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APPLIED INDUSTRIAL CONTROL SOLUTIONS LLC |
ApICS is composed of a tight group of experienced industrial automation controls systems consultants who use their combined analytical skills and application knowledge to solve difficult motion control system application problems, and mediate technical issues between Customers, Vendors, and O.E.M's in a wide spectrum of PID controller system.
ApICS CONSULTANTS' BIOGRAPHIES ApICS has exceptional, experienced, industry recognized automation experts in industrial automation, process automation control, and motion control system specification, design, and analysis working to solve your motion controls problems, read about them here. ApICS president Brian Boulter a web-handling expert, has presented papers at numerous conferences on industrial controls. Many of these have been published in journals. A selection of papers describing practical solutions to controller problems are presented here.
SELECTED SYSTEM REPORTS ApICS is about solving tough controls problems. Click the title for some examples of real world solutions to difficult industrial controller problems.
ApICS CLIENTS Who uses our control engineering services?. Click the title for an updated list of Clients.WHAT DOES ApICS DO?
Modeling and simulation of physical systems from first principal equations, for the purpose of: A-Priori analysis of control systems with proposed mechanical/electrical designs. ( )
Analysis of proposed control-systems with existing mechanical/electrical designs. ( )
Analysis of problematic mechanical system / electrical system interactions ( )
Derivation of first principal equations. ( )
Simulation of electrical systems ( )
Analysis of complex industrial electrical systems ( )
Design of linear and non-linear regulator algorithms Design the best possible controllers algorithms using customer specified hardware/software configurations Research into state-of-the-art Self-Tuning motion control and regulation algorithms for winder, and industrial automation, conveyors, process line ()
ApICS maintains a co-operative relationship with the Automatic regulators Laboratory (Cleveland State University) and the Web-Handling Research Center. ( )
Experts in Tension control systems, Winding tension control system expert, Web handling tension control systems and conveyors.
Elevator controls System Experts and Elevator Speed Controller system experts )
Provide technical guidance to ApICS customers for web handling: Interface between ApICS customers and O.E.Ms & vendors to ensure that technical specifications are correctly identified for a given application, and that the vendors provide adequate verification of performance. ( ) )
Specify drives, motors, gearing, etc for metals, paper, converting, consumer products, winder, dancer, and other process line applications. ( )
Interface between ApICS customers and O.E.Ms & Vendors to solve process and/or regulator problems. ( )
Provide Winder Tension Control Expertise. ( )
Provide assistance with proposal and proposals
Provide technical training regulators system systems analysis and design: theoretical fundamentals and practical considerations. Modeling physical systems, (entry level to advanced).
Application specific training (e.g winders, speed torque position pressure tension regulation. Process automation, Automation Engineering, controllers of bridle, Tension levelers, Dancers, cut-to-length / stamping machines, printing registration, accumulators, automotive test-stands dynamometers, tension-control, conveyors, etc.)
ApICS CONSULTANTS' BIOGRAPHIES
Brian Boulter: President
After leaving Picker International where he was engaged in the design of military x-ray systems, Brian joined Rockwell Automation's (Formerly Reliance Electric) Drive Systems Division, where he was responsible for developing standard controller system designs for applications in the metals, forrest products, paper and pulp, automotive, glass, and consumer products industries for the Systems Engineering group. In addition to developing regulators system designs, Brian conducted training programs in regulators system theory and system modeling for the Systems Engineering staff. He also functioned as a corporate resource for systems modeling and analysis and web handling. After leaving Rockwell to form ApICS he continued his research interests in the development of accurate web handling and strip processing models and the application of modern controls theory in the generation of easily configured self-tuning regulators algorithms for industrial regulators in the above listed industries. Brian received his B.E.E in 1990 and M.S.E.E. in 1992 from Cleveland State University, he also holds a B.A from the University of the State of New-York. He has authored many journal and conference publications in industrial regulators systems design and analysis and related disciplines.
Harry W. Fox: Senior Consulting Engineer
Received his B.S.E.E. in 1968 from Case Western Reserve University, after which he earned his M.S.E.E. from the University of California Los-Angeles, Berkeley. After graduation he joined the N.A.S.A Lewis research center in Cleveland Ohio. Here he was responsible for the design and analysis of various thermal and pressure systems, amongst which was an analysis of the Saturn V thruster ports. He then served as the director of the ITT technical institute after which he joined LTV steel (formerly Republic Steel) as their Chief Process Scientist. At LTV Harry developed models of various aspects of the steel manufacturing process. He left LTV to work at Picker International where he was engaged in the design of military x-ray systems. He then joined Rockwell Automation's (Formerly Reliance Electric) Automation Drive Systems Division, where he was responsible for the simulation and analysis of various web handling systems. When not consulting for ApICS he teaches part-time in the Physics and Electrical Engineering departments of Cleveland State University, and a local Community College.
Robert F. Lockhart: Senior Consulting Engineer
Received his B.S.E.E. in 1956 from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. After graduation he joined Surface Combustion where he designed furnace controls systems. In 1961 he joined Rockwell Automation's (Formerly Reliance Electric) Drive Systems Division, where he was responsible for the design of drive systems primarily in the metals industry. He functioned as a lead engineer on large industrial automation process line designs as well as a consultant on regulator designs across the full range of metals applications. When not consulting, Robert a web-handling consultant, enjoys designing competition kites and has won several prestigious awards for his innovative and stylish designs.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS DIRECTORY
B. T. Boulter, Z. Gao, "Matrix Interpolation Based Self-Tuning Web Tension Regulation", Proceedings of 3rd. International Web Handling Conference, pp 280 - 301, Oklahoma State University, June, 1995.
B. T. Boulter, "High Bandwidth Armature Current Regulation of a Cold-Rolling Mill MG-Set with Parallel 12 Pulse D-C Bridge at Inland Steel ", Iron and Steel Engineer, The Journal of the AISE, pp 52 - 57, December, 1996.
B. T. Boulter, R. F. Lockhart, "Diameter Sizing of Rolls in Bridle That Utilize Powder Clutches", IEEE IAS Transactions, pp 797-800, May/June 1997.
B. T. Boulter, "The Effect of Speed Loop Bandwidths on System Natural Frequencies in Multi - Zone Strip Processing Lines" , Transactions of the IEEE-IAS, pp 126 - 134 Jan/Feb. 1999, (IEEE IAS Conference Meritorious Paper Award)
B. T. Boulter, "Tripper Assisted Belt Conveyor Tension Regulation" , Proceedings of the 12th. Annual A-B Automation Fair, Nashville, Tennessee. November 1997, (Best of session award)
B. T. Boulter, " Improving Bridle Low Speed Regulation Using Cascaded Current Followers " , IEEE-IAS Transactions, Jul/Aug. 2001, (IEEE IAS Conference Meritorious Paper Award)
B. T. Boulter, " Applying Drive Performance Specifications to Systems - Part I, Speed Performance " ,IEEE-IAS Transactions, Jul/Aug. 2001, (IEEE IAS Conference Outstanding Paper Award)
B. T.. Boulter, "Estimating Web Strain, Modulus of Elasticity and Loss Torque Using an Extended Kalman Filter", Proceedings of 5th. International Web Handling Conference, pp 287 - 306, Oklahoma State University, June, 1999, (Honorable Mention - Longitudinal Dynamics and tension-control).
B. T.. Boulter, Y. Hou, Z. Gao, F. Jiang, "Active Disturbance Rejection regulators for Web Tension Regulation", Proceedings of 40th. IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, Orlando Florida, Dec. 2001,.
B. T. Boulter, " Applying Drive Performance Specifications to Systems Applications - Part 2, Torque Regulation / Winders" , Proceedings of the 36th. IEEE-IAS Conference on Industry Applications, Chicago, IL., October 2001
B. T. Boulter, " Applying Drive Performance Specifications to Systems- Part 3, Position & Motion Regulation / Control" , Proceedings of the 36th. IEEE-IAS Conference on Industry Applications, Pittsburgh, PA., October 2002
B. T. Boulter, "Winder Unwinder Scheduling Equations" Proceedings of the 36th. IEEE-IAS Conference on Industry Applications, Salt Lake City, UT., October 2003
B. T. Boulter, " Designing a dynamometer Test Stand with an Emulated Gasoline/Diesel Engine Power Source: A White Paper" , ApICS LLC Automotive Business Unit Marketing Document
B. T. Boulter, " Designing an Emulated Gasoline/Diesel Test Stand dynamometer to Include Engine Firing Torque Pulses: A White Paper" , ApICS LLC Automotive Business Unit Marketing Document
B. T. Boulter, " Winder Tension regulators - a Tutorial" , ApICS LLC Automotive Business Unit Marketing Document
SELECTED SYSTEMS REPORTS
B. T. Boulter, "Accumulator Tower Tension Regulation and System Identification Techniques.." SR 1
B. T. Boulter, "Writing Difference Equations for Filters." SR 3
B. T. Boulter, " Elevator Modeling and Speed Control of Elevators ", SR 7
B. T. Boulter, H. W. Fox, "Bending Loss Calculations", SR 9
B. T. Boulter, "Air Propelled People Mover Vehicle Speed System Analysis ", SR 12
B. T. Boulter, "Analysis of a Printing Line Coating Section ", SR 14
B. T. Boulter, "Automotive Test Stand Controls System Analysis" SR 17, pp 1- 107
B. T. Boulter, "Winder Dancer Control & Analysis of Dancer Oscillations" SR 17
B. T. Boulter, "Clutch Dancer Control Simulation And Development Of A Robust Dancer Control Algorithm" SR 21
B. T. Boulter, "Winder Tension regulators in Industrial Applications" SR 21
B. T. Boulter, "Modeling of a Modular, Autonomous Heavy Ordnance Handling and Motion Control System" SR 23
B. T. Boulter, "Winder Tension regulators an Industrial Automation TUTORIAL" SR 23
Selected Training Manuals
B. T. Boulter, H.W. Fox, " Advanced Dynamic Simulation and Process Automation", Course: ApICS EC 4.
FIELD SERVICE ENGINEERINGApICS LLC Consultants are available for hire to solve your most perplexing regulators and system stability problems and performance issues. We bring over 100 years of combined field experience to the table, to help you solve your application problems in the field.
The follwoing sample Field Engineering Reports provide you with an idea of our capabilities in industrial automation, and process automation of motion control systems.
We also have excellent reference letters from satisfied customers:
ApICS CLIENTS
Rockwell Automation (Australia)
Mustang Dynamometer Corp. (OH)
General Motors Corp. - Allison Transmissions (MI)