Iván Hernández Dalas: NORD releases digital twin simulation platform for robotics developers

With digital twins for virtual commissioning, NORD supports its customers with the quicker availability of systems, even with complex drive systems.

With digital twins for virtual commissioning, NORD promises quicker availability of systems, even those with complex drives. | Source: NORD Drivesystems

NORD Drivesystems has announced that it now offers digital twins for system development. Based on a myNORD configuration, users can request individually created drive systems as simulation models.

The company said this allows engineers to verify whether the drive concept is suitable for a system early in the planning phase. Virtual commissioning can significantly reduce project time, even for complex systems, it claimed.

Since the publication of the functional mock-up interface (FMI) technical standard in 2010, it has become more and more common to work with simulation models in system planning. NORD Drivesystems also uses data-based simulations to develop its components and drive solutions.

The system provider is now using this know-how to help its customers achieve greater efficiency and availability of its drive systems, even in the planning phase, by offering a digital service. With digital twins of its drives, NORD enables virtual commissioning.

NORD produces a range of drives

With about 4,700 employees today, NORD Drivesystems has developed, produced, and sold drive technology since 1965. In addition to standard drives, the Bargteheide, Germany-based company delivers application-specific concepts and solutions for special requirements such as energy-saving drives or explosion-protected systems.

NORD also develops and produces a wide range of drives for more than 100 industries and gear units for torques from 10 Nm up to over 282 kNm. It also supplies electric motors in the power range of 0.12 kW to 1,000 kW, as well as the required power electronics with frequency inverters of up to 160 kW.

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Digital twins enable faster commissioning

Users are able to configure drive systems or components for their requirements via the myNORD customer portal. They can select components and their features, such as performance, mounting options, or outputs. Then, developers can request a simulation model for the fully configured drive system.

NORD developed the process in cooperation with Munich-based software company Machineering, which specializes in virtual commissioning.

The digital twins enable faster availability of the entire system, according to NORD. Its process inserts the models into a similarly simulated system. In this environment, the drive configurations can be extensively tested.

If users need adjustments, they can be easily implemented based on the data. Errors can be remedied in the early stages of development, avoiding potential damage. Only once the customer has validated the virtual drive system will NORD manufacture and deliver it.

Since the drives are already functionally integrated into the system control at this point, actual commissioning is possible in a very short time, said the company. It asserted that overall process, from configuration to commissioning, is reduced from several months to only a few weeks.

High-efficiency IE5+ motors are already available virtually. Virtual commissioning of drive systems is especially useful for any technically demanding solution, said NORD. Therefore, it focuses on components that play a decisive role in automating production processes.

The manufacturer is kicking off the virtual commissioning with its range of high-efficiency IE5+ and IE4 motors, along with the corresponding gear units and frequency inverters. Simulation models will then gradually become available for other NORD product areas as well.

The post NORD releases digital twin simulation platform for robotics developers appeared first on The Robot Report.



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