Deerfield Beach, FL—Nine members of the Open DeviceNet Vendors Association (ODVA, Boca Raton, FL) released new DeviceNet-related products and described solutions on Oct. 1 at ODVA's 8th annual Global Networks 2002 conference and annual general meeting.
Deerfield Beach, FL— Nine members of the Open DeviceNet Vendors Association
Omron Electronics LLC roviding preventive maintenance and troubleshooting capabilities. When combined with Omron’s existing Configuration Software, users gain the ability to connect and monitor their factory floor over an Ethernet connect without needing any control programming of interruption.
In addition, DRT2 monitors an application’s number of operations and total operation time. By monitoring this information, the slave unit can provide notification when maintenance is required. DRT2’s expansion capabilities provide for a single node to be able to attach a single expansion block of either inputs or outputs to the main block, which reduces the total nodes required for a system.
Siemon Co. d a positive stop feature indicates the connection is properly locked and sealed. The UTP Industrial Max outlet uses a standard 110 tool for simple punch-down termination, while the ScTP outlet features a tool-less termination. Siemon also showed its Industrial Max modular patch cords, dust caps andstainless steel faceplates.
Besides presenting its existing machine controllers, drives, device-level electronics, pneumatic devices solutions, Bosch Rexroth Corp. (Hoffman Estates, IL) described its new PPC Ethernet/IP slave card. PPC slave features 40 words in each direction on a cyclic channel; complete read/write access to all PPC parameters; runs visual motion and Synax software; and has the same interface as DeviceNet and ControlNet interfaces, which enables PLC programming consistency and rapid commissioning.
Eaton Corp. Cutler-Hammer electric power distribution and business (Pittsburgh, PA) introduced their latest development in predictive relay technology, InsulGard, which consists of three components. These include standard sensor packages for all medium voltage equipment; a 15-channel continuous monitor that allows users to trend humidity, load, temperature, power or reactive power, along with partial discharge activity; and software that programs and communicates with InsulGard. This software can also be used to upload data to Cutler-Hammer’s diagnostics personnel for further analysis and reporting.
Eaton’s Cutler-Hammer business unit also released InsulGard G2, an online, noninvasive, continuous testing tool that monitors insulation integrity in large power transformer bushings. G2 maximizes uptime by enabling insulation monitoring without needing labor-intensive maintenance outages, and by providing continuous information and warnings well in advance of actual failure. G2 detects changes in insulation by summarizing and balancing the currents of a three-phase bushing set at the starting point. It requires no outages because it generates a complex, calculated number (gamma), and if an imbalance is detected, the monitor will initiate as local and remote alarm signal.
Woodhead Connectivity (Northbrook, IL; Waterloo, Ontario, Canada) featured the release of its Brad Harrison Slice I/O product line for DeviceNet. Brad Harrison Slice I/O combines the advantages of DIN-mounted I/O with the benefits of machine-mounted I/O by offering a family of I/O products with programmable inputs and outputs. Each of the I/O ports on the IP67 block can be programmed using standard network tools, such as RS-Networks and combinations of the inputs and outputs, which reduces the number of SKUs for inventory. In addition, patented I-Button technology saves also electronic data sheet (EDS) parameters and MAC ID information on an industrially hardened chip, which can be swapped out with the block, making device change-out simple and fast.
Woodhead also introduced its NetAlert! NetDecoder, which provides a unique view inside industrial network traffic, enabling administrators to locate the root cause of poor network performance and quickly take corrective action. By comparing data packets against industry standard protocols, NetDecoder can accurately locate errors and their sources. Even intermittent faults can be trapped and flagged in seconds, rather than hours or days, which can drastically reduce troubleshooting time.
InterlinkBT (Plymouth, MN) launched its new nine-port, fully “connectorized” industrial Ethernet switch, which joins the company’s five-port switch, to assist users seeking enterprise-wide information from the plant floor. InterlinkBT’s switch includes nine 10/100 Mbps eight-pin eurofast ports to segment network traffic; extend Ethernet connection distances; and convert data packets between different transmission speeds. The switch complies with IEEE 802.3 10Base-T Ethernet and 802.3u 100Base-TX fast Ethernet standards.
InterlinkBT also announced its E-connect, an integrated connectivity and DeviceNet solution for emergency stops. E-connect consists of a plug-and-work way to connect traditional e-stop devices and safety relay modules. E-connect DeviceNet stations operate in the background to monitor where the stop was initiated, and annunciate system status. These stations can be used on any DeviceNet system, and they function alongside other DeviceNet I/O devices. E-connect stations are able to connectorize one, two and eight e-stop devices. Also, E-connect DeviceNet stations don’t impact system safety. They are specifically designed to isolate safety circuits from auxiliary power and DeviceNet communication circuits.
Wind River Systems Inc. (Hudson, OH) demonstrated its Tornado for Industrial Automation-DeviceNet, which provides an embedded software platform for developing fully compliant DeviceNet client and server devices based on VxWorks real-time operating system (RTOS). This solution includes Tornado’s integrated development environment (IDE) and tools and the WindNet DeviceNet protocol stack. Pre-integration and testing of these components enables developers to concentrate on value-added application software and reduce time-to-market.
WindNet is WindRiver’s implementation of ODVA’s DeviceNet specification version 2.04. It allows developers to design DeviceNet-enabled industrial applications based on the VxWorks RTOS.
Beckhoff USA ckhoff’s TwinCAT CE PLC and motion control software in a rugged, low-cost hardware platform suitable for many control applications.
To help users avoid development expenses while networking automation devices into Ethernet/IP, Rockwell Automation (Milwaukee, WI) highlighted Beck IPC GmbH’s IPC@Chip with a communications stack from Ethernet/IP. IPC@Chip allows intelligent devices to be easily upgraded to an I/O server or to a message server for Ethernet/IP, either as a protocol converter; data concentrator to provide application data; or to transfer files. IPC@Chip is an embedded PC with a 186 processor, RAM, flash disk, serial interfaces, Ethernet controller and many I/O lines.
Control Engineering Daily News Desk
Jim Montague, news editor
[email protected]
