One Solution for Reducing Misoperations! Application Case of Thermal Cameras in Safety Protections for Processing Lathes

In the manufacturing industry, machining is implemented on components. The tools include the cutting machine and roller machine. During the machining, equipment operators manually put component materials into the machine. The hands are close to the area for machining, and the machines cannot automatically determine to start or stop running. If there is any misoperation, the operators will be injured. The thermal cameras measure the temperature difference between the processed components and the human body, to determine the position of the materials during operations of the operators. If the materials and the hands of the operators are not in safe positions, the system triggers alarms and automatically stops the processing device, ensuring the personnel's safety.


One Solution for Reducing Misoperations


I.Defects of Traditional Methods

External detecting devices need to be installed for various types of devices for component processing, in order to identify the components and operators' hands and automatically control the component processing device, providing safe protection. In traditional raster-based detection methods, the raster devices cannot tell operators' bodies from components, and all objects will have an impact on the raster device. Therefore, such methods cannot provide effective protection.

II.Unique Advantages of the Thermal Cameras in Safety Protections for Processing Lathes

1.Thermal cameras can correctly identify the different temperatures of the processed components and human bodies. When the hands of an operator are close to the processing area, the processing devices are automatically stopped

2.Alarms will not be accidentally reported for power off when normal components enter the alarm zone, improving the working efficiency and enterprise profits

3.On the software, points, lines, and areas can be configured, facilitating the adjustment of the alarm zone for different processing devices

4.The alarm output is implemented through I/O, and cameras are connected to external controllers. In this way, the processing device can be powered off, and alarms can be reported promptly for immediate handling


 Application Case of Thermal Cameras in Safety


III.Main Applications of Thermal Cameras in Safety Protections for Processing Lathes

1.Thermal cameras are installed in the front and back of the processing device, and the PLC control system is also installed. Thermal cameras receive the infrared rays reflected from objects and convert them into temperature data. In this way, the temperature difference of the onsite environment (constant room temperature), processed components (lower temperature), and human bodies (higher temperature).

2.The thermal cameras offer real-time temperature data of an object. They can effectively tell the positions of components and operators. On the professional background software, the safe alarm position can be configured for thermal cameras based on the processing device type, and temperature measurement lines and temperature measurement areas can be specified for the safety alarm positions. Alarm temperature is configured for the temperature measurement area. When operators mistakenly put their hands in the temperature measurement area, alarms will be triggered and the processing device that is connected to the control system will be automatically powered off. 


Application Case of Thermal Cameras in Safety Protections for Processing Lathes