Exclusive: HMI with programmable function buttons

HMi analog touchscreen operator interface (OI) from Eaton Corp. features programmable function buttons and is available in 4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-in. models.

By Control Engineering Staff September 25, 2006

HM i operator interface from Eaton Corp. has an analog touchscreen and is offered in 4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-in. models.

HM i analog touchscreen operator interface (OI) from Eaton Corp. features programmable function buttons and is available in 4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-in. models. OI can store recipes, historical and alarm data, or transfer data to a USB memory stick. Picture bank uploads and downloads images to and from a PC. Process saves pictures for use in other documents and allows upload of existing pictures to new HM i .

The 4-in. device comes in blue mode or gray scale and the 6-in. unit in blue mode, gray scale, or color version. The 8- and 10-in. units are available with color screens. HM i stores entire applications, so that later editing will not require original source files, and it provides secure password protection. A few keystrokes rescale applications to any size HM i device from 4 to 10-in. If an operator interface is upgraded or downsized later, the screen image can be sized to match that of the new screen with the click of a button.

Macro ability is said to handle even the most complicated applications from simple math, storing and manipulating trends, data, and communications to sending data from one PLC to another. HM i communicates on most any network and with more than 20 PLC brands. It includes an expansive driver list and 2 or 3 serial communication ports. Expansion slot on the back of the unit can be used for connecting to a parallel printer, Ethernet network, or I/O modules.

www.eatonelectrical.com

Eaton Corp.