GE Fanuc Emerson

The Field Control distributed I/O and control system from the GE Fanuc company is made up of modular I/O products that can fit many different control system architectures. The devices included in the Field Control system series are I/O modules, I/O terminal blocks, and Bus interface units. The I/O modules are designed to be rugged and they can provide an analog I/O interface. The I/O terminal blocks are the universal field-wiring terminals for 2 of the I/O modules at a time, which means that different kinds of I/O modules can be mounted on the same I/O terminal block. The I/O terminal blocks in turn are mounted on DIN rails, and the DIN rails need to be mounted on panels because they are part of the grounding system. The Bus interface unit can support up to 4 I/O terminal blocks or up to 8 I/O modules in a Field Control “station.” The DIN Rail that the Field Control I/O terminal blocks are mounted on must be a 35 millimeters x 7.5 millimeters DIN Rail and the rail must have a conductive or unpainted finish to allow for proper grounding. Note that the I/O terminal blocks can protect the I/O modules installed in them from the negative effects of ESD or electrostatic discharge, but that uninstalled I/O modules are sensitive to ESD and static control precautions must be taken when handling and installing them. To ensure that the I/O modules are as secure as possible, the users can utilize the optional module key clips and slots to hold them in place or in a specific position.

The industrial modules that are found in the GE Fanuc Genius I-O series are designed to work with IBM PCs. These modules are known as IBM PC interface modules or PCIMs for short. The Genius I-O modules can be controlled by the IBM PCs or by PLCs or programmable logic controllers. The modules in this series come with the basic PCIM motherboard and daughterboard, a serial bus, I/O blocks, and a handheld monitor. The I/O blocks in the Genius I-O modules are used for diagnostics and troubleshooting. They can detect errors and problems that ordinary PLCs cannot such as short circuits, open circuits, and overloads. The daughterboard in the GE Fanuc Genius I-O modules is similar to a Series Six PLC Bus controller, and it usually handles general-purpose I/O control applications and controls all the devices on the Genius Serial Bus. This daughterboard can communicate with the other devices on the Genius Serial Bus through background messaging and it can perform initialization and fault management tasks for up to 30 of these devices at a time. The motherboard in the GE Fanuc Genius I-O modules acts as an interface between a host system that is IBM-compatible and a daughterboard with Open Architecture. The PCIM motherboard is a 2-layer board while the PCIM daughterboard is a 4-layer board. All of the data that is shared between the Genius I-O PCIM and the host system passes through the host-shared RAM which is known as the SRI or the shared RAM interface.

The QuickPanel series display modules are manufactured by GE Fanuc Automation. They are the most advanced compact display modules available. They are available in different configurations to suit different application requirements either as fully-featured HMIs or as combinations of HMIs and controllers for local and distributed control applications. The QuickPanel display modules run with the Microsoft Windows operating system for application program development. They run on the Windows CE operating system. They have user interfaces that are common in many devices and they are easy to learn how to use. The display modules are controlled by using a microprocessor for maximum flexibility. The QuickPanel display modules come in different memory types for the most demanding applications. They come with 32 MB and 64 MB of memory. They are also available in 5 different display sizes. They come with retentive memory capacities of 512 KB which is a battery-backed SRAM for storing data. They ensure that the data will never be lost even during a power failure. The QuickPanel display modules are equipped with RS 232 RS 485 ports at COM1, another RS 232 port at COM2, USB ports, Ethernet ports, and a power supply socket. They have hinged access covers for further expansion. The front side of the panels house the LED indicators which are programmable according to the users’ needs. The QuickPanel displays are equipped with 4 DIP switches which are used to control different functions. The QuickPanel display modules are manufactured in compact sizes and they weigh around 3 pounds. The display panels are TFT screens that support resolutions of 800 x 600 pixels. They have CCFL tubes which have a rated life of 50,000 hours. The panels in this series can be operated at temperatures between 0 and 50 degrees Celsius in non-condensing environments. They meet different agency certifications, including the UL, CE, and ATEX certifications.

The GE Fanuc RX3i PacSystem controllers are PACs or programmable automation controllers from the larger GE Fanuc PacSystem product line. The RX3i PacSystem PACs each have 1 control engine and a universal programming environment that is compatible with several different hardware platforms just like all the other PacSystem PACs. The RX3i PacSystem PACs also come with high-speed processors, support for open communications, memory that stores both the machine documentation and the ladder logic documentation for easy troubleshooting and reduced downtime, and several analog, discrete, and special-purpose modules. The PME or Proficy Machine Edition Software is the kind of software that is used to configure and program the PACs from the RX3i PacSystem series. The PME Software has a built-in web server and it supports “drag and drop editing.” The GE Fanuc RX3i PacSystem PACs are designed to make the migration of GE Fanuc Series 90-30 PLC systems, devices, and equipment easy. Different kinds of modules can be included in an RX3i PacSystem PAC setup, but different kinds of modules require different backplanes. For example, the IC695 modules can only be installed in RX3i PacSystem setups that have universal backplanes, while the IC694 modules can be installed in RX3i PacSystem setups that have universal backplanes or RX3i serial expansion backplanes. Many GE Fanuc Series 90-30 modules are compatible with GE Fanuc RX3i PacSystem controllers, but not all. Every RX3i PacSystem setup must have at least 1 universal backplane because the backplane is what hosts the system’s CPU. The universal backplane also either hosts the system’s power supply directly or else connects to another backplane that hosts the system’s power supply.

The GE Fanuc Rx7i PACsystem control system was designed to be an expansion for existing GE Fanuc industrial machine systems, and it was designed to be cost-effective and easy to install. It can be installed in an existing system without disturbing that system’s wiring. The controllers in the Rx7i PACsystem series are available with 5 different CPUs that can all be upgraded and that all have fast execution rates and large memory capacities. The Rx7i PACsystem controllers are automation controllers that are used to control industrial automation systems. These controllers can communicate through their Ethernet ports that have dual RJ-45 ports and through their 3 isolated serial ports which are an RS-232 port, and RS-485 port, and an RS-232 Ethernet station manager port. The GE Fanuc Rx7i PACsystem control system makes device migration easy because it supports most GE Fanuc Genius networks, expansion racks, and Series 90-70 modules and it supports the conversion of the Series 90-70 programs and the conversion of the Logicmaster and VersaPro applications to Machine Edition applications. These convenient features support existing hardware systems and existing system developments, and they provide a smooth transition to PACsystems. The Rx7i PACsystem control system’s hardware includes 1 Rx7i rack and as many as 7 Series 90-70 expansion racks. The system will need to have 1 Bus Transmitter Module or BTM in the main rack if any expansion racks are used. The Rx7i PACsystem control system’s Rx7i rack can support all Rx7i CPU configurations and all Rx7i I/O configurations as well as many VME modules and most Series 90-70 I/O modules.

The PLCs or programmable logic controllers from the GE Fanuc Series 90-30 comprise several modular components that are connected to form a complete control system that can be custom tailored for different industrial applications. The components that make up GE Fanuc Series 90-30 PLCs include the baseplates that most of the other components are mounted on, the power supplies with various ratings that are always mounted in the left-most slots in the baseplates, the CPUs or central processing units that monitor the PLCs functions and scan the controller for problems, the I/O modules that let the PLCs connect to input and output devices like switches and relays, the option modules that allow the PLCs to have networking and communication options, and the cables that can connect the PLCs to other machines, including other PLCs. The GE Fanuc Series 90-30 PLCs should be mounted inside enclosures to protect them from common industrial hazards such as oil, dust, debris, vapors, and moisture. Their baseplates can have 5 slots or 10 slots depending on how many components will be assembled in a particular PLC and on what particular applications the PLC is intended for. Different baseplates also have different cabling distances ratings, and cabling distance is the maximum length that a cable between a given baseplate and the CPU baseplate. For example, Series 90-30 PLCs with Expansion baseplates have cabling distances of 50 feet, PLCs with Remote baseplates have cabling distances of 700 feet, and different Series 90-30 communication option modules can support cabling distances of 4000 feet or 75 feet. Modems and transmitters can also be used and these devices have nearly unlimited communication distance ratings.

The PLCs or programmable logic controllers that are manufactured by the GE Fanuc Company in Series 90-70 are made up of several connected components such as power supplies, CPUs, and different I/O systems and optional modules. Exactly how many and what kinds of components will be installed in a given Series 90-70 programmable logic controller depends on what kinds of applications that the controller will be used for. Users can customize the design of their Series 90-70 controllers to suit all of their application needs. Some of the components that can be supported by the Series 90-70 programmable logic controllers include Genius I/O, Field Control I/O, rack-type I/O, a remote I/O scanner, a programmable coprocessor module, an alphanumeric display coprocessor, and standard industrial VME boards. The GE Fanuc Series 90-70 programmable logic controllers come with a software architecture that can be used for programming the controllers and for handling faults. The programs in the controller can be built from program blocks as structured programs which are easy to debug and easy to understand, or they can be made with smaller program blocks in a system where every block is assigned a specific function, and these kinds of programs are easy to isolate and easier to use to associate the control logic with the machine functions. These controllers also use RLD or relay ladder diagram programming and an instruction set. The industrial computer that is installed in the Series 90-70 programmable logic controllers is durable enough to withstand harsh factory environments, and the calendar/clock in the controllers is battery-backed.

The Versamax series of PLCs or programmable logic controllers that are manufactured by GE Fanuc are made for providing I/O connections in commercial and industrial automation applications. The Versamax PLCs are cohesive systems that are composed of different parts that the users can select and connect according to the needs of their automation applications as long as all the parts are compatible. These PLCs can be connected to different industrial networks if they have network interface modules or Versamax I/O stations installed in them. The modules and modular components from this series can be mounted on DIN rails. The Versamax PLCs meet the CE, CUL, UL, Class 1 Zone 2, and the Class I Division 2 standards. The GE Fanuc Versamax PLCs support automatic addressing, which means that they do not need to be set up through a laborious traditional configuration process or need to have handheld devices connected to them for configuration. They also support different field-wing termination options that allow them to connect to 2-wire, 3-wire, and 4-wire devices. I/O devices in the Versamax PLC system can be installed in different remote locations and they can use remote I/O interfaces like the Ethernet, Devicenet, Profibus, and Genius interfaces for communication. Every Versamax PLC is made up of several modules, and the first module that is installed in the sequence is the CPU module and its attached power supply. These Versamax CPUs can support up to 64 other modules with as many as 2048 I/O points.

The GE Emerson PACSystems RSTi-EP series includes standalone PLCs, backplane PLCs, and remote I/O systems. These systems are designed for industrial automation applications and can connect to Fieldbus structures using network adapters. One RSTi-EP station can support up to 64 active I/O modules. Both active and passive I/O modules are available in the PACSystems RSTi-EP series. Passive I/O modules do not support fieldbus communication. The PACSystems RSTi-EP series also includes functional safety modules, end plates, and endbrackets.

The PanelClient control series from GE Fanuc Emerson represents a large class of industrial operator interface terminals that offer direct human-machine interaction. The touch-screen interfaces available on these terminals visualizes real-time data and offers simple controls and reliable connectivity for effectively monitoring all the processes. Designed for extreme environmental conditions, the PanelClient HMIs will ensure efficiency and reliability in various systems and applications. Perfect for manufacturing and processing applications, they allow easy machine control, which translates into increased productivity and performance.

The GE Fanuc QuickPanel+ human-machine interface (HMI) terminals are flexible microcomputers that can control industrial machines or function as displays for machines. They have high-resolution touchscreens and Advanced RISC Machine or ARM core microprocessors. Different QuickPanel+ terminals have different communication options and different memory options. The DRAM or dynamic random access memory in the QuickPanel+ terminals stores the operating systems, objects, and applications for the terminals in different sections. The QuickPanel+ terminals also have sections in their NOVRAM or non-volatile random access memory that can function as virtual hard drives. These NOVRAM sections are divided between the terminals' operating systems and persistent storage space for the terminals' application programs. The retentive memory option for the QuickPanel+ HMI terminals is a SRAM or static random access memory option that is battery-backed and that can store and protect data when power failures occur. The GE Fanuc QuickPanel+ HMI terminals are available with 6-inch, 7-inch, 10-inch, 12-inch, or 15-inch screens. The terminals with 6-inch screens support QVGA resolutions of 320 x 240 pixels. The QuickPanel+ terminals with 6-inch screens have 512 MB of SDRAM, 256 MB of flash ROM, and 512 KB of battery-backed SRAM. The QuickPanel+ terminals with 7-inch screens support WVGA resolutions of 800 x 480 pixels, and their memory options include 512 MB of SDRAM, 256 MB of SLC NAND ROM, and 512 MB of SRAM with battery backup. The QuickPanel+ terminals with 10-inch screens support SVGA resolutions of 800 x 600 pixels, and their memory features include 1 GB of SDRAM, 512 MB of SLC NAND ROM, and 512 KB of battery-backed SRAM. The QuickPanel+ terminals with 12-inch screens support screen resolutions of 800 x 600 pixels SVGA, and their memory options are 1 GB of SDRAM, 512 MB of SLC NAND ROM, and 512 KB of battery-backed SDRAM. The QuickPanel+ HMI terminals with 15-inch screens have XGA screen resolution ratings of 1024 x 768 pixels, and their memory options include 1 GB of SDRAM, 512 MB of SLC NAND ROM, and 512 KB of battery-backed SDRAM. The QuickPanel+ terminals all support color graphics on their displays. Additionally, the QuickPanel+ HMI terminals all support natural convection cooling and operating temperatures between 32 and 131 degrees Fahrenheit.

The RSTi PacSystem series, designed by GE Fanuc Emerson, is an advanced-performance modular I/O system for state-of-the-art industrial automation setups. It can support real-time control with flexible connectivity and integration options with other PACSystems controllers. It encourages system efficiency and scalability through its support of various communication protocols such as PROFINET and Ethernet. It is suitable for manufacturing, process automation, and industrial IoT applications with its reliable and high-speed data exchange to optimize the performance of machines.