Simplifying safety in modern automation
Summary
For high-precision engineering machinery, including CNC mills, laser cutters, and welding robots, these previously standalone systems are now often working in tandem with automatic parts loaders and conveyor belts to help increase productivity. Here, Mark Patrick, Director of Technical Content for EMEA at Mouser Electronics, and Chanakya Gupta, Sr. Offer Manager, Motion and Control at Schneider Electric, bring their expertise to the forefront in discussing the challenges and solutions in the field of industrial automation safety systems. Typically, this requirement is fulfilled by vast networks of safety functions signalling relay modules pre-configured with specific thresholds and time delays, which, when combined with programmable logic controllers (PLCs), allows for the intelligent stopping of automation. This includes a front-facing QR code that goes to an instruction sheet, terminal layout, and wiring diagram; a side connector for output extension without additional hard-wiring; and LED indicators to enable easy reference in dusty or low-light conditions. While advancements in PLCs and HMIs have helped to mitigate some of these issues, the vast complexity of the underlying hardware has remained, with large-scale automations reliant on a huge number of safety modules to relay critical signals.