Late in 2008, at the SPS/IPC/DRIVES fair in
Nuremberg, Germany, the largest trade show of its kind in Europe,
Siemens Energy & Automation took the covers off its new industrial
embedded controller, the modular SIMATIC S7-mEC which integrates
control, HMI and PC functionality in one device.

“The
S7-mEC is a turnkey automation solution that integrates both HMI and
software control capabilities,” says Siemens spokesperson Andreas
Czech. “The device comes with preinstalled runtime visualization
software so, since no software has to be installed during
commissioning, it’s easy to configure and program.”

According to Czech, using a shared platform for HMI and PC
applications accelerates the exchange of data considerably, injecting
new efficiencies into production operations. “It’s easier to perform
set up or make changes on the fly,” he says. “And considering current
global economic conditions, any bit of efficiency can be important.”

“The S7-mEC provides a bridge between traditional modular controllers and PC-based systems,” says Czech, adding that this can be very valuable for automation users who are accustomed to PLCs but need more robust connectivity and/or Windows applications on the same platform.

The new controller comes equipped with the latest PC technology, including an Intel Core Duo processor, 1 GB of RAM, two Profinet ports, one fast Ethernet port, two USB ports, Windows XPe, WinAC RTX 2008
soft-PLC, a 2GB flash disk and a micro memory card slot. The new device
is based on the S7-300 design and therefore can be expanded through
standard S7-300
I/O as well as additional PC interfaces. Like all other Simatic
controllers, the new embedded controller can be configured and
programmed using Simatic Step 7. Moreover, the Open Development Kit
interface enables the standard Step 7 program code to be expanded, for
example, with C/C++/VB/C# code. The HMI functions are configured using
Simatic WinCC flexible. Finally, users are able to install their own
Windows XP applications or functions, i.e. based on Office software.

Additional
interfaces such as slots for SD/MMC and Compact Flash cards, DVI-I for
a monitors, USB for the connection of printer, mouse or keyboard,
another Ethernet port and a serial interface for point-to-point
communication are also available on the EM PC module.

“Using
standard media, you can pull PLC data into an office application to
further evaluate the operation,” says Czech. “And interfaces, such as
the graphics interface or DVI-I, now enable a monitor to be connected —
in addition to networked operator panels or thin-client
solutions — opening up a variety of possibilities for optimal
application-related visualisation. The idea is to provide users with as
much information and control as easily as possible.”

A
second expansion module EM PCI-104 enables scalability to additional
hardware interfaces in the PCI-104 format. This permits fieldbus
modules i.e. for Profibus
to be connected, or cards for special applications, such as sound cards
for the output of spoken operating instructions in the event of error
messages. Each of these modules can accommodate up to three different
PCI-104 boards.

::Design World::

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Filed Under: Factory automation, HMIs • operator interfaces • monitors, Motion control • motor controls, PLCs + PACs

 

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