The
new G10 family of AS-Interface modules from Pepperl+Fuchs uses Connect & Done technology to eliminate
mounting in many applications. At just 40 x 27 x 22mm with IP68/69K protection,
the G10 fits easily into cable ducts and enables quick, convenient sensor
connections using integrated M12 pigtails.
"A lot of AS-Interface connections
are done in cable trays. Now you can take the module, clip it into the cable
and place it in the cable tray," says Helge Hornis, Manager Intelligent Systems
for Pepperl+Fuchs. "There is no need to mount a module anymore which is a significant
simplification in applications where it fits."
Five years ago,
Pepperl+Fuchs
designed a line of passive devices to connect different AS-Interface cables, or
convert from a flat cable to a round cable and add devices. The design enabled
all types of passive splitters, and the line has been extremely successful.
From a mechanical point of view, the design is unique. There is a one-piece
cover that the user flips over to open and insert a cable, and then closes it
and tightens the screw to secure the connection.
"It became obvious that this housing
concept is nice, so we discussed the advantages of using this same concept for
an actual module with electronics in it," says Hornis. "By altering the
mechanical system using the flip mechanism and slightly increasing the size of
the housing in one direction, the housing is tiny but big enough for the power
electronics. That is, in a nutshell, what the G10 module line is all about."
A typical AS-Interface module has
four inputs, or four inputs and four outputs. The G10 has two inputs, or two
inputs and one output. As a result, targeted applications have low I/O density
needs and where the devices are highly distributed.
In conveyor applications, for example, manufacturers
commonly set-up sections that may be 10' long, and each section has a motor.
Often, there is a sensor at both the exit of one section and the entry into the
next section. Between the two conveyor sections, there are two sensors and the
need to control the motor which is exactly what the G10 is designed to do.
"We can turn on/off a motor and sense both
when an object goes past the end of one section and enters the next section,"
says Hornis. "Previously, a user would mount a four input module and run sensor
cables or cord sets over various distances. With this design, there is a one
meter M12 pigtail on the module, the module is placed close to one of the
sensors and you're done."
The G10 is a full-featured
AS-Interface module, so it has all of the normal features in terms of
diagnostic LEDs, input/output indicators and IP-68/69k protection. The key benefit
is that there is no additional M12 connection or cord set required.
An
animation
on the Design News website shows how Connect & Done technology from Pepperl+Fuchs can be used to eliminate mounting I/O modules
in many applications. At just 40 x 27 x 22mm with IP68/69K protection, ultra-compact
G10 AS-Interface modules fit easily into cable ducts and enable quick,
convenient sensor connections.
Click
here
to watch video.
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Another application is packaging
where OEM machinery builders are concerned about the visual appearance of
machines and don't want them to look cluttered. Many of these machines don't
have a high number or concentration of sensors, so by routing the AS-Interface
cable and connecting the G10 module, sensors can be easily implemented without
mounting an I/O module and installing the cord sets required to utilize those
modules.
"With a four input module, it is wasteful if
you only utilize two sensor inputs," says Hornis. "For applications where the
G10 fits, especially low I/O count and distributed operation, this is a
solution to a previously difficult to solve problem. In the right
circumstances, it will make the engineer's job easier."
The G10 also includes many of the features
found in the G11 family introduced in 2010.
The design uses the same concentric seal contours around the gold-plated piercing
contacts, along with the rugged housing material (PBT) and center stainless
steel mounting screw.
IP68/69K rated modules are advantageous in
many applications because they provide mounting flexibility. When the housing
material exhibits a high degree of chemical resistance and is mechanically well-designed,
dripping water, frequent washdowns and cleaning with harsh chemicals are of less
concern.
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