Rockwell Automation to focus on partnering at AUSPACK PLUS 2011
17 February, 2011At the AUSPACK PLUS 2011 exhibition in March, Rockwell Automation will focus on furthering cooperative partnerships with machine-builders and OEMs, emphasising a consultative approach to helping companies achieve their business goals.
Allen-Bradley ControlLogix L73 and L75 PACs
14 October, 2010 byRockwell Automation has made two additions to its Allen-Bradley ControlLogix family of controllers, both leveraging the single design environment and networking protocol within the company’s Integrated Architecture system. The ControlLogix L73 and L75 programmable automation controllers (PACs) provide advanced memory, speed and processing capabilities for a wide range of control demands, from high-performance logic and motion to information-intensive process applications.
Omron CJ2M family of PLC CPUs
17 August, 2010 byOmron recently released its CJ2M family of PLC CPUs. Evolving from the CJ1M family, the CJ2M improves performance, features and functionality. Smaller models allow an affordable entry into advanced automation, while models at the high end enable scalable solutions.
Allen-Bradley Compact GuardLogix L43S and L45S PACs
23 May, 2010The Allen-Bradley Compact GuardLogix programmable automation controllers (PACs) L43S and L45S are designed to provide capabilities previously available only in the larger Allen-Bradley ControlLogix platform.
National Instruments PXIe-8133 quad-core embedded controller
20 May, 2010 byThe NI PXIe-8133 embedded controller features the quad-core Intel Core i7-820QM processor. It is designed to help engineers greatly reduce test time with double the processing performance and data throughput compared to previous NI controllers.
Pilz PSSuniversal 16-channel compact I/O modules
17 May, 2010 byCompact modules are now available for the Pilz PSSuniversal decentralised I/O system.
National Instruments backplanes for PXI/CompactPCI and PXI Express
06 May, 2010 byNational Instruments now offers board-level backplanes from its PXI/CompactPCI and PXI Express chassis for OEMs to use in applications ranging from aerospace/defence to industrial embedded control. Engineers and scientists can use the PXI/CompactPCI backplanes to create custom, rugged applications that meet their unique form factor needs or environmental specifications.
Rexroth IAC-R and IAC-P Integrated Axis Controller series
28 April, 2010 byThe IAC-R and IAC-P Integrated Axis Controller series by Rexroth allow for simplified construction and commissioning. In these modules the drive and control has combined intelligent control electronics with reliable hydraulic drive units. The fieldbus-capable axis controllers use decentralised intelligence to reduce the load on the higher-level control system.
Understanding the IEC61131-3 programming languages
15 March, 2010It was about 120 years ago that Mark Twain used the phrase “more than one way to skin a cat”. In the world of PLC programming, that cliché is still applicable today. Thanks to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), five standard programming languages have emerged as the most common, used for both process and discrete programmable controllers.
Understanding the IEC61131-3 programming languages
05 March, 2010It was about 120 years ago that Mark Twain used the phrase “more than one way to skin a cat”. In the world of PLC programming, that cliché is still applicable today. Thanks to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), five standard programming languages have emerged as the most common, used for both process and discrete programmable controllers.
Siemens Simatic S7-300 controllers
07 February, 2010 bySiemens has developed four Simatic S7-300 controllers with a width of 40 mm. The range comprises the standard controllers CPU 315-2 PN/DP and CPU 317-2 PN/DP and the failsafe controllers CPU 315F-2 PN/DP and CPU 317F-2 PN/DP.
Controllers with long-life contacts
10 November, 2009 byWatlow has developed its No-Arc technology that extends the life of relays. A No-Arc relay is a mechanical relay with arc suppression provided through the use of smart electronics. This technology reduces the amount of arcing across the relay contacts and has a life of more than four million cycles compared to relays without arc suppression that have a life of approximately 100,000 operations.
Distributed I/O system
29 September, 2009VIPA 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.
I/O expansion modules
21 September, 2009 byUnitronics has released a line of enhanced I/O expansion modules. Based on the same platform as the previous modules, these four compact devices offer up to 32 digital I/Os per unit, plus three additional analog inputs for maximum I/O capacity and minimised cabinet space.
PLC ethernet module
30 July, 2009Omron has recently introduced the CP1W-CIF41, an add-on ethernet option board for CP1 PLCs, enabling communications to these micro PLCs over ethernet networks, boosting their flexibility and usefulness.
