The Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) portal from Siemens allows complete access to all digitalised automation, extending from digital planning through integrated engineering through additional diagnostic and energy management functions – and offers a high degree of flexibility through connection to the management level. System integrators, machinery construction companies as well as companies operating plants can benefit from these new possibilities. The TIA Portal provides perfect access to automation in the Digital Enterprise. In addition to PLM and MES within the scope of the Digital Enterprise Software Suite, it rounds off the holistic and seamlessly integrated Siemens portfolio for companies en route to Industry 4.0.
Drive engineering with Sinamics Startdrive
The TIA Portal includes Sinamics Startdrive to integrate Sinamics intuitively into the automation landscape. The same operating concept, elimination of interfaces and the high level of user friendliness make it possible to integrate Sinamics converters quickly into the automation environment and commission them using the TIA Portal.
Applications involving pumps, fans and compressors can be implemented especially efficiently and intuitively. Using integrated motion functions, the motion control can be completely integrated and implemented in a time-saving fashion. Examples are elevators, cranes, conveyor belts and storage systems and handling systems. Working with the TIA Portal, it is not important whether these motion functions are realised in the control system or in the drive.
Effectiveness through user friendliness
With the integration of Sinamics Startdrive, the outstanding user friendliness of the TIA Portal is now available for drive technology. As a consequence, a high degree of functionality with simple operability is achieved. These are some of the benefits:
• The same user navigation for control system, HMI and drive technology increases the engineering productivity and reduces the potential for making errors.
• A common hardware configuration for all components of the application allows the converter to go online automatically, even beyond network boundaries (routing/remote maintenance). This significantly simplifies commissioning.
• Useful functions such as undo/redo or copy/paste, known from the Windows environment, facilitate an intuitive workstyle, and allow drive configurations to be simply copied.
• Users can optimally parameterise their converters supported by user-friendly wizards and screen forms.
• Intuitive parameterisation of the safety functions integrated in the drive using graphic screen forms.
• Simple configuration of the matching SIMOTICS motors.
Know-how once gained – for example how to configure a control system – can be simply applied when configuring the converter. This significantly reduces training and engineering costs.
Automation and drive technology in one environment
All the data required for the control and the converter are saved in a common data management system. This avoids conflicts between versions – and significantly simplifies service, for example. Consistency of bus address and message frame types facilitate automatic communication between the control and converter, therefore eliminating dual entries. As a consequence, complex and time-consuming programming of the bus communication is a thing of the past. The safety technology is fully integrated without requiring any additional tools – including PROFIsafe – and is standard for the converter and the control.
Integrated motion control technology objects
Technology objects handle the motion control, closed-loop control and diagnostics of the axes. When creating the technology objects, users are guided through the parameterisation of the open-loop control and the converter. Features include:
• Central motion control for several axes.
• Automatic alignment of technological variables between the control and the drive.
• User-friendly axis diagnostics and powerful trace functionality.
Automatic system diagnostics for the converter
Converter status alarms and faults are directly routed to the control using the automatic system diagnostics. All converter messages are visible on the Simatic HMI operator panel, in the web server of the Simatic control and in the TIA Portal. As a consequence, faults in the plant or system are quickly localised from anywhere.
With Sinamics Startdrive, a trace function is directly integrated in the converter for precise diagnostics. The trace function allows every individual converter parameter to be precisely monitored and traced. Productivity can be increased by recording and optimising motion sequences. When commissioning, the drive can be optimised using traces, which in turn means that mechanical stress on the machine can be minimised. For diagnostics in the case of faults, individual parameters can be recorded. This allows fast troubleshooting and downtimes can be reduced.
Control and drives are handled using the same tool, which means that it is possible to use the same user interface and operating philosophy – whether monitoring variables in the control or parameters in the converter. This saves valuable time.
For more information contact Jennifer Naidoo, Siemens Digital Factory and Process Industries and Drives, +27 (0)11 652 2795, [email protected], www.siemens.co.za
| Tel: | +27 11 652 2000 |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| www: | www.siemens.co.za |
| Articles: | More information and articles about Siemens South Africa |
© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved
printer friendly version