Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D) will present the Sinumerik 840D sl, the Profinet connection for machine tool control, at this year’s EMO show.

As a Profinet controller, the Sinumerik in the machine also controls the distributed I/Os or the Sinamics S120 system as a positioning drive. Both cable-based connection and W-LAN communication can be used for this purpose.

With Profinet, machine tools too have a real-time Ethernet system that meets the requirements of IT, automation and motion control. Open standards also permit communication via W-LAN or GPRS.

In Sinumerik 840 D sl and Profinet, users have high-performance systems at their disposal. A high number of axes, and large data volumes with short cycle times can be managed via a bus using the 840D sl with Profinet. For mechanical equipment manufacturers, this means more flexibility thanks to modular and mechatronic machine concepts, as well as powerful communication with other controllers such as OPC servers or the service programming device.

In this way, complex and modular machine tools can be operated simply despite being distributed across large areas. The dimensions and flexibility of workpieces often require the use of distributed automation components, intelligent I/Os and positioning drives. Here, connection via W-LAN allows simultaneous wireless transmission of the diagnostics data and the display of important operating parameters.

Modular, object-oriented plant concepts are supported via Profinet CBA, enabling controller-controller communication between machine tools in real time. Systems with more than a hundred machine tool controls connected by means of Profinet CBA are currently being installed.

The communication interfaces can be connected wirelessly to remote service centers using GPRS. Plants and machines can thus be controlled regardless of where they are used. Important information about machine statuses can also be sent by e-mail. The specialists in the service center or the machine operator are informed of a fault without delay via e-mail client. For fast rectification of the problem, all the necessary machine data are reported to the service engineer in addition to the fault message.

The Sinumerik control is secured against attack from the network. With Scalance S from Simatic Net, the machine tool control is also protected against data spying, data manipulation, communication system overload, interaction, and addressing errors. User-friendly and simple configuration and administration are possible without specialist knowledge of IT security. The existing network structure does not have to be modified or adapted in any way.