Benefits of DeviceNet open fieldbus standard are easy to demonstrate

Citation

(2001), "Benefits of DeviceNet open fieldbus standard are easy to demonstrate", Assembly Automation, Vol. 21 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2001.03321aab.001

Benefits of DeviceNet open fieldbus standard are easy to demonstrate

Benefits of DeviceNet open fieldbus standard are easy to demonstrate

Keywords: Fieldbus

The benefits of moving from traditional parallel I/O to the DeviceNet open fieldbus system are now well-proven in numerous case studies. These include a 75-80 per cent reduction in wiring, installation and start-up time; reduced downtime; rapid trouble-shooting; replacement of devices without shutting down the network; interchangeability of devices from different vendors; configuration of devices over the network.

Now any end user, OEM or systems integrator can see DeviceNet in action for themselves by visiting the DeviceNet Demonstration Cell at the University of Warwick's International Manufacturing Centre (IMC) (see Plate 1).

The demonstration cell is a permanent facility, featuring a working example of manufacturing plant including an industrial robot, a light screen, conveyors, pneumatic valves and actuators, drives, weighing instruments and sensors, all controlled by a PLC via a single DeviceNet fieldbus.

Plate 1 Benefits of DeviceNet open fieldbus standard are easy to demonstrate

With equipment from a variety of DeviceNet UK member vendors, including Contemporary Controls, Cutler-Hammer, Festo, HM Computing, IXXAT, National Instruments, Negretti, Numatics, Omron, Rockwell Automation, SMC, Softing, Turck Banner and Wago, the cell is a working demonstration of the interoperability of devices from different suppliers.

The cell is also able to demonstrate the diagnostic capabilities of DeviceNet. If a device fails, the plant is immediately shutdown and a message stating the exact nature and location of fault is displayed. Visitors are able to see that DeviceNet also allows devices to be connected and disconnected without shutting down the system.

DeviceNet's automatic device replacement feature, which downloads to a replacement device the same configuration as the original, is also demonstrated by the cell.

To emphasise the huge savings in cost and complexity resulting from the move to DeviceNet, the original parallel I/O racks and cabinet have been left in the cell. The PLC and DeviceNet scanner card now occupy a fraction of the space, with a single DeviceNet trunk line connecting the PLC to the actuators and sensors via thin droplines.

The cell has recently been rewired using flat DeviceNet cable, a job that took less than one day. The flat cable enables a manufacturing facility to be wired with a single unbroken cable run of trunkline up to 500m in length. Droplines to devices can then be quickly connected where needed by clamp-on insulation displacement connectors (IDCs).

Visits to the demonstration cell are free and can be arranged by contacting DeviceNet UK chairman Richard McLaughlin at the IMC UK. Tel: +44 (0)2476 524711, Fax: +44 (0)2476 524307; E-mail: r.mclaughlin@warwick.ac.uk

A Web page giving details of the demonstration cell, including live updates on the status of devices when the cell is running, can be viewed on the University of Warwick's DeviceNet Web site at www.warwick.ac.uk/devicenet

For further information, please contact Richard McLaughlin, Chairman, DeviceNet UK, International Manufacturing Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK. Tel: +44 (0)2476 524711; Fax: +44 (0)2476 524307; E-mail: r.mclaughlin@warwick.ac.uk; Web site: www.devicenet.org.uk