Articles and News

By Guido Beckmann The Safety over EtherCAT (FSoE) protocol enables safety-relevant data transmission, in parallel to standard data on the same network. FSoE is a technology certified by TÜV, developed according to IEC 61508, and internationally standardized in adherence to IEC 61784-3. The protocol can be used in applications requiring a Safety Integrity level as high as SIL3.

Watlow’s EZ-ZONE passed conformance testing at the new North American EtherCAT Test Center based in Savage, Minnesota.

Moxa received Class 1, Div. 2 certification from UL for its EDR-810 industrial multiport router, qualifying it for safe use in oil and gas refineries, offshore platforms, fueling stations, and other areas containing volatile liquids, gases or vapors.

SKF is a supplier of bearings, seals, mechatronics, lubrication systems, and services which include technical support, maintenance and reliability services, engineering consulting and training.

By EtherCAT Technology Group In Part 1, the Working Counter was described as a mechanism for EtherCAT master devices to cyclic-synchronously monitor slave behavior. Part 2 covers further diagnostic mechanisms that allow master devices to precisely detect the location and cause of error conditions both at the hardware and at the application level of a slave.

EASY Starter software now contains an OPC UA Server, which now makes it possible to access Lenze devices regardless of the type of software used.

By EtherCAT Technology Group EtherCAT provides a powerful diagnostic mechanism that can be used by master applications to monitor the network status synchronously with the communication cycle. Master applications such as PLC programs can therefore react immediately to any error condition within the network with a simple evaluation of the Working Counter in the application software.

The Sercos automation bus powers the revolutionary drive construction and unique rotation options of the Penta Robotics’ Veloce parallel robot.

In 1999, Wolfgang Seel founded the company and initially developed microchips for the PROFIBUS system – one of the most important bus systems in the automation industry.

Elmo is offering login access to its EASII Experience RPS for anyone to explore motors and drives in action, configure the EtherCAT network, perform complex multi-axis synchronized motions, and develop IEC-61131-3 programs.

By Bill Lydon, Editor The Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 visions, which includes connecting people and services, leverages open communications, like OPC UA, and embedded-to-enterprise computing.

By Mike Hannah, Rockwell Automation Forecasts say that industrial automation will make up the majority of the Internet of Things by 2025, and Internet Protocol (IP)-addressable devices are the key enabling force that will get industry there.

The EnOcean Alliance defined a unified specification for remote commissioning of energy harvesting wireless devices in building automation systems.

By Bob Voss, Panduit Industries are rapidly adopting wireless networks because of their many benefits on the plant floor, including convenience, mobility, reduced cabling and lower labor costs compared to wired networks. Here are four steps to help plant operators establish wireless zones on the plant floor effectively.

Both a PROFIBUS forum and a PROFINET forum are available to the general public to ask questions and seek answers.

The free web-based seminars cover technical topics such as Sercos communication mechanisms, easy machine commissioning and the functionality of redundancy.

Agiliad specializes in industrial and medical product and software engineering and design services and offers turnkey solutions involving complex electronics and software design.

Founded in 1939, Riken Keiki has been specializing in developing gas detection and monitoring solutions to help ensure safety in industrial sites for almost a decade.

By Bill Lydon, Editor Communication technology is taking a role in strengthening U.S. manufacturing. Tom Bianculli, Motorola Solutions’ Senior Director of Emerging Business, talks about the type of technological advances that will improve operations on the manufacturing floor.

Sercos hosted 25 technology and automation vendors and end users to its 13th PlugFest on May 7 and 8 at the Institute for Control Engineering of Machine Tools and Manufacturing at the University of Stuttgart, Germany.