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Jan 2000 PLCs, DCSs & Controllers

GE Fanuc

GE Fanuc now produces the new Series 160is/180is/210is CNC hardware which, as well as bringing the high reliability and greater breadth of use provided by the incorporation of Windows CE, offers much higher protection in the event of an unscheduled loss of power. It is, says GE Fanuc, the first Open CNC system in the world with Windows CE and opens the way to a wider user-base than ever before.

The PCB, with the graphical user interface (GUI) of Windows CE 2.0 incorporated, is situated directly behind the 10,4" LCD in a slim package which offers machine builders considerable freedom of style and design for their latest machine tools. By taking full advantage of modern semiconductor memory capabilities, control reliability, even under the most arduous of factory conditions, has been considerably enhanced and special attention has also been paid to the sometimes disastrous problems associated with unexpected shutdowns.

Both Windows NT (New Technology) and Windows CE (Consumer Electronics) need to follow a rigid shutdown procedure of the operating system, otherwise file integrity cannot normally be guaranteed. In the case of the new is series, which is based on Windows CE2.0, embedded hardware will maintain power for a certain time period after shutdown. During this period the GE Fanuc provided software will automatically save critical files to the flash memory. Therefore it is necessary only to register certain critical files during the initial system set-up, as being those required to be saved to ensure subsequent trouble-free re-booting of the system at any time in the future.

By the incorporation of this automatic power-off execution the operator is released from the often-complex procedures involved in shutting down the PC. Another aspect of the new is series of CNC control systems is the inclusion of an Ethernet port as basic equipment.

It is anticipated that the low-cost, high-reliability possibilities of the new system, allied to the conversational automatic programming (CAP) capabilities which machine tool builders are now free to add in, will open the market still further. The opportunity to use popular multimedia hardware and software is a case in point, while the ability to manage huge data inputs will be welcomed by, for example, those end users involved in die-milling.

The application software offered by GE Fanuc can display an actual CNC/PMC screen on PC and can provide support screens such as:

p The conventional CNC/PMC screens showing position, parameter, message, graphic etc.

p Screens made by the macro executor.

p The screens made by C-executor.

p The screens made by PMC C-language

The new is series is fully compatible with the existing i series which will continue to be offered alongside the new is series. The new 160is/180is/ and 210is will be available for delivery to customers in South Africa soon.

GE Fanuc

(011) 392 3610

kwelman@iafrica.com

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