Transcript
GO!
Automation with LOGO! and SIMATIC S7-1200
Number 1 | April 2014 | siemens.com/go
Small, powerful,
and easy to use!
Interview with Josef Ploch
and Helmut Schindler about
the new LOGO! 8
GO! 1/2014 | Contents
2
Small, powerful,
and easy to use! 4
Special vehicle construction
16 The good witch
Wehner Motors GmbH & Co. KG,
Kalbach-Uttrichshausen, Germany
Industrial communication
19 Increased flexibility and performance
Industrial remote communication
Locking system
22 Under lock and key
Leukhardt Schaltanlagen Systemtechnik GmbH,
Schwerin, Germany
Gripping technology
24 Safely gripping concrete sleepers
HSE Jürgen Schäfer, Alfdorf-Pfahlbronn, Germany
Products
26 Ideal for beginners
Communication module RF120C
Editorial
3 Generation change
Cover
4 Small, powerful, and easy to use!
New LOGO! 8 logic module device generation
Agriculture
8 Fresh milk from a vending machine
HSE Jürgen Schäfer, Alfdorf-Pfahlbronn, Germany
20 Sweet gold in the spin cycle
Harzer Antriebstechnik GmbH,
Bad Lauterberg, Germany
Raw material processing
10 From scrap to valuable material
Metran Rohstoff-Aufbereitungs GmbH,
Kematen an der Ybbs, Austria
Pump technology
12 Charge the hose!
Speck Pumpen Verkaufsgesellschaft GmbH,
Neunkirchen am Sand, Germany
Cover photo: Siemens AG/A. Kradisch
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Editorial | GO! 1/2014
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“I’m an automation specialist.” This is something being said by more and
more people with electrical expertise – people for whom automation was
previously beyond their abilities. The key to this change lies in the simplic-
ity and attractive price/performance ratio of modern microcontrollers. With
the LOGO! line, Siemens has been paving the way for this shift for many
years. The company’s products have often been copied but never equaled.
Now the next innovation is coming along with LOGO! 8, which we are in-
troducing in this issue of our magazine.
If the previous versions set the standards for usability and functionality
for controllers in the lowest performance range, this applies even more to
LOGO! 8. The built-in web server, which allows the creation of web pages
for monitoring and controlling the logic module via the Internet (remote
control) with no special programming skills, and the built-in Ethernet inter-
face are exceptional features in this device class. New communication mod-
ules open up new system-compliant communication options and expand
the field of application of these nano-PLCs. The creation of switching pro-
grams is also made easier with the innovative LOGO! Soft Comfort V8 soft-
ware.
Again and again, the reliability of our automation systems is the focus of
interest. Controlling a locking system with Simatic S7-1200 in the security-
sensitive area of a correctional facility is a great example. For worldwide
sales of machinery and equipment such as honey extractors, the reliability
of our systems is also a prerequisite for successful use.
We are not running out of unconventional ideas for microautomation
applications, as is demonstrated by the example of the Oil Slick Witch, which
is on the road with the Simatic S7-1200 on board, or the LOGO!-controlled
milk vending machine as a niche product in agriculture.
I hope that with this issue of our magazine we can again shed some light
on the possibilities that are hidden away in our smallest automation systems
and are just waiting to be discovered and used.
Warm regards,
Heinz Eisenbeiss
Head of Marketing and Promotion,
Industrial Automation Systems
Generation change S
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GO! 1/2014 | Cover
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Small, powerful,
and easy to use!
With LOGO! 8, the successful Siemens logic module is entering the
next generation. The new module satisfies almost all customer
requirements, with simplified handling and full communication
capabilities over Ethernet, reduced space requirements compared
to LOGO! 7, and an easy-to-use web server application.
New LOGO! 8 logic module device generation
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Cover | GO! 1/2014
L
OGO! has long been firmly established as an in-
telligent logic module for switching and control
solutions in small automation projects. The
module’s simple assembly, minimal wiring require-
ments, and easy programming using LOGO! Soft
Comfort allow the quick implementation of many
solutions for simple machines and installations, as
well as for building automation and a variety of ap-
plications in private spaces. Marketing manager
Josef Ploch and product manager Helmut Schindler
explain what the new LOGO! 8 has to offer.
Mr. Ploch, you have known LOGO! virtually
since its initial launch. You know how LOGO!
has evolved from generation to generation.
What is new in LOGO! 8?
Josef Ploch: In principle, we have made the two pre-
vious LOGO! versions, 6 and 7, into one. A device,
that once again has the size of the LOGO! 6, with a
width of 72 mm (module width 4 TE), provides an
Ethernet interface and an integrated web server for
all basic units, and offers a much-improved display.
The new LOGO! 8 series comprises eight basic
units, seven digital modules, and three analog mod-
ules. The digital outputs were increased to 20, and
the analog outputs were increased to 8. Due to the
built-in Ethernet interface, additional programming
or LOGO! TD cables are not necessary; standard
Ethernet cables are sufficient.
Helmut Schindler: The maximum number of func-
tion blocks and shift registers is retained as in the
LOGO! 7. However, there are now 64 digital and an-
alog flags each, and 50 message texts can display
much more meaningful messages. For data logging,
there is space for up to 20,000 data records on the
standard microSD card. All voltage variations and
functions can be combined. Four of the new LOGO! 8
basic units for the different voltage types have the
new, six-line display with 16 characters per line and
three controllable background colors. And if a TDE
text display is to be connected, it now also saves
space in the subdistribution board because the
connection is via Ethernet and two additional TEs
module width are not needed as for the previous TD
cable. The LOGO! TDE with two Ethernet interfaces
has the same dimensions as before.
Are there any additional components for the
LOGO! 8?
Helmut Schindler: In addition to the previously
mentioned TD text display and digital and ana log
modules, there is also the LOGO! CSM module,
which can be used as an Ethernet four-port switch
for expan sion of the Ethernet interfaces for cost-
effective implementation of small, local Ethernet
networks. There are also a variety of LOGO! power
modules available for supplying power. The new
LOGO! CMR2020 module can be used for SMS com-
munication for alerting and remote control via cell
phone or for position determination using GPS. The
module offers the option of automatic time synchro-
nization on cellular networks as well as via GPS.
Josef Ploch: These are functions that did not previ-
ously exist and that users will appreciate for solu-
tions such as break signals or actuation of church
bells. Using GPS, it is now possible with this module
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Highlights of LOGO! 8
The new LOGO! 8 has eight basic
modules with Ethernet connectivity,
which allows them to communicate
with each other and with all Simatic S7
systems via Ethernet. Due to the greatly
improved display, message texts and
status information can be displayed
much more clearly. In addition, the
integrated web server enables even
more cost-effective monitoring and
control.
The innovative LOGO! Soft Comfort V8
software makes it quicker and easier
to create programs and implement
communication functions. And, finally,
alerting and remote control via cell
phone, automatic time synchronization,
and position determination are all
possible with the additional CMR2020
module.
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GO! 1/2014 | Cover
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to retrieve the current position and time worldwide
and thus synchronize the clock in the LOGO! 8 fully
automatically – with no additional GSM provider costs.
But the CMR2020 also offers other important high-
lights: since it is easily connected with the LOGO! 8
through the Ethernet interface, it can exchange da -
ta with the LOGO! 8 in accordance with the signal
situation, send out SMS messages autonomously, or
read control commands from an SMS and pass them
on to the LOGO! 8. When connected to GPS, it pro-
vides a cost-effective method for container tracking,
for example. For this application, position data can
be requested at regular intervals via SMS and then also
sent via SMS to the headquarters by the CMR2020.
In the new generation, the display has also been
greatly improved.
Helmut Schindler: Yes, that’s right. We have really
made a qualitative leap with the display. Six lines
with 16 characters each now offer twice as many
characters per message. There are also the three
background colors of white, orange, and red – which
increase usability enormously. The TDE external text
display can even show as many as 20 characters per
line. The user information is clearly structured, there
are fewer abbreviations, and the message texts and
status information are more visible and readable
than before.
For users, the compatibility of a new device or
software version with previous versions is an
important factor in the decision to upgrade. Is the
LOGO! 8 compatible with all previous versions?
Josef Ploch: The LOGO! 8 is compatible with all pre-
vious versions in terms of its connections. The same
also applies to all programs. Only when a text display
is used is it necessary to enter an Ethernet address.
Message texts are retained and can now be extended
in terms of the number of characters for the new dis-
play of the 8 series. But that’s not all! If the LOGO! 8
is connected to an access point, the web server can
be easily activated in the message block, making it
possible to access the LOGO! 8 with a smartphone.
What is the new software like?
Helmut Schindler: The new LOGO! Soft Comfort V8
has been completely revised in terms of its design. It
is easy to operate and provides intuitive support to
the user in stand-alone or network mode for pro-
gram creation and in the configuration of the many
functions. The menu structure and input windows
have been optimized. Functions are interconnected
as usual with the click of a mouse, and the new soft-
ware is even quicker and easier to use in some respects.
Programs from previous versions can be copied to it.
The properties of the text messages are adapted to
the new display and can be extended accordingly,
including the addition of symbols for user-defined
messages. Parameters are referenced graphically
and clearly shown in the program. In network mode,
viewing for up to 16 participants is possible. Up to
three programs can be displayed side by side, and
signals from one program can be dragged and
dropped into another program. The communication
is automatically configured and shown in the net-
work view, and the network inputs and outputs are
inserted into the individual programs.
Josef Ploch: Configuration of the web server is now
quite simple – requiring little more than a few mouse
clicks. The user doesn’t need HTML programming
“ We have really made a qualitative
leap with the display. It offers not
only more characters per line but
also the three background colors
of white, orange, and red – which
increase usability enormously.”
Helmut Schindler, LOGO! Product Manager
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Cover | GO! 1/2014
INFO AND CONTACT
siemens.com/logo
[email protected]
LOGO! CMR2020
• Supports remote communication via cellular
network with the new LOGO! 8 logic modules
• Enables remote monitoring and control
of systems with LOGO! 8 via SMS
• Position recognition via GPS signal
• Querying via SMS
• Time synchronization via NTP server,
GPRS, or GPS
• Easy configuration via web interface
• Quick and meaningful analysis of the
module status
• Stand-alone operation possible through
integrated inputs and outputs
“ Configuration of the web server
is now quite simple – requiring
little more than a few mouse
clicks. The user doesn’t need
HTML programming skills.”
Josef Ploch, LOGO! Marketing Manager
skills, but instead simply chooses one of the two rep-
resentations offered on his or her terminal equip-
ment.
This is how it works: If a message text is pro-
grammed for LOGO! 8 or for a TD, then the text re-
lease is for the LOGO! 8 display, the LOGO! 8 TD, or
both. After that, a checkmark is set for the web
server and you can begin operating the LOGO! 8
using a smartphone, tablet, or PC – and it appears in
the view as if the user were standing in front of the
LOGO! or text display. This requires that the LOGO 8!
be connected to a router, of course. And LOGO! Soft
Comfort V8 also conveniently supports the many
functions of the LOGO! 8.
Mr. Ploch, Mr. Schindler, thank you for the
interview.
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GO! 1/2014 | Agriculture
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HSE Jürgen Schäfer, Alfdorf-Pfahlbronn, Germany
J
ürgen Schäfer is a textbook Swabian
tinkerer. The trained electrician and
programmer went into business for
himself in 1994 with hardware and
software solutions for mechanical en-
gineering – ranging from planning to
control cabinet design and installation
to commissioning. “I specialize in smaller
systems and special solutions that are
not worth the effort for the large sup-
pliers,” he says.
To survive in a competitive market among the big players, an independent
company needs to look for niches that will allow it to fulfill specific needs
and demonstrate creativity. With his milk vending machine, Jürgen Schäfer
from Alfdorf, Germany, shows how it’s done. As a flexible microcontroller,
LOGO! opens up many options for him.
Fresh milk from a
vending machine
developed a milk vending machine for
him. We got into a conversation, and
I ended up being brought on board to
provide the control system.” The proto-
type offered in a trade journal then
aroused such interest that Schäfer saw
an opportunity and took advantage of it:
building milk vending machines, which
he has successfully marketed since 2010
under the company name “millymat.”
Based on standard refrigerators, they
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The 2008 financial crisis was also
very much felt by Schäfer, forcing him
to look for new areas of development.
By chance he found a promising field
of activity in agriculture. He explains:
“I was acquainted with a farmer who
was suffering from the low milk price
and who wanted to meet the grow ing
demand for regionally produced foods.
For this reason, he sought new ways
of direct marketing, and his broth er
Agriculture | GO! 1/2014
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are far more cost-effective than com-
petitive products.
Milk from the farmer without
the need for personnel
The principle is as follows: The nutri-
tion-conscious customer puts coins
into the machine slot, depending on
the desired amount of milk; places a
container under the dispensing tube;
and starts the output at the push of a
button. The built-in pump then sucks
up the milk, which flows into the con-
tainer. If the customer releases the but-
ton, the milk output is interrupted, al-
lowing him or her to replace the filled
milk bottle with an empty one, for ex-
ample. There are two main types of
“millymat”: a version that is suitable for
direct mounting on the farmer’s milk
tank and one with its own milk tank,
which may also be positioned in a sep-
arate building, such as a farm shop.
Schäfer quickly moved on from his
simple prototype, whose automation
system was based on a coin checking
device, a flow sensor, and a counter mo-
dule. He began to use the LOGO! OBA6
microcontroller with expansion mod-
ules and an additional external text dis-
play. “For professional marketing, it is
important to have such features as
speed control for the pump so that the
milk does not foam up, defrosting and
cleaning programs, and monitoring
and diagnostic capabilities,” the entre-
preneur and craftsman explains.
LOGO!, supplied by the electrical
whole saler Emil Löffelhardt GmbH & Co.
KG from Fellbach, Germany, had already
impressed him in other applications
due to its 12-V power supply and pro-
cessing of analog values. “In addition,”
he says, “every electrician is familiar
with it and can help with problems
on-site. It is easy to handle and cost-
effective.”
Automatic defrosting
and cleaning system
LOGO! makes it easier for Schäfer and
his customers to set the number of
pulses depending on the temperature
and adjust the fat content of the milk so
that after the insertion of coins, the re-
quested volume is accurately dispensed.
Using the time switch of the controller,
the resourceful electrician programmed
the external text display. For example,
he assigned the push buttons of the
text display twice and set the controller
to store information such as the display
of the price per liter, the deposited sum
of money, the flow quantity in tenths
of a liter, and the hours of operation. If
no milk is flowing, the farmer receives
error messages that indicate the possi-
ble causes, such as an empty tank, a
faulty sensor, or a defective pump. He
can shut down the vending machine
at the push of a button. “To be on the
safe side, the push buttons respond
only when they are pressed and held
down for a certain amount of time,”
says Schäfer. “That was also easily pro-
grammed with the LOGO! Soft Comfort
software.” On the integrated display,
parameters can be set, such as the
volume of milk per inserted sum of
money. It is also possible to narrow
down and accurately diagnose errors
based on the status parameters.
Schäfer’s ambition is to offer the right
solution for every need. Therefore, he
also offers cashless variants of the
“millymat,” which he intends to convert
from the electronic key to RFID soon.
They will of course also be controlled
with LOGO!
an automatic defrost cycle. At a fixed
time in the evening, the controller dis-
connects the socket outlet of the refri-
gerator from the power by relay and
switches the machine to power-saving
standby mode. The backlit external text
display built into the control cabinet
is blank or shows “No dispensing pos-
sible.” Money inserted is no longer ac-
cepted, but is instead returned to the
customer. Only the power supply unit
and LOGO! continue to be powered.
Useful information
and error messages
The cleaning was also automated in a
clever manner, minimizing the ef fort re-
quired. “In the switched-off milk vend-
ing machine, the farmer only needs to
pull out the hose and put it on the drain.
This creates a circuit for rinsing,” Schäfer
explains. When the milk driver arrives,
pumps out the remaining milk in the
tank, and starts the rinse cycle, the
connected vending machine is auto-
matically also rinsed using an inte-
grat ed remote control switch. With the
“millymat 100 standalone” with its own
milk tank, an agitator is also controlled
by LOGO!, preventing the cream from
settling. There is a temperature mea-
surement option as well, with a corre-
sponding sensor.
Schäfer also makes extensive use of
the possibilities of the LC display and
INFO AND CONTACT
siemens.com/logo
[email protected]
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Impressed by LOGO!: electrician and programmer
Jürgen Schäfer (right) with Michael Rapp from
Emil Löffelhardt GmbH & Co. KG
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The shredded material consisting of rubber,
plastics, and metal is mixed in the turbidity
tank with magnetite and water in order
to subsequently separate the individual
materials based on density
N
ature knows no waste – and we don’t either!
That is the philosophy of the Müller-Gutten-
brunn Group (MGG), an international holding
company that combines a number of internationally
active recycling companies and has its headquarters
in Austria. Every year, MGG handles approximately
850,000 t of material, processing waste industrially
with the aim of gaining scrap, metals, plastic, and
paper that can be used as secondary raw materials.
Within MGG, Metran Rohstoff-Aufbereitungs GmbH
in Kematen an der Ybbs is responsible for processing
nonferrous shredder residue, mixed metals, and
metal-containing slag into unmixed fractions for
smelters. The name Metran is a shortened form of
the German word for metal separation plant. Individ-
ual materials from electronic scrap and car shredding
are separated through the elaborate application of
physical laws so that reuse can take place. The in-
house “recycling kitchen” continuously further de-
velops the sorting methods. Separation methods
include dry and wet processes; crushing, shaking,
and sieving equipment; and magnetic methods as
well as sensor technology.
From e-waste to plastic
As with junked cars, e-waste is also shredded in a
shredder and separated into ferrous and nonfer-
rous components. While the iron is smelted in steel
mills, nonferrous metals, rubber, and plastics are
fur ther separated from the e-waste and from junked
cars by Metran. To this end, the material is first
ground again in a scrap mill and separated into
parts larger and smaller than 12 mm using screens.
The coarser fraction then goes into a sink-float sep-
aration plant.
In the sink-float separation process, metals are
separated from other materials such as rubber or
plastics on the basis of their different densities.
The material is placed in the turbidity tank with
water and granular magnetite. Magnetite increases
the density, and lighter components such as rubber
or plastics float to the top. In this way, various ma-
terials can be separated depending on the setting.
The mixture is controlled by a density measurement.
The density, of 1.4 to 1.8 g/dm
3
, is determined by a
load cell. The signal of the transmitter is monitored
on a 4–20-mA analog input of the LOGO! module.
Depending on the nature of the supplied raw ma-
terial, the density is brought to the desired set-
point value through the introduction of mag net ite
or control of the valve for supplying water. The
Scrap, especially electronic scrap,
often contains valuable metals or
plastics. Sophisticated sorting and
processing methods make these
materials available for reuse. The
sink-float separation process at an
Austrian recycling center was
partially automated with LOGO!
Metran Rohstoff-Aufbereitungs GmbH,
Kematen an der Ybbs, Austria
From scrap
to valuable
material
GO! 1/2014 | Raw material processing
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Raw material processing | GO! 1/2014
INFO AND CONTACT
siemens.com/logo
siemens.com/multiranger
[email protected]
[email protected]
module via Ethernet. Automatic, manual, and service
mode are available for selection. The operator uses
the touchpanel to specify the set-point values
for density and water level, and the actual values
are displayed both graphically and in plain text. The
high-quality 5.7” touchscreen provides a clear, user-
friendly overall view of the system according to the
selected operating mode. Another advantage of the
operating unit is the display of any fault or alarm
messages, color-coded according to message class
and quickly and clearly identifiable visually.
Metran has put its trust in products and solutions
from Siemens for years. The company is very satis-
fied with the support and service provided by the
Industry Automation Division of Siemens in Vienna.
Metran was able to achieve significant quality
improvements in production and plant optimization
by using a wide variety of Siemens automation,
drive technology, and process-monitoring compo-
nents. Due to previous experience with Siemens,
which was consistently positive, the staff would
like to continue the successful collaboration in the
future as well.
level in the turbidity tank is monitored by the
Siemens MultiRanger transmitter and by an ultra-
sonic sensor.
Automatic density measurement with LOGO!
Until a year and a half ago, the water and magnetite
supplies were still being controlled by hand. This led
to a lack of precision, and the machine frequently
had to stop, wasting valuable time. Together with
Siemens, Metran implemented an automated density-
measurement system. After technical consultations,
Metran opted for LOGO! 0BA7. Metran production
manager Anton Pils and Rainer Göbel, a consultant
from Siemens Austria, collaborated closely to create
the LOGO! switching program and the visualization
interface of the Simatic HMI touchpanels, as well as
commissioning and fine-tuning the system. The
team of electricians from Metran handled the instal-
lation and connection of the new components and
the necessary circuitry changes in the existing con-
trol cabinet.
A LOGO! 0BA7 logic module now automatically mo-
nitors and controls the water valve and the supply of
magnetite, based on the fineness of the material in-
troduced. The results are impressive: separation is
more precise, manual control is eliminated, and a
great deal of time is saved.
Simple and clear operation using a touchpanel
The system is operated using the Simatic HMI KTP600
Basic color PN, which communicates with the logic
• Fully automatic control results in significant time
savings and greatly increased quality.
• A clear, user-friendly operator interface is provided by
the Simatic HMI KTP600 Basic color PN connected to
the LOGO! 0BA7.
• LOGO! and the operating unit can be reached from
any point in the network and can be easily monitored
or programmed with new switching programs or user
interfaces.
• Variable values are transferred via Ethernet to a
higher-level Simatic S7-300 controller, which controls
and monitors the other parts of the system.
LOGO! 0BA7 highlights
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GO! 1/2014 | Pump technology
F
or Speck Pumpen Verkaufsgesell-
schaft GmbH, which has been
head quartered in the German town
of Neunkirchen am Sand since 2005,
tradition and innovation go hand in
hand. In 1959, the company emerged
from the Nuremberg family business
Speck Pumpen Daniel Speck & Söhne.
Since 1999, Speck has been manufac-
turing pumps to supply firefighting
water – with increasing success. New
regulations in Germany’s drinking water
ordinance and the DIN 14462 standard
for the hygienic separation of the po-
table water network from the firefight-
ing water system made it necessary to
supply fire hydrants using pressure-
boosting systems with storage tanks
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Charge the hose!
With new standards, the requirements for supplying
firefighting water in buildings have become more
complex. The focus is now on their control systems.
For use in pressure-boosting systems with attached
storage tanks, LOGO! impressed the German pump
manufacturer Speck.
Speck Pumpen Verkaufsgesellschaft GmbH, Neunkirchen am Sand, Germany
LOGO! provides standards-
compliant monitoring
for wire breaks and short
circuits with fault diagnos -
tics. Product manager
Dieter Schäfczuk and master
electrician Christian Callian,
both of Speck Pumpen
Verkaufsgesellschaft GmbH,
and Alen Bajric, Siemens,
(right to left) are satisfied
13
Pump technology | GO! 1/2014
“ The LOGO! Soft Comfort software
is user-friendly and intuitive,
with the application examples on
the Internet also being quite
helpful.”
Christian Callian, master electrician, Speck Pumpen
for firefighting water in structures
such as industrial buildings, hospitals,
schools, apartment buildings, high-rise
buildings, and underground parking ga-
rages. With the Feuercell and Multicell
series, Speck offers its customers com-
plete solutions with one or two pumps,
depending on the require-
ments. The high-rise direc-
tive, for example, calls for
redundancy in buildings
more than 23 m in height.
The storage tanks have the
conformity mark of the
German Technical and Sci-
entific Association for Gas
and Water (Deutscher Ve r-
ein des Gas- und Wasser-
faches e. V., DVGW), and
the entire system is tested
and certified by DEKRA.
Firefighting water
for fire hydrants
The fully automatic operation of such
pressure-boosting systems in case of
fire is simple. If someone opens the
valve after opening the wall hydrant
cabinet and pulling out the hose, the
firefighting water flows. This causes the
pressure to fall. Sensors detect this
pressure drop, causing the control sys-
tem to start the pump of the pres-
sure-boosting system. Because flow
sensors also monitor the flow pressure,
the system pumps continuously while
the firefighting water flows. In order to
replenish the firefighting water, which
is separated from the potable water by
a feed tank using motor ball valves with
electromotive actuators, sensors also
monitor the water level in this tank. If
the water drops below a certain level,
the control system sends a command to
open the valve. Once the level rises to a
certain height, the valve is closed again.
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Standards-compliant monitoring for
wire breaks and short circuits with fault
diagnostics places special demands on
the control system, which requires that
4–20-mA standard current signals be
processed. “This was much easier to
implement with LOGO! than with the
control system we used
before,” says master elec-
trician Christian Callian.
“We didn’t have to rein-
vent the wheel but could
instead convert the pro-
grams with support from
Siemens.” And the electri-
cians could deal with many
other tasks optimally as
well, thanks to the tailored
solution com prising the
LOGO! 0BA7 basic unit
with integrated text dis-
play, two analog modules,
a digital module, and a remote text dis-
play in the control cabinet door.
Messages on the text displays
Callian was able to program approxi-
mately 20 full-text messages with date
and time, making operation and main-
tenance much easier.
14
GO! 1/2014 | Pump technology
Wire-break monitoring
with LOGO!
If an analog sensor outputs a value of 0 to the
controller, it is not clear whether the value is
actually 0 or the sensor is defective. In such
cases, sensors can be used that normally output
a current signal of between 4 mA and 20 mA.
If the controller detects a signal on the analog
input that is significantly smaller than 4 mA, it
is safe to assume that the sensor or the sensor
cable of the controller is defective.
+ Use of an AM2 expansion module for
evaluation of signals in the range of 0 to 10 V
and/or 0/4 to 20 mA
+ In the analog function block, 4–20 mA is
selected as the sensor
+ Insertion of an analog threshold switch that
either triggers an alarm message in case of
signals less than 4 mA or controls a desired
behavior of the system, such as disabling the
defective area, alerting the operator, or
sending an SMS to the service technician
Example: The pressure of a water supply system
is to be kept constant with a variable-speed
pump.
Implementation: LOGO! 12/24 RC as a basic unit
with an AM2 expansion module with AI3 and
AI4 analog inputs. PI controller in the LOGO!
program, pressure sensor for 0–4 bar, provides
values 4–20 mA. Nominal pressure: 2 bar. The
system is designed to detect a wire break of the
sensor and issue an alarm signal and display a
fault message in this case.
If no firefighting water were to flow
and the pumps were in danger of run-
ning dry, the corresponding message
would appear on both text displays and
be provided to the control room, if
present, for evaluation. While the text
display on the cabinet door provides
quick information, the user can also in-
tervene in the program on the text dis-
play of the base unit. This is password
protected to prevent abuse. “For us, the
password protection was another major
plus point for LOGO!” explains Speck
product manager Dieter Schäfczuk.
Automated weekly test runs also
serve to replace the potable water in
the feed pipe to the tank in accordance
with the standard. This is controlled by
LOGO! with a timer function. Schäfczuk
calculates in advance how long the
motor ball valve must remain open so
that enough water is flushed through
the pipe into the tank and on into
the conduit by overflow. In addition,
there is a one-minute weekly test run
of the pump. The LOGO! solution allows
sensor-based dry-run protection of the
pump to be realized as easily as runtime
and temperature-monitoring functions.
Ready for the future
Many other Siemens products are in-
stalled in the pressure-boosting system
as well. “We know from years of ex -
pe rience that we can always expect
time ly and good advice from Siemens
and that spare parts are immediately
available,” says Schäfczuk. Callian adds,
“The LOGO! Soft Comfort software is
user-friendly and intuitive, with the ap-
plication examples on the Internet also
being quite helpful.”
With LOGO!, Speck is also well equip-
ped for the future – whether for pres-
sure-boosting systems for the firefight-
ing water supply or perhaps soon also
for the potable water supply. Thanks to
the networking over Ethernet, the logic
module also enables a redundant de-
sign in the control system, as may soon
be required, and the system can be eas-
ily extended and refined at any time.
INFO AND CONTACT
siemens.com/logo
[email protected]
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Pump technology | GO! 1/2014
3. Wire-break monitoring with alarm message
+ Insertion of an additional analog threshold switch
followed by alarm output and alarm message text
+ Sensor: 0–20 mA, in order to be able to evaluate
values below 4 mA (range 0–4 mA corresponds to
input units 0–200 – that is, input signals in this range
must not occur when the sensor is operating properly)
+ Starting value 0 and switch-off value 200
+ Switching of output 4 upon wire break, activation of
an alarm message with the date and time of the fault
Tip: If you activate the ticker text for lines 3 and 4 as
“line by line,” a service telephone number is displayed on
an alternating basis with the date and time as additional
information on lines 3 and 4 of the message text.
1. Programming the controller
+ Switch between manual and controller operation with
input I1
+ Sensor: 4–20 mA, scaling 0–4,000 with three decimal
places (this generates values of 0–4 bar on the display
in the message text)
+ Set-point value: 2,000, corresponds to 2 bar
+ Pump in manual mode with a fixed value of 100
(this corresponds to 10% of the maximum value = 1 V)
Note: No wire break can be generated in the simulation.
4. Constant activation of the background lighting
of the display
For better readability of the messages, starting with
LOGO! 0BA6, the background lighting of the display
can be switched with the M25 flag or enabled at all
times in the basic settings on the device.
With LOGO! 0BA7, the display of the integrated LOGO!
display can also be observed in the online test.
Note: When the alarm message is output, the acknowl-
edgment function is activated – that is, after rectification,
of the fault this needs to be acknowledged with the “OK”
button.
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2. Constant display of basic values on the display
A message text with the set point and actual value of the
pressure and the actual value for controlling the pump is
displayed at all times. The actual values are displayed as
values and as a bar graph.
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16
GO! 1/2014 | Special vehicle construction
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The good witch
A German towing and metal construction company developed
a vehicle that makes oil on roadways disappear as if by magic
and gave it the fitting name of Oil Slick Witch (Ölspurhexe®).
Since 2011, the vehicle has been controlled in an effective
and user-friendly manner by a Simatic S7-1200 controller with
a Simatic TP1500 basic touchpanel.
Wehner Motors GmbH & Co. KG, Kalbach-Uttrichshausen, Germany
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Special vehicle construction | GO! 1/2014
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ehner Motors GmbH & Co. KG
in Kalbach-Uttrichshausen, Ger-
many, is praised by custo mers
as a “manufactory” due to its custom-
ized solutions, made almost entirely in-
house, in special vehicle construction.
With the Oil Slick Witch, Wehner Motors
GmbH has secured market leadership
in the elimination of traces of oil, fuel,
grease, and other contaminants on
road surfaces, interlocking paving, or
indoor floors. Sixteen of these vehicles
have been sold to towing services and
fire departments.
Launched in its initial version in 2004,
the Oil Slick Witch can now be pur-
chased in four variants. The most elab-
orate version, an 18-t truck, is equipped
with an additional sweeper for pretreat-
ment in case of extreme soiling.
The central component of all the vari-
ants is a patented flexible suspended
swivel system with two or three surface
cleaners.
Water is sprayed through rotating
nozzles onto the surface to be cleaned
at high pressure (between 180 and
275 bar) and at temperatures of up to
95°C. In this way, the contaminants
are released from the pores and form
an emulsion that is sucked up by means
of a high-performance vacuum system
in the same operation. The design in-
cludes the tanks necessary for fresh
water and wastewater as well as for
cleaning additives and antifreeze, the
suction fan, and a hydrostatic operat-
ing mechanism for the cleaning drive.
A camera system monitors all processes
during operation.
Complete step sequences
at the press of a button
Since 2011, the cleaning has been
controlled with a Simatic S7-1200 with
CPU 1214C and operated and moni-
tored by the driver using a Simatic
TP1500 basic. “Compared with the
conventional so lu tion, this solution
enabled automated step sequences,
provided expanded and improved dis-
plays, and resulted in much easier
work for the user overall,” says Steffen
Wehner, a certified electrical engineer
who is responsible for the electronics
of the Oil Slick Witch. “In addition,
the modular control system saves us
space in the control cabinet and re-
duces wiring requirements.”
The cleaning components are much
easier to make frost-proof. To blow out
the lines with air and then rinse them
with antifreeze, all the user needs to
do is press the “Frost-proof” function
on the panel. Then all the necessary
processes are triggered, each with its
own duration stored in the system –
both for the pre-spray system on the
surface cleaners and for the surface
cleaners themselves. Prior to the auto-
mation of the cleaning processes, the
driver had to carry out an entire series
of operating steps and insert a secur-
ing bolt in order to move the three sur-
face cleaners into the transport posi-
tion and safely raise them for the trip
to and from the accident site. Today he
or she remains in the vehicle and
presses the “Transport Position” hard-
ware button followed by “Raise.” Once
the front attachment is in the raised
position, it is automatically bolted with
a safety pawl.
Speedometer and operating-hour
meter
The important functions of the Simatic
S7-1200 also include variable adjust-
ment of the water pressure depending
on the level of soiling and the substrate.
Among the technology functions in-
tegrated into the PLC, particular use is
made of the counter. Because the truck
speedometer only begins to move at
speeds above approximately 5 km/h,
the CPU counts pulses detected by a
sensor on the cardan shaft over time
and in this way calculates the speed of
the vehicle during the cleaning drive.
This is then displayed on the panel in
increments of 0.2 km/h. In hydrostatic
auxiliary drive, the PLC controls the
power supply and takes over the safety
circuit for the joystick, which controls
the speed.
Operating-hour counters are pro-
grammed for functions including the
high-pressure pumps, and a reset is
possible for wear parts. A timer pro-
tects the current value displayed on the
touchpanel so that the reset function
cannot reset the counter until the but-
ton is pressed and held down for sev-
eral seconds.
Even safety-relevant vehicle signals
are processed. Because the reverse gear
should not be engaged during the clean-
ing drive, a corresponding warning
appears on the touchpanel in this case.
Finally, the PLC functions also include
control of the indicator lights and sig-
nal tones when the vehicle is started;
all are briefly triggered.
Efficient engineering in TIA Portal
and service quality
The cleaning time remaining is calcu-
lated based on the pressure and water
level and displayed on the touchpanel.
For such complex calculations, there is
the “Calculate Box” block in the Simatic
Step 7 Basic software, which allows di-
rect input of formulas.
“A huge advantage is the full integra-
tion of this engineering software with
the Simatic WinCC Basic HMI software
in TIA Portal,” emphasizes Wehner.
“Thanks to TIA Portal, step sequences
can be efficiently programmed, and
variables can be easily integrated into
the panel.” A Siplus Upmitter for the
special requirements of vehicle con-
struction protects the control system.
It stabilizes the voltage range of the
alternator to the required 24-V direct
voltage.
• Clarity: On the 15” display,
all values such as pressure,
temperature, and fluid
levels can be controlled and
ope rated at a glance
• Graphical display of the
fluid levels allows for quick
understanding of service
functions
• Color display enables error
messages in red
• Full-text error messages
such as “Caution: Joystick
to center position” or
“Caution: Disengage reverse
gear” facilitate operation
Simatic HMI Panel
18
GO! 1/2014 | Special vehicle construction
INFO AND CONTACT
siemens.com/s7-1200
siemens.com/tia-portal
[email protected]
Service has always been important at
Wehner Motors. The company trains its
customers, has a service vehicle avail-
able, and manufactures many spare
parts itself. A new level of service is
now being provided by remote mainte-
nance via GSM teleservice module with
a SIM card provided by the customer
and a GSM antenna. “I dial into the ve-
hicle system with my laptop and can
observe the program and diagnose er-
rors as if I were sitting right in front of
the truck,” says Wehner. In this way, un-
productive downtime can be avoided in
most cases or at least reduced.
Modularity for customized
solutions
“Another strength of the solution is its
modularity and expandability,” the
elec trical engineer continues. “We can
flexibly tailor the control system to
custo mer requirements.” For example,
the professional fire department of
Wiesbaden, Germany, wanted function
and orientation lighting for each of the
push buttons of the switch panel. For
this reason, the Oil Slick Witch was
equipped with a touchpanel as well as
two Simatic HMI KP8 PN key panels, in-
stead of a conventional switch panel;
five LEDs of various colors enable visual
feedback. Other benefits include re-
duced wiring requi rements due to the
Profinet interface to the PLC and fewer
input/output modules, saving space in
the control cabinet. A Simatic HMI Basic
Panel KTP400 Mono installed on the
rear is used for additional display of the
levels of fresh water and wastewater.
And as for expandability? To include
the sweeper in the automation, and
to be able to switch the necessary
pneumatic and hydraulic valves on the
hardware side, it was only necessary
to install two input/output modules
in addition to the standard five – no
sor cery required!
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For the transport position of the swivel system of the Oil Slick Witch
with three surface cleaners, a safety pawl is automatically bolted
“ A huge advantage is the
full integration of this
engineering software with
the Simatic WinCC Basic
HMI software in TIA Portal.”
Steffen Wehner, electrical engineer,
Wehner Motors GmbH & Co. KG
The driver operates and monitors the cleaning and vehicle functions
from his or her cab using a Simatic TP1500 basic
19
Industrial communication | GO! 1/2014
With its products for industrial remote communication, Siemens offers a
comprehensive portfolio of solutions for telecontrol and teleservice applications.
For additional applications such as video transmission, smart grid applications,
and condition monitoring, various industrial modems and routers are available.
Increased flexibility
and performance
Industrial remote communication
W
ith telecontrol, automated systems can be
monitored and controlled from a central
control room. To this end, remote terminal
units (RTUs) are used in geographically distributed
process stations – in sewage and water treatment
plants, district heating networks, and pumping sta-
tions, as well as in oil and gas supply, power distri-
bution, and traffic engineering, for example.
The new CP 1243-1, CP 1243-1 DNP3, and CP 1243-1
IEC communications processors open up many new
possibilities for the realization of highly flexible
and cost-effective RTUs based on Simatic S7-1200.
All the variants of the CP 1243-1 provide cyclic and
event-controlled transmission of measured and
set-point values and alarms to the control station
without complex programming.
The control room is connected via various public
or private networks (remote networks) using exter-
nal modems or routers, such as Scalance M, which
are connected to the Industrial Ethernet interface
of the communications processor.
The CP 1243-1 DNP3 and the CP 1243-1 IEC ex-
pand the TeleControl Professional portfolio to
in clude support for the standardized DNP3 and
IEC 60870 telecontrol protocols. Different types of
networks, such as mobile networks (GSM/GPRS/
UMTS), Internet via DSL, dedicated lines, and so on,
are supported through the selection of appropriate
industrial modems and routers, such as Scalance M.
The CP 1243-1 expands the capabilities of the
S7-1200 in the TeleControl Basic system to allow for
control room connection through the use of Inter-
net via DSL. For Simatic S7-1200 stations, the
CP 1243-1 enables the system to be secured against
unauthorized access through the integrated fire-
wall and virtual private network (VPN) security
functions.
INFO AND CONTACT
siemens.com/industrial-remote-communication
[email protected]
Note on industrial security: Suitable protective measures (including industrial security, e.g., network segmentation) must be taken to ensure safe
operation of the system. Further information on the topic of industrial security can be found on the Internet at siemens.com/industrialsecurity.
...
Control center DNP3
DSL modem
DSL modem
VPN tunnel
GPRS
S7-1200 S7-300 S7-300
Industrial Ethernet
Security Module
Scalance S
Security Module
Scalance S
TIM 3V-IE
DNP3
Station
TIM 3V-IE
DNP3
CP 1243-1
DNP3
Scalance
M874-2
Station Station
Simatic PCS 7
The extensive portfolio of telecontrol and teleservice components enables
secure monitoring and control of automated plants via public or private networks
20
GO! 1/2014 | Agriculture
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arzer Antriebstechnik GmbH, based in Bad Lau-
terberg in the German state of Lower Saxony,
specializes in the design and construction of
sophisticated automation solutions with a focus on
drive technology. The team led by company founder
Marcus Warlich has experience in a variety of indus-
tries, such as mechanical engineering, plant construc-
tion, and special machinery as well as the process
industry. For the past year, Harzer Antriebstechnik
has been mass-producing honey extractors as a sub-
contractor to the company CFM Steuereinheiten.
A honey extractor consists of a cylindrical stainless
steel vessel in which a honeycomb basket is mounted
with a swivelling axis that is connected to the drive
below the vessel. Depending on the extractor size,
the honeycomb basket contains 4 to 16 honeycomb
pockets into which honeycombs are inserted. Once
the lid is locked and the spin cycle is selected, the
drive actuates rotation of the honeycomb basket.
The honey is thrown against the inner wall of the ves-
sel by centrifugal force, and from there it flows down
and accumulates on the bottom. To fling the honey
out on both sides of the honeycomb, the honeycomb
pockets are turned by reversing the direction of mo -
tor rotation. To complete the process, the honey is fed
through a discharge valve into a collecting tank.
Streamlining and simplifying the processes
Until the introduction of the new control units, CFM
worked with conventionally produced controllers.
Honey extraction required experience and intuition
to consistently find the right parameters. The new
control units needed to be more compact and sim-
pler to operate, and their functions needed to be
self-explanatory. After a thorough examination of
the options available on the market, the pro ject
team led by Warlich chose Simatic technology and
the Sinamics G110 compact frequency inverter as
the variable-speed drive. A mo tor connected with
the frequency inverter is controlled using the
CM1241 (RS485) communication module of the
The seamless interplay of the control system, operator panel,
and drive system in an innovative automation solution for
the operation of honey extractors meets the high requirements
of beekeepers and makes the solution uniquely efficient.
Harzer Antriebstechnik GmbH, Bad Lauterberg, Germany
Sweet gold in
the spin cycle
21
Agriculture | GO! 1/2014
INFO AND CONTACT
siemens.com/S7-1200
[email protected]
Simatic S7-1200. Depending on the extractor type
and drive, the 1212C or 1214C CPU models are used.
Communication is carried out via the USS drive
protocol. The single-phase motors, with outputs
from 0.37 to 2.2 kW, are supplied with 230-V AC.
For the combined push-button and touch operation,
the Simatic HMI Basic KTP400 compact 3.8” display
is used on the front of the controller, which pro-
vides enough space for visualization of the self-
explanatory operator display.
The beekeeper acknowledges the spin program
and configuration using push buttons. He or she
monitors the process and can modify the specified
motor speed individually. Thanks to the ability to
change languages on the fly, the operator panel is
ready for international use. With the old control
boxes, the control knobs and switches always got
sticky with honey. Now the user can simply ex-
change cover sheets on the operator panel that are
optionally available for purchase.
Engineering software
minimizes configuration effort
For the engineering, Warlich uses TIA Portal with the
Simatic Step 7 Basic software. The Simatic operator
panels are configured with WinCC Basic. Thanks to
its integration in TIA Portal, Simatic Step 7 Basic pro-
vides opportunities for online diagnosis and the
addition of technology objects. Libraries and time-
saving reusability of data, intuitive editors, and
drag-and-drop functions enable fast and easy engi-
neering.
The controller, frequency inverter, and operator
panel are contained in a metal housing, which is
mounted on a wall or freestanding on a rack, for op-
eration. A CB1241 RS485 communication board han-
dles the serial data exchange. The parameters of the
CB1241 are also assigned with Simatic Step 7 Basic.
The board is designed for the connection of USS pro-
tocol drives, enabling access via the serial RS485
bus, which is used to control the drives and read and
write parameters.
Standardization and high-quality results
The use of standardized components ensures high
availability. All the honey extractors operate uni-
formly with a single control model. The production
conditions of the different types of honey are deter-
mined only by selecting the spin program and the
drive parameters. In this way, the beekeepers
achieve consistently high-quality results in natural
honey extraction. Due to the quality of the Siemens
products, there are virtually no maintenance costs.
If service is required, it is only necessary to discon-
nect the network and machine connections and send
in the controller.
In recent months, Harzer Antriebstechnik has
equipped more than 150 honey extractors with
the new automation solution. Warlich sums up:
“From the controller to the frequency inverter to
the operator panel, we rely on Siemens technol o-
gy in this system and have had good experiences
with it. The high reliability and optimal cost bene-
fit ratio of the components, as well as the innova-
tive engineering software, contributed to the suc-
cessful outcome.”
Modern technology for a sweet treat:
honey extractors from CFM with Simatic controllers
C
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22
GO! 1/2014 | Locking system
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he Sehnde Correctional Facility, an institution of
the German state of Lower Saxony, is one of the
largest and most modern correctional facilities
in the country. Five Y-shaped prison buildings are de-
signed to house up to 514 prisoners. Workshops and
a medical center are located immediately adjacent to
them.
The entire complex is situated on a 15.4-ha site
surrounded by a 6.5-m-high wall.
The inmates are distributed across 29 stations,
which are in turn assigned to nine correctional de-
partments. Each correctional department is respon-
sible for the safety of two corridors, which can be
viewed and monitored from the station office. The
locking system is of particular importance, of course.
Long gone are the days when prison officers locked
and unlocked the cells individually with a thick ring
of keys. Today the massive locking systems are
equipped with electronic locking mechanisms that
can be operated both remotely and manually. Com-
prehensive sensor technology monitors the locking
state and detects suspicious tampering.
Replacement during normal prison operation
After encountering problems with the original lock-
ing system, the Sehnde Correctional Facility decided
to replace the entire system. Leukhardt Schaltanlagen
Where could the requirements of a locking system be higher than in a correctional
facility? In Sehnde in Lower Saxony, an automation system with Simatic S7
controllers watches over several hundred doors and ensures that the security
center has everything under control.
Leukhardt Schaltanlagen Systemtechnik GmbH, Schwerin, Germany
Under lock and key
Bird’s-eye view
of the Sehnde
Correctional
Facility building
complex
23
INFO AND CONTACT
siemens.de/lorem
[email protected]
Locking system | GO! 1/2014
INFO AND CONTACT
siemens.com/S7-1200
[email protected]
Systemtechnik GmbH from Schwerin in northern
Germany offered a compelling solution based on the
Simatic S7 automation system.
Siemens partner Leukhardt specializes in the de-
sign and construction of low-voltage switchgear and
in the automation of machinery, industrial plants,
and buildings. A locking system of the highest safety
category was not an everyday challenge. Leukhardt
opted for a distributed solution with Simatic S7-1200
controllers and Simatic ET 200S bus couplers. “The
sophisticated building structure of the institution
made it possible to limit work within the stations,
with the associated security precautions,” says Frank
Tappendorf, head of automation at Leukhardt.
In the prison buildings, the pipes and wires of the
sanitary and electrical systems run in supply shafts
that extend from the ground floor to the attic. They
are accessible only through security doors. A shaft is
located between every pair of prison cells, resulting
in a compact building management system. The cables
of the prison area locking systems are also accessible
from this shaft.
Because the locking system needed to be in-
stalled during normal prison operation, Leukhardt
opted for a central communications infrastructure.
This had the advantage that only the locking sys-
tems of the cell doors and the main entrances
needed to be connected to the Simatic ET 200S bus
coupler. All other work could be performed outside
the secured area.
Each door fully under control
At the head of each floor and at the intersection of
two corridors is a station office with visibility of the
entire station. Simply structured control panels on
the Simatic HMI KTP600 color touchpanel allow all
doors to be locked or unlocked individually or to-
gether. Red and green color coding indicates the
locking state of a door.
Each prisoner should be able to open and close his
cell door himself during the period in which the sta-
tion is open; therefore, during this time the cell doors
open from the inside by means of a push button and
can be locked from the outside with a key. This is
mainly for protection from theft among the prison-
ers when every door in the locking system is in the
open state during the station’s open period.
The individual locking systems within a building
are linked via bus couplers with Simatic S7-1200
using the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) network
protocol. The touchpanels in the stations communi-
cate directly with the controllers via Profinet.
The individual Simatic S7-1200 units in turn com-
municate via DeviceNet with a higher-level Simatic
S7-300 master CPU in the security control center of
the correctional facility. Using a touchpanel, facility
personnel can control higher-level locking functions
and overwrite local settings. The system also allows
unrestricted viewing of the operating state of each
sensor and actuator of a door. In addition, more than
220 passage doors can be controlled within the cor-
rectional facility.
Transparent overall system
Each locking mechanism offers a series of integrated
monitoring functions, which are categorized based
on importance. If there is a security-related malfunc-
tion somewhere in the facility, a detailed status re-
port appears on the touchpanel in the security cen-
ter. This allows the prison staff to respond promptly.
In addition, the service technician is informed of the
exact nature of the malfunction from the beginning
and can proceed through the many locks and doors
in a targeted manner with the necessary tools and
spare parts.
“The system is running great,” says the deputy head
of the construction department of the Sehnde Cor-
rectional Facility, Piel. “You can see each locking con-
tact and instantly recognize when a contact is not
there. This makes the locking system transparent and
enables rapid and targeted elimination of faults.”
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GO! 1/2014 | Gripping technology
HSE Jürgen Schäfer, Alfdorf-Pfahlbronn, Germany
W
hether the task is sorting, as-
sembling, processing, clean-
ing, packaging, or labeling,
when it comes to flexible hardware
and software engineering of unconven -
tio nal machines and devices, HSE Jürgen
Schäfer from Alfdorf in southern Ger-
many is a reliable and creative partner.
For example, the world’s most success-
ful provider of handling systems for
building materials, Probst Greiftechnik
Verlegesysteme GmbH, with its main
plant in Erdmannhausen, likes to work
with the resourceful electrician and
programmer.
Among the jointly developed special
solutions is a threshold gripper com-
missioned by a leading manufacturer of
concrete sleepers for rail-based long-
distance and local transport. The rail-
way sleepers, which are 2.20 to 3.80 m
wide and weigh 80 kg or more, support
the rails and fix their position.
The steel and sheet-metal sleeper
gripper built by Probst, which is 7 m
long, or 9 m with the extension, is sus-
pended from a gantry crane and used
in the customer’s concrete plant to
stack and transfer 25 to 30 railway
sleepers at a time onto trucks or freight
cars. It needs to grip five sleeper types
of different widths in a manner that
ensures that they do not fall.
Fully automatic and
self-monitoring
The customer’s previous sleeper grip-
pers were operated entirely by the
Safely gripping
concrete sleepers
Due to its compact, scalable, and flexible design, the Simatic S7-1200
is suitable for a wide range of automation tasks. For electrician and
programmer Jürgen Schäfer, there was never a doubt that this controller
could also be used to control and monitor a railway sleeper gripper.
25
Gripping technology | GO! 1/2014
INFO AND CONTACT
siemens.com/s7-1200
[email protected]
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crane operator and could only open
and close. The new gripper was to be
completely automatic and able to mon-
itor its travel as well as the clamping
hydraulics itself for safety reasons. It
needed to be compatible with the ex-
isting grippers and use conventional
wired communication systems.
This was a challenging task made for
the passionate inventor Schäfer, who
as usual took responsibility for all the
electronics and programming, includ-
ing safety engineering. “I needed to
recognize all error contingencies and
have these queried by the control sys-
tem,” he stresses.
Compact control system
and intuitive programming
in TIA Portal
It was clear that contactors and relays
would not be enough for such a task.
“However, I had little space for the con-
trol cabinet, which I needed to place di-
rectly on the gripper. This is just one of
the reasons the Simatic S7-1200 com-
pact controller with CPU 1214C and
three input and output modules, com-
bined with a Sitop power supply unit,
Sirius switchgear, and fuses from
Siemens, was perfect for the job.”
He purchased all the products through
the electrical wholesaler Emil Löffel-
hardt GmbH & Co. KG. Schäfer had
already used the Simatic S7-1200 in
several projects and was highly satis-
fied: “It is reasonably priced, can be in-
tuitively programmed using TIA Portal,
and is easy to operate. I needed no
training and was able to get started
right away.”
On a type-selector switch, the cra ne
op e rator selects the appropriate sleep er
width, and the signal is transmitted
conventionally to the control cabinet
over wires. Controlled by the Simatic
S7-1200, the gripper automatically
opens far enough that it can grip. Then
the crane operator uses the two joy-
sticks to move the device mechanically
into the right position and presses the
start button for “Clamp” or “Close.” The
gripper then grips the sleepers fully
automatically, with both the travel
and pressure being monitored by the
Simatic S7-1200, based on the preset
format and the flow rate, fill level, and
temperature of the hydraulic oil. “After
all, the gripper really needs to have a
tight grip to avoid having the sleepers
fall during lifting,” says Schäfer.
Visual fault signals
If the values programmed for each of
the five types of sleepers are reached,
the green light on the control cabinet
of the gripper comes on, and the crane
operator knows that he or she can now
lift the sleepers. Opening the gripper is
then also controlled and monitored by
the Simatic S7-1200 until the pressure
is off and the specified travel has been
traversed. Then the light turns red.
If there is anything wrong or the pro-
grammed pressure, fill level, or tem-
perature limit values are exceeded or
not reached, the system shuts down
and the light on the control cabinet
shows a flashing or orange fault signal.
In addition, for more precise error di-
agnostics without a panel, Schäfer
placed limit switches set for the differ-
ent formats on the free outputs of the
controller.
The automated sleeper gripper is now
being used successfully by the cus-
tomer, and Schäfer can hope for repeat
business. It is clear that he will then use
the Simatic S7-1200 again: “It can do a
great deal more, of course. In this un-
usual application, it was the sufficient
number of inputs and outputs for the
five different gripping processes that
was particularly important.”
It is not difficult for him to name other
advantages: “The customer has Simatic
controllers in use elsewhere and em-
ployees who are familiar with them.
Spare parts can be quickly obtained
anywhere and anytime, which is a
great advantage for maintenance. And
should such a device need to be used
under more severe ambient conditions
– in the tropics, for example – this can
be easily accomplished thanks to the
Siplus products from Siemens, without
me having to change anything in the
engineering.”
Thanks to sophisticated
self-monitoring, the sleeper
gripper for five sleeper
types is safe, despite the
enormous load
Space on the gripper was
limited, but with the
compact controller, the
control cabinet could be
kept small
26
GO! 1/2014 | Products
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Comprehensive functions in TIA Portal
support commissioning, diagnostics,
and troubleshooting, saving time and
money.
The Simatic S7-1200 app also provides
support during commissioning of an
RFID application. The user can stand
next to the plant with a smartphone,
manually move a container with an
RFID transponder, and immediately rec-
ognize on the display whether the tran-
sponder has been detected by the
reader and the data read. Another aid
for mechanical and electrical planning
of a system is the full CAx data provided
by Siemens Customer Support through
the CAx Download Manager.
Simatic S7-1200, the RF120C commu-
nication module, and the RF200 Ident
line represent a cost-effective identi-
fication solution without expensive
wiring of the bus connection and power
supply to external communication
mo dules. These connections are es-
tablished through the controller. The
single-channel design of the RF120C
maximizes the performance of the Ident
system. The RF120C communicates
of the RF600 line requires several pa-
rameters to be set.
The control program is just as easily
and intuitively created with TIA Portal,
because all Ident functions are clearly
shown in a library. The names of the
new application blocks describe the
functions to be executed. The address
for the transponder needs to be de-
fined on the block, and all the RFID-
specific parameters are set. The opera-
tion of the new blocks is identical to the
other Simatic communication blocks.
F
or anyone familiar with Simatic S7-
1200 and TIA Portal but who has
never programmed an application
for industrial identification, program-
ming the new RF120C module and per-
forming the hardware configuration
using drag and drop are as easy as with
all S7-1200 modules. In the parameter
assignment of the reader connected to
the RF120C, all the selection options
are also available as text. While a sim-
ple reader of the RF200 line requires no
further parameterization, a UHF reader
The identification technology with RFID devices and code
readers now forms a unit with the Simatic S7-1200 controller.
Simatic RF120C is plugged directly into the controller and
programmed via TIA Portal.
Ideal for beginners
Identification
with Simatic S7-1200
• Low total cost of owner-
ship with the RF120C and
RF200 reader generation
• Easy operation through
full integration into TIA
Portal
• Future-proof solution
thanks to support for
all readers of the Ident
RF200, RF300, RF600,
MV400, and MOBY D/U
lines
• Universal application
blocks both for the
integrated solution with
RF120C and for Profibus
and Profinet
Production control with RFID systems
Communication module RF120C
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INFO AND CONTACT
siemens.com/ident
siemens.com/s7-1200
[email protected]
directly with the CPU of the controller
using acyclic data sets.
Ident profile for
identification systems
The Ident profile in TIA Portal from the
identification library in the PIB_1200
program block guarantees high per-
formance for different applications.
For larger configurations with Profibus
and Profinet, the RF180C (Profinet) and
ASM 456 (Profibus) communication
modules can be connected to the
S7-1200 controller. No matter which of
the communication modules are used
(RF120C, RF180C, or ASM 456), the
function blocks from the library remain
the same.
Control programs for identification
written for S7-1200 in Structured Con-
trol Language (SCL) can be used in the
same way for S7-1500. The identi-
fication application can thus be pro-
grammed regardless of the control
hardware, the communication module
used, or the connected reader from the
RF200, RF300, RF600, MOBY D/U, or
MV400 product lines.
The following example shows how
easily this can work: An application in
an industrial environment requires a
system that reads the data matrix code
(DMC) attached to an unfinished part
and then writes the data to the RFID
transponder of a system pallet. Previ-
ously, only a simple identification ap-
plication, such as a garage door con-
troller, was programmed with S7-1200
and the RF200 ID system. For the new
task, the existing program can be used
and the read block can be linked with
a Simatic MV420 code reader for read-
ing the DMC codes. Then the RF120C
communication module is configured
with an RF200 reader. In the program,
the RF200 reader and the write block
are linked, followed by the linking of
the data read from the read block of
the MV420 to the write block of the
RF200 – and the desired application is
done.
Published by:
Siemens AG, Industry Sector,
Communications
Werner-von-Siemens-Str. 50,
D-91052 Erlangen, Germany
siemens.com/industry
Editorial responsibility in accordance
with the German press law:
Heinz Eisenbeiss, I IA AS S MP
Chief editor:
Eva-Maria Blockus
Publisher: Publicis Publishing
P.O. Box 32 40, D-91050 Erlangen,
Germany
[email protected]
Editorial staff: Dorit Gunia,
Robert Engelhardt, Marion Schwab
Copy editor: Susanne Wanke
DTP: TV Satzstudio, Emskirchen
Go! Appears twice a year; Volume 18
© 2014 by Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Munich and Berlin.
All rights reserved.
The following products are registered
trademarks of Siemens AG:
ET 200, PCS 7, S7-300, S7-1200,
S7-1500, SCALANCE, Siemens LOGO!,
SIMATIC, SINAMICS, SIPLUS, SIRIUS,
SITOP, STEP, TIA Portal, Totally
Integrated Automation (TIA), WinCC
If trademarks, trade names, technical
solutions, or similar are not listed above,
this does not imply that they are not
registered.
The information provided in this
magazine contains merely general
descriptions or characteristics of
performance, which in case of actual
use do not always apply as described or
which may change as a result of further
development of the products. An
obligation to provide the respective
characteristics shall only exist if
expressly agreed in the terms of
contract.
GO! 1/2014
Producte | GO! 1/2014
27
ANZEIGE FOLGT
Answers for industry.
siemens.com/ident
Small readers – big value
SIMATIC RF200:
The compact and efficient RFID system conforming to ISO 15693
The SIMATIC RF200 may be small, but performance and
economy are just as important as for any big device. As it is
easy to install, it can be implemented in intralogistics applica-
tions or small assembly lines quickly and cost-efficiently.
What is more, you stay flexible. Because SIMATIC RF200 fits
seamlessly into Totally Integrated Automation and is part of
SIMATIC Ident, the comprehensive, integrated portfolio of
industrial identification products from Siemens.
(*)
(*) Figure in original size