014 015 ien june13 · the offline configuration via the port configu-ration tool (pct) works just...
TRANSCRIPT
n° 6 - JUnE 2013
Easy Operation with all Fieldbuses and Controllers
With IO-Link, process data as well as parameter
and diagnostics data are transferred. Which
raises the question: How can this still be easy
to use? For comparison, let us take a new smart
phone that you have just purchased. You turn it
on and can immediately make calls. Only if you
want to use a more complex function, for ex-
ample GPS navigation, do you have to familiar-
ize yourself with the function to handle it safely.
It is just the same with the identification sys-
tem SIMATIC RF200 with IO-Link. If only the
UID (transponder number) of the transponder is
required, the IO-Link reader only needs to con-
nected to the IO-Link master using the ready-
to-connect, three-conductor, standard cable.
After switching on, the IO-Link master only
has to be told that an unknown IO-Link device
is connected to its I/O port. Via the autosense
feature of IO-Link, the IO-Link master automati-
cally recognizes the mode of operation of the
RF200 reader. If a transponder is brought into
the reading field of the reader, the eight bytes
of data of the UID are immediately shown in the
process image. Entirely without programming or
parameterization, the result is ready for further
processing. Achieving this commissioning was
easy, fast and complete – without programming
knowledge of the controller.
The offline configuration via the Port Configu-
ration Tool (PCT) works just as easily. For each
IO-Link device, the manufacturer provides a de-
scription (the so-called IODD file) containing a
photo of the device and its most important fea-
tures. This file can be imported into the catalog
of the PCT, if the SIMATIC RF200 reader cannot
be found in the folder “Ident systems”. now
simply drag the desired reader to an IO-Link port
of the IO-Link master and load the configuration
into the device.
The diagnostics capabilities of the RF200 IO-Link
readers seamlessly integrate into the proven
diagnostics system of the SIMATIC Manager. If
diagnostics data of the RF200 IO-Link readers is
required by the PLC program, it can be request-
ed with the block IOL call. The block IOL call
also makes it possible for the user to hot-swap
the IO-Link reader as needed, without having to
adjust anything. This saves costs in training the
maintenance personnel, since the device swap
can also be performed by non-skilled persons.
The programming interface to the RF200 IO-Link
readers is made so easy via the process image
that no further function blocks are needed. For
instance, the transponder number (UID) is dis-
played in the process image as soon as a tran-
sponder moves into the field of the reader. After
the transponder leaves the field of the reader,
the process image displays zero again. no con-
trol signals have to be set and no error messag-
es in the program need to be retrieved and reset.
Furthermore, by using the IODD file, the reading
result in the process image is displayed with
understandable variable names, which again
greatly simplifies the programming. During the
commissioning and programming, the manual
is therefore largely not needed.
Open to other Bus Systems
If a customer builds a new “greenfield” plant,
often only a single supplier for the control tech-
nology and electrical systems is chosen. This
minimizes the type and number of the inter-
faces and simplifies the handling of the devices,
which in turn increases the quality of the com-
missioning and lowers the risk of a non-func-
tioning interface. With Totally Integrated Auto-
mation (TIA), Siemens supports the interaction
of all automation components – these devices
are tested and checked for compatibility by Sie-
mens in configuration systems.
In reality, however, it is far more likely for sec-
tions of a plant to be modified than completely
new plants to be built. The difficulty often aris-
ing then: The RFID system is the backbone of
the production. The transponders (e.g., affixed
to system pallets or workpiece carriers) run
Leading providers of automation products have joined together in a consortium and defined an interface designated IO-Link for end devices – enabling an easy use across all controller and sensor/actuator manufacturers. With the identification system SIMATIC RF200 IO-Link, Siemens is offering the proven RFID readers with the connection variant IO-Link, which can thus be employed with all popular fieldbuses and controllers. Furthermore, this technology is very easy to operate and gets customers into a good cost position.
RF200 IO-Link system integration: Four
readers can be connected to each IO-Link
master.
Cover Story14 Control & Automation
» Autor: Heinrich Meyer, Product Manager Sensors and Communication, Siemens Industry Automation, Nürnberg, Germany
Acquisition level
Transponder(ISO 15693)
Control level
IT level
SIMATIC ET 200eco PNwith IO-Link Master
Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
SIMATIC ET 200S with IO-Link Master
G_F
S10
_XX
_004
20
SIMATICRF210R
SIMATICRF220R
SIMATICRF260R
Industrial Ethernet
Ethernet
PROFINET/Industrial Ethernet IO-Link
PROFIBUS
SIMATIC S7-300
n° 6 - JUnE 2013
The new, compact readers SIMATIC
RF200 IO-Link are used with the
comprehensive Siemens portfolio of
ISO15693 transponders.
Control & Automation 15
HNY35709 IndstrlAd_IEN_Europe_June2012_Mech2.indd 1 5/24/12 2:07 PM
through the old as well as new plant sections.
A modification to the RFID system is gener-
ally not possible, since this would entail very
large investments and long plant downtimes.
It is therefore essential for the RFID system to
be as flexible as possible – so that it can eas-
ily be connected to all popular fieldbuses and
controllers.
The IO-Link readers from SIMATIC RF200 come
with the necessary flexibility for this. IO-Link
gateways are available from different manufac-
turers for virtually any major industrial fieldbus.
In addition, many of the large controller manu-
facturers already offer a direct IO-Link connec-
tion for their controller.
The RF200 IO-Link readers operate according to
the IO-Link standard V1.0 with a baud rate of
38.4 kBaud, which in the IO-Link specification
is also designated as COM2. The baud rate – as
stipulated in the IO-Link specification – is not
changeable in the IO-Link device. The baud rate
COM2 together with the standard V1.0 guar-
antees compatibility with all master modules,
since these requirements must be met by all
IO-Link masters.
Low Channel Costs per Reading Point
The costs for an RFID reading point mainly con-
sist of hardware costs (RFID reader, connection
cable, hardware share of the IO-Link master) and
engineering costs (commissioning, parameter-
ization, programming).
Concerning the hardware costs, it is primarily
the IO-Link master that considerably lowers the
price for a reading point – compared to conven-
tional connections to fieldbuses and controllers.
At an IO-Link master, usually up to four SIMATIC
RF200 IO-Link readers can be operated in paral-
lel. Image 1 depicts the configuration diagram
with IO-Link masters by Siemens. Per reading
point, only a quarter of the hardware costs of
the IO-Link master are therefore assessed. The
connection cabling also becomes cheaper,
since an unshielded, standard sensor cable with
three conductors is sufficient. The engineering
costs likewise drop, since the IO-Link readers
can be commissioned with minimal time and
knowledge.
Furthermore, the SIMATIC RF200 IO-Link read-
ers can be integrated very easily – and thus
cost-effectively – into all fieldbuses and con-
trollers, as shown in the table. This is especially
beneficial to machine builders that often have
to complete customer orders with different con-
trollers and fieldbus implementations.
An additional cost advantage lies in the mixabil-
ity of IO-Link readers with other IO-Link devices
at a single IO-Link master. If a production only
requires two RFID readers, the remaining free
ports of the IO-Link master can be occupied by
other sensors or actuators (e.g., SIRIUS motor
starters by Siemens).
Conclusion
For newcomers as well as longtime users of
RFID technology, the new RF200 IO-Link readers
by Siemens represent an excellent alternative
with advantages in many applications. Thanks
to the ease of use in all bus and controller envi-
ronments, IO-Link is a great addition to conven-
tional RFID communication interfaces.
43445 at www.ien.eu