Product category:
Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications
News Release from: B and R Industrial Automation Corp | Subject: X20 System
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 05 April 2005
Universal solution for I/O and control
Born from experience, the X20 System is a new universal I/O solution for any automation task in machine and system manufacturing.
There are many different I/O slice systems available on the market With the X20 System, B and R sets new standards for efficiency
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 16 May 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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Born from experience, the X20 System is the new universal solution for any automation task in machine and system manufacturing.
The X20 System is a complete control solution as well as a remote I/O system.
The X20 System is the perfect addition on a standard fieldbus to expand existing control systems.
The X20 System is also a complete controller, which demonstrates its full performance capability when combined with X20 System CPUs.
High performance and flexibility are the main focus.
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The B and R programming environment does not have to change for the X20 System.
Complex applications for control, visualisation and drive technology are also created easily and intuitively for the X20 System using B and R Automation Studio.
With the concept "configuring instead of programming", a portion of the applications code does not require programming.
Accelerated development, programming, maintenance and documentation means lower costs and enhanced quality.
The high component density of up to 12 I/O channels per X20 System module saves expensive installation space.
The remote X2X Link backplane allows the components in the X20 System to be accurately placed wherever space is available.
Costly fieldbus conversion with distances of up to 100m between modules is not necessary.
Simply connect the cable and the job is done.
The separate terminal blocks on the X20 System put an end to tiresome struggles with wires and terminals directly on the I/O module.
The terminal blocks can be prewired, which means installers don't have to use any tools.
The individual push-in terminals also accept double wire tip sleeves.
The terminal block can be completely separated from the electronic module for maintenance.
The X20 System is well suited for both remote as well as local control architectures, as an intelligent controller as well as an I/O system.
The individual modules communicate via the standard X2X Link backplane, whether right next to each other on the mounting rail, networked in the same switching cabinet, over 100m from other switching cabinets or in direct connection with other components such as drives, visualisation units, or sensors and actuators.
X20 System modules are divided into three parts - bus module, electronic module and terminal block.
This allows numerous assembly variations on a basic platform.
Intelligent development software Automation Studio supports developing machines that have many variations.
The application program can automatically detect the construction of the system based on the configuration of the modules being used and loads only the program modules and functions required for the respective variation.
Each X20 System module is uniquely identified using a label on the outside of the module as well as an embedded parameter chip.
Additionally, each module is identified on distributed networks using software.
All X20 System components are given a mechanical code during production so that only components with an identical voltage level, the same safety class or application environment can be combined.
Custom coding is also possible.
Diagnostics are fully integrated in the X20 System.
In continuous operation, diagnostics data are transferred quickly and transparently to the higher-level systems.
This occurs without influencing the system behaviour, without additional effort and via any network.
Diagnostic LEDs are also used on the device to indicate the current status.
The hot-pluggable X20 System allows components to be exchanged even during machine operation.
Additionally, the separation of the module in bus module, electronic module and terminal block makes it possible to easily replace a defective element if necessary.
Thanks to the separate terminal blocks the wiring can stay the same.
Besides the replacement of individual components the X20 System can also be rapidly replaced as a complete system; disconnect completely, exchange and reconnect.
Defects can be corrected quickly, without the necessary labour intensive disassembly of the system into individual components.
B and R will present the X20 System for the first time in the USA at the 2005 SPS Electric Automation America on Booth 206 at the Donald E Stephens Convention Centre, in Rosemont, Illinois, from 24th to 26th May 2005.
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