Often, when we talk with customers, they ask how PROFINET compares with other network protocols. In this article, we’ll explain how PROFINET and Modbus TCP compare head to head in order to help you understand the differences between them. At the end of the comparison, we’ll show a table highlighting the main points for quick reference. Speed and Determinism When it comes to a […]
Fieldbus solutions have been in place for decades in most industries, and there’s an incredible amount of knowledge built up around them. Everything from PROFIBUS to DeviceNet, from 4-20 loops to MODBUS RTU… engineers just graduating with their B.S. degrees were born after most of these automation systems were developed! Migrating these solutions to PROFINET is a common challenge. Every […]
One of our pet peeves is when we hear about people lumping all wireless types together and treating them as one. Wireless is not one monolithic thing, there are four wireless types, or use-cases in industrial automation: 1. Backhaul (as ISA characterizes it) Typically this is long distance, point to point radio bringing data from a Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) perhaps at a wellhead […]
Machine Safety Machine Safety is the protection of personnel or plant assets from damage or death. Components of machine safety include: Organizational safety (Requirements for safety shoes, FRC, safety glasses, etc.) Passive Safety (guard rails, covers for moving parts, gates) Functional Safety (Protection from hazards due to incorrect functioning of the industrial machinery) Functional Safety This article will focus on Functional Safety for the factory automation environment. Common components […]
Safety PLCs are special controllers built and certified to meet international safety requirements such as NFPA 79, IEC 62061, IEC 13849-1 or IEC 61508. All of these safety standards define levels of risk reduction. Conventional Safety PLC Principle The original safety PLC concept required that normal PLCs and standard I/O could not be mixed with safety PLCs and safety components in the same network. […]
Hazardous environments are areas where flammable liquids, gases or vapors or combustible dust exist in sufficient quantities to produce an explosion or fire. In hazardous environments, specially designed equipment and special installation techniques must be used to protect against the explosive and flammable potential of these substances. (OSHA Publication 3073) There are three factors which have to be present in order for there to […]
History The “Process Industry” includes the waste water treatment, food & beverage, chemical, oil & gas, and pulp & paper industries. In the past, plant operators had to physically monitor performance values and the quality of outputs to determine the best settings on which to run production equipment. Process automation simplified this with the help of sensors at thousands of spots around […]
Planning a development roadmap for a PROFINET project is critical for a smooth process and on-time product release. There are four basic steps (and partners) you’ll need to work with to complete the project. The first and last, joining PI and applying for a product certificate, are pretty straightforward transactions. Everything in between is where the interesting stuff happens and […]
We need to put PROFINET on our device. Where do we start? This is a question we field nearly every week, and this section gives you the background, resources, and contacts to get up and moving with your PROFINET project. There are a lot of resources out there explaining the process of developing a PROFINET product. In addition to PROFINET […]
PROFINET certification can be an intimidating process, but it doesn’t have to be. Knowing what you’re getting into before you complete the test application not only sets expectations, but it also puts you in a position to streamline the process. Step 1: Choose a Test Lab PI Test Labs operate as independent and accredited institutions. They aren’t part of the […]
