With the new PLC Coder from Simulink, the code for industrial control systems such as supervisory and closed-loop control applications can be automatically generated by machine engineers. Automatic code generation, the Model-Based Design’s integral part, reduces validation and overall development time and helps avoid errors related with traditional hand coding.

“Industrial automation is a competitive field as companies continuously seek ways to innovate and develop more complex mechatronic industrial systems. Our customers recognize that Model-Based Design with automatic code generation is the best way to design and validate these complex systems that span electrical, mechanical and control system domains. This approach enables them to succeed,” said Tony Lennon, The MathWorks’ industrial automation and machinery industry manager.

The new Simulink PLC Coder creates source code in structured text from Simulink models, Embedded MATLAB code, and Stateflow charts. It uses an integrated development environment (“IDE”) from an industrial automation seller to compile and run the code on a PAC or PLC commonly used for machine control.

MathWorks is working hand in hand with leading industrial automation sellers like B&R (www.br-automation.com) and Rockwell Automation (www.rockwellautomation.com) to assist users integrate Model-Based Design to their industrial equipment development efforts.

Rockwell Automation’s strategic alliance manager, Jason Weber said: “By collaborating with The MathWorks, our customers gain the ability to use Model-Based Design for developing PAC applications enhancing machine performance. Model-Based Design aligns closely with our Virtual Design and Production strategy which allows customers to speed time to market, reduce engineering costs and further validate machines before production.”

“Model-Based Design opens a new development approach for customers validating the integration of electromechanical and control systems for industrial equipment. Automatic code generation speeds up testing and deployment to the final system. Simulink PLC Coder complements B&R Automation Studio Target for Simulink, letting our customers chose between generating structured text and C-code, depending on the needs of their application,” said Philipp Wallner, B&R Industrial Automation’s Mechatronics Technologies lead developer.

The 8718 product line is a series of high torque, 2 phase stepper motors. The motors are available in three body lengths: 2.6”, 3.8”, and 5.0” and are capable of up to 1,288 oz-in of holding torque depending on the stack size. These motors can easily be utilized for high torque applications in industries such as packaging and food processing.

These motors can additionally be ordered with custom shaft modifications and various winding variations to meet your speed, torque, and power requirements.

Lin Engineering
www.linengineering.com

With its sturdy bearings and enclosure, the Leine & Linde 1000 series encoder achieves extraordinary durability in all applications with similar demands. The enclosure, rated IP67, easily protects the encoder’s internal components from dust and liquids. Stainless steel housing is available as a special option.

Different incremental and absolute versions of the 1000 series are available, and a combination of the various encoder types can even be integrated in the same 1000 series product. For the first time ever, absolute pulse encoders with the PROFIBUS interface can now be used in extremely tough industrial environments by using this 1000 Series from Leine & Linde. The absolute variants are also available with interfaces such as SSI, EnDat, CANopen, DeviceNet™ or with a parallel output with resolutions up to 25 bit.

Leine & Linde
www.leinelinde.com

The latest safety terminals for the EtherCAT I/O system fully utilize the high-performance EtherCAT. EL6900 safety PLC terminal can process 256 safety-relevant function blocks and is capable of integrating up to 128 four-channel safety terminals (“512 safety devices”). The integrated safety function blocks in the EL6900 Safety PLC are set up according to each unique application. Through this, safety functions can be simply programmed like latches, timers, serial/parallel muting, two-hand control, emergency stop and safety door monitoring. A connection shutdown function can also be established so the equipment’s interchangeable sections with embedded safety terminals can be detached from the machine without causing any safety system errors.

With additional EL6900 Safety PLCs, systems can be expanded as necessary. Through this, the safety-relevant control tasks for plants and machines can be implemented centrally or locally according to the application. The 24V DC digital output terminals (“EL2904: 0.5A and EL2902: 2.3A”) and 24V DC digital input terminals (“EL1904”) are available for connecting safety actuators or sensors. The TwinSAFE Terminals can be set up in any position in distributed I/O systems and in the terminal system. Also, the EL6900 Safety PLC can be used for AX5000 Servo Drives from Beckhoff as a safety controller that uses EtherCAT as a motion bus.

Safety over EtherCAT(“TM”) allows the integration of safety devices to a control system without requiring segregated safety network or a stand-alone safety PLC. Safety data is handled through a black channel passing a standard Ethernet cable. This new safety solution integrated in the terminal block housing is exceptionally compact, providing the highest flexibility through nearly limitless positioning inside the EtherCAT Terminal systems. The standard EtherCAT I/O Terminal systems can be intermixed to the same node with the safety terminals.

The Beckhoff TwinSAFE, a proven safety solution, has been successfully integrated into the original Beckhoff Bus Terminal I/O system (“K-bus”) and is in use around the world in a broad range of applications. The integrated TwinSAFE technology in the EtherCAT Terminal system (“E-bus”), the high performance of EtherCAT – with enhanced diagnostics and ultra fast communication – is now available.

Safety applications can be optionally made by using simple configuration in TwinCAT software in System Manager or programmed using a TwinCAT PLC (IEC 61131-3), in case of more complex applications. The Safety PLC’s safety-relevant parameters are available in TwinCAT software and can be utilized in the standard controller. Also, typical drive functions can be linked and selected very simply.

The EL6900 Safety PLC terminal is easy and quick to replace in case of possible required service without explicitly reloading and verifying the program. The system automatically loads and verifies the configuration to dispense trouble-prone removable media. The project’s manual saving or loading is not anymore necessary in case of service.

Another feature is the integrated tool in TwinCAT for determining and calculating the PL or SIL according to EN ISO 13849-1 and EN IEC 62601. The transfer of information to an additional tool and the safety application’s previous complicated analysis are no longer required, which can lead to significant cost savings and work reductions.

Now, industrial equipment developers can easily integrate multiple custom processing algorithms and Ethernet protocols into automation systems and industrial network using one Spartan-6 FPGA as a reprogrammable, flexible and cost-effective alternative to application-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”) or application-specific standard product (“ASSP”) implementations. The latest platform has a complete development environment made specifically for industrial applications such as network bridges or gateways, machine vision systems, programmable logic controllers (“PLC”), and various embedded control systems.

The platform offers smart design methodologies and next-generation programmable technologies delivered in the Spartan-6 FPGA’s Industrial Ethernet Kit. The Industrial Ethernet Kit, which is jointly developed with Avnet (www.avnet.com), is highly scalable and fully integrated with all the software and hardware needed in designing industrial communications protocols.

The Industrial Ethernet Kit includes the Avnet Spartan-6 LX150T FPGA industrial networking daughter card and development board based on an EtherCAT Targeted Reference Design, ISE Design Suite Embedded Edition software environment, 3rd-party evaluation EtherCAT core from Beckhoff, and the industry standard FPGA Mezzanine Card (“FMC”) specification two. The kit’s Future add-ons offer reference designs and additional daughter cards to enable faster market time for designing factory automation applications.

Industrial product developers can now leverage the low-power features of Spartan-6 FPGAs, dedicated DSP blocks and 32-bit MicroBlaze soft processor to create (with hardware-based processing) single-chip systems to accelerate extraordinary computational bandwidth and network performance to implement advanced algorithms. Power-optimized serial transceivers, industry-standard interfaces, and integrated memory controllers embedded in the Spartan-6 LX150T enable multiple or single industrial Ethernet protocol designs that support legacy network standards such as CAN providing a bridge to PCIe-based networks.

The EtherCAT Targeted Reference Design is either supplied in source or pre-compiled format. The design with the industrial networking daughter card and base board can be used out of the box to quickly install an EtherCAT slave device for PC-based automation systems. The EtherCAT protocol is used to evaluate data performance and characteristics with the Spartan-6 FPGA, and to process and send real-time data between EtherCAT slave and master devices modifying EtherCAT soft IP core’s required evaluation version to accommodate system requirements. The reference design also offers easy-to-use and streamlined environment for developers in addition to their differentiating value to the FPGA design.

With the Spartan-6 FPGA LX150T base board, the Spartan-6 FPGA Industrial Ethernet Kit leverages dual FMC connectors to simplify legacy networks and multiple Ethernet development. One of the FMC connectors is utilized to the industrial networking daughter card to be integrated with market-specific interfaces for legacy serial standards (“RS-232, RS-485”), dual CAN physical layer (“PHY”), and dual port 10/100 Ethernet (“IEEE1588 capable”). With custom modules, the second FMC connector is used to expand the system. This enables embedded software and hardware engineers to integrate, design, test and evaluate industrial Ethernet protocols in silicon sooner than is typically feasible with ASICs or ASSPs, and to simply update systems throughout production and product development with the latest proprietary algorithms and networking standards.

With eight CGSM sizes (2 – 9), Input HP from 1/3 to 125, and Output RPM from 4 – 6 up to 118 – 125, Cleveland Gear is confident that these drives will provide highly reliable service for a variety of different material-handling applications. The shaft mount reducers are suitable for AGMA Class I, II or III service for motor HP’s up to 125 with standard ratios of 15:1 and 25:1.

Twin tapered bushing kits are perfectly sized for CGSM reducers, as well as other manufacturers’ shaft mount drives, with bore diameters from 1 5/16” to 4 15/16”. The kits ensure fast and easy installation and reliable support on both sides of the reducer. All CGC tapered bushing kits come complete with fastening bolts and a full-length key.

Cleveland Gear Company, Inc.
www.clevelandgear.com

The latest CMP series offers accuracy and premium dynamics in a compact-form factor. The 3-phase permanent-magnet extended CMP series servo, like the CM series, was fully assembled in Australia to ensure SEW-Eurodrive can provide a quick turnaround on complete servo motor packages.

The extended CMP servo motor series complement the existing CMP and CM servo series, and are compact, light-weight and offer high torque density. It is founded on advanced cooling fin-free aluminum housing and rare earth magnetic materials. Precision engineering assures that the CMP series servo provides positioning accuracy and premium torque to weight ratios.

The new CMP models with an option of two rotor inertias, and two brake torques, either low or high, both have a particularly low inherent mass-moment of rotor inertia.

Moreover, it has cogging levels minimized to below two percent and a 4x rated torque overload capacity. The CMP servo motor series emits lower sound levels between 55dBA and 75dBA at all speeds

The new CMP models are provided with an industry standard round canon plug connectors (both for encoder/resolver and power connections) to ensure servicing and quick on-site installation when fused with pre-manufactured cable assemblies and to increase equipment compatibility.

The CMP series has an extensive range of options. The series is provided with a standard robust resolver or fitted with an optional precision Hiperface absolute encoder.

As optional forced cooling fans, the series has a selection of high performance electro-mechanical brakes which increase the servo’s static torque. Also with an optional square flange, the units are available to allow direct machine mounting.

The CMP series plus gear unit, coupled with advanced SEW-Eurodrive’s MOVIDRIVE B application inverter, offers the complete end-to-end servo motor solution for precision positioning applications.

The company saw an opportunity to minimize the lengthy setup time between runs. It is an inherent technical glitch in most packaging equipment.

Case packers of all types are indeed notorious for extended changeover time when switching the machine parts to accommodate packaging requirements and differing product configurations.

Machine operators routinely rely on their charts to reconfigure the machines, which typically have many combinations for different set-ups and require up to 60 points of adjustment.

“One of the biggest concerns we’ve heard from our customers was around machinery set up and center-lining and the length of time it took,” says Robert Hattin, Edson’s president. “For us the technology was never there to cost-effectively automate it.”

However, after countless research for the most suitable automated servo technology for their machinery – the required standard fittings to retrofit to the existing machines; a small body that does not require much panel space; absolute encoders to eliminate re-homing; and a low-voltage motor for easy wiring – Edson turned to a German automation supplier, Festo Inc (www.festo.com).

While working with Festo’s engineers, Mr. Hattin said that Festo came up with the low-voltage servo technology that is offered at a palatable price with a good return on investment (“ROI”) for the end user.

The servo, branded the Edson E-Just (“electronic adjustment”), was the lynchpin that made Edson’s new SR 3600 tray and large case packer a possibility. It combines a sleek mechanical assembly with multi-servo automation, becoming Canada’s first case packing innovation.

The SR 3600 is an innovative, tray and large case packer that is flexible, fast, and designed to accommodate a wide case size range. It can operate both as a HSC tray or case packer and when paired with Edson’s flexible SC collator, the machine provides accurate, high-speed results.

The SR 3600 features a Case/Tray Erector with two KDF panel gripping assembly to raise reliably large trays and cases that works well on thin gauge corrugate; a Case/Tray Dispenser with proprietary servo rotary over and under case dispenser that handles light corrugate; and operating flexibility with wide product and case size range that can handle various case sizes, product sizes and pack patterns. It also features integrated controls that have multi-axis servo drives with full diagnostics and field bus wiring for easy programming with graphic menu, fast diagnostics and quick installation.

It is based on PLC-on-a-ChipT technology that allows programmable intelligence in less than ideal conditions because of its sealed and watertight enclosure with pluggable connectors. Its standard enclosure is submersible to 3-feet and is sub-plate and screw mountable. The HEC-4000 is programmed by using Divelbiss EZ Ladder software supporting the ladder diagram, which has a function block programming.

The HEC-4000-E-R features 8 to 32 Virtual Design and Construction (“VDC”) input power and an extended operating temperature ranging from -40 degrees to 80 degrees Celsius. Its I/O includes four 8 to 32 VDC inputs (“two are 40 kHz high-speed counters”); six digital outputs rated to four amps, including a programmable status monitoring and an automatic over-current safety. The four outputs are selectable as pulse-width modulation (“PWM”) with internal analog current sensing variables allowing closed loop control of the output loads. Also, there are four analog inputs factory set to 0 to 5 VDC or 0 to 20ma when recorded. Network communication is done by using a second serial communication port or via CAN port. Expansion I/O includes both analog and digital with required allowance for custom modules in the future.

Typical industrial use such as improved proportional valve control via marine application, conveyor systems, oil field equipment or intelligent mining, mobile asset tracking and management, closed loop, control for engine compressors and driven pumps. The wide operating temperature range (“-40 degrees to +80 degrees Celsius”) and 8 to 32 VDC input power gives ease particularly in utilization by marine platforms and off-highway.

FP0R PLC Programmers saves money and precious panel space. Its relay output types have detachable screw terminal blocks. Also, the power supply is quick to disconnect. It is easy to install, especially when duplicating systems.

It has an 80 nsec/step ultra-high speed between 0 and 3000 steps. Scan time can be reduced by simply transferring existing FP0 programs (“2.7 k steps”) into FP0R.

Compared to the conventional model, 3001st and later steps’ processing is faster. FP0’s basic instruction processing speed is 900 nsec. While FP0R’s speed is 580 nsec, which is 1.5 times faster than FP0.

Its high-speed processing, by combining the two ultra-high-speed processing (“0 to 3 k steps”), accommodates programs that grow with functionality enhancements of equipment and systems, raising the productivity.

Also, its ultra high processing speed is ideal for use as a sensor controller. For example, labeling machines require a system capable of reading output signals in an instant from one fiber sensor and immediately controlling the roller rotation to detect the end edge or label head on the release paper tape.

FP0R Series has 32k-word data register and 32k-step program capacity. It features functionality enhancements of equipment and systems (touch panels, communications, positioning, and analog control) inevitably accompany increasing complexity and number of programs.

FP0R PLCs accommodates the increase using its 32k steps large program memory capacity and a data register of 32k words, and facilitates data setting and record management for a variety of product types.

It has an independent comment memory for easy maintenance of programs, where there are program control difficulties on PC, like identifying the latest program. With this, all comments, maintenance, facilitating program control and programs can be stored in the PLC.

The program used in the equipment’s PLC is often considered as the best option.

FP0R PLCs is fully compatible with FPWIN Pro, a new generation programming tool. Without the drawing data (“project file”), the flowchart programming (“SFC”) and function blocks (“FB”) cannot restore the original drawing on a PC.

The FP0R PLCs also have a USB 2.0 tool port, which is provided as standard equipment. The control unit with an ordinary USB cable can easily connect to a PC, making program monitoring and/or editing available.