Yokogawa Electric Corporation has announced the release of FieldMate R3.03, a significantly enhanced version of the FieldMate device management software tool, which has the versatility to configure, adjust and manage a wide variety of field devices used in factories and other production sites.
In addition to displaying past diagnostic data, this latest version includes new functions that provide a more intuitive visualisation of pressure calibration data. Powerful new interfaces are also provided for connecting to devices that rely on non-standard protocols and connecting to host networks.
FieldMate runs on PCs and is used to configure, adjust, and manage devices in plants. With its support of a variety of digital communication standards, it can connect to and manage many different manufacturers’ devices. This is a popular software tool that has been installed on more than 10 000 systems since 2006, and Yokogawa has steadily updated it with new functions that truly make it an all-in-one maintenance solution.
The functions added in release 3.03 make it significantly easier to adjust, check, and calibrate devices, facilitate the sharing of maintenance information by field and office personnel, and allow the connection to devices and instruments that use non-standard communication protocols.
FieldMate
FieldMate is a PC-based device configuration tool with an intuitive, user-friendly interface that is used to perform initial setup, routine maintenance, and device replacement. It supports all major industry-standard communication protocols such as Foundation Fieldbus, Brain, and HART, as well as the FDT/DTM open software execution framework. In addition, support for the ISA100.11a field wireless communications standard enables the configuration and adjustment of any vendor’s network-capable field devices, regardless of which communications protocol is used. With the aim of helping its customers improve their maintenance efficiency, Yokogawa has continued to improve this product.
Latest enhancements
1. New functions that make it easier to calibrate pressure/differential pressure transmitters
Field devices must periodically be calibrated to maintain their accuracy. Differential pressure/pressure transmitters are widely used in plants, and their calibration requires skilled maintenance personnel. To calibrate a transmitter, a field engineer must apply pressure using a hand pump, measure that pressure with a pressure calibrator and a transmitter, and manually record the reading produced by the transmitter. This same procedure must be repeated at various standard pressure levels. Release 3.03 has a new function that clearly displays in real time the pressure calibrator and transmitter readings acquired from the pressure calibrator, and a new function that automatically records calibration data. With these functions, even inexperienced maintenance personnel can easily calibrate these devices.
2. Enhanced visualisation of historical data needed to identify device deterioration
This latest FieldMate release comes with a new function that displays previous measurements on a graph, which is useful, for example, in identifying changes over time in the adjustments needed to eliminate an offset from the zero point. Used together with a function that displays a list of diagnostic data, this can help personnel identify field devices and other types of equipment that are in need of maintenance. Previously, such assessments required a good deal of experience in analysing measurement data. Thanks to the improved visualisation of data with this new function, even inexperienced maintenance workers can accurately make these assessments.
3. New external interfaces
A new external interface is now available that facilitates connections to host systems, including those that rely on the cloud. This allows users to share FieldMate-generated maintenance reports with their colleagues in the field and back at the office.
In addition, while FieldMate supports all the major communication protocols used by field devices, some plants still rely on field devices and other types of equipment that use unique, non-standard communication protocols. A new external interface is now available that enables it to connect to and handle data from devices that use such non-standard protocols.
For more information contact Christie Cronje, Yokogawa South Africa, +27 (0)11 831 6300, [email protected], www.yokogawa.com/za
| Tel: | +27 11 831 6300 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| www: | www.yokogawa.com/za |
| Articles: | More information and articles about Yokogawa South Africa |
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