National Instruments backplanes for PXI/CompactPCI and PXI Express
06 May, 2010 byNational Instruments now offers board-level backplanes from its PXI/CompactPCI and PXI Express chassis for OEMs to use in applications ranging from aerospace/defence to industrial embedded control. Engineers and scientists can use the PXI/CompactPCI backplanes to create custom, rugged applications that meet their unique form factor needs or environmental specifications.
Rexroth IAC-R and IAC-P Integrated Axis Controller series
28 April, 2010 byThe IAC-R and IAC-P Integrated Axis Controller series by Rexroth allow for simplified construction and commissioning. In these modules the drive and control has combined intelligent control electronics with reliable hydraulic drive units. The fieldbus-capable axis controllers use decentralised intelligence to reduce the load on the higher-level control system.
Understanding the IEC61131-3 programming languages
15 March, 2010It was about 120 years ago that Mark Twain used the phrase “more than one way to skin a cat”. In the world of PLC programming, that cliché is still applicable today. Thanks to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), five standard programming languages have emerged as the most common, used for both process and discrete programmable controllers.
Understanding the IEC61131-3 programming languages
05 March, 2010It was about 120 years ago that Mark Twain used the phrase “more than one way to skin a cat”. In the world of PLC programming, that cliché is still applicable today. Thanks to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), five standard programming languages have emerged as the most common, used for both process and discrete programmable controllers.
Siemens Simatic S7-300 controllers
07 February, 2010 bySiemens has developed four Simatic S7-300 controllers with a width of 40 mm. The range comprises the standard controllers CPU 315-2 PN/DP and CPU 317-2 PN/DP and the failsafe controllers CPU 315F-2 PN/DP and CPU 317F-2 PN/DP.
Controllers with long-life contacts
10 November, 2009 byWatlow has developed its No-Arc technology that extends the life of relays. A No-Arc relay is a mechanical relay with arc suppression provided through the use of smart electronics. This technology reduces the amount of arcing across the relay contacts and has a life of more than four million cycles compared to relays without arc suppression that have a life of approximately 100,000 operations.
Distributed I/O system
29 September, 2009VIPA Germany has released an intelligent distributed I/O and PLC system named SLice IO, to cater for ‘per point’, low-density applications. The SLIO I/O system comes with a high-speed backplane that can be combined with VIPA’s 100 V, 200 V, 300 S and 500 S systems, and future releases of SLIO CPU’s.
I/O expansion modules
21 September, 2009 byUnitronics has released a line of enhanced I/O expansion modules. Based on the same platform as the previous modules, these four compact devices offer up to 32 digital I/Os per unit, plus three additional analog inputs for maximum I/O capacity and minimised cabinet space.
Wireless PAC system
30 July, 2009Wireless local area networking (WLAN) capabilities have been added to all of Opto 22's ethernet-based Snap PAC system components, including all of its standalone and rack-mounted programmable automation controllers.
Entry-level PLC
30 July, 2009Designed for standalone operation in smaller industrial applications and mechanical engineering, the AC500-eCo PLC can be adapted to meet individual requirements.
PLC ethernet module
30 July, 2009Omron has recently introduced the CP1W-CIF41, an add-on ethernet option board for CP1 PLCs, enabling communications to these micro PLCs over ethernet networks, boosting their flexibility and usefulness.
Integrated PLC and HMI
25 June, 2009 byUnitronics’ Vision350 incorporates all colour advantages into a compact all-in-one PLC/HMI device. Colour displays are becoming common in today’s automation. They enable machine builders to show more details on the operator panels and to display vivid, attention-grabbing alarms.
Changing gears quickly: high-performance transmission production
29 May, 2009With over 13,000 employees, the VW plant in Baunatal — 10 km south of Kassel — is Volkswagen’s second largest production site in Germany and one of the concern’s most important component suppliers. This primary transmission plant in Kassel supplies the entire Volkswagen organisation worldwide with around 2.8 million manual and automatic transmission systems annually.
High-performance controller and chassis
20 May, 2009The National Instruments CompactRIO programmable automation controller is an advanced embedded control and data acquisition system designed for applications that require high performance and reliability.
Integrated controller and touch screen
18 May, 2009 byThe Unitronics Vision570 is an all-in-one compact controller with a colour touch screen, full PLC functionality, onboard I/O options and built-in recipe capability.
