Astroturf is frequently used on sports fields in North America. These fields are formed of a mosaic of interconnected sections of astroturf. Sports fields also typically have complex advertising logos, and large text characters, defining for example, positions like the 25 yard line.

A 16 x 88 ft Osprey machine, driven by an NEE AMC4 , is used to cut sections of the field, text outlines and logos, using a tangential knife vibrated by an ultrasonic transducer. The knife is mounted to a pneumatically driven Z axis that has 6 inches of vertical travel. The AMC automatically controls the orientation of the cutting knife so that it is always in line with the cut direction. At corners the knife automatically lifts, rotates and drops. The AMC integrated Programmable Logic Control ‘PLC’ controls system outputs and monitors system inputs.

In this application 4 servo axes are controlled. The X axis moves the machine head right and left on the gantry. Two separate servo motors are used to control the Y axis, one at each side of the machine, - these are electronically locked together by the AMC4 except when automatically squaring the machine. A further axis is used to rotate the cutting knife.

Part programs are generated and edited by third party ‘Sign’ software on a PC, then sent to the AMC4 in HPGL format, via a high speed RS232 data link.

The machine is controlled via the AMC4 front panel from where, amongst numerous other functions, the machine can be datummed (sent to a mechanical home position and automatically squared), jobs can be selected, graphically validated, dry run (executed without cutting), and cut.

The small AMC4 single enclosure houses the controller, the control panel and display, the motor drives and the Emergency STOP switch, it is mounted on the gantry, as is the ultrasonic unit.