IFM Electronic: innovations at bauma trade fair

IFM Electronic will present at bauma 2010 two new control systems for mobile vehicles: Ethernet switch for mobile applications and R360 SafetyController for mobile vehicles.

The switch has five Ethernet ports with D-coded M12 sockets. This enables a setup of Ethernet networks according to IEEE 802.3 (10BASE-T) or 802.3u (100BASE-TX). No configuration tools are needed due to the "plug and play" concept. By means of auto-sensing, the ports detect the transmission speed and capacity utilisation of the connections and configure them automatically. All ports support full and half duplex operation.

The auto-crossing function has the advantage of a point-to-point wiring without the need of Ethernet cables with crossed wires. Malfunctions, due to reversed transmit and receive wires, are prevented. This simplifies installation. It operates in a wide temperature range of -40...80 °C and has the protection rating IP 67. The redundant voltage supply guarantees maximum reliability.

R360 SafetyController for mobile vehicles monitors all internal and external functions and reliably switches off in case of an error. Implemented test routines monitor the hardware and software. Nevertheless, these devices are easy and convenient to program via CoDeSys. The certified device hardware, the operating system software and the programming tools simplify the safety-related approval of the machine.

The inputs and outputs can be configured to the respective applications. Analogue, digital and frequency ports are available as safety-related inputs and outputs. Furthermore, fail-safe inductive sensors and safety switches can be directly connected to the SafetyController. The safe and non-safe outputs can be set as digital and PWM outputs.