TR IO-Link_201610_en
7Pages

TECHNICAL REPORTS New, manufacturer-independent IO-Link interface for the intelligent process automation by Albert Book Industry 4.0 is the merger of information technology (IT) and Industry 4.0 and innovative machine solu- communications technology to ICT. The basis is networking of tions in automation technology are currently sensors, actuators and data processing to provide integrated a topic of wide-ranging discussions. A communication down to the field device level. prerequisite for integrated networking, full transparency and end-to-end communication of the plant systems down to the lowest field device level are intelligent sensors. Irrespective of the field bus used and not tied to particular manufacturers: the IO-Link interface constitutes a new communication The vision of Industry 4.0 integrates digitalisation, automation and networking of all applications to control the complete process for all functions, areas and segments of the manufacturing industry. The driving force for this transformation is primarily the increasing requests coming from the customers and the necessity for manufacturing companies to adapt faster and approach for a consistent connection of in a more dynamic way to growing individualised customer’s sensors and actuators to the control level requests. This requires a transition from rigid centralised via a simple and economic point-to-point production control systems towards a decentralised intelli- connection. The following report gives an insight into the technology and application of the IO-Link interface. gence down to the field device level. The target of the introduction of Industry 4.0 into manufacturing processes is to reach an adaptive production and an optimisation of the individual processes in real time mode. According to the defined production and process technologies should be designed to independently select the materials and components and to make real-time adaptations and adjustments according to the motto “the product controls the plant”. The advantages are increased efficiency and flexibility due to a faster response to a higher number of variants, shorter changeover cycles for complex products, production of a variety of series or individual products on the same production line, tailored products for the customers and the production of small and very small series at competitive costs. Industry 4.0 pursues the idea to veer away from preventive maintenance and repair of plants towards predictive diagnostics and remote maintenance even beyond plant boundaries and locations. All this requires access to connected intelligent data sources such as sensors or actuators.

TECHNICAL REPORTS Industrial Ethernet • the communication ends at the IO level resp. at complex field devices • simple standard sensors / actuators are not able to communicate Traditional automation system with limited means of communication. One shortfall of industry 4.0 is the often missing standard and If we take the classical automation technology, the commu- the inaccurate definition of the term. System-wide consistency nication usually ends at the lowest field bus level, i.e. at the and worldwide suitability needs a uniform framework for sensors and actuators (Fig. 1). Modules limited...

Industrial Ethernet PLC with © IO-Link Master • IO-Link sensors and actuators are capable of communication and allow bi-directional transmission of cyclic and acyclic data i IO-Link Master i IO-Link Master Fig. 2 IO-Link enables comprehensive communication down to the field device level. However, due to their location in the plant and their exposure to difficult production conditions in industries, such as heat, cold, vibration, dirt and moisture, these modules are more often than not responsible for the origin of plant downtimes. Without diagnostic data, the troubleshooting process and...

TECHNICAL REPORTS external parameter setting saves time for wiring and also space not possible as both signals are transmitted via the same pin in the control cabinet, as there is no more need to connect each 4. An IO-Link system allows combining and running in parallel device separately to the central periphery. The non-proprietary components with and without IO-Link in any way you require. standardisation reduces the range of interfaces of sensors and Standard devices that are not supporting an IO-Link can either IO modules and cuts down the variety of connecting cables. be connected via...

TECHNICAL REPORTS Fig. 3 Connection of a modern sensor with IO-Link interface and analogue output. table with the introduction of an IO-Link interface for measuring be handled in the same way, independent of the manufacturer. devices. The market already reacted and offers ready-made The IODD contains all information and descriptions for identifi- shielded cables. cation, for the device parameters with their value ranges, error messages, process and diagnostic data and communication characteristics (Fig. 4). The texts can be stored in several IO-Link communication data types languages. The...

TECHNICAL REPORTS Information about the device Device catalogue Fig. 5 Connection of an IO sensor to the master. Fig. 7 Parameter setting and commands. block will find the configuration parameters pertaining to the IO-Link tools for servicing sensors in the data base. Via IO-Link these parameters are then automatically attributed to the respective sensors. The A veteran commissioning engineer will certainly argue that it following parameters can, for example, be set for the infrared was and is much easier to check an analogue sensor with an thermometer (Fig. 6): emissivity, switching points...

TECHNICAL REPORTS valves, power contactors or frequency converters. A number of firms also offer the technology for instrument design and for technical support. The requirement for certification and the use of accredited test tools makes sure that all products on the market fulfil the IO-Link standard. Author Fig. 8 IO-Link Master zum Anschluss eines IO-Link Device über die USB-Schnittstelle an einen PC. Dipl.-Ing. Albert Book KELLER HCW GmbH ∙ Germany Infrared Thermometer Solutions In addition, there are numerous sensor manufacturers for a large variety of measured variables, for object...