September 10, 2018 – The CIP Safety networking protocol is now supported by a new version of the NX-series safety controller from Omron Automation Americas, a provider of solutions for industrial automation.
This addition means that the controller supports two industrial safety networks – CIP Safety and Safety over EtherCAT (FSoE). The controller is optimized to support applications in industries like automotive manufacturing and food factories where a variety of products are produced and production lines are frequently modified.
Features of the NX-series safety controller include the following:
- Two different safety networks in a single safety system
- Integrated development environment – Sysmac Studio – for safety programming
CIP Safety enables communication between nodes such as PLCs, I/O blocks, light curtains and interlock switches. It was developed to be network- and media-independent as a fundamental part of its design philosophy. It allows safety and standard control devices to reside on a single network, thereby eliminating the need for purpose-built safety networks.
The controller is also scalable from large automotive production lines to small parts production lines. With both CIP Safety and Safety over EtherCAT, Omron’s latest solution addresses 40% of the global market’s requirements for safety networking.
In addition to the \ hardware, enhancements have been made to the programming and configuration software. Sysmac Studio now offers functions such as automatic programming, safety data logging, online functional test and third-party CIP Safety device connectivity that includes industrial robots.