Engineering Challenge: Computerize a Sailboat Engine with a Modern PLC/HMI

Six students use modern PLC and HMI to create a control system for a sailboat engine. Learn how they did it while cutting their controls hardware budget in half. When most people think of upgrading sailboats, PLCs aren’t the first product that comes to mind. But when a team of college students was given the task of designing a control system for a sailboat engine, the versatility, ease of use and cost effectiveness made PLCs a logical choice. Six students at The University... Read More

Controllers Upgraded with more Speed, Memory and Connectivity

The Siemens Industry Automation Division has expanded its range of Simatic S7-300 controllers and improved their performance. In the “Compact” class, all six CPUs have been completely redesigned – they now have significantly enhanced performance and twice the RAM they used to have.  The CPU 314C-2 PN/DP is a new addition, making a total of seven compact CPUs now in the S7-300 lineup.  This is the first compact CPU with a 2-port PROFINET interface.  Among the “Standard”... Read More

Enhanced Programming Editors Increase Efficiency

Simatic Step 7 V11, an engineering system for configuring, programming and diagnosing all Simatic controller families, has been upgraded with a new central engineering framework. The programming editors S7-SCL, S7-Graph, LAD, FBD and STL from the Siemens Industry Automation Division have been completely newly developed to provide increased efficiency and ease of operation so users can solve all their automation tasks quickly and intuitively. This includes the optimized SCL Compiler... Read More

Defending Against Industrial Malware—Understanding New Kinds of Threats

Understanding the sophistication of the Stuxnet Trojan, how it finds and embeds in target systems, and why it’s different from garden-variety viruses, is key to protecting your plant or process from infection. Follow this protection roadmap to minimize risk of exposure. The Stuxnet Trojan, which many say begins a new phase in cyber security, has infiltrated industrial facilities and vexed antivirus companies. Though it remains dangerous, steps have been taken to largely negate... Read More

HMI Software Simplifies Control, Data Entry

Enhanced Simatic WinCC V11 HMI software from the Siemens Industry Automation Division is suitable for everything from machine-level applications to process visualization. Simatic WinCC V11 is based on the new central engineering framework Totally Integrated Automation Portal (TIA Portal) and is closely coordinated with the other engineering software products of the Simatic family, such as Simatic Step 7 V11 for Simatic controllers. This avoids multiple and incorrect entries in... Read More

The Future Direction of Safety for UL 508A and UL 2011 Equipment Evaluations

This article addresses important changes that are being made to UL standards to address the increasing complexity of modern hardware while taking efforts to limit the number of design variations necessary for manufacturers to reach all markets. With the implementation of the EU Machinery Directive and evolution of North American machinery safety requirements, national and international standards are being updated so that manufacturers have ease of market access and can limit... Read More