The latest AC041S safety relay from ifm electronic can be used as either a standalone safety relay, or as part of an AS-interface Safety at Work network. Of use to many OEMs and end-users, the AC041S complies with the latest safety standards, having certification to EN 954-1/SC 4, IEC 61508/SIL3 and EN ISO13849-1/Ple.
As a two-channel AS-interface safety monitor, the AC041S has more features than its predecessors, including a standard USB 2.0 interface and a chip card to backup settings. Extra features are also built into the safety software, allowing more functionality. The USB is for configuration and diagnosis on a PC using ifm’s user-friendly safety software. As a standalone safety relay, the AC041S features four safe inputs or eight standard input/outputs locally. The outputs are solid-state, and can be used with relay expansion modules which are also available from ifm.
When used as an AS-i safety monitor, the AC401S also processes up to four safe inputs or eight standard input/outputs locally at the same time as monitoring up to 31 safe slaves in the AS-i system. ifm’s user-friendly configuration and diagnostic software ASIMON V3.0 G2 enables clear and quick assignment and logical combination of the safety-related bus components in the tried and tested function block representation under Windows. The chip card is in a pop-out slot in the front of the AC041S, making it easy to save a copy of the settings. This is handy for OEMs needing to repeat configurations, or end users needing to keep records.
In an AS-i network, the AC041S AS-i safety monitor checks code sequences which are exchanged on the system. If these are incorrect or not received in time, it ensures the safe state of the system. The unit has two safe semi-conductor outputs. It is possible to trigger up to six further safe outputs independently in the field. The AS-i safety monitor can be integrated into the AS-i system at any position. Several AS-i safety monitors can be operated via one AS-i master, so grouping is possible to evaluate the safe AS-i slaves.
Standard safety relay functions like ‘e-stop’, ‘stop categories 0 or 1’, ‘two-hand operation’ and ‘enable switch’ can be implemented via the software. One AS-i safety monitor can thus replace many traditional safety relays.
For more information contact Chris Cronjé, ifm electronic SA, 086 143 6772, www.ifm.com/za
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