Fieldbus provides secure communication

A CC-Link Partner Association product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Sep 25, 2007

CC-Link Safety enables the communication of information relating to the operation of safety devices, such as emergency stops and light curtains, on production machinery.

The CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA) has released a safety fieldbus designed to enable secure communication of critical safety-related data over open networks, as used in industrial plant and machinery control.

CC-Link Safety is a safety field network, enabling the communication of information relating to the operation of safety devices, such as emergency stops and light curtains, on production machinery.

It is based on CC-Link and includes communication error detection capabilities which instantly react to systems malfunctions such as the field device failures and interruptions to communications.

CC-Link Safety is available in both English and Japanese versions.

To make installation as easy as possible, CC-Link Safety can use existing certified CC-Link cables and communicate with existing CC-Link products such as CC-Link remote I/O stations and field devices.

It is also possible to facilitate configuration changes to control, handling and manufacturing requirements over a CC-Link Safety network.

Steve Jones CLPA's General Manager for Europe says: "CC-Link Safety embraces all the benefits of wire-reduction technology that have so effectively reduced build and installation costs while ensuring the safe operation of industrial plant and manufacturing machinery".

"Additionally systems maintenance can be greatly improved as the setting and monitoring of all field devices is centralised in the master station, while the reduced wiring will simplify diagnosis and repair".

CC-Link Safety's protocol specification was developed by a dedicated working group within the CLPA.

The CC-Link Safety System Master Unit and CC-Link Safety System Remote I/O Unit, the key components of a basic CC-Link Safety system, have already been certified with International Safety Standard IEC61508 SIL3 and EN954-1 category 4.

"These are available now from CLPA Working group member Mitsubishi Electric", Jones said.

Other CLPA partners are now developing compatible products such as light curtains and robots.

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