Industrial Solutions

Specified application

The other day (refer to "Data Logger ..." article) I showed how companies are using the ipcas Data/Event Logger in combination with a light barrier to automatically count paper sheets in printing applications. Yet other companies devised the means of combining the Data/Event Logger with a barcode reader to crosscheck and verify processed addresses with respect to requested mailing lists in automated letter mailing procedures.

Implementation

How is it done? – A customary barcode reader is simply attached to conveyer at the output side of the printing machine or at the end of an automated letter processing procedure. The data logger is then connected to the device and to the industrial network or PC. Using the barcode reader, the data logger identifies and compares the addresses and possibly even the letter contents of the processed letters with the list of requested addresses and the required letter content.

An idea of what the monitoring mask might look like can be gleaned from a Windows.Form application among many possible others (see Application range of included software below).

Thanks to the ipcas Data/Event Logger mailing companies can now always be sure they've sent the correct mail to all of their desired addressees.

For further information, please go to ipcas Data/Event Logger specifications.

Legacy to USB interfaces …

… for modern log printing applications …

The ARBURG "Allrounder" (injection molding machine) is a typical example how the ipcas

is being applied to link up machines with old interfaces to operate with modern printing technology using the customary USB printers for log printing. The control unit of the "Allrounder" is simply connected with a serial (RS232) cable to the serial port of the RS232 to USB printer converter.

… easy to start

Due to the implementation of software specially designed for the ARBURG "Allrounder", the printer converter does not have to be configured. The RS232 to USB Printer Converter is immediately ready to run when connected. Besides, the converter can be used both for old and new control units.

For more specifics, view RS232 to USB Printer Converter webpage.

For machines with parallel interfaces, view Centronics to USB Converter webpage.

Also view coverage in LinuxDevices.com.

Scope and aims of ipcas industrial solutions

The example to follow serves to show that there is simply no end to the list of potential applications of ipcas industrial solutions. And there are no limits to applying ones ingenuity to discover new applications or invent additional combinations of ipcas products with other devices to induce network ability and raise industrial processes control to a higher level. In a nutshell, all this adds up to a major trend in industrial processes development towards ...

… and ipcas industrial solutions are geared to play a pivotal role in
promoting this trend.

This contribution is the first in a series to highlight the great opportunities involved in implementing ipcas industrial solutions products in special applications, possibly in combination with other appliances, to advance the above aim.

Interesting new application

These considerations have been prompted by a sharp increase in sales of the ipcas Data/Event Logger with Digital I/O. Apparently printing companies are reaching out to upgrade their machine equipment, and the respective machine suppliers want to enhance their products with added functionality. Asking for the background story I heard through the grapevine that some companies devised the means of combining the ipcas data logger with a light barrier device to computer-count paper sheets in printing applications.

Implementation

How is it done? – A customary light barrier device is simply attached to the paper conveyer on the output side. The data logger is then connected to the device and to the industrial network or PC. The data logger converts analog light signals into digital data for further computer processing. An idea of what the monitoring mask might look like can be gleaned from a Windows.Form application among many possible others (see Application range of included software).

Benefits

Online/network paper sheet counters are obviously used to improve material
planning and logistics of a company. This added functionality

• optimizes material utilization in general
• supports company conservation plans to identify sources of paper waste and reduce rejects (saves material costs)
• helps companies to plan material supplies and processes correctly to prevent machine idling and time waste (increases productivity)
• serves to streamline production lines by enabling continuous monitoring
• can be used to identify, alert, warn against, and thus to prevent malfunctions, bottelenecks, etc. or at least to remedy in time to avoid further damage or waste
• supports environmental protection aims by promoting waste prevention
• raises TQM standards (increased reliability, productivity, environmental protection)

Of course, these benefits can be fully utilized in combination with the corresponding ipcas material planning software FAMOUS.

Application potential

What has been said for the printing industries can be applied to all kinds of mass production wherever high piece numbers are involved. With other kinds of sensor devices the ipcas Data/Event logger also can be used to log other important PDA (production data acquisition) parameters such as temperature, humidity, pressure, tension, etc. Besides, with new combinations perhaps using other ipcas products, this applicability can be extended to MDA (machine data acquisition) or even to the purpose of correlating process data with machine data (e.g. for testing new products in research and development) … and more …

Used as an event logger it can also be widely applied on site, for example, for TDC (time data capture) in connection with turnpikes, turnstiles, etc. or CAQ (computer-aided quality) applications.

In the entries to come I would like to give you a better idea of the scope of applications and potential functionality of the data logger as well as other ipcas products partly used in combination with specific third-party appliances.

For further information, please go to ipcas Data/Event Logger specifications.

Some time ago (Refer to "Get your PLC's ...) I introduced our Serial-Ethernet Converter as the device to link up your old machines, devices and interfaces to an Ethernet or other network (including the Internet!) for all kinds of control or data acquisition applications.

For all those of you who might have some qualms about the connectivity, installation, or configuration and the time, costs, or expertise that might be involved to do the job, I've got good news for you!

Immediately installed - Serial-Ethernet Converters

Are Serial-Ethernet Converters difficult to install? Not in the least! Since most devices are already equipped with RS232 interfaces, Serial-Ethernet Converters offer cost-effective and quick solutions for linking up even older machines and systems with modern networks and computer systems. Ready to run. No complicated or time-consuming driver installations required.

Here's an example how to network your equipment:

Use a Serial - Ethernet Converter to Connect a Simatic S7 PLC to the Ethernet!

Easy to configure - Serial-Ethernet Converters

But now let us get down to the important details! Here is an example how to install and configure a PLC (e.g. Simatic S7-200, test motor) with a network terminal by interconnecting a Serial-Ethernet Converter (e.g. ipEther232).

This is how easy networking can be – judge for yourself!
View the instruction path: Serial-Ethernet Converter networks a Simatic S7 (PLC)

In case you haven't already gleaned from our website, ipcas also designs software.

One of its major software products is centered around a tool which will help you profile software performance and trace instabilities with amazing speed – much to the delight of both software developers and testers.

is a profiler tool that helps developers and testers to analyze the performance of .NET applications fast and transparently. Users of SpeedTrace can expect to reduce costs in .NET projects substantially and thus increase revenue, ROI and customer satisfaction. Here are some of the salient features this new diagnostics and development tool provides:

• SpeedTrace
  leads the user to the very core of
  software/firmware problems by supplying highly accurate information in
  a transparent form.
• SpeedTrace
  provides more functionality than
  other profilers such as filters and triggers because it focuses on
  specific areas or components of an application instead of getting lost
  in issues of internal third party software implementation with poor
  results (e.g. due to using irrelevant methods).
• SpeedTrace
  offers tracing capabilities that help users to bug trap applications
  and to examine the data flow sent to and from a function.
• SpeedTrace
  provides user extended functionality (callback API) in order to modify
  function parameters concerning performance, e.g. fault simulations.
• SpeedTrace
  is a profiler and tracer for .NET applications designed to disclose
  weak points, software problems (e.g. synchronization) and performance
  issues (bottlenecks).
• SpeedTrace
  has been acknowledged by large
  companies such as Siemens where it is said to be used as favorite toolkit by their
  developers and testers.