Distributed I/O system

VIPA Germany has released an intelligent distributed I/O and PLC system named SLice IO, to cater for ‘per point’, low-density applications. The SLIO I/O system comes with a high-speed backplane that can be combined with VIPA’s 100 V, 200 V, 300 S and 500 S systems, and future releases of SLIO CPU’s.

The SLIO is available with support for common fieldbus protocols such as CANopen, Profibus and Modbus, and for industrial ethernet systems such as EtherCAT and ProfiNet.

VIPA has designed the SLIO hardware to simplify the customers purchasing and stock requirements. Every electronic module is shipped with a terminal base module, and every fieldbus slave ships with a power module.

The modular design of the SLIO unit means that, in the event of a maintenance problem, a simple exchange of each electronics module is possible without the disconnection of the wiring. The modules are installed and removed with a simple slide-and-plug mechanism with polarity reversal protection, and up to 64 modules can be accommodated.

Diagnostic information has been a focal point of the SLIO concept allowing users to diagnose faults, repair and recommission the machine faster. The SLIO also comes with both front-printable labelling and permanently marked wiring diagrams on the side casings to further speed up these tasks.

The staircase-shaped design of the connection layer, including the spring clamp connector technology and a permanent wiring, allows the wiring of the unit with a conventional screwdriver.

Within the 12.5 mm width of the modules it is possible to connect two to eight sensors or actuators (2.5 mm² wires).