Compact PLC ASCON
Machines need control systems with the same level of sophistication, flexibility and fieldbus networking of large plants. Systems need compact devices able to incorporate functions such as PID algorithm, floating point, sequencing functions of a PLC and the flexibility of a PC. This is now possible without facing excessive costs and without using cumbersome equipment. This device has been termed a PAC. The Ascon's “Sigma microPAC”, is a small but powerful PAC sized to cover the applications for industries such as food and beverage, plastic and rubber, chemicals and pharmaceutics and for machines such as boilers, furnaces, kilns, chillers, autoclaves, plastic extruders, cold rooms. With the basic unit of the Sigma microPAC it is possible to control a process with: eight analogic variables from any type of transducer or sensor directly connected as inputs; four analogic outputs to command control valves or power controllers; eight digital inputs and eight digital outputs to manage interlocks, sequences and commands to pumps, shut-off valves. Expansion units for 32 DI + 32 DO fit applications requiring more sequencing of discrete signals. The 5 programming languages comply with IEC 61131-3 and are aided by the Ascon’s libraries with a large selection of function blocks. Processor is 32 bit, Flash Memory is 4Mbyte (2Mbyte for programming), RAM is 16Mb, 128 Kb retentive. Connectivity is by one RS 232/485 with Master/Slave Modbus RTU or ASCII, one RS 485 with Master/Slave Modbus RTU and one Ethernet port with Modbus TCP/IP. Advantages include being able to meet requirements that PLCs require extra components to do, reduce panel dimensions, lower hardware and development cost
