HMI Systems & HMI Programming
A well-designed HMI system is an important part of modern industrial automation. The Human Machine Interface provides operators with a simple way to control, monitor and troubleshoot automated machinery.
DPAC Automation designs and programs industrial HMI systems for new machines, robotic cells and existing automation equipment.
What Is an HMI?
HMI stands for Human Machine Interface.
An industrial HMI allows an operator to interact with a machine or automated production system. Depending on the application, an HMI can display machine status, production information, alarms, diagnostics, recipes, settings and operating controls.
A good HMI should make the machine easy to understand and operate.
Industrial HMI Programming
HMI programming involves more than simply creating screens and buttons.
The HMI needs to communicate with the machine control system and present useful information to the operator.
DPAC can develop HMI applications incorporating:
Machine status
Alarm and fault screens
Manual controls
Automatic operation
Production counters
Recipe management
Parameter adjustment
Maintenance screens
Diagnostic information
Robot status
Safety status
Production data
The interface can be designed around the specific machine and the way operators actually use it.
PLC and HMI Integration
The HMI normally operates as part of a larger control system.
PLC programming controls the machine sequence while the HMI provides the operator interface. Industrial robots, servo drives, sensors and other automation equipment can also be integrated into the same system.
This allows operators to monitor the complete automated process from a central interface.
HMI Upgrades
Older machinery can often benefit from an HMI upgrade without replacing the entire machine.
An outdated operator panel can make machinery difficult to operate and troubleshoot. Replacing the HMI and updating the control interface can improve usability while retaining existing machinery where practical.
DPAC can work with existing automation systems and develop modern HMI solutions around the available control architecture.
HMI for Robotic Automation
Robotic cells require operators to understand what the robot and surrounding equipment are doing.
An HMI can provide information such as robot status, automatic cycle status, faults, part counts, station status and maintenance information.
This creates a central operator interface for the robotic cell rather than requiring operators to interact directly with multiple pieces of equipment.
HMI Design for Manufacturing
Industrial HMI screens should be designed for the production environment.
Important information needs to be easy to identify, while unnecessary complexity can make fault finding more difficult.
DPAC focuses on practical HMI design that gives operators access to the information and controls required to run the machine efficiently.
HMI Systems Australia
DPAC Automation provides HMI programming and industrial automation services from Ormeau, Queensland.
HMI systems can be integrated with PLCs, robots, machine vision, servo systems, safety systems and custom machinery.
If you need a new HMI, an HMI upgrade or complete machine control system, DPAC can develop a solution around your application.
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