Gilbert & Nash Tracker 2000 Electro Guide Control Cabinet with PLC and Drive
The Tracker 2000 is a complete control system for web guiding applications, housed in a rugged industrial cabinet. It integrates a PLC controller, a servo drive, and interface electronics for edge sensors and actuators. The system is designed to maintain precise lateral position of continuous webs (paper, film, foil, textiles) during processing. The cabinet includes a touchscreen HMI for setup, diagnostics, and manual control. It is a drop-in solution for upgrading or replacing existing web guide systems.
System Components
PLC: Allen-Bradley or Siemens (depending on configuration) with web guiding software
Servo Drive: Digital drive for actuator (linear or rotary) with feedback
Power Supply: 120/230 VAC input, isolated 24 VDC for controls
Sensor Inputs: 2 channels for ultrasonic or optical edge sensors (0-10V or 4-20mA)
Actuator Output: 0-10V or ±10V to drive proportional valve or servo motor
HMI: 5.7-inch color touchscreen with membrane keypad
Control Features
The Tracker 2000 uses a PID algorithm with feedforward compensation to maintain web edge position within ±0.2 mm accuracy. It supports automatic calibration, manual jog mode, and remote setpoint via analog input or Ethernet. The system can store up to 10 recipe configurations for different web materials and widths. Built-in diagnostics include sensor fault detection, actuator overload, and communication errors. An event log records the last 500 alarms.
Physical and Environmental
Cabinet dimensions: 600 mm × 600 mm × 250 mm (H × W × D). Weight: 25 kg. Enclosure rating: NEMA 12 / IP54 (dust and drip-proof). Operating temperature: 0–50°C; storage: -20–70°C. The cabinet has a lockable door and cable entry glands at the bottom. Cooling is by natural convection with a filtered vent.
Integration
The control cabinet is designed for wall mounting near the web processing machine. It requires a 120/230 VAC supply and connects to the sensor and actuator via pre-wired cables (provided). The PLC can communicate with a plant SCADA via Modbus TCP or EtherNet/IP (optional). The system is field-configurable using the built-in HMI or via PC software.
Applications
Used in paper mills, film extrusion lines, textile finishing, and metal coil processing. The Tracker 2000 is a reliable upgrade for older Tracker 1000 or competing brands like AccuWeb or Fife. Gilbert & Nash provides full technical support and spare parts for this system.
