Month: August 2016

Industrial Legacy Systems

Joe Kaminski Leave a comment
Legacy Systems: Maintenance

Maintaining and upgrading legacy systems is one of the most difficult challenges industrial and manufacturing managers face today. Constant technological change often weakens the business value of legacy systems, which have been developed over the years through huge investments. Managers struggle with the problem of modernizing these systems while keeping their functionality intact. Despite their obsolescence, legacy systems continue to provide a competitive advantage through supporting unique industrial processes. Routine checks allow for preventative maintenance, and for replacement parts to be ordered before they are desperately needed. Here at MRO Electric and Supply, we stock a large number of classic and legacy products which can be shipped in record time.

Legacy Systems: IoT

When new technologies arise, engineers simply cannot uproot existing systems. However, some legacy controls can be connected to the Internet of Things. This allows for a high level of data acquisition which can be stored, processed, and analyzed. Several IoT products can also support remote monitoring and control. Many Modicon Quantum Series products have an Ethernet port that allows for this upgraded connectivity. However, not every legacy system has these capabilities.

Legacy Systems: Security

Targeted attacks on industrial systems always remain a threat as our society plows forward into the computer-driven Information Age. Securing legacy systems that were designed to communicate point to point is a enormous challenge. Many of these older systems were installed pre-internet era, are not designed for connectivity, and have no means of authenticated commands that are received. System interruptions for security updates can be difficult and costly, and downtime is expensive. It is always a challenge to find ways to increase security for legacy systems. One important tip is to always keep the software for connected legacy systems updated with the most current version.

Legacy Systems: Looking Forward

Although replacement supplies and remanufactured parts can be ordered for many years to come, it is important to keep in mind that no legacy system will last forever. In this current sluggish world economy, often the best answer is a well-planned, slow and steady upgrade.

If you need a replacement part for any of your industrial classic or legacy systems, please email sales@MROElectric.com or call 1-800-691-8511.

Updated on May 20, 2019 by Brian Hughes

UNI3404: Beyond the User Manual

Joe Kaminski Leave a comment

The UNI3404 is available with a number of option modules, which increase its flexibility and make it suitable for a very wide range of applications. These modules are briefly described in the following paragraphs. For full details refer to UNI3404 manual that is supplied with each of them. The modules are in two physical formats and are known as Large Option Modules (LOM) and Small Option Modules (SOM). Each Undrive may be fitted with one LOM and one SOM.

Unidrive UNI3404 Large Option Modules
  1. UD78 High Precision Analog Input Module. (LOM):
    • This module provides the following features: a) Infinite resolution analog input for precision speed and position control. Large Option Module Small Option Module 1. Introduction 11 b) RS485 communication port. c) Back up supply connector (requires user provided 24VDC) to maintain power to the drive control circuits and encoder feedback when the 3 phase input to the drive is disconnected.
  2. UD70 Co-Processor Module (LOM)
    • The UD70 is an Intel 960 based co processor module that allows the user to write programs in both IEC1131 ladder / Function Block Diagram and Drive Programming Language (DPL) to provide 1.5 axis motion control and sequence control. This is accomplished using the SyPT programming tool on a PC. The module is fitted with an RS232 programming port for this purpose. It also has an RS485 port for general use and this supports the ANSI protocol as a slave or master controller and ModBus RTU as a slave only.
  3. UD71 Serial Communications Module (LOM)
    • The UD71 provides simple serial communication and has both RS232 and RS485 ports.
  4. UD73 Profibus Interface Module (LOM)
    • The UD73 provides full UD70 co-processor functionality and additionally allows the drive to be connected to a Profibus DP network running at speeds up to 1.5 Mbaud.
  5. UD74 Interbus-S Interface Module (LOM)
    • The UD74 provides full UD70 co-processor functionality and additionally allows the drive to be connected to an Interbus-S network at a fixed data rate of 500 Kbaud.
  6. UD75 CTNet Interface Module (LOM)
    • The UD75 provides full UD70 co-processor functionality and additionally allows connection to a CTNet nework. CTNet is Control Techniques fully de-centralized peer to peer fieldbus. This allows implementation of a fully distributed control system with no central PLC controller required.
  7. UD76 Modbus Plus Interface Module (LOM)
    • The UD76 provides full UD70 co-processor functionality and additionally allows connection to a Modbus Plus network.
  8. UD77 DeviceNet interface module (LOM)
    • The UD77 provides full UD70 co-processor functionality and additionally allows connection to a DeviceNet network.
  9. CAN interface module
    • This is based on the UD77 hardware but has different firmware to allow the user to communicate through the CAN physical layer but using his own protocol written using the SyPT toolkit.
  10. CanOpen interface module
    • This is based on the UD77 hardware but the firmware is changed so that the network uses the CanOpen protocol.
Unidrive UNI3404 Small Option Modules
  1. UD50 Extended I/O module
    • This module provides the following additional I/O capability:
      • a) qty. 3, 24VDC digital inputs.
      • b) qty. 3, dual function (user selectable) 24VDC digital inputs / outputs. Rated at 30mA when configured as outputs.
      • c) qty. 2, 10 bit plus sign analog inputs +10 to –10VDC
      • d) qty. 1, analog output +10 to –10VDC.
  2. UD51
    • Second encoder module In servo mode this provides the drive with the following additional capabilities:
      • a) Allows use of a second incremental encoder as a master reference input for digital lock, Electronic Gear box and camming functions.
      • b) Alternatively the UD51 may be configured for frequency and direction input to be used as the drive speed reference.
  3. UD52 Sin/Cos encoder module
    • The UD52 allows a servomotor fitted with a sin/cos encoder to be used. This provides an interpolated resolution of up to 1,048,576 ppr when used with a 512 pulse sin cos encoder and also allows use of an optional 4096 revolution absolute encoder. The Unimotor is available with these encoders fitted as a standard option.
  4. UD53 Resolver Module
    • The UD53 allows use with a servomotor having resolver feedback. This is much more rugged than an encoder and therefore suitable for use in harsh environments. The UD53 can operate with resolver having either 2:1 or 3:1 turns ratio (primary : secondary)
  5. UD55 Cloning Module
    • The cloning module is intended to make it possible to copy up to 8 different parameter sets and subsequently load any of these onto another drive. It is useful in a production environment when many drives have to be set up with the same parameters. Unlike the other small option modules it is not normally left permanently installed in a drive.

Contact us today for an instant quote on any Control Techniques Unidrive, small option module, or large option module at 1-800-691-8511 or at sales@mroelectric.com

uni3404
UNI3404

Updated on May 14, 2020 by David Link