Control capabilities on display for machine builders

Multidisciplined control and information technology for machine builders is to be demonstrated and showcased at Pack Expo 2011.

September 25, 2011

At Pack Expo 2011, Rockwell Automation will demonstrate scalable, multidisciplined control and information technology to help machine builders lower their cost to design, develop and deliver packaging machinery. Featuring control for small, standalone machine applications, the Rockwell Automation controller portfolio scales from 12 to 10,000 I/O, giving machine builders the ability to mirror each manufacturer’s needs at any given time. 

The Rockwell Automation will feature several additions to its control and information platform:

Simple control solutions for standalone machines:

  • Allen-Bradley Micro800 component-class micro programmable logic controllers provide a cost-effective control solution for small, standalone machine applications. Designed to be used with other Allen-Bradley component-class products, such as drives, motion control and operator-interface products, the controllers are part of a solution bundle that offers machine builders easy selection, installation and commissioning. The Micro800 controllers offer a wide range of plug-in modules for analog/digital I/O, communications and expanded memory. Plug-in modules and removable terminal blocks enable machine builders to personalize the controllers to specific application needs. Additionally, the new controller family offers simplified communication via point-to-point data exchange.
  • Connected Components Workbench software is a free, downloadable software package that programs the Allen-Bradley Micro800 family of controllers and configures other devices in the system, including Allen-Bradley PowerFlex drives and Allen-Bradley PanelView component human-machine interface (HMI) products. The software follows established IEC 61131 standards.

Midrange machine control solutions:

  • Allen-Bradley Compact GuardLogix Programmable Automation Controllers provide integrated safety, motion, discrete and drive control capabilities in a single control platform to help machine builders reduce hardware, development and integration costs. Featuring a 1oo2 safety architecture, the controllers are rated up to Safety Integrity Level 3 (SIL 3). As part of the Rockwell Automation Integrated Architecture system, the controllers use the same configuration, networking and visualization environment as the company’s larger-scale systems. This helps provide machine builders with cost-effective integration of a machine or safety application into the end user’s plantwide control system.
  • Allen-Bradley Kinetix Servo Drives are available in a variety of power ranges and allow manufacturers to choose between two networks – SERCOS or EtherNet/IP. The drives provide a scalable solution for simple machines and complex applications. They include built-in safety options and support a wide variety of servo motors and actuators.
  • PanelView Plus 6 and PanelView Plus Compact HMI Terminals are operator interfaces that provide advanced integration with Logix-based controllers. The PanelView Plus 6 terminal includes more memory with significantly faster refresh rates and more on-device storage. Every PanelView Plus 6 includes the latest FactoryTalk View Machine Edition and FactoryTalk ViewPoint software running on the Windows CE 6.0 operating system.
  • Stratix Ethernet Switches use the current Cisco Catalyst switch architecture and feature set along with powerful configuration tools to help engineers and IT professionals achieve secure, seamless integration of Ethernet applications while incorporating software and programming tools familiar to IT.
  • Rockwell Software RSLogix 5000 Design and Configuration Software provides a single development environment for the products mentioned above and includes high-integrity, add-on instructions and integrated motion on EtherNet/IP capabilities.

The Rockwell Automation booth will also feature the Mechatronics design portfolio. The Mechatronics portfolio includes:

  • Motion Analyzer software to help minimize design risk and speed time to market by providing tools that analyze design alternatives for motion control applications. In addition to its sizing, selection, optimization and simulation capabilities, Motion Analyzer software offers performance evaluation features including ratio, torque and tolerance analysis. Motion Analyzer links 3D mechanical design in Solidworks 3D CAD to a control program in RSLogix 5000.

www.rockwellautomation.com 

Rockwell Automation

www.packexpo.com

Pack Expo 2011 in Las Vegas, Nev.

– Edited by Chris Vavra, Control Engineering, www.controleng.com 

Control Engineering webcasts include more on Ethernet.

https://www.controleng.com/media-library/webcasts.html