Product category:
Pneumatic Valves and Controls
News Release from: Festo | Subject: CPX
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 21 November 2005
Distributed I/O terminal gains further
flexibility
At MTEC, Festo will extend the versatility of its CPX distributed electrical and pneumatic I/O terminal with further I/O flexibility and network communications options.
At MTEC, Festo will extend the versatility of its CPX distributed electrical and pneumatic I/O terminal with further I/O flexibility and network communications options "With these additions we're liberating machine builders to disperse precise amounts and types of I/O exactly where they need them on the machine, for ultimate cost effectiveness", comments Jacqui Reid of Festo
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 10 Sep 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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"This terminal's architecture gives machine builders a license to design networks how they want them".
"It makes the automation components fit the machine, and not vice versa".
One key new introduction is an extension interface to the CPX terminal's local bus that allows satellite I/O modules to be installed up to 10 metres away - but without the cost of an additional fieldbus communications module.
Further reading
UK debut for front-end controller
Automation company Festo will be showing its new Ethernet-equipped gateway for pneumatic valve terminals for the first time in the UK, on stand D28 at mtec 2005.
HMI provides instant visibility and control
Festo has introduced a handheld human-machine interface for its CPX family of pneumatic and electrical I/O terminals that can substantially speed machine building.
Called CP Interface, it supports both electrical I/O and pneumatic solenoid valves.
The interface can be used to provide a few I/O points needed in a particular remote location, or even for large-scale process and production automation systems as up to 512 I/O channels can be dispersed.
Satellite I/O subsystems can be fully environmentally protected, just like the host CPX terminal, to IP65 for the pneumatic valves and IP67 for the electrical I/O.
Diagnostics capability is also complete, with visibility right down to individual channels.
"The new satellite I/O capability can shave meaningful amounts from the automation bill of materials - saving around GBP 200 for every fieldbus interface eliminated for example", adds Reid.
"It also gives engineers the ability to install precisely-proportioned pneumatic valves just where they want".
"A distributed CPX terminal can have one kind or size of valve for example, while its satellite I/O module has another".
New industrial network communications options add a further dimension to the CPX I/O terminal's capability.
Already compatible with a wide range of fieldbuses including CANopen, CC-Link, DeviceNet, Interbus-S and Profibus-DP, Festo will be extending the choice of Ethernet networking protocols.
The existing TCP/IP and Modbus/TCP options will be joined by the EtherNet/IP protocol - for direct connectivity to the ODVA Ethernet environment.
This will be particularly popular with machine builders who use Allen-Bradley and associated equipment and controllers.
In addition to functioning as remote I/O modules, CPX terminals can be specified with local intelligence.
This option supports even further architectural freedom, with the choice of decentralised control or intelligence, for set up, diagnostics and recovery.
Reid adds: "Festo valve terminals have led the machine building market for the last five years, and I believe this increase in flexibility of the CPX system will ensure that our terminals remain the machine builders' favourite". Request a free brochure from Festo ...
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