HMIs - Motion Control Tips

HMI simplifies setup of robot-assisted automation for one integrator

November 12, 2018 By Lisa Eitel Leave a Comment

Integrator Inovatech Automation recently decided they were spending too much time programming expensive HMI and PLC platforms, so contacted Pro-Face America for help.

The integrator needed an HMI capable of universal robot and I/O-Link integration, legal for Inovatech Automation branding, and easy to program.

“I was apprehensive at first because we have a lot of projects going … so timing is short,” said Inovatech director of operations Travis Buset. “More specifically, I had concerns about learning something on the fly — and feared the onboarding experience and programming were going double our time investment.”

Pro-Face America supplied its LT4000M HMI plus Control unit. This hardware reduces costs by eliminating the need for an external PLC. In addition, for Inovatech Automation the LT4000M halved engineering time for configuration; offered easy integration to a Universal robot and IO-Link network; and was delivered with a custom overlay for machine-branding purposes.

Inovatech uses Pro-Face America’s LT4000M HMI plus Control unit on its modular automation station.

Trimming the time for setup was the most important benefit, though.

“Another platform needed two different pieces of software. In contrast, Pro-Face uses one software with drag-and-drop functionality. What once took me 32 to 40 hours to program now takes eight hours on the Pro-Face.” In fact, Buset had one programmed in eight hours his first time trying.

“This a powerful unit and well worth its cost for the level of configuration it allows.” Inovatech estimates it’s now operating 75% more efficiently than before.

Beckhoff touch panels with 10.1-in. widescreen displays

March 16, 2018 By Mike Santora Leave a Comment

Beckhoff Automation has announced the release of the CP6x00 Control Panels and Panel PCs with 10.1-in. widescreen displays. The expanded line of entry-level panels from Beckhoff, first launched with 7-in. displays, has been expanded by three new cabinet-mounted devices, each with a 10.1-in. widescreen display. PC-based control technology in the cost-sensitive, lower to middle performance range can now be scaled even more precisely in line with individual application requirements.

The new widescreen variants have a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) touch display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 WSVGA, which paves the way for comprehensive operator interface and visualization options. Added to this is superior display quality with 16.7 million available colors on the 10.1-inch diagonal screen. The latest additions to the entry-level class from Beckhoff include two fanless Panel PCs and a purely passive Control Panel. These devices permit the cost-effective implementation of control and visualization tasks for small and medium-sized machines, production systems and buildings.

The three new widescreen TFT touch Panel PCs from Beckhoff are:
˗ CP6600 Panel PC with 1 GHz ARM Cortex A8 CPU and 1 GB DDR3 RAM memory
˗ CP6700 Panel PC with Intel Atom processor (up to 1.91 GHz, four cores) and 2 GB DDR3L RAM (optionally extended up to 8 GB)
˗ CP6900 Control Panel with DVI/USB Extended technology for operation at a distance of up to 50 m from the Industrial PC or Embedded PC

Equipped with a robust metal housing consisting of an aluminum front bezel and a sheet steel rear cover, the panels offer higher quality and durability than the plastic panels typically offered in the low-cost, entry-level segment. In addition, the high-quality materials and a rounded front bezel lend a modern and appealing look to the panels, which can be used in the most diverse production and building environments at operating temperatures from 0 to 55 °C.

Beckhoff
www.beckhoff.com

Connectivity and IoT expand control design functionality (a Motion Trends report)

March 5, 2018 By Lisa Eitel Leave a Comment

A recent survey of industry experts had many underscore that connectivity in manufacturing is nothing new … bu there are significant new developments in IIoT.

MEET THE CONNECTIVITY and IoT EXPERTS …

O’Connor of Aerotech

O’Connor • Aerotech: Connectivity in manufacturing is not a new idea — it’s been around for decades — but what is new in IIoT is the volume and type of equipment (and devices) on the market that now offer connectivity. For an extreme example, there are now smart toilet-paper roll holders that let one know (from a mobile device) that one needs to change the roll. Products like this didn’t exist a decade ago.

The proliferation of low-cost sensors and communication devices gives engineers (and hobbyists) easily accessible devices to integrate into their products.

Kawaller • ISL Products: IIoT provides opportunities for new devices that may or may not require electromechanical functions to complete a task (and provide data to a client or system) … of course, motors we design and supply work in systems that support IIoT.

Messerer of HELUKABEL

Messerer • HELUKABEL: Electronic components are clearly gathering and using more data than ever … and cables are passive components on machinery that support all this active equipment (such as electronic sensors or Ethernet cables with protocols to sense component failures). Here, if the system reaches a critical sum of failures, spare-part orders from a purchasing system might automatically execute to avoid downtime.

Leveraging the connectivity of consumer phones and tablets (and user familiarity with them) is a common refrain.

O’Connor • Aerotech: IIoT is a hot area. In our everyday lives, we expect devices to connect and just work. We carry those habits to our jobs. Manufacturing plants and the teams that run them expect systems to connect and work together. That means motion systems are becoming smarter as well as more connected … which is why we currently have designs in the field as well as designs in development that simplify connectivity and improve intelligence of automation and motion-control systems.

Rojas of WEINTEK

Rojas • WEINTEK USA: We believe HMIs should access all machine information — and communicate with different brands of controllers or I/O systems; gather valuable information; and send that data to cloud storage for real-time analysis. We think the HMI will come to be the IIoT gateway for all machines … and that HMIs will be the “spokesman” of every machine — to help machines “talk” with controller networks and the Internet.

cMT Viewer is free remote-control (and viewer) software for Weintek cMT series HMIs. With careful engineering, users can get real-time information even on an unstable WiFi network. The software runs natively on mobile devices, so machine operators can use off-the-shelf phones and tablets (including iOS and Android products) to control up to 50 cMT machines.

But it’s not just HMIs that incorporate connectivity features for support of IoT — though they certainly continue to lead in this arena.

Kawaller of ISL Products Intl. Ltd.

When asked about increasingly networked manufacturing, some cited motor products and servo drives that integrate with control systems for IoT functions as well.

Kawaller • ISL Products: Electromechanical devices with networking capabilities are emerging rapidly where functions are performed, and data is captured for analysis — yielding everything from buying trends to demographic information to restocking alerts and other relevant marketing data.

Zumbusch • Eaton Hydraulics: IoT has changed the landscape tremendously, particularly over the last few years. This has allowed products with onboard intelligence (such as our AxisPro valves) to interpret upstream fluid signatures and communicate critical information … including machine performance and prognostics for maintenance of large and complex systems.

As IIoT continues to expand, we’ve seen a steady increase in needing to address both hydraulic as well as electric machines’ performance … such as variable speed electric drives coupled with variable displacement pumps to provide faster response times while still reducing energy use.

Ocampo • Bosch Rexroth: One example of motion-component IoT functionality is the drive-based software called Productivity Agent, which supports predictive maintenance and local data processing in real time while boosting machine availability and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

Feketa • LinMot USA: On the topic of IoT, servo drives with connectivity allow access to (and recording of) drive vitals … and that’s helpful because more OEMs and design engineers now want data collected by servo drives to include specific data points — especially those important to operations. Plus engineers want real-time communication of this data to PLCs — where they can access and interpret the data. Real-time data flow allows faster decision making and is especially important for predictive maintenance. On a related note, we also see servo drives including more safety features — including safe-torque-off and safe speed settings. Safety is a core concentration, and we predict industry will soon see far more products that integrate safety.

Zumbusch of Eaton Hydraulics

Zumbusch • Eaton Hydraulics: One of the most powerful outcomes of IoT has been the increase in component intelligence. These devices now offer myriad customized features for specific applications through the use of software. As machines identify new needs, over-the-air programing can update the software and add new system features that end users may decide to adopt. IoT functions even address motion-control issues such as oscillation and stability problems on the fly (even as machines are modified and systems change).

Others also stress the usefulness of software tools to boost productivity and (in some cases) even get automation information to enterprise-level functions.

Rojas • WEINTEK USA: EasyBuilder Pro (programming software for our HMIs) offers native client support of the OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA) machine-to-machine communications protocol. That helps users save time because it makes browsing PLC data structures easy. Native MQTT and AWS IoT support also reduces the time needed to setup secure telemetry servers and environments. An encrypted connection to the user’s own AWS IoT service allows gathering of machine information.

Some motion-component manufacturers cite in-house experience with their own software for implementation of IIoT as valuable in understanding OEM engineers’ own IIoT projects and challenges.

Ocampo • Bosch Rexroth: More than 250 Bosch plants worldwide have implemented IIoT lines or projects. One Bethlehem, Pa. plant completed implementation of a smart multiproduct line (MPL) for hydraulic valves in 2017 with numerous Rexroth IIoT technologies. The MPL can output more than 30,000 product variants — switching on the fly from one valve type to another. One online tool supporting communications for IoT setup is Improvidus software, which lets engineers analyze OEE data before implementing IIoT in their factories. Improvidus is a Rexroth IIoT (I4.0) online consulting tool for OEE analysis. The partially free tool gives design engineers access to I4.0 experts with a subscription.

In fact, the term “smart” is often shorthand for IIoT functions — as in the name for Weintek’s cMT-G01 smart communication gateway explained below — or in reference to connectors.

Kojak of HARTING

Kojak • HARTING: Han connectors are the first to integrate “smart” functionalities … and are compatible with the Han-Modular series, so are a safe choice for IIoT applications. Currently, there are three smart Han modules: One is a Current Surge Protection Module (to protect sensitive electronics from over-current conditions) and another is an ID Module (which stores information that might be serial identification or a BOM of all modules in a connector). Where the latter is installed in an inaccessible place, it can be interrogated via a CAN interface to feed information out.

In short, we design products that enable IIoT connectivity … and soon, we’ll be releasing modules and setups with even more functionality — including power measurement and analog-to-digital conversion.

Gateways are core to many basic IoT functions — including the management of cross-platform communications and access to HMIs (and PLCs) from remote locations.

Rojas • WEINTEK USA: EasyAccess 2.0 (our remote assistance and control software) helps engineers save time and money … as when a machine triggers an alarm, the software sends a push notification to mobile devices. A pass-through function even lets users control or program PLCs via an HMI or IIoT gateway … and setup the system to get detailed permission control through a Domain-User architecture.

Ocampo • Bosch Rexroth: IIoT is inspiring new product development — as our IoT Gateway to connect legacy machine infrastructure to IoT-based systems, for example. This IoT Gateway connects PLC and sensor hardware with cloud and data-processing systems for simple implementation of local dashboards, data processing, and data streaming to Cloud services (such as Bosch Cloud, Microsoft Azure, or Oracle). Product functions and tools are based on an open and distributed control architecture.

In addition, a Data Analytics Server supports data analysis and monitoring for new and existing machines. Real-time data can be saved, evaluated, and visualized close to the machine. Plus users can quickly setup predictive maintenance and other IIoT (I4.0) uses based on machine learning.

On the topic of increasingly networked manufacturing, some primarily view higher connectivity as a way of improving the overall lifecycle of machines.

Rojas • WEINTEK USA: IoT is more about industry and helping operational technology (OT) adopt technologies from IT. After all, aggregation and statistical tools can support OT tasks … and data sent and collected can inform ideas for next-generation machines. Such data can also help day-to-day machine use — to maximize workflow and machine efficiency, and optimize user experience.

NEXT PAGE for IoT in motion machinery →

MEET THE CONNECTIVITY and IoT EXPERTS

Horst Messerer — Data, network, and bus technology sales manager at HELUKABEL

Steve Zumbusch — Director of technology development at Eaton’s Hydraulics business

Brian O’Connor — Director of product and market development at Aerotech

Ken Kawaller — President of ISL Products Intl. Ltd.

Mark Kojak — V.P. of product management and business development in the Americas at Harting Inc.

Steven Feketa — Regional sales engineer for LinMot USA Inc.

Oscar Rojas — Senior software engineer at WEINTEK USA

Joaquin Ocampo — Product manager of motors and drives at Bosch Rexroth

Illustrations ⚙ of IoT in motion machinery →

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Control software from ACS Motion Control reduces development time

February 6, 2018 By Miles Budimir Leave a Comment

ACS Motion Control has launched a new version of its SPiiPlus Application Development Kit (ADK) Suite motion control software with new simulation and motion machine interface (MMI) tools. The SPiiPlus ADK Suite Version 2.50 provides enhanced diagnostics capabilities to minimize setup, tuning and programming time for motion control applications. With updated ACSPL+ functions, variables and commands, Version 2.50 enables the implementation of both highly complex motion-time-event sequences with accurate positioning and timing, and simpler tasks such as point-to-point control.

ACS’ simulator tool models an ideal closed-loop servo system, letting users develop the logic part of complex multi-axis controller programs in a PC environment without motion control hardware, reducing time-to-market. The motion simulator allows for simultaneous application development by multiple users, full simulation of all fault conditions, debug, and significantly reduces project development time.

The MMI functionality provides program and motion management, configuration, system analysis, servo tuning, programming, parameter viewing, I/O monitoring, and safety tools.

Additional new features include JIT and dynamic buffer execution, blended segmented motion, bitwise mapping of EtherCAT variables, and more. The SPiiPlus ADK Suite version 2.50 now also includes the ACS Knowledge Center within the SPiiPlusMMI Application Studio and as a standalone application available as a separate download. It also supports all ACS motion control products and the newly released models: LCM EtherCAT Laser Control Module and MP4U modular eight-axis Universal Drive Module,

The SPiiPlus ADK Suite Version 2.50 is available for download at SPiiPlus ADK Suite Download (for registered customers).

For more information, visit www.acsmotioncontrol.com.

Scalable graphic terminals help increase productivity in smaller applications

January 12, 2018 By Paul Heney Leave a Comment

Machine and equipment builders are already using tight integration between the HMI and controller to help increase productivity in large applications. With the new Allen-Bradley PanelView 5310 family of graphic terminals, they can now bring these integration benefits to smaller applications.

The PanelView 5310 graphic terminals deliver the same usability benefits and enhanced integration with Logix 5000 controllers as the PanelView 5500 terminals. But the new terminals are specifically designed for applications of up to 50 HMI screens. The terminals are available in 7-inch, 9-inch and 12-inch display sizes. A 6-inch display option will be available in 2018.

“Engineers can use the PanelView 5310 family to scale a tightly integrated automation system down to smaller applications,” said Mike Moriarty, product manager, Rockwell Automation. “This can help make design, operations and maintenance tasks more efficient. For example, engineers can now reuse controller alarms without creating HMI tags, which can help them reduce configuration time.”

Companies can also use the enhanced integration to create high-speed jog buttons in place of cumbersome hardwired buttons. These auto-diagnosing buttons can interact with the controller at I/O speeds to help reduce downtime and improve productivity.

Other productivity benefits of the PanelView 5310 graphic terminals include the following:

The intuitive Rockwell Software Studio 5000 design environment allows users to create reusable faceplates, screens and custom graphics to help reduce development time. These objects seamlessly integrate with Logix add-on instructions and different user-defined data types.

Emulation capabilities allow engineers to test run projects in the development environment. This can help them make changes without using the PanelView 5000 hardware or disrupting production.

VNC connectivity allows operators to remotely monitor operations via a smartphone, tablet or personal computer. Historical-trending and data-logging features also allow operators to easily troubleshoot issues directly on the panel.

Engineers can load projects onto the PanelView 5310 graphic terminals directly from removable media to more quickly recover information and make project updates without needing to use the Studio 5000 View Designer application.

About Rockwell Automation
www.rockwellautomation.com

HMI basics video: Human-machine interface communications, GUIs, and more

December 27, 2017 By Lisa Eitel Leave a Comment

A human machine interface — or HMI for short — is a control terminal on machinery to let operators monitor machine functions and adjust them as needed. This interaction is through a graphical user interface — GUI for short —that allows communications to and from supervisory controls and machine HMIs.

HMI hardware takes the form of compact controllers with embedded functions, usually in the form of ruggedized touchscreens — for example, LCDs with tempered glass and cast-aluminum frames or even sealed enclosures for outdoor applications or indoor plant applications with a lot of oil, dirt, and machining byproducts. Hardware standardization is increasingly common for HMIs on open-source and proprietary setups alike.
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In addition, HMI hardware options can make the displays satisfy rather specific application requirements. Depending on the application’s complexity, myriad I/O options exist—including digital and analog.

Today’s HMI technologies include increasingly flexible setups and (much like in consumer electronics) ever-increasing resolution. There’s also been an uptick in affordable touchscreens and steady replacement of resistive displays with capacitive. In fact, these capacitive displays are excel medical and food-and-beverage applications needing bezel-free designs, as they’re sleeker and allow sterilization and easier cleaning. Solid-glass capacitive touchscreens also last longer than HMI hardware based on resistive technologies, because the screens don’t use pressure points to form circuits, so don’t wear or lose sensitivity over time. What’s more, many HMIs with capacitive displays have the multitouch capabilities of smartphones, which lets OEMs leverage user familiarity to offer intuitive interfaces.

In fact, innovation on the front of smartphones and tablets means ever-improving wireless communications, displays and portable processing power to let users connect to HMIs for industrial applications with tablets and smartphones for real controls.

Communication protocols range from simple RS-232 links to more advanced protocols such as CANOpen, SERCOS, and Ethernet-based communications. Depending on the HMI setup, multi-network communications usually go through ControlNet and DeviceNet. ControlNet is a control-level network for high-speed transmission of time-critical messaging data and I/O data. In contrast, DeviceNet handles industrial devices like drives, limit switches, motor starters, operator displays, photoelectric cells and valve manifolds—as well as PCs and PLCs that may connect to the machine. Designs that use both communications facilitate HMI data management between machines and operators.

More sophisticated HMIs also accept input from mobile devices and platforms such as Microsoft Windows CE—a scalable version of Windows for handheld devices. Such HMIs can often save designers money, as the operating systems are distributed on machine-level embedded HMIs, solid-state open HMI machines and distributed HMI servers, as well as relatively low-cost portable devices acting as HMI interfaces.

Just a quick note about HMI software: Programmers write HMI software for either machine-level HMI or supervisory-level HMI, with applications suitable for both types. Such software has high upfront cost, but is inexpensive long-term thanks to the way it reduces redundancies. Even for lower-tech applications (in which most machine interaction is via switches and pushbuttons) entry-level HMI offerings are making inroads — as they often reduce interface-part count and simplify controls. More sophisticated applications benefit in a different way: Pharmaceutical and medical machinery use the latest HMI features to differentiate from competitive offerings.

No matter the design, selecting HMI software starts with an analysis of product specifications and features. What kind of GUI will operators need? Will plant personnel need to see diagrams and digital photos and detailed system schematics — or are the requirements simpler? Other considerations include performance, system architecture, upfront and operating costs, integration, and the nature of the environment in which the HMI will operate.

Application example: HMI on medical-device manufacturing equipment

November 11, 2017 By Lisa Eitel Leave a Comment

Most hospitalized patients receive an IV soon after admission … and sometimes insertion of the needle is painful. But once placed, discomfort subsides — as the plastic tubing that connects the IV bag to the arm is shaped to smoothly glide into veins and remain comfortable during use. Equipment made by Silverstone Automation — the manufacturer’s SilverCATH 1100 and 2200 series machines — forms plastic tubing that functions as these catheter tips.

When Silverstone designed the SilverCATH machines, they needed a display to deliver a high-resolution touchscreen with built-in recipe functionality; a USB port for saving recipe data; user-friendly programming; and password-protected screens.

So Silverstone ultimately integrated Maple Systems HMI5100L HMIs into their machines. The HMI5100L is slim and affordable. Its 1.57-in. depth allowed for easy mounting, and its easy-to-read 10-in. color touchscreen lets operators quickly set parameters. More after the jump.

Silverstone Automation makes an array of medical-device manufacturing equipment. The machine builder’s SilverCATH 1100 and 2200 machines accurately form introducer and catheter tips. These incorporate Maple Systems HMIs for cost-effective and user-friendly operation.

The touchscreens (which display separate screens for operators and technicians) simplify controls and prevent unintended entries. Plus preprogrammed recipes freed operators from entering lots of data before each changeover.

In fact, Silverstone also includes Maple Systems HMIs into an array of custom (proprietary) machine designs. Maple Systems tailors the controllers to Silverstone requirements with offerings from 4.3 to 15 in.

Remote connectivity among features of Mitsubishi Electric’s newest widescreen HMI

September 28, 2017 By Miles Budimir Leave a Comment

The latest human machine interface (HMI) from Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc. is the GT25 Wide HMI, an interface that monitors and controls machine components with a graphical touchscreen that connects to equipment such as PLCs, VFDs and servos. Information is displayed on high-resolution screens – 7-in. wide video graphics array (WVGA) or 10-in. wide extended graphics array (WXGA) – for clear image quality.

For optimum visibility and performance, the GT25 Wide HMI features remote connectivity through the GOT Mobile option. GOT Mobile provides remote access via web server functionality for production monitoring and system operation. It’s designed to monitor controllers using web browsers on devices such as tablets, phones and personal computers, allowing machine operators, plant managers and maintenance personnel to monitor equipment status at any time from anywhere.

The GT25 Wide HMI is equipped with two Ethernet ports to physically separate the information system network in the office from the control system network at the production site, creating safer and more secure network architecture. This high performance HMI also features a built-in sound output interface, which provides audio feedback, notifications and verbal instructions to operators.

Ideal for advanced applications within the automotive, semiconductor, electronics, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries, the GT25 Wide HMI can be used in any application that requires local operation and monitoring of system components from a graphical interface. It fulfills virtually any need that requires a smart, web-based remote solution.

Find more information on the GT25 Wide HMI and the comprehensive line of factory automation products and solutions from Mitsubishi Electric Automation at https://us.mitsubishielectric.com/fa/en.

Weintek adds touchscreen Windows PCs to remote access platform

September 26, 2017 By Paul Heney Leave a Comment

Weintek USA Inc., the industrial HMI solution provider expands the capability of the cMT Remote Access line of Human Machine Interface devices with the addition of the cMT-iPC10 and cMT-iPC15 industrial touch screen flat panel PC’s with embedded Windows OS.

In todays manufacturing environment of continuous improvement, the analysis of production or process data is an ongoing effort. The ability to drive improvements into the process, based on actual real time information is essential. Being able to incorporate an industrial PC with its powerful analysis and communication applications (i.e. Excel, Word, Access, Outlook etc.) directly into the control and data flow is a primary advantage. When the engineer couples a cMT-iPC10/15 with a cMT-SVR he/she can run EasyBuilder Pro software to work directly, via fully functional HMI with the plant floor devices and then channel the resultant data flows immediately into the appropriate analysis applications. The resulting analysis can be shared in real time with colleagues within the plant or around the world, increasing productivity, quality and reliability, driving down costs and travel expenses, and also saving time.

The cMT-iPC10 and the cMT-iPC15 both include a 1.75GHz dual core 64bit CPU, 32GB sad and 4GB ram. The cMT-iPC10 boasts a 9.7 TFT display with 1024×768 resolution. The cMT-iPC15 has a similar 15-in. High Resolution display. The operating system is either Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

The pairing of the HMI directly with a powerful PC opens up many new and exciting opportunities. The ability to create new tools directly within the applications that can analyze, display, and share critical information in realtime is a major advantage.

Weintek USA Inc.
www.weintekusa.com

UniStream 5-in. compact and connected PLC+HMI+I/Os from Unitronics

September 22, 2017 By Lisa Eitel Leave a Comment

Unitronics’ newly-released 5-in. UniStream is a multifunction programmable logic controller in a compact hardware profile to include a PLC+HMI+I/O built in a single unit.

The all-in-one compact PLC+HMI with built-in I/Os fills a niche in the programmable controller market — serving OEMs and system integrators who need space-saving controllers delivering the functionality to control complex machines …

… even while creating a competitive advantage with a color touch HMI panel.

This all-in-one controller is available in two series: UniStream 5-in. and UniStream 5-in. Pro. Both series support SNMP, VNC, FTP, SMS, email, and communications via GSM/GPRS modem. The Pro version also offers a built-in Webserver, audio jack, and video support, as well as SQL, a plus for system integrators and OEMs facing Industry 4.0.

UniStream 5-in. hardware has a resistive color touchscreen that reduces space and wiring requirements, and eliminates the need to set up Panel-PLC communication.

Built-in I/O configurations vary according to model, offering digital, analog, high-speed and temperature I/Os. Users can expand the configuration up to 2,048 I/O points.

Built-in COM ports include Ethernet, 1 USB host and 1 Mini-B USB device ports; additional add-on ports for serial and CANbus are available.

Powerful programming for PLC and HMI functions

The rich feature range of UniStream includes autotuned PID, data logging, data tables and Recipes, data sampling displayed via built-in Trends and Gauges, Alarms, multi-level passwords, and plug-and-play communications for CANopen, CAN Layer2, MODBUS, EtherNet/IP, and more.

A Re-Use paradigm enables the programmer to build Ladder and C functions, design HMI screens, and create Web pages in multiple languages including Asian languages—then save it all in a Library to reuse in other projects.

Another benefit to the bottom line for the OEM and system integrators is Unitronics standard policy of customer care (with no hidden costs or tiers). All software, utilities, and support including membership in Unitronics’ Community Forum are provided at no additional charge.

Unitronics designs, manufactures, and markets quality PLCs for the global market. Easy -to-use, efficient, and affordable, the products have been automating processes, systems, and stand-alone applications since 1989. We maintain more than 160 distributors in over 55 countries around the globe, enabling the customers to purchase the products with local marketing support.

Unitronics’ field-proven PLCs automate hundreds of thousands of installations in diverse fields: petrochemical, automotive, food processing, plastic & textile, energy & environment, water & waste water management—anywhere automated processes are required.

Unitronics’ programmable controllers have been honored by Frost & Sullivan’s 2016 Product Line Strategy Leadership Award, and have received numerous trade awards. For more information, visit www.unitronics.com.