Data Collection during Pipe Extrusion

A flexible data collection system for use on pipe extruders or any other continuous process is described. The system offers security of data, easy installation and displays for supervisors and extruder operators. Some of the benefits and uses of this equipment are described.

British Steel Corporation, Corby Research Centre recently developed a specially designed micro-computer based data display and logging system for Stewarts and Lloyds Plastics polyethylene pipe extrusion plant at Huntingdon. The system is versatile and easily installed. It is suited to any high quality extrusion line or indeed any continuous manufacturing process. When combined with testing of finished pipe it enables identification of those manufacturing conditions which produce top quality tube, and highlights any tendency to deviate from them.

The system is based on a 280 micro-processor. As installed at Stewarts and Lloyds Plastics, it measures up to 100 plant variables (temperature. humidity, flows, pressures, powers, speeds etc.) and presents them as a television display of the current or selected recent state of the extruder. Data are also recorded on removable magnetic discs for detailed analysis later on the systems second micro-computer. This second computer is identical to, and acts as a spare for, the computer controlling logging and display, thus providing secure reliable plant data collection.