Page 6 - Booklet on Workshop on Industry4. with CIMCO

Workshop on Industry 4.0 using CIMCO products

3. Sensors

Digitalization of machines involves the massive collection of data. Sensor points attached to
the ends of machine tools (such as a CNC or a conventional machine) collect data on vibrations,
forces, Flow, Level & temperatures. The more data that is collected, the more accurate the
virtual twin will be.

Process of using sensors :
Sensors are everywhere. They are in our home, work places, shopping centers & hospitals.
They are embedded in smart phones ( e. g. GPS ) and an integral part of the Internet of Things
(IoT). Sensors have been around for a long time. The first thermostat was introduced in the
late 1880s and infrared sensors have been around since the late 1940s. The IoT and its coun-
terpart, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), are bringing sensor usage to a new level. Broad-
ly speaking, sensors are devices that detect and respond to changes in an environment. Inputs
can come from a variety of sources such as light, temperature, motion, flow or a pressure. Sen-
sors output valuable information and if they are connected to a network, they can share data
with other connected devices and management systems. Sensors are crucial to the operation
of many of today’s businesses. They can warn you of potential problems before they become
big problems, allowing businesses to perform predictive maintenance and avoid costly down-
time. The data from sensors can also be analyzed for trends allowing business owners to gain
insight into crucial trends and make informed evidence-based decisions.

There are various sensors available. These sensors give electrical signal. It may be 0-10 volt
analog signal, or 4 to 20 mA current, or some similar.

5