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SPS IPC Drives 2014 exclusive show report

03 January, 2015

Eaton is also offering a new range of HMI/PLCs with high-resolution multi-touch displays (7” or 10.1”) that support gesture control. The XV300 series allows machine-builders to develop simple, compact, affordable systems that support multimedia elements such as videos, PDFs and Web content.

Festo announced a complete control package for complex, dynamic handling systems with up to four axes, that needs just one order number. The CMCA system includes an axis controller, 3D motion control, a motor controller and built-in safety. It is available in a cabinet or on a mounting plate. The system is delivered with basic parameters set, thus simplifying commissioning.

The German controls specialist Jetter had several new arrivals on its stand including an axis controller for applications needing high computing power and motion control functions. The JetControl 945MC has an integrated axis controller and can manage up to 64 axes.

Jetter also has two new compact industrial PCs: the maintenance-free JI-PC 601 uses solid-state drives and an Atom dual-core processor; while the JI-PC 602 has on-board COM Express modules, making it highly scalable.

New from Lenze is a range of multi-touch control terminals that offer the option of two-handed operation to eliminate the risk of errors when using one hand. The v800 terminals, available in screen sizes of 13.3” and larger, can be supplied as IP65-protected panel PCs or as embedded panels.

Mitsubishi has expanded its HMI portfolio with a range of entry-level devices that can log, display and store data from system components and export it to a PC or SD card for further evaluation. The 7” and 10” GS HMIs can display and adjust parameters from remote components such as PLCs, VSDs and servo amps. In the event of a problem, an operator can examine the PLC code and identify errors without needing an external PC or extra software.

Mitsubishi also announced additions to the GOT2000 family of HMIs that it launched at the 2013 SPS show. The new GT25 series (which fits between the GT23 and GT27 series) includes 8.4”, 10.4” and 12.1” models, and incorporates a document viewing function that can display manuals or photographs, thus avoiding the need for printed service documents.

Mitsubishi has also added a 15” HMI to the GT27 series and 3.8–5.7” HMIs to the GT21 series.

Phoenix Contact announced a new generation of panels with built-in Web browsers that can display visualisations that support HTML5 as well as JavaScript applications. The WP 3000 range (below) includes IP65-front-protected touch-panels from 5.7–12”, which are intended purely as operating devices.

Rockwell Automation was previewing a range of graphic terminals in five screen sizes from 4–10” (including two widescreen options). The Allen Bradley PanelView Plus 7 Standard terminals allow data to be monitored anywhere in a plant via a tablet or smartphone. Project data can be stored on SD cards to simplify the configuration of multiple machines. A software library, including faceplates, is claimed to cut screen development times by up to 90%.

Siemens announced a second generation of its Simatic mobile HMI panels that offer the option of a built-in emergency-stop button that is illuminated only when the panel is connected to a safety circuit. The panels have 7” or 9” widescreen displays that are claimed to offer a 40% larger area than the previous generation. The IP65 panels can withstand falls from 1.2m.

Siemens also launched a range of 15” panel PCs and HMIs with multi-touch displays that can detect spurious touching by, for example, the ball of the hand. The Simatic IPC477D and IPC677D panel PCs and IFP1500 HMIs can sense gestures and can be operated while wearing gloves.

Sigmatek has introduced a 7” display with a dual-touch function, allowing scrolling, zooming and other two-finger gestures. The ETT 732 HMI uses a Linux-based real-time operating system and its interfaces include Ethernet, Can, USB and RS-232 ports.

Four years after Vipa launched its SLIO slice I/O system, it has added two CPUs that convert it into a full control system. The iMC7 CPU acts as a PLC with built-in motion functions and an EtherCat master that can communicate with VSDs and servodrives from Yaskawa (Vipa’s parent since 2013). The PLCs (below) are programmed using Vipa’s Speed7 Studio software which allows drives to be added using drag-and-drop gestures. The PLCs are programmed using Step7. They have 48Mbit/s backplanes and can switch to an accuracy of ±1µs.




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