Technology
ControlByWeb
Industry
Aviation and Aerospace
Client
D-J Engineering
Country
Augusta, USA
Goals
- Enhance HVAC control across campuses by implementing ControlByWeb devices for all 100+ AC units
- Monitor and maintain the temperature of a mylar room containing critical engineering prints
- Improve operations and machinery efficiency by integrating ControlByWeb modules for equipment monitoring and data logging
Challenges
- Ensuring precise temperature control in the mylar room to preserve theintegrity of engineering sheets over time
- Addressing issues with non-ControlByWeb devices that have difficulties integrating with Ignition SCADA software
Solutions
- Implement ControlByWeb devices for HVAC control, leveraging on-board logic and seamless integration with Ignition SCADA
- Use ControlByWeb modules for temperature monitoring in critical environments, such as the mylar room, with data logging and alert generation
- Extend the use of ControlByWeb devices to monitor and optimize various machinery operations, ensuring data accuracy and cost savings
Results
- Successful control of AC units using X-410 with on-board logic, preventing fast cycling & allowing for real-time monitoring via Ignition SCADA software
- Temperature monitoring in the mylar room with dual sensors, generating alerts and logging data to ensure environmental compliance
- Improved efficiency in machinery operations, including the water jet cooling system, with added temperature sensors and IFM flow meters
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D-J Engineering serves the aerospace industries, providing high-caliber engineering and manufacturing for even the most complex projects at low production runs. In charge of industrial control and ever-expanding special projects at D-J Engineering is Technical Analyst Tarka Ellips. Before she started, the company was using Ignition SCADA software to monitor temperatures across a variety of machines. “Some of these devices that aren't [ControlByWeb] devices have issues connecting with [Ignition], but your devices are green all across the board” |
| HVAC Control D-J Engineering uses our X͈410 to control several AC units, and the end goal is to use ControlByWeb devices to control all 100+ units across their campuses. The X-410's on-board logic controls the unit while data from the output relays and connected temperature sensors is shared with Ignition SCADA which tracks and controls cooling, heating, and fan status, and tracks temperature via readout. Another priority is the mylar room. D͈J Engineering keeps engineering plans printed on mylar, a durable polyester film, in a temperature-controlled room. There are two sensors monitoring the temperature placed in opposite corners of the room. The two sensors generate temperature readings and, if the average of the two goes above the temperature threshold, a notice is sent out which is generated from an Ignition alarm pipeline |
| Operations and Machinery The company experienced an issue where their water jet cutting machine's cooling system was constantly running. It already had a temperature monitor, but there was no shutoff control or way to log data from it. Tarka installed temperature sensors and IFM flow meters which send a 4͈20 mA signal to a ControlByWeb module. This allows her to see if the cooling system is running while also giving temperature values. Like their HVAC applications, all this data surrounding the water jet is logged in Ignition to an SQL Database. The company is now able to produce reports that show cost savings for the machinery. |
| Future Applications Impressed by ControlByWeb's device reliability, and flexibility, D͈J Engineering has plans to incorporate our modules and sensors in more applications down the road. They're in the process of adding additional ultrasonic sensors to monitor tank and coolant levels of the water jet. Door sensors have already been added at one location, to send alerts for when a freezer door has been accidentally left open and implementing them at other facilities is on the horizon as well. There's also talk of utilizing ControlByWeb devices for lighting, garage doors, and airflow. It all comes down to the quality of our products and the support team that stand behind them. |
| Common Problems | Solutions |
| Compatibility headaches - Some devices don't work as well outside of their own ecosystem | Seamless integration- Our modules work just as well in other software as they do using on-board logic |
| Too expensive or unreliable - Low cost monitoring and control is often unreliable, costing more to maintain | Low cost and reliable - Affordability without sacrificing quality, justifying monitoring in more places |
| Limited use cases - Devices that are purpose-built often have narrow applications | Limitless potential - Monitor and control anything, anywhere͈ your only limit is your imagination |