Metrics

Software Toolbox worked with its customer Metrics LLC, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., a builder of custom-designed injection molding machinery used to make large volume structural foam parts, as an advanced beta-tester of the Industrial Gadgets Pro Gadgets

The machines are controlled by AutomationDirect PLCs, Mitsubishi AC drives, and custom-designed software developed exclusively for its unique application. The application involves rapidly injecting a very large amount of molten polymer material into a mold in a rapid, consistent, and repeatable fashion

Metrics considered a variety of solutions for building its machinery HMI system. “The system had to be affordable for use on multiple machines, the screens had to be realistic and help convey how the process worked since they planned to use the HMI to help sell the machines, and the system had to be easily configured because of a short time-to-market cycle,” says Scott Gee, controls engineer at Metrics.

They settled in on Software Toolbox. “Only the Software Toolbox offering enabled us to use our skills with Visual Studio, while providing the type of visualization components and responsiveness we needed,” says Toshi Ghalebi, VP Engineering at Metrics.

Ghalebi adds that one of the key determinants in Metrics’ decision was the responsiveness of Software Toolbox. “They listened to what we were trying to accomplish and delivered the additional custom components we needed quickly and at a very affordable cost,” states Ghalebi. “Within a day of receiving the components, we had a prototype of our main HMI screen built using the Industrial Gadgets ActiveX Pro library. If we had tried to make all the things we needed instead of using the Software Toolbox library, it would have taken weeks of engineering and testing.”