Hilintec Pump Insights: Project Analysis of C60 Miniature Vacuum Pump Applications in the Production Automation Industry
Overview of Production Automation Industry
Industrial intelligent machines are increasingly being widely utilized in the factory production process. The production site involves repetitive, cyclical, and continuous operations, where products need to be lifted, moved a certain distance or angle, and then placed down, ensuring they do not fall easily during movement or rotation, and are smoothly released upon reaching the set position.
Such simple, repetitive tasks are more efficiently accomplished using intelligent machines. Beyond robotic arms, electromagnets, and conveyor belts, vacuum suction cups based on the principle of vacuum adsorption are also extensively applied in production automation for handling and transporting smooth-surfaced objects. For example, in a picture frame manufacturing plant, intelligent machines are used to repeatedly handle and move frames throughout the process. This not only accelerates assembly line production but also reduces labor costs by freeing up manpower.
The C60L miniature vacuum pump, developed and produced by Chengdu Hilin Technology, works in conjunction with vacuum suction cups. Within a suitable range of relative vacuum, it can lift any product with a flat, smooth surface. The vacuum adsorption principle is applicable to all objects with smooth surfaces.
The C60L miniature vacuum pump serves as a vacuum source to drive vacuum suction cups on the assembly line, achieving high flow rates, high vacuum levels, and continuous, stable, and reliable operation.
Product Features and Functions
Operating Condition Indication
Basic Remote Control, Frequency Speed Control, and Voltage Speed Control models are equipped with operation indicator lights, providing intuitive feedback on the pump’s working status. Touch Control and Top Configuration models feature an LCD screen that displays speed and fault codes.
Brushless Motor
Utilizes high-quality brushless motors, offering advantages such as long lifespan, low interference, and high reliability.
Protection Functions
Includes overheat protection, overload protection, under-voltage/over-voltage power protection, and reverse connection protection, ensuring maximum protection against miniature vacuum pump damage.
Alarm Functions
- Basic Remote Control, Frequency Speed Control, and Voltage Speed Control models use indicator light color changes to reflect the pump’s status:
a. Solid green light: Circuit is powered normally; pump is idle.
b. Flashing green light: Pump is operating normally.
c. Solid red light: Pump has stopped due to excessive motor speed deviation or locked-rotor fault, triggering an alarm.
d. Flashing red light: Pump has stopped due to unstable power supply voltage, triggering an alarm.
e. If positive and negative terminals are reversed, the indicator light remains off; the pump does not operate but is not damaged. - Touch Control and Top Configuration models are equipped with an LCD screen. Different faults trigger different alarm codes, making troubleshooting more convenient.
Modular Connectors
This miniature vacuum pump series adopts a modular connector design, with non-removable reinforced nylon barbed connectors as standard. Customers can also opt for Rc1/8 threaded connectors (available in reinforced nylon or stainless steel), which are compatible with PC6 or PC8 stainless steel quick-connect fittings.
- Standard non-removable reinforced nylon connectors and stainless steel connectors are recommended for use with 7*13mm tubing.
- Quick-connect fittings come in two specifications, suitable for hard tubing with outer diameters of 6mm and 8mm respectively.
- Plastic hose connectors are recommended for use with 6*10mm tubing.
Customers can select different connectors based on actual needs; special instructions are required when ordering.
Speed Control Function
The pump’s flow rate can be adjusted by controlling the motor speed.
- Frequency Speed Control, Voltage Speed Control, and Top Configuration models are equipped with speed control signal interfaces for remote speed adjustment via frequency or voltage signals.
- Touch Control and Top Configuration models feature a touch-sensitive LCD screen for start/stop and speed control, allowing easy flow rate adjustment.
- Additionally, the Top Configuration model supports a customizable RS-485 serial port speed control function.
Status Memory Function
If the miniature vacuum pump stops due to abnormal power interruption, it will resume operation at the status prior to the outage upon repowering, including memorizing the speed and operational state.
During normal use, when the miniature vacuum pump is started via touch or switch, it operates at the speed before the last shutdown. After the user adjusts the speed via signal and wishes to retain this setting, they can cut the power after adjustment and stop the valid speed control signal. The miniature vacuum pump will then operate at the pre-power-off speed upon the next startup.
(Note: This function applies only to Frequency Speed Control, Voltage Speed Control, Touch Control, and Top Configuration models with touchscreen speed control.)
Analysis of Vacuum Adsorption Application Scenarios
In factories utilizing intelligent machines for handling industrial products, the solution combining miniature vacuum pumps with suction cups is commonly adopted in practice due to its convenience, flexibility, low design cost, and capabilities for real-time monitoring of operation time, speed, and fault feedback signals. Alternatives like robotic direct gripping often involve complex designs and higher costs, while electromagnet attraction is limited in application and cannot handle non-metallic or non-ferrous products.
- Adsorption Force Calculation Explanation
The theoretical adsorption force can be calculated as follows:
F ≈ 10⁻² * (101 – P_absolute) * S_suction_cup
Where:
F: Theoretical adsorption force, unit: Kgf (kilogram-force)
P_absolute: Absolute vacuum degree of the miniature vacuum pump, unit: kPa (kilopascal)
S_suction_cup: Effective area of the suction cup, unit: cm² (square centimeter) Theoretically, adsorption force is unrelated to the pump’s flow rate, but in practice, it is related. The reason is that pneumatic systems cannot achieve perfect theoretical sealing; there is always some leakage. In such cases, a higher pump flow rate results in a smaller proportion of leakage, which helps the pump maintain a higher vacuum degree and thus achieve greater adsorption force. For example, given two pumps with the same ultimate vacuum but different flow rates (Pump A: 1 L/min, Pump B: 20 L/min), under the same leakage condition of 0.1 L/min, Pump A’s vacuum degree would drop significantly as 0.1 L/min represents a large proportion of its flow. For Pump B, however, 0.1 L/min is negligible, allowing it to maintain a higher vacuum. Therefore, although both pumps have the same vacuum specification, Pump B would provide greater adsorption force in practice. Hence, both vacuum degree and flow rate must be considered during pump selection; focusing solely on vacuum degree is impractical. - Pneumatic Circuit Connection
Using multiple suction cups to adsorb a product can make the adsorption force more stable and reliable. Typically, suction cups are connected in series or parallel within the pneumatic circuit. However, employing a parallel circuit with vacuum check valves ensures that if one suction cup leaks, the others can still firmly hold the product, preventing it from dropping during machine movement. - Releasing Objects
To release an adsorbed object, first stop the miniature vacuum pump to cease vacuum generation. The object may not drop immediately after the pump stops due to the pump’s pressure retention capability, which maintains the vacuum briefly. For immediate release, an additional branch with a switch valve should be added to the pneumatic circuit. When the pump stops, simultaneously open the valve to instantly eliminate the vacuum in the circuit, ensuring reliable object release.
Challenges in Vacuum Adsorption Automation Projects
- Limited on-site space and lack of compressed air supply prevent the use of vacuum ejectors, making vacuum pumps necessary for creating a vacuum environment.
- Continuous operation requires frequent start/stop cycles and remote control capability for easy integration with PLCs and other controllers.
- The equipment must combine a relatively small size with high vacuum degree and large flow rate to ensure both rapid adsorption and strong adsorption force.
Application Analysis of C60L Series Miniature Vacuum Pumps
The C60L series miniature vacuum pumps, developed and produced by Chengdu Hilin Technology, are powered by a DC 24V power supply with low power consumption. Depending on on-site conditions, they can be powered either by direct plug-in or external batteries, allowing flexible mobility and use at the site.
To comprehensively meet on-site requirements, some miniature vacuum pump models feature newly added remote soft-start control ports on the panel’s wiring terminals. These enable frequent remote control of miniature vacuum pump start/stop cycles when integrated with on-site circuit control units.
Different models are further divided into various versions based on quality control and process specifications. For detailed distinctions between versions, please visit the Hilin Technology official website at http://www.mini-pump.com to download the corresponding product manuals free of charge.
Notes:
- Input voltage requirement: 24V ±10%.
- Unless otherwise specified, technical parameters are measured under conditions of 20°C and standard atmospheric pressure (101 kPa).
- Parameters in the table are measured at the motor’s maximum speed; vacuum degree remains largely unchanged with speed variations.
- Parameters are measured with standard interfaces; minor changes may occur with other optional interfaces.
- Peak flow rate refers to the value measured with a rotor flow meter; average flow rate is measured with a soap film flow meter.