Elmo invests significant resources of time, money and skills into complying with industry protocols like EtherCAT, as well as standards such as Safety and EMC. Elmo believes that compliance is mandatory to guarantee reliable operation of any industrial equipment.

Haim Monhait, Elmo CEO, calls this Elmo’s go-standard policy: “There is a great difference between a product that uses its own interpretation of a communications protocol and one that meets a universally accepted standard that provides product engineers with huge advantages like interoperability!”

Choosing Gold Servo Drives with EtherCAT inside also brings customers:

• Fast “straight forward” integration of the Network.
• Best Network operation in terms of efficiency, speed, bus load, etc.
• High level of cycling, synchronization for optimal multi-axis applications.
• An “Open” network structure for ease of adding, omitting, replacing (including vendors), upgrading nodes of any compliant product
• Fast, simple integration with any other compliant product
• Compatibility with future compliant products and solutions

According to Mr. Monhait, “implementations of ‘non-EtherCAT compliant’ products developed by companies trying to cut corners to save time and money, might degrade significantly the operation of the Motion Control Network, will not operate properly with EtherCAT masters, take enormous efforts to make it work, limit the Network performance in terms of communication speed and efficiency, causing very inefficient bus load, shallow and nondeterministic axes synchronization (if at all) and poor cycle time (if Distributed Clock is implemented at all).”

Customers know that by choosing Elmo’s “Go-Standard Gold Servos” they get a comprehensive solution for today and for the future!

About Elmo Elmo designs and manufactures “Cutting Edge” Servo drives and network motion controllers that are one-stop solutions for any motion control technology. As a leading global company with over 25 years’ experience, we bring our clients profitability and success. Due to our focus on performance, reliability, durability and safety, competiveness, as well as compliance with a wide range of industry standards and protocols, our solutions have been integrated by world leading machine manufacturers in a wide variety of industries from the industrial to the military. Elmo has one solution for any application! www.elmomc.com

About EtherCAT EtherCAT (Ethernet for Control Automation Technology) is the fastest Industrial Ethernet solution that provides industry leading performance, flexibility and cost advantages. The functional principle – processing data on the fly – makes EtherCAT the fastest system currently available: cycle times of a few µs are possible. EtherCAT is completely transparent for all Internet technologies and thus supports the vertical integration in heterogeneous networks. www.ethercat.org

visit www.elmomc.com for more information

The new Allen-Bradley Kinetix 350 single-axis EtherNet/IP servo drive from Rockwell Automation delivers high-performance motion control on EtherNet/IP, the world’s leading industrial Ethernet network. The drive can lower the cost to deploy integrated motion on low-axis machines found in applications such as: indexing tables, process skids, case packers, erectors and packaging.

When used with the Allen-Bradley CompactLogix 5370 Series of programmable automation controllers and the Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus human-machine interfaces, the Kinetix 350 drive provides a cost-effective entry into the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture system. Leveraging a single design environment, the Integrated Architecture system scales from 200-10,000 I/O, giving machine builders the portability to migrate existing machine designs into new, higher-end machine designs and vice versa.

“By leveraging EtherNet/IP for control and motion, machine builders can help their customers effectively integrate machine-level data with business-level data for improved management and decision-making,” said Paul Sipe, product manager, Rockwell Automation. “The Kinetix 350 on EtherNet/IP also helps machine builders reuse code to reduce their design, installation and commissioning time. This leaves more time and funds to focus on innovation that will drive business growth.”

To help protect personnel and increase productivity, the Kinetix 350 servo drive is equipped with safe, torque-off functionality. With the safe-off capability, tasks such as machine setup, cleaning, removal of jams and other maintenance tasks that previously required power-down conditions can now be accomplished without shutting down. Instead, drive output can be disabled, allowing faster machine restart.

The Kinetix 350 servo drive has an available 400W to 3kW power range to meet a wide array of global machine requirements, including support for 120-volt AC input, typical to power outlets found in nonindustrial settings.

The Kinetix 350 servo drive Features

• Continuous output power of 400 W…3 kW
• Input volts: 120…240V AC single-phase and 240-460V AC three-phase
• Supported in RSLogix™ 5000 programming software (version 20 and higher)
• Ideal for CompactLogix® and ControlLogix® controllers on EtherNet/IP™
• Integrates seamlessly with MP-Series™ and TL-Series™ servo motors and actuators

Servo Drives

New Control Systems Directory will be launched on 20th of February 2012.

At launch there will be 8 categories.

• Automation Consultants
• Automation Products Suppliers
• Automation Software
• Control Panel Builders
• Control Systems Integrators
• Machine Builders
• SCADA / HMI Software
• Specialists in Engineering Recruitment

Businesses can select up to 3 categories and they will be able to post 3 articles about their products or services per year for free. Directory offers almost unlimited data which can be submitted and up to 4 photos including company logo.

Visit ControlSystemsIntegrator.co.uk

The Digital Ear, based in Orange County originally has been in the market for over two decades and provides high end audio solutions. Their well trained technicians will help to connect up to at least four audio and video components to your TV, including DVD, Gaming portal and an HD receiver. Similarly, The Source AV Design Group provides its customers with high definition audio and video solutions, catering to home theater installations all over Orange County and LA. These specialized companies have been in the market for long, and they know the nuances of customer support to the dot, making sure home theater installations are as smooth a task for you, as it is for them.

These are remaining symbols for electrical circuit design of electrical drawing using CAD software. This standards help others to understand what is on electrical schematic, including electrical components and wires

The most popular standard for electrical CAD symbols is international IEC ( IEC 60617 or DIN EN 60617-2 to DIN EN 60617-12). In US we have NEMA(NEMA ICS 19-2002, ANSI Y32.2/IEEE 315/315 A, CSA Z99)

_______

Below is table with circuit symbols is based upon the following international, UK and United States specifications:

Description of symbol		IEC UK, Europe and International		NEMA United States
Control devices
NO Standard Push-Button
NC Standard Push-Button
Limit Switch or Position Switch (Normally Open)
Limit Switch or Position Switch (Normally Closed)
Proximity Switch NC
Proximity Switch NO
Pressure Switch ( here Normally opened )
Float Switch
Shielding
Earth, Ground, general symbols
Protective earth Protective ground
Connector with plug and socket		or
Isolating point, lug, closed

Electrical Symbols

Now example of electrical passive components and control circuit devices

Description of symbols		IEC UK, Europe and International		NEMA United States
Passive components and control circuit devices
Resistor		or		or
Resistor with fixed tappings				or
Variable resistor
Adjustable resistor
Potentiometer
Winding, inductance		or
Capacitor		or		or
Variable capacitor
Klaxon or horn
Buzzers		or
Indication light				or
Visual indicator

Electrical symbols – contacts and driving elements

Description of symbols		IEC UK, Europe and International		NEMA United States
Driving elements
Manual operation
Operation by pushing
Operation by pulling
Operation by key
Operation by turning
Operation by rollerss or sensors
Stored energy mechanism
Switch mechanism with mechanical release
Operated by motor
Emergency switch (mushroom)
Operated by electromagnetic overcurrent protection
Operated by thermal overcurrent protection
Control by fluid level
Electromagnetic operation
Contacts
N/O contact				or
N/C contact				or
Changeover contact with interruption				or
Early-make N/O contact of a contact assembly				TC
Late-break N/C contact of a contact assembly				TO
N/O contact, delayed when closing		or
N/C contact, delayed when reclosing		or

The website has minor changes as well for improving loading speed.  I wish you all the best in 2012 and I hope you are going to visit my site soon

Click here to visit eStore for Books  |  Click here to visit eStore for tshirts

Tablets are small and mobile, what makes them a perfect tool for work anywhere. Will this feature be useful in industrial automation ?

For SCADA definitely Yes ! Click here to find out more about software for mobile devices. We have to ask the question: what we need to be able to work with PLC ?

Programming Software:  Siemens Step 7 or RSlogix5000, two most popular programming software tools, require Windows operating system ( in some cases we need professional edition ) I found 2 tablets.  DT390 from CAMTECH SYSTEMS it typical industrial 8.9″ tablet and you can get it with Windows XP Pro. Here is the link.  Second tablet is with Windows 7 professional and Intel Core processor.  STYLISTIC Q550 from Fujitsu has 10.1″ multi touch screen and swappable battery. Link to see q550.

Hardware: In many cases we need just wireless connection to get access to our PLC through Ethernet. But if we cannot use this option, we will need USB port.(we can use then RS232 to USB adapter for example). Today many tablets offer this as a standard.

Interface: Would you be able to write the software using 10.1″ touchscreen ?  Definitely it is possible and even if you find it hard, you can buy keyboard for your tablet. Size of the screen could be a problem for some people as many of the programmers prefer bigger screen or even external monitors when they writing a code.

But the biggest advantage is tablet’s mobility when we do for example commissioning. With this size and light weight it is not a problem to go to any part of the plant and check for example a feedback from the sensor.

I am waiting for your opinion.

Links to tablet products in articles are not for advertising puropses.

Some of comments about topic from LinkedIn Automation Forum :

Omar M.   wrote:                 I wouldn’t trust anybody’s safety on a touch screen for the operation or programming of a control device like PLC’s or the like. If you are dialing a phone number and your fat finger got it wrong, who cares!, but, if you happen to start the wrong pump and caused a flood on the plant floor, or even worse, cut somebody’s hand because you did touch with your wrist that area of the screen….!. I have seen some improvement on the wireless safety coming from the crane industries, but as of yet the Emergency Stop it’s better to have it hard wired to the safety controller.

James M.  wrote :                       Years ago I saw an engineer in a meeting with an always on tablet/laptop. When an alarm went off o  the factory floor, he was aware and knew who should leave the board room immediately instead of the entire team leaving. I was impressed. Today, moving arround a machine monitoring and adjusting without wires will become the difference. For those of us who fat finger the touch screens, don’t worry our kids will get it and the software vendors will improve the programs to be more useful.

James P.  wrote :                   Tablets are in the process of changing home computing – they are a wonderful way of accessing the web and doing many things. Serious programming is not one of them. That being said, tablets may be the next great commissioning aid, and I can certainly see the day, when PLC’s have built in wi-fi or blue-tooth so that we can come up with a tablet, and monitor the program and make small changes during commissioning. This would be a wonderful use of this technology.

1.- IntegraXor – SCADA software based on internet browser. SCADA software is using OPC server to comunicate with external devices. IntegraXor currently support Internet Explorer 8 and Firefox 3.5+.

Benefits and Futures:

• Remotely view, monitor &  control devices, processes & facilities.
• Supports Tripple Redundancy.
• Impressive mimic graphics
• Lower total cost of ownership with open technologies.
• Quickly develop advanced applications with free tools.

more info : http://www.integraxor.com

2. IGSS FREE50 is a free edition of flagship IGSS V9 (released November 2010) which is a full-featured SCADA System. It has the same full functionality. The only limitation is the number of objects. It is ideal for plant operators (End Users), system integrators (distributors), and others who would like to automate processes or get an efficient and state of the art replacement for existing Operating Panels.

more info: http://www.igss.com

3. You can download full CitectSCADA software and built full application, but it is limited to 60 days. SCADA software, owned by Schneider Electric,  is a reliable, flexible and high performance system for any industrial automation monitoring and control application.

Benefits and Futures :

• Graphical process visualisation
• Superior alarm management
• Advanced clustering options for control when and where you want
• Historical and real-time trending
• Built-in reporting
• Statistical Process Control
• Multi-threaded CitectVBA and Cicode programming languages
• Powerful analysis tools

CitectSCADA is designed to provide industrial companies of all sizes with agile control over both engineering and runtime operations. Its design is centred on multi-level redundancy for the reliable, constant communication and operation of your system

more info: http://www.citect.com

  4. Infilink HMI it is Window based software, in free version limited to 2h runtime. When used in combination with a demo version of their 32 bit OPC servers, you have a complete HMI system that can be used by every developer in your organiz tion without spending a dime.

more info: http://www.kep.com/infilink/infilink.html

Please post your experience with this software here or on forum, click here

Allen Bradley Micro850 processor. This product is design for machine builders and systems integrators, looking to save money on acquisition costs and machine assembly time? There is one software for HMI and PLC called Connected Components Workbench.

Micro850 PLC from Allen Bradley

So Micro850 processor is :

• Designed for applications that require more digital and analog I/O or higher performance analog I/O
• Ideal for applications that can benefit from the embedded EtherNet/IP communications (messaging only), which can be used to interface to PCs, PanelView Component HMIs, Kinetix drives and PowerFlex drives
• Same form factor as 24pt and 48pt Micro830 but with 2085 Expansion I/O (up to 4) and embedded EtherNet/IP

A very useful thing are plug-in modules, which can extend functionality and performance of our application:

Micro850 Plug-Ins

• Analog Input / Output (2-channel / 4-channel, non-isolated)
– Customize with an unprecedented amount of embedded Analog I/O for a micro PLC. Up to 20 Analog inputs.
• Resistance Temperature Detector/Thermocouple (2-channel, non-isolated)
– Makes temperature control possible when used with PID with autotuning. Transforms the low cost Micro810 controller into a single loop temperature controller.
• Trim Potentiometer (6-channel, analog input)
– Low cost method of adding six analog presets for speed, position and temperature control. Embedded into the controller to avoid casual access by operators.
• Serial Port RS232/485 (isolated)
– Address even the most intensive serial communications tasks with Modbus RTU and ASCII protocol support. Up to five additional serial ports.
• Micro830/850 Backup Memory with High Accuracy Real-Time Clock
– One touch backs up Data Log and Recipes.
– Supports removal and insertion under power so data can be retrieved without stopping controller. Can also be used to clone/update Micro800 application code.
– Adds precision real-time clock function without needing to calibrate or update.

Picture shows removable plug-in for Allen Bradley micro 850

Please share your experience with this PLC by adding comment to this post. Thanks

Join the forum discussion on this post

The Online Support App enables you to access more than 300,000 documents on all Siemens Industry products, anywhere and anytime. No matter whether you face problems implementing your project, need help with troubleshooting, want to expand your facility or newly plan one.

You have access to FAQs, the latest firmware or software version downloads, manuals, certificates, characteristic curves, application examples and tools, product news (e.g. announcement of new products), information on successor type in case of product phase-outs.

The start page gives you a quick overview of the latest articles. The search brings up hits for products and articles, and supports you with a personalized suggestion list. Under “mySupport” you can find your personal favourites with articles you need frequently. Additionally, you receive selected news on new
functions, important articles or events – in the News section.

What is Siemens Online Support

The Online Support offers you a comprehensive information system for all Industry Automation and Drive Technologies Service & Support subjects at any time.
Do you wish to extend your Know How, read up on services or exchange experiences with users of automation systems?
Convenient functions in the online support lead you directly to the desired information. Online Support always the first step – around the clock on 365 days of the year.

Benefits:

You can get the app for free at the Apple App Store and at Android Market with the search terms:
“Siemens Industry Online Support”
Find more information:

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