With the help of a device with a lococube mini PLC at its heart, they ensure that the desired quantity of each cartridge content, whether adhesive or leveling compound, lands in the right place.

We all know how difficult it is to empty a cartridge precisely and evenly. It's like a tube of toothpaste, from which too much or too little always ends up on the brush. It is even more precarious when using glue. The cartridge seems to empty itself at light pressure and everything is quickly firmly bonded, but the desired area is still completely uncovered. The latest RS PRO Industrial Maker Project provides a remedy here.

It is a dosing unit into which any standard 310 ml cartridge can be inserted. The unit consists of a steel cylinder into which the cartridge is inserted. Then all you have to do is screw the cylinder shut and press the release button and the dispenser dispenses the contents for a predetermined time to distribute it in the desired location. This is all done by air pressure that builds up in the cylinder and pushes a certain amount of material through the dispensing nozzle. After the time has elapsed, a valve vents the cylinder and dispensing stops.

The dispensed quantity is determined by recording the dispensing time. As the flow rate depends on many factors such as nozzle diameter, viscosity and temperature, the user can teach the device each time the tube is changed. The device saves the teach time and uses it for every subsequent dispensing.

The dispenser was designed to be easy to rebuild. Standard aluminum profiles enable height adjustment and a commercially available metal cylinder is used. Four parts come from the 3D printer. A lococube STG-800 mini-PLC and the matching DMA-15 Human to Machine Interface (HMI) make it all teachable. The complete assembly instructions, a parts list and an explanatory video can be found on DesignSpark on the Internet.

The RS PRO Industrial Maker Projects are about taking up the spontaneity inherent in the maker scene in the optimization of existing solutions and transferring them to the field of industrial applications. The projects are intended to invite imitation and are made public via the award-winning RS developer community DesignSpark. There are basically two different types of projects. The first category involves professional solutions that are clearly tailored to the needs of industrial users. In the second type of project, on the other hand, the fun factor is not neglected.

Barth Elektronik has specialized in the development and manufacture of its innovative lococube mini-PLC since it was founded in 1993. RS Components has been distributing these for several years and has contributed significantly to the expansion of its market share. The mini PLCs are characterized by their small size and robust design. As they can be battery-powered, they can be used to control applications such as stand-alone machines or mobile systems. They can also be integrated directly into machines. This also means advantages due to reduced cabling requirements.

"The dispenser is a very good example of the special possibilities that a mini PLC opens up. A mobile solution suitable for everyday use is created with just a few parts," says Daniel Barth, CEO of Barth Elektronik.