At the Hanover Fair 2007 Mitsubishi Electric presented the first generation of its new modular safety controllers for factory automation. The technology is certified by TÜV Rheinland and conforms to international security standards.
The central component of the fault-tolerant programmable logic controller is the new QS001CPU microprocessor module. This central processing unit (CPU) has a secure architecture with two processors and supports up to 6144 remote I/O points and up to 14K program steps. Memory capacity for up to 3000 system and error messages makes safety processes transparent and allows fast and detailed analysis in the event of malfunctions.
The controller's power supply unit is installed on the module rack next to the PLC processor module. A master module for the CC-Link Safety (control and communication link) open fieldbus network permitting connection of up to 42 remote safety I/O modules rounds off the product line. All components of the network solution are specially specified for safety operation. The system builds on the tried and tested technology of the modular MELSEC System Q controller platform.
The safety controller technology is TÜV-certified for protection against hazards to both people and the controlled plant and machinery and conforms to the international SIL 3 (Safety Integrity Level), IEC 61508 and EN 954-1 (ISO 13849-1) Category 4 standards. These are the most stringent safety standards currently available for the manufacturing industry.
Integrated automation
The common technology platform enables seamless integration of both safety and standard controllers in a single automation system. The controllers are connected with a plug-in module for Mitsubishi Electric's MELSECNET/H network, which uses a redundant fibre-optic ring topology. The new safety controller can easily be retrofitted to existing systems and can be monitored via the existing network and the standard central controller system.
The new controller is programmed with the latest version of GX Developer, which has been extended with new security components. This PLC programming software package for all Mitsubishi Electric compact and modular controllers supports standard Ladder Diagram (LD), Instruction List (IL) and Sequential Function Chart (SFC) languages. The standardised programming tool helps to reduce the overheads for both engineering and staff training.
Choosing an integrated automation system with matched components and systems from a single supplier has obvious benefits: faster installation and configuration, easier maintenance and troubleshooting and system-wide monitoring functions for all security controller and standard controller functions in a single, fully-integrated system. This cuts installation and operating costs and increases the reliability and operational security of the entire system.
Network components
The special CC-Link Safety fieldbus network can be used for secure transmission of sensitive data. This secure network system was introduced in 2006 and is based on CC-Link, an industrial standard fieldbus network that is internationally accepted and particularly widely used in Asia. Communication between the controller and the safety devices on the field level is effected via standard CC-Link bus cables at transfer rates of up to 10 megabits per second.
The safety field bus network master module supports up to 64 secure and standard I/O stations. Combined use of secure and standard devices in a single network is supported, enabling the user to configure a technologically and economically optimum safety infrastructure for the entire factory: safety systems only need to be deployed in the places where they are really necessary.
Safety devices like emergency off buttons, light curtains and contact mats can be connected via the new remote I/O module for CC-Link Safety, which has 16 digital inputs and four digital outputs with pulse functionality.
For more information contact CBI-electric: low voltage, +27 (0)11 928 2000, [email protected], www.cbi-electric.com
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