{"id":2329,"date":"2023-09-19T12:49:18","date_gmt":"2023-09-19T12:49:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/35.94.173.37\/blog\/?p=2329"},"modified":"2026-03-06T18:47:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T18:47:26","slug":"serimaxs-success-story-with-ni-compactrio-and-labview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/serimaxs-success-story-with-ni-compactrio-and-labview\/","title":{"rendered":"Serimax\u2019s Success Story with NI CompactRIO and LabVIEW"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Serimax-Success-with-Compact-RIO-and-LabVIEW.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>Listen to this post here.<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-align-left\">In the world of industrial welding, precision and reliability are paramount. An international welding company known for its innovative solutions in the most challenging environments,&nbsp;<strong>Serimax<\/strong>, faced the daunting task of developing a cutting-edge automated pipeline welding system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-align-left\">Their goal was ambitious: create a system that could adapt to diverse customer needs, maintain peak performance, adhere to the strictest quality standards, offer global support, and remain versatile enough to accommodate future machine types. To tackle this challenge, Serimax turned to NI&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/modular-systems\/national-instruments\/compactrio-controllers\">CompactRIO&nbsp;<\/a><\/strong>hardware and&nbsp;<strong>LabVIEW&nbsp;<\/strong>software, and the results were nothing short of remarkable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/pexels-pavel-chernonogov-2381463-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Man welding metal bars\" class=\"wp-image-2389\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-99c41f88b3126c11daf27ab9a09ef56d\" style=\"font-size:25px\"><strong>The Challenge: Crafting the Perfect Weld<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-align-left\">Pipeline welding in the oil and gas industry demands adaptability. To meet these rigorous demands, Serimax needed to create a welding system that was not only adaptable but also capable of handling various welding processes, including traditional dual gas metal arc welding (<strong>GMAW<\/strong>), dual-pulse GMAW, and cold metal transfer (<strong>CMT<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-align-left\">CMT, in particular, is a game-changer as it allows for welding at lower temperatures, reducing the thermal impact on raw materials and enhancing welding quality. Moreover, the system needed to be versatile enough to weld different edge shapes (V, J, and K) and bond components in common welding positions (1G, 2G, 5G, and 6G). It also had to minimize the amount of cutback on the pipe, reducing material waste during production and transportation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-889a180b391e66fe5891cd69a7dac3ba\" style=\"font-size:25px\"><strong>The Solution: the SX09 Automated Welding System<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-align-left\">The result of this formidable challenge was the&nbsp;<strong>SX09 automated welding system<\/strong>. One of its key features is its flexibility in both welding shape and position, allowing it to adapt to various customer demands effortlessly. To ensure maximum uptime and efficiency, the SX09 employs a bug-and-band system. This combines a rail (band) that encircles the pipe with a compact trolley (bug) housing welding torches and all the necessary mechanics and motors for automated operation. This lightweight design is crucial for high throughput, as the trolley requires frequent adjustments during welding jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ad149f39d22d084a2cd3ff14220121fb\" style=\"font-size:25px\"><strong>ADVANCED MONITORING AND CONTROL SYSTEM<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-align-left\">Controlling these specialized machines requires a sophisticated embedded control and monitoring system capable of handling analog I\/O for condition monitoring, digital I\/O for logic operations, and communication with subsystems. It also has to manage seven motors for precise welding head and torch movement, all while ensuring steady welding seams. To simplify operation, the system must support industrial communication protocols and interface with a factory floor control system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-align-left\">Serimax evaluated various approaches and discovered that&nbsp;<strong>CompactRIO&nbsp;<\/strong>was the ideal solution. It allowed them to integrate motion control, I\/O measurements, and HMI functionality into a single system. LabVIEW software played a pivotal role, enabling the creation of a modular application architecture that is easy to support and expand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"346\" src=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-6.png\" alt=\"Angled view of the NI-9144 CompactRIO EtherCAT expansion chassis\" class=\"wp-image-3697\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-6.png 700w, https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-6-300x148.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4617b680c58ab7a9e3af474cb6cdc40e\" style=\"font-size:25px\"><strong>RUGGED DEPLOYMENT WITH COMPACTRIO AND LABVIEW<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-align-left\">The control and monitoring application were distributed across two CompactRIO systems using deterministic EtherCAT communication. A high-performance CompactRIO system, consisting of an&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/modular-systems\/national-instruments\/compactrio-controllers\/cRIO-9022\">NI cRIO-9022<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;controller and an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/modular-systems\/national-instruments\/compactrio-controllers\/cRIO-9114\"><strong>NI cRIO-9114<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;modular backplane, handled most of the I\/O channels needed for monitoring and logic. An&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/modular-systems\/national-instruments\/compactrio-controllers\/NI-9144\">NI-9144<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;CompactRIO EtherCAT expansion chassis housed seven NI C Series drive modules directly connected to motors. LabVIEW FPGA and the IP blocks of the LabVIEW NI SoftMotion Module were used for custom motion algorithms, ensuring precise control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"346\" src=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-7.png\" alt=\"Front view of the NI TPC-2212 touch panel computer\" class=\"wp-image-3699\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-7.png 700w, https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-7-300x148.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-align-left\">An HMI implemented on an&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/modular-systems\/national-instruments\/touch-panel-computers\/TPC-2212\">NI TPC-2212<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;touch panel computer provided machine status information and enabled additional setup and interaction. LabVIEW Web services facilitated remote maintenance. Serimax also benefited from the support of National Instruments Alliance Partner, Arcale, during the design and development process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-bb98edce7c094c0d8e577f9d2d05f8a8\" style=\"font-size:25px\">WHY SERIMAX CHOSE NI TECHNOLOGY<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-align-left\">Serimax\u2019s decision to embrace NI technology was driven by the exceptional performance of CompactRIO and the productivity gains offered by graphical system design tools like LabVIEW. Their previous positive experience with NI technology for monitoring purposes in existing machines further cemented this choice. Moreover, NI\u2019s global presence, support, and training capabilities aligned perfectly with Serimax\u2019s requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-align-left\">Serimax\u2019s success story showcases the power of innovation, collaboration, and cutting-edge technology. By leveraging NI CompactRIO and LabVIEW, they transformed the pipeline welding industry, creating a system that is adaptable, reliable, and capable of delivering precision in the harshest of environments. It\u2019s a testament to the potential of engineering excellence and the future of industrial automation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-text-align-left\"><em>The case study described in this blog post was originally co-authored by&nbsp;<strong>Pascal Wattellier&nbsp;<\/strong>and&nbsp;<strong>Hafid Hazzaa<\/strong>&nbsp;from Serimax and&nbsp;<strong>Rapha\u00ebl Tillet&nbsp;<\/strong>from Arcale.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-f1ce42190eb0bf0ad9611a831ebe697a\" style=\"font-size:25px\">ADDITIONAL INFORMATION<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/serimax.com\/\">Serimax Welding<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the world of industrial welding, precision and reliability are paramount. An international welding company known for its innovative solutions in the most challenging environments,&nbsp;Serimax, faced the daunting task of developing a cutting-edge automated pipeline welding system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2333,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,10],"tags":[100,110,155,318,393,437,910,921,973],"class_list":["post-2329","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-case-study","category-technology","tag-c-series","tag-case-study","tag-crio","tag-labview","tag-national-instruments","tag-ni","tag-technology","tag-test-equipment","tag-welding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2329","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2329"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2329\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3702,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2329\/revisions\/3702"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2329"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2329"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.apexwaves.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2329"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}