Pepperl+fuchs Podcasts

In this week's discussion, Tim Cicerchi and Helge Hornis continue their conversation about The AS-Interface Maintenance and Troubleshooting Guide. The guide explains what users can do with the AS-Interface addressing handheld unit. Hints from the guide include: --Assign an address to any AS-Interface module --Read inputs and set outputs --Read the profile (IO and ID codes) Download The AS-Interface Maintenance and Troubleshooting Guide  

In this week's discussion, Tim Cicerchi and Helge Hornis call out specific aspects of The AS-Interface Maintenance and Troubleshooting Guide. The guide is a very useful booklet that helps new and experienced AS-Interface users during planning, installation, and troubleshooting. Tips include: --Use certified modules --Always follow the most basic installation rules .. there are not that many --Do not use shielded or twisted cable Download The AS-Interface Maintenance and Troubleshooting Guide

In this week's episode, Helge Hornis continues his discussion with David Fink, National Account Manager at Pepperl+Fuchs, about controlling and monitoring valve position using AS-Interface in combination with valve position sensors.  --The components that comprise a valve assembly --AS-Interface controls the valve assembly or solenoid valve --How to know if the valve is stuck? --Can AS-Interface control an actuator valve without a solenoid? --Are different manufacturer valves, actuators, and valve position sensors compatible? --Can manually operated valves be equipped with a valve position sensor and AS-Interface? Read the blog post: Using AS-Interface to Control Pneumatically Operated Process Valve Assemblies

In this week's episode, Helge Hornis continues his discussion with David Fink, National Account Manager at Pepperl+Fuchs, about using AS-Interface for valve position monitoring. --What is the output of the solenoid driver on a valve position sensor? --Differences between standard sensors with no solenoid output and valve position sensors with solenoid output. --AS-Interface modules and their uses for valve position sensing. --The myth that AS-Interface is only for low current consumption/low wattage types of applications. Read the blog post: Using AS-Interface to Control Pneumatically Operated Process Valve Assemblies

In this week's episode, Helge Hornis talks to David Fink, National Account Manager at Pepperl+Fuchs, about how to use AS-Interface to monitor valve position. David first gives an overview of the basic components of a valve assembly. This includes quarter-turn valves mounted to a pneumatic actuator. The actuator is equipped with a dual-position inductive sensor a target or puck, and a solenoid valve: --How does the whole valve assembly work together? --Do you need to pay attention to where the puck is mounted? --How is AS-Interface used to control the position of industrial valves? Read the blog post: Using AS-Interface to Control Pneumatically Operated Process Valve Assemblies

During last week's episode, Tim talked about the basic AS-Interface safety monitor. There is a second hardware version that can operate a small AS-Interface network without the need for a dedicated AS-Interface power supply. Today, Tim covers the important points of the VAS/M-2A8L-KE4-8SE-C1 safety monitor.Products noted in this episode: VAS-2A8L-KE4-8SE safety monitor VAZ-1E4A-KE4-Z/R-S contact expansion module VAZ-2E8A-KE4-Z/R-S contact expansion module

In this episode, Tim and Helge discuss the scenario where engineers are looking for small, flexible, and low-cost safety solutions where AS-Interface Safety at Work may not make sense for their application. The AS-Interface safety controller VAS-2A8L-KE4-8SE is a low-cost, high flexibility device. The safety controller offers 4 safe inputs and 2 safe outputs and is able to expand if the application requires it. Other products mentioned in this episode:Download the Configuration software VAZ-SW-SIMON+ Emergency stop button VAZ-2E1A-F85A-S

Most modern installations use AS-Interface gateways that are Ethernet based.  More specifically this means PROFINET and EtherNet/IP.  These gateways are also available with an integrated safety controller.  Tim and Helge discuss why this integration of the gateway with safety functionality is advantageous.  As far as AS-Interface power supplies are concerned, most installations utilize 4 A or 8 A power supplies.  While decoupling can be located in an external device or in the gateway, it is still most common to have the decoupling circuit inside the power supply.

Every AS-Interface system needs three basic components: gateways, power supplies, and modules. Add some infrastructure like cable, and you have what it takes. When it comes to AS-Interface modules, 4-input modules and 4-input / 4-output modules are used the most.   Some users even go a step further and design everything using 4-input / 4-output modules. Flexibility in the field and reduced stocking are major advantages. Factory automation uses the AS-Interface flat cable while process automation almost always uses round cable.

Virtually every machine uses e-stops to bring them to a safe, no-power state. With AS-Interface, the most common e-stop is designed so that all the necessary electronics are part of the e-stop. But there is another approach: combining a more conventional dumb e-stop with a very small AS-Interface G10 safety module. Safety door switches are also very common. To allow the highest degree of flexibility, the keys that go along with these safety devices come in many designs depending on the kind and size of door.

Safe, contact-expansion relay modules for AS-Interface are used to expand the number of available safety outputs in cases where modern electronic safe outputs cannot be used.  Because they have no mechanical components that are more prone to fail, this approach has numerous advantageous for AS-Interface networks: --Not using relays reduces the cost of the solution --The switch-off time of an electronic output is faster --Eliminating mechanical components increases total system reliability --External relays reduce the cost of replacing a failed component --Replacing just the contact expansion module is faster

This episode discusses more “slightly unusual” application-solver devices that make AS-Interface great.The AS-Interface Movimot module is a great solution when AS-Interface is used to control the SEW MOVIMOT Gearmotor with integrated frequency inverter.The Pepperl+Fuchs PTC protected passive splitter is used to protect the cable in case there is a short on the pigtail.

The AS-Interface 'Circuit Board' module is a great solution when profile height matters.  Using an AS-Interface circuit board module and pre-mounting it in a small housing with six 22 mm holes is another good solution for user input/feedback. --The circuit board module is fully encapsulated and quickly mounted using hook & loop --The modules are designed for pushbutton inputs, selector switches and LEDs that can be completely powered from AS-Interface --The "flying lead" version further simplifies installation --The LT3 module can be expanded to 8-in and 8-out by adding a second circuit board module

Most AS-Interface installations use 4-input or 4-input/4-output modules.  But there are many other AS-Interface devices, used less frequently, that are still very useful to know about. This episode covers some of those “application solvers.” --Incandescent stack light elements are suitable when cost is top priority --Light elements come in all standard colors --The 'BUZZER' device is used to provide user information and allows feedback --The 'BUZZER' offers illumination, a horn, and a capacitive touch button for user acknowledgment    

In this flashback episode, Tim and Helge discuss how AS-interface power supplies are different in several aspects.  AS-Interface power supplies provide a higher primary voltage and contain the decoupling circuit-enabling data and communication on the same cable.  Tim and Helge cover how to determine the size of the AS-Interface power supply. -- AS-Interface power supply -- Voltage -- Current -- How to size the power supply -- Grounding and ground fault detection Download this useful tool: The AS-Interface Power Calculator

In this episode, AS-Interface expert Tracy Molnar identifies three more topics she frequently discusses with customers. --How large does a system have to be for AS-Interface to make sense?  That depends on a number of details like whether there will be safety or if the PLC offers a low-cost scanner card. --How do you connect to the AS-Interface network?  Most modules can be directly connected to the flat cable. Using G10 passive adapters are another option. -How do you replace a failed safe-input module?  The process is simple but requires an extra step.  It is also important that the safe device must be in the 'released' state.  To see how this is done take a look at our video.  

In this episode, AS-Interface expert Tracy Molnar talks about typical customer topics she is dealing with frequently when discussing AS-Interface modules. Her three most common topics are: --VAA and VBA modules and what kind of an address do I need? full address or half address? --Disabling inputs on the AS-Interface G11 analog input module and why a user would be interested in doing this. --Most inputs on AS-Interface digital modules are wired such that connector ports 1 and 3 also give access to inputs 2 and 4.  Use V11 3-wire cables when this is not desirable. Get data sheets and manuals for AS-Interface modules on our website.

Common Questions about AS-Interface Part II -- Zach continues to talk about three most common AS-Interface topics he discusses with customers: Cabling options including color (black/yellow), chemical resistance, lengths, and higher diameter options AS-Interface intelligent sensors vs. standard sensors with AS-Interface modules ASiMon software is downloadable for free from the website.  This version is ideal for maintenance and service but does not allow any changes to the configurations

Common Questions about AS-Interface Part I - Today, AS-Interface expert Zach Steck talks about the most common AS-Interface questions he is dealing with as an application engineer. Here are the top three topics Zach commonly discusses with customers: Network length and how to extend a network How to replace an (older style) VAA I/O module using a (new style) VBA I/O module What options do customers have in terms of cable that can be used with AS-Interface?

AS-Interface safe coupling -- in the past, situations where safe data had to be shared between separate independent system users used a trick, where a safe output on one AS-Interface network was connected to a safe input on another. Later, the ability to share an entire network between several AS-Interface gateways was added, allowing 31 pieces of safe data to be shared.  Recently, SafeLink was introduced allowing safe data sharing over Ethernet.  This method has many advantages: --Sharing data on Ethernet frees up the shared AS-Interface network --Each gateway can now share 31 safe data points --The total system can use 1922 safe rated devices exchanging 961 safe data points