Online features
- Home page
- Products
- Technology
- Environment
- Profiles
- Corporate
- Investment
- Events
- People
- Countries
- Agenda
- Analysis
- Blog
Latest magazine
Technology
Safe and economical
Nowadays, safety technology is a rigid technology separate from flexible machine control. Next to the sleek automation of production machines designed with well-established fieldbus systems, the implementation of safety technology seems archaic by comparison. In many cases, the lack of flexibility makes it necessary to work restrictively with protective measures. This in turn hinders the productivity of a system due to time-consuming and complicated procedures.There are a number of new approaches to safe field bus systems that are heavily influenced by proprietary standards and long response times. The ACOPOS drive system from B&R is different. This system is based on POWERLINK Safety.Enabling functions such as safe limited speed is done directly over the network. Wiring these safety-related signals to the drive is now a thing of the past. The information is collected from its source via safe digital inputs and outputs, then distributed to the corresponding sensors and actuators, in this case the drive, via the SafeLOGIC central processing unit.
POWERLINK provides the best possible communication connection between the SafeLOGIC and the non-safety grade controller.
Safety in the ACOPOS drive system comprises the following functions according to Cat. 3, EN 954-1:
- Uncontrolled and controlled stops
- Safe stop and safe operation halt
- Safe limited step measurement and safe limited absolute position
- Safe limited speed
- Safe rotational direction
Basic functions like safe restart inhibit or safe output for the motor holding brake (both according to Cat. 3, EN 954-1) are integral parts of the system. Therefore, the safety-related functions can be implemented in simple applications via conventional wiring and in complex systems via POWERLINK Safety and SafeLOGIC.
This intelligent safety system, which is integrated in the drive, improves machine safety and ensures stabile and very economical operation of the system.
