Siemens adds Profinet to industrial PC line

Tag : PC Mainboard

The Siemens Industry Automation Division has equipped themainboards of its rugged industrial PC family with a Profinetinterface. Designed as a three-port switch, this supportsisochronous real time and integrates the Siemens PC into Profinetnetworks. The controller architecture is based on the standardProfinet Asic Ertec 400 with which integrated, real-time-enabledcommunication can be implemented from the corporate managementlevel right down to the process. It also enables simultaneousreal-time and IT communication on one line using TCP/IP, forexample.
 
The Profinet interface integrated on the mainboard relieves the PCprocessor of communication tasks and thus increases PC systemperformance. This also saves a slot, making it available for otherPC expansion cards. The three Profinet ports allow flexible andsimple establishment of linear or ring topologies, and they areused for connecting PLCs, distributed I/O, or drives to the PC.

Alternatively, with real time communication (RT) the ports can beused as standard Windows interfaces for TCP/IP communication, forexample, or for visualization tasks with Simatic WinCC flexible.The new version of the software PLC WinAC RTX 2008 already uses thenew communication facilities of the onboard interface. The networktopology is conveniently configured with Step 7 or NCM-PC.

Electromagnetically compatible, rugged industrial connectors withstandard RJ45 connection system and cable grips prevent theconnections becoming loose under vibration, thus avoiding thecostly troubleshooting and fault correction involved in stoppages.The simple FastConnect system is used for rapid preparation of thecable direct onsite. Two status LEDs on each port and a Profinetgroup fault LED provide support at startup and during faultdiagnostics.