At this year’s AUSPACK, Cama Group will be showcasing the next evolution of its class-leading AR solutions.
With AR and virtualisation already proving invaluable across the design, build, commission, test and operational phases of its Breakthrough Generation (BTG) machines, Cama is now offering immersive, line side support for warranty, spares and consumables, through its Augmented Machine Assistance Package.
“This technology is the next step in our machine portfolio’s evolutionary roadmap, and will add a new support dimension to our existing immersive 3D offering,” explains Massimo Monguzzi, R&D manager at Cama.
“Our existing AR technologies have proved essential over the last 18 months. We have seen vast amounts of remote interactions between our factory in Italy and customers all over the globe, ensuring quicker commissioning and testing during installs and maximum uptime during operation. It comes as no surprise that ongoing support is now part of the equation.”
In practice, an AR assistant uses inputs, including the working time of the machine, to alert operators that user-serviceable elements require replacement, based on MTBF or warranty guidelines.
When an item is due to be replaced, the user is alerted and given the option to modify the quantities. The system then initiates contact with Cama, where an automatic e-mail generates a ticket with the serial number of the part, the machine ID, the plant, the customer ID and the number of parts required. Once the ticket has been issued, a Cama service manager will contact a nominated customer representative who can progress the order.
Security is obviously a concern for many customers, and Cama put this at the forefront of this service’s development. The machine itself does not need to connect to an external network, instead, it is just the AR tool that requires the connection – most often a tablet, although the software can be installed on a wide variety of devices.
The operator can extract the operational information in one of three ways: machine runtime is manually entered, and the software calculates spares requirements; machine generates a QR code, which contains the necessary operational parameters; and a future development will see direct communication between the machine and the AR tool. This will be a secure, segregated Wi-Fi pathway, which authenticates using permissions, credentials and certifications.
The concept will be demonstrated to all customers with live demos, which can be booked in advance, at Cama’s booth, with 30 minutes’ free AR demo available during all show days.
