Category: Manufacturing

How To Manage Equipment Obsolescence

No one wants expensive unplanned downtime. Here are key steps to avoid it when dealing with obsolete technology.

close up of a toothed gear system. Such systems may be affected by equipment obsolescence.
No one wants downtime because of equipment obsolescence. Keep those gears turning.

Unplanned downtime due to equipment obsolescence.  

It’s a dirty subject no one wants to talk about. And for good reason.  A 2016 study by the Aberdeen Group put downtime costs across industries at a whopping $260,000 per hour, up 60% from 2014 data.  A 2014 Gartner study was even worse: placing the average cost at $336,000/hour.   One lost eight-hour shift could mean a $2.08 million to $2.68 million loss. 

Regardless of who’s right about the costs, eliminating downtime and disruption is a high priority for most businesses.   Yet more than two-thirds of companies don’t have a full understanding of when their equipment should be maintained, upgraded, or replaced.  

While we’re excited about the future of  Industry 4.0 and IIoT, where every machine can self-analyze its needs and tell you what to do before there’s a problem, we also understand most factories and industrial locations aren’t there yet. They likely won’t be for decades as they continue to operate with older systems in place. 

But old doesn’t mean unusable.  Here’s why. 

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Infographic: Why IIoT is Essential to Manufacturing

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has been described as the basis of the coming Fourth Industrial Revolution, otherwise known as Industry 4.0. IIoT is essential to manufacturing. But why? What benefits does the technology bring to the industry?

IIoT brings connectivity, automation, and data analytics to the factory floor. Embedded or attached sensors gather data, which is then used as the basis of analytics and machine learning processes to create a “smart factory.”

Smart factories employ a number of different technologies, including

  • machine learning to analyze data
  • sensors and other monitoring devices to improve production efficiency through real-time decision making
  • integrated robotics that can work alongside human workers

All of these technologies integrate with or rely on IIoT.

We’ve attached an infographic below to answer the question of what makes IIoT so valuable to manufacturing. If you find it useful, feel free to download and use the high-resolution version available at the end of this article.

Infographic: Why IIoT is Essential to Manufacturing
Why IIoT is Essential to Manufacturing
IIot-Essential-InfographicDownload

If you need to know more about how to bring your legacy equipment into the IIoT age, we’ve written about that.

AX Control, Inc provides industrial automation products and repair services to customers around the world.

Symax Class 8020 Fault Codes

Check out our list of Schneider Square D SyMax Class 8020 fault codes.

We offer these codes for those who would like to have more information about typical machine errors that may occur on your current equipment. Feel free to print out this list for quick reference. And if you need us, remember our team is here to assist with fast and professional repairs.

SyMax Class 8020 Model 300

The Symax Model 300 error codes will display on a connected CRT screen.

Error code Description
01Illegal protocol opcode, the SY/MAX device does not recognize the instruction
02Illegal intermediate code format.
03An illegal address has been attempted.SY/MAX device does not contain the requested register(s).
04Illegal rack addressing has been attempted.
Attempt was made to incorrectly edit rack addressing
051. An instruction has been attempted which is not supported in this type processor
(Example: square root calculation attempted in Model 300 processor.)
 
2. Incorrect mode set for NIM port connected to a processor (receiving device). Mode set for 8881 mode or peripheral mode.
 
3. In a Nel-to-Net link, the two NIMs have different address settings (on thumb-wheels), or link is between ‘0’ port on one and ‘l’ port on the other.
06Unable to find the searched-for item.
07An attempt has been made to alter data in a protected register
08An attempt has been made to access protected memory
09An attempt has been made to alter data in a READ ONLY register or a register containing external inputs
10An attempt has been made to exceed memory limitations
11Communication Error. Sy/Max Device went into an overflow condition
12Illegal CPU rack addressing. Attempted rack address is incompatible with processor hardware
13Communications error (link error.)
14Operation not allowed to run.
15Communications overflow.
16The register count in a communication rung is too large for the processor.
17Unable to establish communications to remote Sy/Max Device.
18The rung number used is not allowed
19An illegal READ parameter has been assigned
20Channel number in a communication rung is too large for the processor.
The first 20 error codes on a Model 300
Continue reading “Symax Class 8020 Fault Codes”