AT Technical Services’ new wireless protocol for machine safety: A new foot switch

Technews Industry Guide - Wireless 2014 Operator Interfaces, Switches & Relays Industrial Wireless

AT Technical Services has introduced its first wireless switching device incorporating a new safe wireless technology. Thanks to its ergonomic design, the RF GF(S)I 2,4 GHz-safe-b foot control can be actuated without risk of fatigue and – in its cabled version – has already been tried and tested in many different machine safety applications.

Eliminating the cables means that the foot switch can be positioned with far more flexibility, wherever the operator can monitor the process most easily. In addition, without cables there are no tripping hazards that could potentially restrict industrial safety. The wireless connection is maintained as long as the operator is actuating the foot control. Radio signals are evaluated by a compact combination of wireless receiver and safety relay module which can be installed inside the control cabinet.

The bi-channel wireless sWave 2.4-safe technology developed by Steute especially for machine safety is characterised by its reliability and good coexistence with other wireless systems. Interference-free operation is possible in conjunction with a large number of other wireless systems. The basis for this is a pseudo-random frequency hopping technique, where the hopping pattern is known only to the relevant transmitter and receiver.

A typical application for this new wireless safety foot control is the safe set-up of machines with open guard doors. As long as the machine operator keeps the foot switch depressed, he can activate the setup function of the machine with the guard door open, giving him unrestricted access. This procedure also has advantages when programming robots, and when operating machines with large moving components, e.g. wire wrap machines and presses, or when changing parts on larger machine tools.

Type testing for this system, consisting of the wireless foot switch and its receiver unit, in Performance Level (PL) d in accordance with ISO EN 13849-1 and Safety Integrated Level (SIL) 2 in accordance with IEC 62061, is in preparation. This categorisation will document the reliability of the safe wireless signal and its suitability for safety-based applications.

For more information contact Chantell Swanepoel, AT Technical Services, 086 100 2887, [email protected], www.atts.co.za

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