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Read the online version if links don't work in this Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) Update. |
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May 2010 |
| Sponsor: Opto 22 |
Simple Simple
Controller redundancy just got easier. With Opto 22’s Redundancy Option Kit, you can:
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Use standard SNAP PAC controllers, I/O, and cables.
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Swap controller roles at any time.
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Enjoy flowchart-based and scripting programming flexibility.
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And get free Product Support.
See the SNAP-PAC-ROK.
Click here for more information.
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| Sponsor: National Instruments |
Machine Control Resource Kit
This free resource kit from National Instruments offers real world examples of how to use graphical programming and commercial off-the-shelf hardware for machine control applications. Learn how to have open access to low-level resources while taking advantage of easy embedded programming and hundreds of built-in functions for automating common machine control tasks.
Download the resource kit now.
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| Sponsor: GE Intelligent Platforms |
Making Machine Automation Easy
For the highest throughput, most dependable machines, GE Intelligent Platforms is your long-term partner to help you with your machine automation. From our most advanced motion control to our open standards and integration, we make having the best technology in your market easy for you.
Click here for more information.
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| Featured Articles And White Papers |
A PLC by Any Other Name
Control Design, March 2010
By James Ingraham
The line between a PAC and a PLC remains quite blurry. When exactly is the jump made between a high-end PLC and a low-end PAC? In the end, the distinction is less about naming convention and more about application needs.
Understanding the IEC61131-3 programming languages
What’s New in Process Technology, March 2010
IEC61131-3 identifies the five programming languages and their common abbreviations as: Ladder Diagram (LD), Instruction List (IL), Function Block Diagram (FBD), Structured Text (ST) and Sequential Function Chart (SFC). When should one be used over another? What are the benefits and disadvantages of each?
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| Product Sponsor - Online Development |
 How to Connect PLCs/PACs with Plant/Enterprise Systems
eATM tManager modules feature an easy to use GUI to select and configure data between controllers and computer systems.
Click here to learn more |
Automatic PLC Code Generation & Design Interchange Standards
Automation.com, May 2010
By Bill Lydon
Open standards, more powerful desktop computers, and lower cost software are making design, modeling, and automatic code generation for PLCs and PACs practical for improving automation.
Programmable Safety Controllers Are Slow to Gain Acceptance
Control Design, February 2010
By Jim Montague
It's been more than a few years since the NFPA amended its NFPA-79 regulations to allow safety and control communications on the same network, but it took longer for suppliers to release updated programmable safety controllers, and it's taking even longer for users to adopt them.
High Availability for Non-Traditional Discrete and Process Applications
By Bill Black, GE Intelligent Platforms
The principle behind a high availability control system is to double the individual system components and pass over control from the “active” controller to the “backup” controller at the moment of failure. Here’s how GE’s PACSystems does it.
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Browse more articles on the Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) portal.
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| Sponsor: ISA |
ISA Training: 3-for-2
To help you and your colleagues get the training you need during these difficult economic times, ISA is offering three registrations to any classroom training course for the price of two registrations: 3-for-2!
As an added bonus, you can still take advantage of ISA’s regular group pricing on the second registration. That’s an additional $100 savings on your total registration!
More information.
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| Make Connections in Automation |
  
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| Product Sponsor - SoftPLC |
 PAC is feature-packed, low cost. It's Smart!
Smart SoftPLC:
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Open architecture PAC
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Managed Switch
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Firewall/VPN
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Modem
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Serial Server
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A-B ladder import
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| Product Announcements |
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| Other Product Announcements
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Browse more Product Announcements on the Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) portal.
Search all Products by keyword, category, manufacturer or release date. |
| Application Stories |
Opto 22 upgrades furnace control system
By Opto 22
Older Opto 22 controllers on a furnace control system at Advanced Energy were upgraded by Malisko Engineering to SNAP I/O and controllers.
Wake Up And Smell The SCADA System
Food Manufacturing, March 2010
Luigi Lavazza coffee uses a PcVue SCADA system to monitor its system and communicate with numerous PLCs from Telemecanique, Siemens and Beckhoff using Ethernet.
Schweppes control in the can
Process & Control Engineering, February 2010
By Sarah Falson
Schweppes Australia upgraded its syrup room DCS control system at its Huntingwood facility to a control system based on PlantPAx and FactoryTalkView SE software from Rockwell Automation.
The automation of the largest and fastest machine in the world
Control Engineering Europe, January 2010
The CERN accelerator and its safety will be controlled and monitored by 130 control systems featuring Simatic S7-300 and S7-400 PLCs and safety controllers from Siemens.
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Browse more application stories on the Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) portal.
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| Resources & Literature |
ISA publishes Online ISA Directory of Automation
This valuable resource—the top purchasing guide in the automation field—is available to ISA’s members from a link on the ISA homepage.
AutomationDirect offers free programming software
Users can download the Think & Do v8.04 Keyless Development Demo package for free, create software applications with Think & Do, and download these applications to an unlimited number of WinPLC targets.
Advantech releases Programmable Automation Controller website
PAC website clusters all information on the APAX product series with clear illustrations and explanations, including PAC overviews, product offerings, system architectures, etc.
Pepperl+Fuchs offers free diagnostics for CompactLogix and ControlLogix
Available as a free download, this Add-On Instruction enables PLC programmers to retrieve detailed diagnostic data from an AS-Interface SafetyMonitor with just three instructions.
MicroSys supplies free PLC software from logi.cals
Hardware from MicroSys will be delivered with a test-CD containing the logi.cals system solution.
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Browse more resources and literature on the Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) portal.
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| Featured Training |
Getting Started with PAC Manager and PAC Control Webinar
June 3, 2010
10:00AM (GMT-8:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) Time Zone
If you're new to Opto 22 PAC controllers and PAC Project software, this webinar shows you how to: Assign IP addresses, check and update firmware, and inspect controller status and I/O (PAC Manager); and Configure controllers and I/O, create a flowchart, and download and debug your control strategy (PAC Control).
RSTechED 2010
June 6, 2010 - June 11, 2010
Location: Los Angeles, CA
RSTechED is an advanced software training event in manufacturing automation. More than 120 unique technical sessions, hands-on labs and customer presentations are specifically designed for those interested in learning to effectively leverage existing automation investments and create the architecture for continuous optimization, competitive differentiation and sustainable production.
ControlLogix and RSLogix 5000 Training Seminar
June 8, 2010 - June 10, 2010
Location: Denver, CO, USA
This hands-on course starts with an overview of the AB ControlLogix system architecture and an introduction of RSLogix 5000 software. Then the fundamentals of editing ladder logic, Routines, Tag Database, PLC analog Input / Output modules, advanced features available in the Tag Database, troubleshooting and communication modules.
Hands-On PLC Training Workshop
June 22, 2010 - June 24, 2010
Location: St. Louis, MO, usa
Hands-On PLC Training Workshop (PLC: Programmable Logic Controllers). Start with basics move on to troubleshooting, then learn the foundations of good PLC programming while writing your first IEC-1131 compliant PLC program. (1.6 CEU)
Hands-On PLC Training Workshop
July 27, 2010 - July 29, 2010
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Hands-On PLC Training Workshop (PLC: Programmable Logic Controllers). Start with basics move on to troubleshooting, then learn the foundations of good PLC programming while writing your first IEC-1131 compliant PLC program. (1.6 CEU)
PLC/PAC AUTOMATION: System Integration, Programming and Design
September 13, 2010 - September 17, 2010
Location: Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
This course defines Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and Process Automation Controllers (PAC) architecture, configuration, and programming from out-of-the-box to actual installation. It focuses on the IEC 6-1131-3 languages.
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Browse more training and seminar opportunities on the Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) portal.
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| Company & Organizational News |
Frost & Sullivan says DCSes are threatened by PC-based systems
DCS manufacturers will have to be wary of competition from SCADA systems, which use PC-based software to integrate programmable logic controllers (PLCs) on a network to replicate the functions of DCS.
ARC says prices are coming down on automation products
One element contributing to the price erosion is that controllers are rapidly becoming an automation commodity in some sectors.
WAGO offers free IEC 61131-3 training
WAGO is hosting five free IEC 61131-3 programming training seminars for customers at its Milwaukee area headquarters.
CoDeSys supports Texas Instruments C2000/28x CPU
Embedded devices based on the C2000/28x CPU family from Texas Instruments can now also be programmed with IEC 61131-3 development tool CoDeSys.
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Browse more company and organizational news on the Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) portal. |
| Project News |
Software Toolbox to provide graphics to Rockwell Automation
Software Toolbox will provide its Symbol Factory technology to users of FactoryTalk View Site Edition and FactoryTalk View Machine Edition from Rockwell Automation.
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Browse more project news on the Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) portal. |
| Featured Events |
Montreal Manufacturing Technology Show
May 17, 2010 - May 19, 2010
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
MMTS allows side-by-side evaluations of equipment, accessories and supplies from machine tool manufacturers and distributors in Canada. MMTS also includes a factory automation focus including control systems, software and hardware, assembly technology and test/inspection.
ABB Automation & Power World 2010
May 18, 2010 - May 20, 2010
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Automation & Power World was designed with a specific focus - to provide engineers and business leaders with a single event where they can experience and learn the latest in Automation and Power technology, and more importantly how it can benefit their business' profitability.
CoDeSys Users' Conference 2010
May 20, 2010
Location: Ridderkerk, Netherlands
The CoDeSys Users' Conference is the ideal information forum for all users of the number one manufacturer independent IEC 61131-3 automation tool CoDeSys.
Siemens Industry 2010 User Conference
June 8, 2010 - June 10, 2010
Location: Charlotte, NC, USA
Be a part of the 2010 Siemens User Conference. An Automation User Community event where Siemens users, partners, industry thought-leaders, and professionals come together to discuss challenges and strategies.
Automation Treasure
June 11, 2010
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Exhibition, technical training and career fair for those involved with the design, application, installation, operation, and maintenance of state-of-the-art process automation, instrumentation and control technologies.
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Browse more industry events on the Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) portal.
Add an event to our calendar. |
I hope you enjoyed this Programmable Automation Controller (PAC) update. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding the content in this e-newsletter or on Automation.com, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Rick Zabel
Vice President, Publisher
Automation.com
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