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Safe-speed monitoring relay is `first of its kind`

03 April, 2009

Rockwell Automation has released details of a dedicated safe-speed monitoring relay, which it claims is the first of its kind. The Allen-Bradley Guardmaster Minotaur MSR57P relay, first seen at last year’s SPS/IPC/Drives show in Germany, allows personnel to enter hazardous areas while motion is present.

The relay monitors the speed of the motion via one or two encoders, depending on the level of integrity needed. If an encoder already is installed, it can monitor its signals without needing another encoder to be installed.

The relay supports devices such as emergency-stops, light curtains, enabling switches and interlock switches, which detect demands on the safety system and can initiate a request to stop the motion. It can also monitor personnel in the hazardous area while the machine is in a safe-speed condition.

Users can configure the safety relay using either Allen-Bradley’s DriveExplorer software or a human interface module. Parameters that can be specified to meet particular application requirements, include safe direction, safe limited speed, and safe maximum speed with door control and monitoring.

For example, the relay can help to increase productivity by unlocking doors automatically when the speed of a machine is below a safe speed limit, or if zero speed is detected. It can be used with standard drives, or using the “safe-off” option on Allen-Bradley PowerFlex drives.

The safe-speed control technology used in the MSR57P relay is also available as an integrated option in Rockwell’s PowerFlex 755 drives and will be available in future releases of its Allen-Bradley Kinetix 6000 servo drives, allowing users to choose the most suitable platform for their applications.




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