What are the Benefits of Network Control?

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  Ms. Ori We have been receiving more and more questions from customers about network compatible products lately. Why is that?

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  It's a sign that equipment and entire factories are being networked.

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  What do we mean by networking?

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  Networking here means connecting equipment to equipment, equipment to PCs, and so on, in a network of cables, so that a lot of information can be exchanged. Also know as an industrial network. There are several layers (levels) of industrial networks, and the networks connected to motors and electric actuators are positioned at the device level.

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  What's the difference between each level?

  

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  In the lower levels, the PLC monitors and controls the information of each motor and inverter at the same time. In the upper level, the operating status of the entire equipment is monitored and controlled by the host FA computer. Network control is the ability to centrally manage a large amount of devices and information.

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  I see. What other benefits are there besides monitoring and centralizing motor information?

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  It reduces wiring. Previously, we needed I/O signals for the number of control axes. We also needed to add more I/O units for the programmable controller. On one hand, with network control, the number of axes can be easily reduced or increased by wiring the I/O signals with a single communication cable, which is very convenient.

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  With less wiring, it will be much easier to start up the equipment.

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  Also, the communication cables allows much longer extension distances than regular I/O signal lines, so there is more flexibility in the design and layout of the equipment.

  

  And that leads to "cost reduction" too. You can reduce the cost of wiring materials and the I/O units of the programmable controller, shortening installation time and reducing labor costs.

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  Hmmm, that sounds like significant cost savings.

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  In addition, the information monitored by the networked equipment is also used for "trouble prediction." Notifications can be sent out before the motor temperature reaches the upper limit or stops due to overload, or notifications can be sent out when the electric actuator needs to be replaced according to the travel distance. Many customers use this system for preventive maintenance, ensuring a "production line that never stops," since they can take measures such as replacing parts and mechanism adjustment in advance.

  

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  It's so convenient...That's why inquiries about network　compatible products have increased. It seems that network-based control will continue to increase in the future.

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  That's right. There are many different standards for industrial networks, and as an device-level equipment manufacturer, Oriental Motor is expanding its product line up to support a wide range of industrial networks. See the figure below.

  

  For example, with the stepper motor and driver package αSTEP AZ Series, and AZ Series-equipped actuators, there are multi-axis type drivers that can be directly connected to various industrial networks, and they can monitor temperature and travel distance, which can contribute to preventive maintenance. In addition to this multi-axis driver, other series besides the AZ Series can also be connected to the network with a single cable through a network converter.

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  In the AZ Series, the motor position information is retained even when the power supply is turned OFF, right? Because it retains position information, it does not need a sensor such as a home sensor. Furthermore, if we can reduce wiring through networking, we will be able to contribute to reduce costs, and add value to our customers' equipment!

• *SSCNET III/H is a registered trademark or trademark of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation.
• *CC-Link is a registered trademark of the CC-Link Partner Association, MECHATROLINK is a registered trademark of the MECHATROLINK Members Association.
• *EtherCAT© is a patented technology and registered trademark licensed by Beckhoff Automation GmbH (Germany).

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