New, user-friendly 3-inch panels as cost-effective alternatives to existing text display solutions
11/05/2011 Siemens Industry Automation & Drive Technologies
Totally Integrated Automation (TIA), the integrated automation system concept, is an important prerequisite for cost-effective all-in-one solutions. The introduction of a new 3-inch display clearly demonstrates the advantages that TIA generates in practice. With well-conceived all-in-one solutions, machine manufacturers and plant constructors can modernise and save a considerable amount of money at the same time.If manufacturers of small-scale machinery are looking for potential ways to rationalise, they will find them in the future with the new, all-in-one package from Siemens, consisting of a controller and visualisation. Anyone who uses this package, which is made up of the Simatic S7-1200 controller and the Simatic HMI KP300 Basic device (e.g. instead of the usual combination of a Simatic S7-200 controller and a Simatic HMI OP 73micro device), will experience considerable cost savings: The combination of the controller and the new panel with a 3.6-inch screen means a cost savings of up to 40 percent.
Within the context of consistent standardisation, Siemens now offers two product lines for Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) which supplement each other with regard to design and performance capability, namely, the line of Simatic HMI Basic Panels and the line of Simatic HMI Comfort Panels. The basic version; which thanks to the new Simatic HMI KP300 Basic Panel is now available in sizes of 3" to 15", is often sufficient for outfitting smaller machines and plants. All of the devices, regardless of size, offer the same range of functions, which is by no means a given in the market.
The TIA Portal (the new Engineering Framework from Siemens), which also harmonises the software portfolio, can be used to tap additional rationalising potential. If, for example, users decide in favor of the TIA Portal by choosing the Simatic S7-1200 controller, the engineering tools for integrating the Basic Panels are already included. This means that no additional software costs will occur for the visualisation.
Simple visualisation with the user friendliness of the "big guys"
With the development of the new 3-inch panel, Siemens is providing an economical all-in-one solution, which offers extensive visualisation solutions. Users will quickly come to appreciate the high resolution of 240 x 80 pixels of the Simatic HMI KP300 Basic Panel. Up to 250 variables can be processed on this panel, which allows for a highly detailed display of the processes and thus better process control and prevention of errors.
In comparison to the simple text displays that are often used on smaller machines, the new panels offer considerably more display and operating functions. With the entire Basic series, including the new 3-inch device, not only texts and numeric values, but also trend curves and graphics can be displayed in high resolution. In addition, the new Simatic HMI Panels are considerably easier to configure than earlier text displays, because the WinCC V11 engineering software supports the user-friendly parameterisation of objects in place of complex programming.
Backlighting with practical color changing
In any case, from a technical standpoint, users will appreciate the capability of having different backlighting for the display. The backlighting can be white, green, yellow, or red. This means that different escalation levels can be indicated via the panel, depending on the status of the machine. For example: Green means that everything is okay, yellow means attention is required, and red indicates that action is required.
This too is an important aspect of Totally Integrated Automation: With simple resources and no additional costs, the display can take over signaling functions that are important to the operators. This allows a faster response, which in turn increases the availability of the machines. An additional signaling lamp can be dispensed with because there is also no need for a corresponding I/O module and the associated wiring.
Simple and intuitive operation
Another advantage of the new panels over the text displays used in many industrial machines and plants is the noticeably more user-friendly operation, for example, thanks to the familiar keypad which resembles that of a mobile phone. The Simatic HMI KP300 Basic has 20 keys, ten of which are freely assignable function keys. These also have letter and number assignments.
Whereas the function keys always have the highest priority, the intelligent input control on the panel decides whether a function, a letter, or a numeric value is desired when a key is pressed. The pressing of several arrow keys, as was common on the earlier line displays, is completely dispensed with, which saves the user a considerable amount of time. Yet, here too, the devices are extremely flexible with anyone who wants to continue using arrow keys also has this option.
Harmonised software platform simplifies engineering
One of the greatest challenges in the development of the panels was to achieve compactness and intuitive operation. Both were achieved in the latest version of the HMI Panels. For example, the user can select from among 32 languages, five of which can be used online on the 3-inch display. This means that during operation the panel can be adjusted very quickly for different operators and service technicians by means of the fast switchover function.
Programming and parameterisation are performed via the WinCC V11 engineering software. Depending on the range of tasks, this software within the above-mentioned TIA Portal will be available in the future in Basic, Comfort, Advanced and Professional versions. It harmonises the previous familiar visualisation solutions WinCC and WinCC flexible. Finally, the TIA Portal creates an integrated engineering environment which contains all CPU and HMI types as well as peripherals and drives, which significantly simplifies things for machine and system manufacturers.
TIA all-in-one solutions increase competitiveness
The integrated nature of system solutions found in TIA creates potential ways of rationalising, which the industry needs to remain competitive. While many manufacturers are focusing on large-scale high-tech applications, the new Simatic HMI KP300 Basic Key Panel from Siemens shows that users can also achieve even greater cost savings in small applications all the way down at the field level.
At the same time the HMI is suitable for both retrofit projects and for very large plants. In these cases, several displays can be used at key points for visualising individual process steps. The new panel is optimised for perfect interaction with the Simatic S7-1200 controller. It is also possible to easily connect to other controllers from the Simatic family or to CPUs made by other manufacturers. The connection to the controller is implemented easily via Profinet. One important advantage of TIA integration is that the Siemens HMI Panels are upward compatible: They can be immediately replaced by larger formats or even more powerful devices (such as the "Comfort" version).
For any further information or literature requests please contact 0845 7705070 / www.siemens.co.uk/automation.
Print this articleShare article:
Process and Control Today are not responsible for the content of submitted or externally produced articles and images. Click here to email us about any errors or omissions contained within this article.