At Hannover Fair this year, the Baumüller group presented an EtherCAT application configured with its ProMaster engineering software. The application comprised a controller-based PLC as EtherCAT master with three EtherCAT slaves - one b maXX 4000 drive, one I/O bus coupler and one position sensor from TR-Elektronik. The drive emulated a cam disc motion that was generated in ProMaster with motion control.
The ProMaster Engineering Framework allows the user to create projects and applications using intuitive 'drag-and-drop' functionality. Simple parameterisation and configuration takes the place of complicated programming thus reducing engineering complexity and time-to-market.
Both EtherCAT and CANopen are now fully integrated in ProMaster. EtherCAT integrates and connects the IT network and the Internet with a fast realtime Ethernet solution for machine communication.
EtherCAT can emulate the well-known CANopen device profile via CANopen over EtherCAT (CoE). The Servo over EtherCAT (SoE) protocol is also available as a slave.
ABB updates distributed control system ABB South Africa
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Leveraging 30 years of continuous innovation and reliability, ABB’s updated Freelance 2024 distributed control system (DCS) offers greater plant adaptability, faster and more reliable device communication, improved system security, and seamless data exchange.
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With the growing importance of digital transformation, HMIs and scada have evolved from control panels to vast operational hubs. Next-gen HMI/scada can bring together data, personalisation, and advanced insights to successfully achieve organisational goals, it is important to think about HMI/scada holistically within the operations ecosystem.
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In the early days of industrialisation, control systems were primarily mechanical, and relied on manual intervention and simple feedback loops to manage processes. Now, in the 21st century, industrial process automation systems are mind-blowingly intelligent, and provide almost unparalleled control and monitoring capabilities, making them integral to modern industrial systems.
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ABB has secured a landmark contract to modernise Smurfit Kappa’s Paper Machine 5 at its corrugated cardboard mill near Mexico City. ABB will provide Smurfit Kappa with DCS, accompanied by a comprehensive paper machine drives system, encompassing some of the market’s most advanced drives and motors meticulously designed to optimise PM5’s performance.
Read more...The synapses of the distributed control system Schneider Electric South Africa
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Industrial operations require a distributed control system (DCS) to coordinate and control their process subsystems in real time. Like the brain, a DCS is a multitasking maestro, controlling and coordinating complex processes in a myriad of industrial setting such as large manufacturing plants, providing valuable top-down control.
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JR Automation delivers custom automated solutions for numerous industries. It has done this through its scalable, modular automation platform, FlexChassis, which speeds up time to market while cutting costs. The company chose the XTS linear transport system from Beckhoff because of its speed, and modular design that allows for multiple configurations.
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In today’s Internet of Things (IoT) world, remote mobile access is a necessity for many industrial applications. There are several ways of implementing this connectivity with routers and virtual private networks.
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Data acquisition, data logging and data analysis are required functions for most modern industrial control systems. The simplest and lowest cost way to provide these functions is often by using the same platform providing real-time control, namely the PLC or the PAC.
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PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
In the twenty-first century, the ability to put together custom electronic devices has become much more accessible to smaller companies, and even the private user. With the open nature of these platforms, potential developers can start learning systems easily, and do not need a massive capital output to do so.
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