Operator interfaces: Rugged panel PCs

By Control Engineering Staff November 9, 2006
Panel PCs from Maple Systems come preloaded with Microsoft Windows XP Professional and include touchscreen displays.

Panel PCs preloaded with Microsoft Windows XP Professional join the line of operator interface products from Maple Systems . Available with 8-, 10-, 15-, or 17-in. touchscreen displays, the PCs are called “extremely affordable” by the manufacturer. PC108A with an 8-in display costs $2,095 and includes a 40G hard drive, 256 MB SDRAM, Windows XP operating system, Ethernet/serial ports, USB ports, and CompactFlash port.

Designed for rugged industrial control, the units have a NEMA 4 anodized aluminum front bezel and steel enclosure to withstand harsh environments. Available hardware upgrades and options include compact flash slots, processor and memory upgrades, and a CD/DVD read/write drive. Systems can be expanded with USB plug-and-play accessories including a keyboard or mouse. Most PLCs and controllers can be attached to the COM ports or connected through an Ethernet port. A parallel printer port is also available. Audio line in/out allows for speaker and microphone attachment. Systems are configurable with WebStudio, Maple Systems’ HMI software.