Mobile Digital Component Tester (MDCT)

The MDCT is a diagnosis and commissioning tool for controlling hydraulic valves which communicate via EtherCAT interfaces. It is designed for commissioning and support, where a control system is not available or not able to do this work.

The MDCT is a test-box for controlling servo valves. You are able to control and evaluate single hydraulic axes without an operational control system for the MDCT is a EtherCAT Master. Furthermore has the MDCT a supply interface for external components (e.g. additional sensors).

Benefits of the MDCT

By its tough design, the MDCT is particular suitable for harsh environment. It is oil-proof, waterproof and dust-proof and has IP 67 (closed). Therefore it can operate under conditions, where the use of notebooks and power-packs is not possible and it combines both of these tools in one, rugged housing. The MDCT offers following advantages:

• Industrial grade, rugged Design
• Integrated 24V DC Supply Interface for external devices
• Easy operation via touch-display
• Flexible field of application by adaptable software (GPL)

Furthermore, the MDCT-Test-box contains an industrial-panel-PC with Ethernet-, EtherCAT and USB-Interface.

Technical Description

The MDCT provides a power supply connection of 24 V for the valve. The existent field-bus interface allows to define a setpoint value for the movement of the valve spool. Furthermore, the signals of sensors connected to the valve are collected by the field-bus interface and displayed on the screen of the integrated control PC.

In this specific model of MDCT the following components are pre-parametrised as sensors at the valves:

• Moog Servovalve
• Actual valve spool position
• Sensor signal X2 (rotary encoder with SSI Interface)
• Sensor signal X5 (pressure sensor: 4–20 mA)
• Sensor signal X6 (pressure sensor: 4–20 mA)

Generally also other combinations of EtherCAT valves and sensors (independent of the manufacturer) can be used with the MDCT, however, this requires a firmware update by the manufacturer!

The control PC (IPC) integrated in the manual control box triggers the servo valves and indicates values on the integrated display, such as the position of the valve gate, but also the values detected by connected sensors.

The manual control box is supplied with 110–230 V. It includes an integrated power unit for supplying a servo valve with 24 V. Besides the valve power supply connection via a 11-pole valve plug, the EtherCAT bus output serves as an interface.

The system is operated via the IPC touch screen and other operating elements located on the front side of the manual control box:

• by means of a potentiometer (complete with a spring return to middle position) the setpoint value for the position of the servo valve gate is set.
• by means of a switch, a separate 24 V output for secondary functions can be switched. The maximum current for this output is 2.5 A.
• A switch with a detent in the open position is used to switch the power supply voltage of the valve and the AUX output.

Furthermore, there is an Ethernet interface and a USB interface intended for firmware updates, but not for regular use of the MDCT. The heat sink situated on the MDCT front panel and the front panel itself help to dissipate the heat generated by the electronic components.

The MDCT is delivered with interface cables to the 7-pole valve plug and the 11-pole valve plug.

Thanks to its robust, shock-proof housing, the MDCT can also be used in a harsh environment. The protection class is IP67 with closed lid and IP54 with open lid.

If necessary one can adjust the scaling of the connected sensors with the Scaling/Offset Tab. The default settings are restored when re-powering the MDCT. By touching the scaling value a settings dialog will pop-up.

Start or enable the hydraulic supply. Now one can enable the servo valve by means of the enable button located on the touch panel and use the potentiometer (Setpoint) to define setpoint values for the servo valve. The actual setpoint is visible on the display as well.

The characteristic of the potentiometer is nonlinear to ensure a good resolution at small setpoint values. The display shows the actual values detected by the sensors connected to the valve at the Signal Tab. Additionally you can watch two signals in a scope by pressing the scope icon in the toolbar.

Further information

Here you can download a flyer [pdf, 1.8M].