.
2) Clean a three and one-half inch circular area
with a solvent like isopropyl alcohol that will not
leave a residue. As a rule of thumb, the area
can be considered clean when after cleaning the
area with a solvent-saturated, white paper-towel,
the towel is as clean as it was before wiping.
3) Using a good amount of pressure, polish the
cleaned, circular area of the feeder using a
scratch pad or steel wool. Repeat step 2, and
then go to step 4.
4) Wipe the cleaned surface with an alcohol wipe
or with a 50/50 isopropyl alcohol/water
combination.
5) Air dry or dry the surface thoroughly using a low
lint cloth or a clean paper towel.
6) Remove the vibration sensor from its protective
packaging. Remove the liner from the adhesive
backing. Avoid touching the tape. Apply the
vibration sensor to the prepared area of the
feeder. Press the sensor very firmly onto the
feeder surface for at least 10 seconds.
7) Allow the vibration sensor at least 20 minutes to
cure before operation. Note: It takes 72 hours
for the adhesive to fully cure at 70 F.
Alternatively, #8 or M4 screws can be used to
mount the sensor to the feeder. The hole centers
are 1.375” apart.
D. ROUTE THE SENSOR CABLE to protect it
from strain due to vibration. The cable that
attaches to the sensor will not break from normal
vibration; however, some care should be used
when routing the wire from the sensor to the
control.
123-170 CFR 1-17-2019.doc 1/17/2019
RODIX INC.
FEEDER CUBE
FC-200 & CFR-90 Plus
OPTION P/N 123-170
INSTALLATION AND
OPERATION

P/N 123-170
Fig. 1
Actual Size
1.375
Sensitive
Axis of
Vibration

The cable should hang straight down from the
sensor without touching the feeder bowl or
anything else. The sensor cable should bend
towards the power control with a bend radius of 3
inches or greater. Use a tie-wrap mounting-base
to anchor the sensor’s cable to the machine base
(or a non-vibrating surface). See Figure 2.
E. CONNECT THE SENSOR to the control. The
sensor’s brown wire connects to +12VDC at TB2-
9. The blue wire connects to the signal input at
TB2-12.
3. TO LIMIT THE MAXIMUM
OUTPUT OF CFR-90 CONTROL:
The MAX Output trimpot must be adjusted to
keep the vibratory feeder from hammering
when the control is turned up to full power.
The feeder must not hammer regardless of
whether it is full of parts or empty. Generally, a
feeder is more prone to hammer when it is empty.
Please note: If the vibratory feeder shakes too
violently to properly feed parts or the feeder speed
oscillates or if the feed rate slows down above a
particular setting on the main control dial, then
adjust the MAX pot counter-clockwise (CCW) to
eliminate these conditions.
NOTE: Output to the feeder must be connected
and the control set for proper output frequency
(60 or 120 pulse) setting. The Run Contact
input must be closed and the Part Sensor must
be calling for parts.
A. Power input should be OFF or disconnected.
B. Open cover to allow access to printed circuit
card.
C. Using CAUTION, turn power ON (no output
should be present).
D. Rotate the MAIN CONTROL DIAL on front
cover slowly to its highest setting.
E. Adjust the MAX Output trimpot so that the
output to the feeder reaches its desired
maximum level.
To take full advantage of the Constant Feed Rate
control’s regulation, it is important not set the
normal operating feed rate to “10” on the dial;
otherwise, the output power cannot be boosted
above the MAX setting when the bowl slows down.
4. CONTROL OPERATION
To operate the control, simply turn ”ON” the control
and adjust the main control dial for the desired feed
rate. It will then automatically maintain that feed
rate until the power is removed from the control.
5. CFR-90 MAIN CONTROL DIAL
The feedback sensor automatically adjusts the
output of the control. After a period of time, the
number setting of the main control dial may no
longer represent the power out of the control
because the control may be regulating at a different
power level than is indicated by the main pot.
If it is desirable to know “where on the dial” you are
operating at, turn the dial to 0 or 10, and then
readjust it for the desired speed. This will reset any
feedback adjustments and reveal what is the real
“number on the dial”. Changing the MAX pot or the
60/120 switch will also reset the feedback
adjustments.
When the main control dial is readjusted 1/64 of a
turn or more, the control will automatically maintain
this setting for the new feed rate. The main control
dial may need to be re-adjusted whenever the
power has been turned back on. Note: there is a
two-second power-up delay before the sensor
circuit begins to regulate the control output.
6. LIMITING MAXIMUM POWER OF
FC-200 CONTROL
The maximum power (Max Pwr) setting can be
lowered to keep the operators from setting the
vibration higher than desired. The maximum
power setting can be found under the “Power
Settings” menu. It can be adjusted from 100.0%
down to 40.0%.
7. Application Tips
By nature vibratory feeder bowls are unstable. If
there are audible changes in the sound of the bowl,
this is normal. The feed rate should remain the
same; however, the changes in the sound of the
bowl indicate that the feedback circuit is correcting
for minor changes in the vibration level of the bowl.
The changes are due to a changing part load, stuck
parts, bunching up of parts, changes in back
pressure or a line voltage fluctuation.
The sensor can monitor up to 18g of vibration. To
determine if the vibration level for the sensor is too
close to 18g in your application, monitor the output
voltage of the sensor: TB2-12 is +, and TB2-4 is
common (-). When the feeder is at its maximum
feed rate, the voltage across these terminals should
be below the maximum voltage of 5.1VDC. If it is at
very near that level, rotate the sensor about 15
degrees so that it its sensitive axis receives less
then 18g of vibration. Typically mounting the sensor
vertically will put the sensor at a 15 angle from the
spring packs.
In rare instances the Rodix control may not
maintain a tight enough tolerance of the vibration. If
this is the case, the sensor should be repositioned
further away from the center of the vibratory feeder.
Ideally, the voltage across terminals TB2-12 and
TB2-4 should be 1.1VDC or higher when the feeder
is at its desired feed rate.
If the need arises to disable the feedback features
of this control, remove power from the control and
remove the sensor’s wiring.
WARNING:
Care should be exercised when handling the
sensor. Drops onto hard surfaces can cause
shocks of greater than 2000g and may exceed
the absolute maximum rating of the device.
RODIX, INC.
Toll Free [phone], FAX [phone]
E-mail [email protected]
rodix.com
123-170 CFR 1-17-2019.doc 1/17/2019
-
12
123-170
+
910
Bu or #2
11
TB2
Br or #1