Hermle is based in Gosheim. The town on the highest point of the Swabian Alb is traditionally a center of the metalworking industry. More than 26,000 Hermle machines are successfully installed all over the world. The machining centers are used to manufacture large and complex components as well as small components in the high-tech sector. The industries in which the machining centers from Baden-Württemberg are used for milling are broadly diversified - from medical technology to classic tool and mould making to aerospace technology.

Hermle's customers can choose the machining center that best meets their requirements from a range of different machining centers. The individual machines, in turn, are built according to a modular principle. This means that they can be fully customized to the customer's requirements. A few examples: Milling spindles with different speeds and tool holders, tool magazine extensions for up to more than 500 magazine positions or a comprehensive modular system for workpiece automation, which - if required - can be adapted to customer specifications by the subsidiary HLS (Hermle-Leibinger Systemtechnik).

Hermle uses the modular Cube67 IO system from Murrelektronik for the electrical installation of the machines. The individual modules are compact, robust and fully encapsulated. They are mounted directly on the machine, without terminal boxes and control cabinets. A bus node forms the connection to the higher-level fieldbus system. At the same time, it is the starting point of the installation, which extends into the machining center over several lines with long lengths.

The Cube67 modules are installed in the immediate vicinity of the process. © Murrelektronik

The compact Cube67-IO modules are installed in the immediate vicinity of the process. They are used to connect the sensors and actuators of the Hermle systems with the shortest possible M12 connection cables. The modules are connected to each other with a system cable. It is easy to recognize by the green sheath color. It can be "looped on" from one module to the next. The cable transmits both data and power. This makes the installation lean and requires little space for cable routing.

Machine Option Management
The selection options allow Hermle customers to design their machines flexibly. Because the Cube67 system offers the option of Machine Option Management (MOM), Hermle can still proceed in a standardized manner during commissioning. With MOM, the hardware and software of the machining centers is configured virtually on the basis of a standardized full configuration. During commissioning, the machines are then configured according to their equipment. It is often the case that parts of the accessories are not even assembled in Gosheim, but only at the customer's premises.

One example of this is coolant systems, which are often transported directly from the supplier to the end user. "In order to be able to put the machine into operation anyway, the commissioning department has additional test equipment. This allows them to simulate the final configuration," says Hans-Peter Marquart, Head of Electrical Design at Hermle. This means that the company can always commission the machines in the configuration that will later be used by the operator. Individual options can be "switched on and off" as required.

The configuration of the machine is very quick with this approach - and because it contains only tested components, the process reliability is also high. Hans-Peter Marquart explains why this is important: "We deliver our machines all over the world, for example to South America or China." Commissioning there is therefore based on the plug-and-play principle - quickly and without any risk of programming errors. The major benefit of MOM for Hermle is that it is not necessary to maintain and customize separate software for each machine; instead, only the standard software needs to be kept up to date.

The modules are connected to each other with a system cable and can be "looped on" from one module to the next. © Murrelektronik

Multifunctional ports
Another advantage for Hermle is the multifunctionality of the M12 slots of the Cube67 modules. For each PIN 2 and PIN 4, it is possible to define whether it is to be used as an input or an output. This opens up a great deal of design freedom. For example, there are areas in the installation where mainly sensors are housed, but also an output. At another point in the machining center, it may be the other way around. Without multifunctional ports, two modules would have to be placed in each of these areas, an expensive and time-consuming solution. With Cube67, one module is integrated at a time and the ports are set accordingly. This is also a great advantage for installation and commissioning, as fewer modules are required, saving space and installation effort. Ultimately, this also benefits purchasing, as the costs are lower.

In addition to the various "standard modules", Hermle also uses function modules. An encoder module is used to measure the flow rate of the pallet system's hydraulics. It counts the pulses "on site" and transmits the process value to the control system. There it is further calculated and evaluated.

End customers also benefit from using the Cube67 system. This is because it offers diagnostic options right down to the individual channel. Together with its control manufacturers, Hermle has developed masks that visualize the diagnostic data. This enables the end customer to recognize immediately if an error occurs at any point in the machining center. Troubleshooting can therefore be carried out in a short period of time - resulting in higher machine availability and therefore greater cost-effectiveness. as