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 ONE
DAY TRAINING CLASSES IN FULL SWING: Ten
classes down, lots to go. Events have concluded in Austin, Cincinnati,
Detroit, Houston, Montreal, Philadelphia, San Juan, Toronto, Tampa,
and Indianapolis. With registrations averaging over 80 per city,
a lot of people are learning about why to use a fieldbus, what fieldbuses
are available, and of course a little depth of knowledge on PROFIBUS
and PROFINET. You can join this number by choosing
a city here and registering online for these free classes. There
are 14 more classes currently on the schedule, including the recently-added
New Jersey 'PROFIBUS in the Process Industries' one-day training
event scheduled for June 27th. We anticipate adding more cities
and events as the demand warrants so watch
the website for news. An ARC Advisory Group survey revealed
that a major impediment to implementing a fieldbus was lack of knowledge
of the possibilities. So join us to discover the benefits of using
a fieldbus! Economic benefits are one, but there are many more.
The classes are free, but we do ask you to register so we have an
accurate count for the free lunch. To encourage early registration,
we've started an 'early bird' incentive. Register at least 8
days before the event and be eligible for our $25 gift card raffle.
Visit
this page for the latest class additions and for links to registration.
Even more here.
 CERTIFICATION
CLASSES: The first
PROFINET Certified Network Engineering Class (May 15-19) is filled,
so we've added another class in July (24-28). For information on
the July class go
here. Or register
here. PROFIBUS Certified Network Engineering Classes continue
to fill up, so register early to ensure you get a seat on the dates
you want. The new PROFIBUS Installer's Class is also popular. Participants
in this one-day class receive hands-on training on PROFIBUS DP networks
and learn how to avoid common networking problems. You will find
additional detail about all the classes in the last issue of PROFInews
North American Edition. You can always find the latest
list of certified training classes here Or call 480-483-2456.
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PROFINET IO DEVELOPER CLASSES:
Attention device manufacturers! We continue
to offer the PROFINET IO Developer Classes at no charge (a limited
time offer). This two-day class is your 'kick start' to adding
PROFINET to your devices. The next class begins June 6 and there
are still a few seats available. Details
here
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 IRT
TECHNOLOGY RECOGNIZED BY CONTROL ENGINEERING:
Control Engineering hosted an award ceremony
at the National Manufacturing Week venue in suburban Chicago
in March. PROFINET IRT technology received an award in the 'networks
and communications' category. Michael Bryant, Executive Director
of PTO, accepted the award from Control Engineering publisher
Michelle Palmer (pictured). Mark T. Hoske, Editor in Chief of
Control Engineering hosted the award ceremony and cited the
benefits of IRT in his recognition of the technology. The ERTEC
chip that supports IRT was also recognized by the award.
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 HANNOVER
FAIR NEWS: At the largest industrial
trade fair in Europe, if not the world, PI presented PROFIBUS
and PROFINET developments and products on the largest booth they've
ever employed. News from PI included the TCI (Tool Calling Interface)
specification now being available for review, and a brand new
PROFIBUS/PROFINET Profile for pumps. Motion Control with PROFINET
proliferated and a new PROFIsafe overview brochure was released.
The new PROFIsafe brochure features an American football scene
on the cover (see below). There was also a new sensor technology
to think about. Called IO-Link, it's administered by PI on behalf
of the small user group of mainly sensor companies driving it.
 IO-Link
is a fieldbus-independent sensor/actuator communication system.
PI is providing the organizational infrastructure but IO-Link
is not a fieldbus. In fact, it’s not a bus at all, merely an interface
specification with point-to-point connection to the field up to
20m maximum. However, it can work with any fieldbus, with Interbus
and PROFIBUS mapping already specified. IO-Link looks at first
blush like it’s competitive with AS-interface, a true bus system.
So, when would you use IO-Link instead of AS-i? The answer depends
on the application, more particularly on the type of sensors used,
because modern sensors have much more functionality than traditional
types - for example configuration, parameterisation and diagnostic
data have to be communicated. IO-Link only needs a cheap microcontroller
in the sensor, so there's ample opportunity to be clever, for
example by building in extra processing capability such as spurious
signal cancellation. Can't AS-i do this? Well, the new Version
3 can handle some aspects but there's
a speed trade-off.
The real distinction lies in whether you want to use a bus sytem
or conventional point-to-point - in other words it's the plant
culture that's the key. Interestingly, ifm effector were showing
an interface for running IO-Link clusters under AS-i, proving
that it can be complementary too! Six manufacturers demonstrated
prototypes - including the SICK interface pictured here with its
PROFIBUS connection - and several more announced that devices
are in the works. Expect the first by September.
WEB UPDATES:
 INTRODUCING
PROFIBLOG! The PTO's Carl Henning
is now on-line with one of the first automation blogs in the world!
He's blogging mainly about PTO activities from a personal view
but he manages to avoid the usual marketing-speak by including
words of wisdom and observation spiced up with incisive comment.
His trip to Hannover Fair (see above) featured prominently. Read
the blog here Don't forget to pick up the RSS feed to ensure
you never miss any of Carl's bons mots.
- SAFETY WHITE PAPER: ARC
has just released a nice White
Paper about PROFIsafe, the profile for networked functional
safety that can be used with PROFIBUS and PROFINET. The paper
focusses on the benefits of PROFIsafe, something that is often
overshadowed by the sheen of the technology. It says that safety
has evolved from being a cost burden and 'necessary evil' to a
strategy for improving productivity and reducing downtime. Two-bus
architectures are now a thing of the past, it adds, thanks to
PROFIsafe's support for both PI protocols, and it recommends end
users find out how a single-bus strategy can cut costs and lower
TCO. To component suppliers and OEMs it says, "assess the
business opportunities. Listen to your customers and you will
hear the truth!"
- MORE RESOURCES AT US.PROFIBUS.COM:
The new incarnation of us.profibus.com
continues to set records for visits. And we've recently added
even more helpful resources. Click the new Resources
menu item for a good overview of all the resources available to
you online. This 'guided tour' to the website also refers you
to other sites' information. The new white paper page provides
access to in-depth information about PROFIBUS and PROFINET, including
the basics of why use a fieldbus in the first place. Need documentation
on CD? You can buy a CD in the Resources
section too. You can also buy the popular books 'The New Rapid
Way to PROFIBUS DP' by Manfred Popp and/or 'The Rapid Way to PROFINET'
by Manfred Popp and Karl Weber. Of course, you get both the CD
and the book of your choice at no charge when you join the PTO.
Our newest resource is PROFIblog
(see above). This web log has up-to-the-minute reports from our
various events and trade shows. What's a web log, you ask? Check
the Wikipedia entry for blog.
PROFIblog focuses on items of interest to North American fieldbus
users (and users who should be using a fieldbus!), with special
emphasis on PROFIBUS and PROFINET of course. Visit PROFIblog
to read about recent events and add your comment to start a dialogue!
You will find references to other blogs in the industrial automation
space there, too.
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2005
FIGURES CONFIRM PROFIBUS AS THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR FIELDBUS:
2005 was the most successful year to date for PROFIBUS International
(PI) and its member companies. The number of PROFIBUS nodes sold
rose by nearly 25% compared to the previous year, as approximately
2.8 million PROFIBUS devices were added to the worldwide user
base. The total number of PROFIBUS devices now installed has grown
to 15.4 million. PI remains on target for increasing this to 20
million by the end of 2007. The total today exceeds all other
fieldbus solutions by a large margin. PROFIBUS is particularly
strong in process automation. In 2005, 130,000 new PROFIBUS PA
devices were installed, an increase of 30% compared to 2004. By
year end, approximately 530,000 devices were being used in mainstream
process and process-oriented systems. The broader picture in process
markets- including PROFIBUS DP - is even stronger. A total of
about 2.8 million PROFIBUS devices are used in process plants
because of the excellent integration between PROFIBUS DP - the
fieldbus protocol optimized for discrete manufacturing - and PROFIBUS
PA, which is an IEC 61158-2 solution designed for mainstream processes.
PROFIBUS is the only fieldbus to support both types of application
on a single protocol. And, since most process plants incorporate
discrete manufacturing functions upstream and downstream of the
main process, PROFIBUS is the most cost-effective option available.
PROFIBUS continues to strengthen its position in all segments
of the market, and in all regions of the world. North American
and Far Eastern markets were especially dynamic. PI recently certified
the first PROFIBUS PA instrument developed solely in China. Others
are expected shortly.
WASTEWATER PLANT USES PROFIBUS AND PROFINET:
The town of Rainsville, Alabama, wanted to raise the capacity of
its sewage treatment plant by 30%, and improve peak handling after
heavy rain. Existing PROFIBUS drives at the 4 acre site suggested
using similar technology for the upgrade, while Industrial Ethernet
was favored for site-wide communications over a redundant 1800 metre
fiber ring. PROFIBUS and PROFINET was chosen by integrator Hi-Tech
Systems, with Component-Based Automation (CBA) being employed to
make engineering and configuration simple. The site includes several
Motion Control Centers for the various pumping and filtering functions.
This 'modularity' allows functions to be represented as 'components'
of the overall system and CBA enables the communications relationships
between them to be configured using simple drag and drop techniques.
In this way data communications need not be separately programmed,
speeding engineering and making the plant much more flexible. PROFINET
IO remote IO modules are used, along with standard PROFIBUS remote
IO functionality. The project succeeded in doubling the performance
of the plant and will enable extensions to be deployed easily by
adding PLC components. Hi-Tech
Systems or marty@hi-techsystemsinc.com or 706 278 1311
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 ARE
YOU ATTENDING THE PTO GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING IN AUGUST?:
The dates for the PTO General Assembly Meeting have been set as
August 2 and 3 in Scottsdale. We’ll actually kick off at noon
on Monday July 31 with a one-day class 'PROFIsafe for Developers',
followed at noon Tuesday by a half-day introduction to safety
concepts and PROFIsafe. The 'welcome' reception is set for Tuesday
evening. We’ll get down to business Wednesday morning. Wednesday
evening we’ll be headed to Jillian’s again (by popular demand).
This is your chance to network in an informal setting while beating
the crap out of your colleagues at pool or bowling! Seriously,
if you missed this last year, ask someone who was there – it was
a great time. Back to business Thursday morning.
CALLING ALL END USERS! Do you have
an interesting application involving PROFIBUS and/or PROFINET? If
so, would you be willing to present it at our next General Assembly
meeting in August? Membership is not required but you'll have free
acccess to the entire two day event and its social activities, plus
you'll have the chance to network with some of the best fieldbus
engineers in North America. If you'd like to give it a try (and
we understand that engineers are not professional speakers) contact
Carl Henning and
suggest a theme.
| NEW PRODUCTS |
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 CONSULTANCY,
TROUBLESHOOTING AND CERTIFICATION OF PROFIBUS NETWORKS:
The professionals at PROCENTEC have years of experience with
PROFIBUS installations. Certification of new and existing
networks ensures quality, and decreases the need for expensive
troubleshooting when PROFIBUS goes down. PROCENTEC is an accredited
PROFIBUS Competence Center and has certified many networks.
What is certification? During network certification, qualified
staff audit the network with the help of the ProfiTrace
network analyzer and HandyScope
to see all anomalies and errors on the bus. These are then
quickly solved. Also, the auditors inspect the network topology
and search for engineering or installation errors. Many installers
or engineers do not take PROFIBUS installation rules into
account, one of the most common sources for errors on a PROFIBUS
network. After certification, the auditors write a detailed
certfication report on the audited network. The proven concept
of certification has improved the stability of many installations
worldwide. More
here
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 5
CHANNEL SPUR LINE REPEATER FOR DP: ProfiHub A5 is an
advanced, flexible and robust network component for PROFIBUS
DP installations, which makes it possible to implement long
multi-device spur lines and backbone structures with star/tree
segments. It has the functionality of 5 galvanically-isolated
transparent repeaters. This allows network structures with extended
spur lines that individually can handle a maximum of 31 devices
and a length equal to the main bus. The spur lines have short
circuit protection and the maximum baudrate is 12 Mbit/s. It
can also be used as a barrier for noisy EMC-environments and
motor control centers (drawers). More
information here or here
or +1 630 245-1445 or email
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SERVICE CENTERS NOW CERTIFIED FOR NEXT-GENERATION
REPAIR AND SUPPORT: MTS Systems Corp. Sensors Division
now offers factory-certified repair service and support for
its next-generation G-Series and R-Series product lines at:
- Hydraulic & Motor Control - Orchard Park, New York
- MCS Servo Inc. - Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Paw-Taw-John Services, Inc. - Rathdrum, Idaho
- PQ Systems Ltd. - Burnaby, British Columbia Canada.
These experienced Temposonics® repair centers are also authorized,
full-service, MTS Sensors distributors for the Temposonics
product line, specializing in fluid power and controls, and
offering comprehensive applications, field support, and products.
"Combined with MTS' factory 24-hour field service, applications
engineering and repair services - including 48 hour turnaround
on most repairs - MTS customers can expect the best product
support and service in the industry," said David Edeal, Temposonics
Marketing Manager. "Our products operate in some pretty nasty
environments and some out-of-the-way places. These facilities,
representing a combined 100-plus years of Temposonics service
and support, supply the critical extension of our factory-direct
support. Customers can expect world-class capabilities."
MTS Systems Corp or
(919) 677-0100 or info@mtssensors.com
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CONNECTING RFID
DEVICES TO PROFINET: Siemens Automation and Drives
(A&D) has developed two new communication modules for connecting
RFID read/write devices to PROFINET. With the Simatic RF180C
module, the read/write devices are connected direct to PROFINET,
and with the Simatic RF170C, the connection is established
via the Simatic ET 200pro distributed I/O device. The primary
application areas are in mechanical equipment manufacture,
conveyor technology, assembly lines in the automobile and
supplier industries, and in small assembly lines. The read/write
devices of all RFID systems can be operated on the new communication
modules, and the high degree of protection IP67 enables installation
outside the control cabinet, direct in the field. Integrated
connections guarantee fast startup. Full software compatibility
enables simple migration from PROFIBUS to PROFINET.
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 INDUSTRIAL
TO SERIAL CONFIGURES IN MINUTES: Comtrol's DeviceMaster
UP offers a industrial Ethernet to serial solution that configures
in minutes via the web, allowing you to support major industrial
Ethernet PLC networks including PROFINET on a single platform.
Whichever protocol you use, DeviceMaster provides an RS-232/422/485
software-selectable serial connection that communicates with
automation PLCs. Features include: Connect, communicate and
control up to four serial devices such as bar code scanners,
scales and printers; Micro form factor and -37° to 74°C Industrial
Temperature Range; Variable power input eliminating need for
power converters. The unit offer reliable and fast connectivity
from an industry leader with 25 years experience and includes
PortVision® enterprise monitoring and management software
that automatically monitors devices on the network and enables
user to view status, update firmware and resolve issues remotely.
The adaptability of flash-in configuration enables users to
upgrade plant floor visibility on a global scale faster and
more economically than ever before. The DeviceMaster UP also
provides unprecedented power to leverage legacy devices and
boost ROI. It's the pain-free Industrial Ethernet solution,
says its makers! More
information here or contact sales.
Free evaluation units available.
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 PROFIBUS
DP HIGH SPEED WIRELESS GATEWAYS: Connect PROFIBUS field
devices 'over-the-air' and up to 20 miles away, using new
ProLinx Wireless Gateways. Progressive technology provides
unprecedented flexibility, allowing heterogeneous networks
to share process and status data. Using the ProSoft Wireless
Protocol (PWP), data is transferred securely and efficiently
between different industrial networks and protocols in a high-performance
way. ProLinx Wireless applications are used for cable replacement
(for cost reduction) and wireless extension of slave networks;
communication between multiple and separate networks, connection
of multiple wireless remote device networks to any central
system including SCADA and connection to multiple PROFIBUS
DP wireless remote device networks. More
here .
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Published
by PTO