EC: Allen-Bradley Compact GuardLogix 5370 Controller

Safety — Machine safety: The Compact GuardLogix 5370 is a controller that provides integrated safety and motion on a single EtherNet/IP network. This is a Control Engineering 2017 Engineers’ Choice Awards Winner.

October 13, 2016

The Compact GuardLogix 5370 controller helps to simplify and standardize safety across machines and systems by combining safety, motion and standard control on a single EtherNet/IP network. Users no longer need separate networks and controllers for safety and motion in applications with up to 16 axes. This makes it easier to design safety into a wide range of standard and custom machines, and results in simpler system architectures.

When safety, motion and standard control are combined into one package, configuration is easier, wiring is reduced and users get better diagnostics. In addition, a single programming environment for both safety and standard control removes the need to manually manage separate standard and safety memory, or partition logic to isolate safety.

The Compact GuardLogix 5370 controller also helps users meet global safety standards. It achieves Safety Integrity Level 3, Performance Level e and Category 4—the highest ratings for machine safety. When used in combination with the Allen-Bradley Kinetix 5500 servo drive or the Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 527 ac drive, users have integrated safe torque off on EtherNet/IP.

In addition, the controller includes dual Ethernet ports to support both linear and device-level-ring (DLR) network topologies. Built-in energy storage removes the need for batteries, and a removable 1-GB Secure Digital (SD) card improves data integrity.

Rockwell Automation, www.rockwellautomation.com