You may have heard your crane technician or your Demag representative talk about IDAPSY at some point. You didn’t think much of it at the time, but now that you mention it, you’re curious about it. This article will tell you what IDAPSY is and what it does on your Demag equipment to keep you up and running.
IDAPSY is the proprietary Demag software that controls cranes and hoists equipped with circuit board controls. IDAPSY is short for Inspection Diagnostic APplication SYstem. This software has been integrated into Demag crane and hoist equipment since 2004 in the USA and Canada, as an available option. You’ll know if your Demag crane or wire rope hoist is running IDAPSY because your control pendant or radio transmitter has an LCD screen above the control buttons. This LCD screen displays warnings and error codes related to operation. In cranes equipped with load cell overload protection, this screen also displays the load in US or metric units.
Trained technicians can access IDAPSY software through a laptop. Similar to a diagnostic tool or OBD-II scanner used on a car, IDAPSY allows a trained technician to quickly diagnose a problem or optimize the crane for the job.
Technology like this in overhead cranes can seem excessive, but it brings many benefits to operators who use the equipment everyday and can make strides in making your operations more efficient. Because the software tracks cycles and operating time, maintenance reminders predict intervals for service. Regular maintenance can seem like a chore, but can give your equipment a longer, more efficient life. Not only that, when you’re performing your maintenance on schedule, your downtime should be at a minimum.
Because IDAPSY tracks every cycle and operating time, the troubleshooting process is simpler. Having a history of cycle count and operating cycles helps predict the necessary maintenance intervals to keep the crane up and running when you need it most. IDAPSY records historic error codes so a qualified technician can diagnose and fix a problem quicker. Finally, the software tracks any improper operation of the crane that can cause damage or premature wear. This can help you identify when additional training of your workforce is needed.
Computer monitoring of the crane and hoist can protect equipment from inadvertent issues that could create downtime and generates maintenance reminders so you’re up and running longer. Predictive maintenance can make you more efficient. By monitoring hoist motor rotation with a pulse encoder and the hoist brake position with a microswitch, the processor can predict when the most common maintenance task, brake adjustment, is necessary. Computer monitoring protects the equipment from the detrimental effects from excessive jogging, reverse plugging, and single-phasing. The premature burnout of contactors, relays and motor windings is eliminated, and maintenance downtime time is reduced.
Having the data available to you is empowering for your operators and maintenance staff. Demag offers a basic IDAPSY license for end users so you have all the information you need at your fingertips for the general service of your cranes and hoists. With a basic IDAPSY license, you can view all parameters and maintenance counters with reset functionality. This means if you install a new control board or adjust the hoist brake, you can reset the corresponding counters to zero which preserves the predictive maintenance capability. Similar to OBD-II scanners for cars, you’ll be able to read the error code history to diagnose the problem, then reset the warnings like “maintenance required” and the wrench symbol once maintenance is completed.
As you know, every car dealer has proprietary diagnosis tools to diagnose, dial-in, and optimize the way your car runs. Qualified Demag dealer partners have the same, the Advanced IDAPSY license. This license allows their qualified technicians to make changes to parameters so your crane and hoist are working at peak efficiency for the task being performed. The technician can add warning devices like horns and lights, install travel limit switches and change the unit of measurement for the load cell display. These technicians receive additional training with Demag to learn the ins and outs of the software.
When you call in one of the Advanced IDAPSY qualified technicians, troubleshooting becomes even easier. Embedded in the advanced software is a tool called CAN-Monitor. Within seconds, CAN-Monitor can identify a bad board, provide the location of a broken communication wire, show a graphic representation of button pushes to prove a pendant is working properly, and display active error codes even if communication is not working. When an error code is detected, the IDAPSY software guides the diagnosis and repair, streamlining the diagnosing process and getting your equipment back up and running quickly.
Software embedded in overhead cranes can provide many advantages. Not only does it help with diagnosing error codes and issues when they come up, it also allows your equipment to be tweaked and changed to best fit the tasks you are performing. Just like an OBD-II scanner for your car, a basic IDAPSY license empowers you to take maintenance and simple error diagnosis into your own hands. Not only that, it is easier to determine when you need to call in a crane technician with additional expertise to help you out.
Find out more about Demag’s training or to inquire about purchasing an IDAPSY license for your equipment, contact our training department!
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