Fieldbus & Industrial Networking


Omni fieldbus concept for integrating encoders

December 2014 Fieldbus & Industrial Networking

When it comes to integrating sensors into industrial fieldbuses, every industry has its own individual requirements. This is why there are more than two dozen industrial communication systems available today across a diverse range of machines and systems, and this is something that sensor manufacturers cannot ignore. With its omni fieldbus concept for encoders and motor feedback systems, SICK Automation is well equipped for all integration options.

At present, the portfolio of single and multi-turn encoders as well as motor feedback systems supports more than a dozen interface standards that play a key role in industrial communication. The bandwidth spans from incremental interfaces through to technologies such as SSI, Hiperface, or the Hiperface DSL one-cable technology. The range is then rounded off with fieldbus systems for production automation – e.g., DeviceNet, Profibus, and CANopen – through to Ethernet-based fieldbuses such as EtherNet/IP, Profinet, and EtherCAT.

Hiperface DSL digital evolution – with the Hiperface DSL digital interface technology, SICK presents a purely digital protocol that uses a minimum of connection cables between the frequency converter and motor feedback system. This digital servo link interface enables an entirely new architecture for the servo drive with completely new options, as it is now purely digital instead of hybrid (analog/digital).

SICK’s portfolio of transmission and fieldbus interfaces satisfies the requirements of the industrial communication market and its dynamic rate of growth. The decision to focus on encoders and motor feedback systems will provide a high level of security for the future and investments, as thanks to the omni fieldbus concept the technology can be integrated in an extremely wide variety of industrial networks.

AFS60/AFM60: Three fieldbus interfaces

Profinet, EtherCAT and EtherNet/IP currently account for almost 70% of the real-time Ethernet protocols used by machine builders. SICK’s AFS60 absolute encoder (singleturn) and AFM60 absolute encoder (multiturn), for instance, offer these three fieldbus interfaces. Consequently, they are an ideal solution for manufacturers and integrators of production processes, handling systems, production machinery, printing systems, and measurement and test equipment – firstly, because they are reliable and precise and can be freely programmed, and secondly, because they give a significant boost to system performance. This results from the fact that all three versions of this type offer an unparalleled range of diagnostics options, which they use to optimise reliability and increase system throughput.

AHS36/AHM36: CANopen makes it possible

The new, compact AHS36 (singleturn) and AHM36 (multiturn) absolute encoders offer reliable, fully magnetic sensor technology and are optimised for an extremely wide range of installation situations. AHS/AHM36 encoders with CANopen interface facilitate simple network integration with various configuration options. They also have an impressive range of diagnostic functions. The two separate diagnosis memories (total/individual) offer extra convenience. Thanks to the CANopen interface, the data from the two diagnostics memories can be issued via this communication protocol directly to the controller, where it is used to optimise the maintenance intervals of a machine or system.

For more information contact Eugene Lawrence, SICK Automation SA, +27 (0)11 472 3733, [email protected], www.sickautomation.co.za



Credit(s)



Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Comprehensive solutions for the food and beverage sector
RS South Africa Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
RS South Africa is reinforcing its commitment to the country’s dynamic food and beverage sector, backed by a comprehensive portfolio of over 800 000 products, extensive technical expertise and end-to-end service capabilities.

Read more...
Case History 198: Cascade control overcomes valve problems
Michael Brown Control Engineering Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
A large petrochemical refinery asked me to perform an audit on several critical base layer control loops. This article deals with a problem found on a valve controlling the flow of fuel to a heat exchanger.

Read more...
Improved networking technology for fire and gas detection
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Critical alarm and event management technology supplier, Omniflex has worked with the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation to upgrade equipment providing digital and analogue signals for its safety critical fire and gas alarm systems.

Read more...
PC-based control for fertiliser
Beckhoff Automation Editor's Choice Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
On a farm in the USA, valuable ammonia is extracted from slurry and processed into ammonium sulphate. NSI Byosis has transformed this complex process into a flexible modular system. This modular approach requires an automation solution with flexible scalability in both hardware and software, which this Dutch company has found in PC-based control from Beckhoff.

Read more...
Loop signature 28: Things to consider when tuning.
Michael Brown Control Engineering Editor's Choice Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
I was giving a course at a remote mine in the middle of the Namibian desert. We were discussing tuning responses, and as I always do on my courses, I mentioned that in my opinion ¼ amplitude damped tuning is not desirable, and is in fact not good.

Read more...
How industrial network design impacts ESG commitments
Omniflex Remote Monitoring Specialists Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
In safety-critical industries like nuclear, petrochemical and oil and gas, installing a new industrial cable network is an extremely complicated task. Gary Bradshaw, a director of industrial network specialist, Omniflex explains why this is often unnecessary as plants are likely to have existing cabling capable of being used to create new industrial networks.

Read more...
Minelert industrial solutions
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Profitek provides cutting-edge industrial networking, automation and IoT solutions for harsh environments.

Read more...
The ultimate industrial LoRaWAN gateway
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
The GW-101-LORA-4AO is the ultimate industrial LoRaWAN gateway, combining advanced IoT connectivity with expandable I/O.

Read more...
Industrial Power-over-Ethernet DC injector
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
The ML-NET-INJECT series sets the standard for industrial PoE, featuring IP68-rated RJ45 connectors and military-grade components for extreme reliability.

Read more...
Industrial networking IO-Link
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Balluff IO-Link Network Modules enable seamless, intelligent communication between sensors, actuators and control systems. Designed for Industry 4.0, they provide real-time data exchange, simplify wiring, and enhance diagnostics.

Read more...