“Since Ethernet extends from the administrative level of the office to the factory floor, automation equipment manufacturers must adapt their products to the specific needs of industrial applications,” says Eric Gory, product manager for the global market at Molex, adding: “When Ethernet is used to control sensors/actuators in robotic systems, such as welding robots, a quick tool change is sometimes required.”.
With the advent of QuickConnect for EtherNet/IP and Fast Start-Up for PROFINET technologies, Molex's Brad HarshIO I/O modules for Ethernet stand out in the market by delivering exceptional speed and versatility across all sectors, enabling robots to perform repetitive tasks with precision. QC and FSU technologies allow the module to start up and operate in under 500 ms, meeting the requirements of industrial factory automation applications, such as any type of workshop in the automotive industry using robotic tool-changing systems. Brad HarshIO modules for Ethernet offer significant operational advantages compared to conventional input/output modules and have been successfully tested with Rockwell and Siemens-compatible programmable logic controllers (PLCs) (i.e., for EtherNet/IP, the module meets QuickConnect Class A requirements for start-up and operation in under 250 ms).
Furthermore, Brad HarshIO I/O modules for Ethernet support security architectures with separate power supplies for inputs (sensors) and outputs (actuators). The HarshIO Ethernet power connector includes separate ground isolation between the logic and/or input ground and the output ground. This feature allows the module to be powered by two different power supplies, a common practice in security applications.
“System designers often use safety relays that perform impulse tests to detect short circuits or ground faults,” explains Eric Gory, adding, “If an error is detected, the safety function is activated, thus preventing undesirable and hazardous conditions in the plant. However, if the designer does not require separate grounding for safety reasons, HarshIO modules can operate from a single power supply where the input (logic) and output grounds are identical.”.
