27-10-2022
Delta’s 4-workstation Li-ion Battery Stacking Machine Solution Facilitates Cell Production with High-performance Motion Controller
Electricity plays a significant role in our daily lives as do batteries. Batteries are used to store electrical energy and provide devices with backup power. Of the batteries used in our day-to-day activities, a lithium-ion battery, or Li-ion battery, is a rechargeable and secondary battery seen in products such as consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems.
Recently, a rapid growth in consumer electronics products and global electric vehicle markets has contributed to an increasing demand for Li-ion batteries. To upgrade productivity, manufacturers begin implementing automated machines, which has made the stacking machine a key piece of equipment for battery manufacturing. The machine begins by stacking prefabricated plates in the order of positive plate, separator, negative plate, separator, and then goes through the injection, formation, and grading process. The automated stacking machines have improved labor efficiency on the production line and have influenced battery safety and quality related issues such as separator tension fluctuation, low positioning precision, and longer cycle time.
To solve customer pain points and enhance production efficiency, Delta Industrial Automation has entered the Li-ion batteries market and launched its 4-workstation Li-ion Battery Stacking Machine Solution. Delta’s self-developed Z-stacking machine consists of left, middle, and right machines, with multiple workstations operating at the same time. Both left and right machines are equipped with grabbing and placing grippers and can start stacking separately on two workstations. Meanwhile, the separator is wound off for Z-stacking. After the process is completed, the cutter cuts off the separator, and the middle machine then labels and unloads the cells.
The 4-workstation Li-ion Battery Stacking Machine Solution integrates Delta’s industrial automation products for a fully integrated solution. With Delta’s Human Machine Interface DOP-100 Series and Unmanaged Switches DVS Series, operators can monitor the status and deliver data between left and right machines. On the control layer, the solution employs the compact and highly stable PC-Based Motion Controller AX-8 Series to control the AC Servo System ASDA-E3 Series and ASDA-A3-E Series for linear and rotary motion, achieving precise positioning and higher speed during the stacking procedure. The host controller AX-8 Series, with built-in CODESYS software platform and EtherCAT fieldbus, significantly shortens the program cycle for cost-efficiency.
Delta’s 4-workstation Li-ion Battery Stacking Machine Solution brings the following benefits:
- High integration for easy maintenance
Various stacking machine brands, models, and communication standards are occurring in the market. To help customers integrate different devices, Delta offers diverse industrial automation products, highly-stable solutions, and great customer service for easy and flexible machine maintenance.
- Stacking production CT optimization and productivity increase
The linear motor’s speed reaches more than 4m/s and the stacking production CT is around 1.6 seconds, which shortens stacking production CT, boosts battery productivity, and also enhances product competitiveness.
- Stable separator tension control to reduce fluctuation
The AX-8 Series provides an optimal algorithm for stable separator tension control and high-precision separator positioning under high-speed operation to increase battery quality and lifespan.
Delta’s 4-workstation Li-ion Battery Stacking Machine Solution provides comprehensive, cutting-edge industrial automation products and helps manufacturers reach high precision, quality, and production efficiency. The overall solution not only optimizes Li-ion battery production but also provides capable assistance in fulfilling smart manufacturing.