ASi-5 AND ASi HIGHLIGHTS FROM BIHL+WIEDEMANN

ASi-5 Safety is the right complement to ASi Safety at Work whenever safe signals and standard signals need to be collected in the field, safe high-end sensors need to be connected, more complex safety applications need to be solved, a large quantity of safe bits have to be transmitted from different devices, or diagnostic and additional information has to be used. When it comes to integrating the new safety generation of AS-Interface, which is compatible with all previous ASi devices and components, runs in parallel on the same infrastructure and can therefore be easily integrated into existing applications, Bihl+Wiedemann offers the perfect solution with the ASi-5/ASi-3 Safety Gateways.

The ASi-5/ASi-3 fieldbus gateways with integrated ASi-5/ASi-3 safety monitor are available now in different variants for PROFINET and EtherNet/IP, some with safe fieldbus and local I/Os. For the SPS, the existing range will be extended by the addition of ASi-5/ASi-3 EtherNet/IP+Modbus TCP gateways, CIP Safety via EtherNet/IP, with integrated ASi-5/ASi-3 safety monitor, Safe Link, OPC-UA and web server. Other variants for Ethernet/IP, Sercos, EtherCAT and POWERLINK (also together with CIP Safety and FSoE) are in development.

Even when the devices are not currently destined for use in ASi-5 safety applications, users will benefit directly from new gateways that have the same price level as comparable models with the ASi-3 safety monitor: on the one hand from the functional improvements, and on the other hand from the modern 16 gigabyte chip card. A complete project can now be stored on it – including safety and hardware configuration, parameter data of connected devices and user comments from the ASIMON360 software.

Connect and transmit many safe signals and standard signals under a single address: in addition to the significantly higher transmission speed and the greater data bandwidth, the advantage of significantly more efficient node addressing is also an argument for why ASi-5 Safety is the ideal supplement for ASi Safety at Work.

In addition to the new ASi-5/ASi-3 Safety Gateways with integrated ASi-5/ASi-3 Safety Monitor, Bihl+Wiedemann is also introducing a series of new ASi-5 Safety Modules. The two ASi-5 Safety Input Modules BWU4209 for floating contacts and BWU4210 for OSSDs in IP67, each with two safe two-channel inputs and 12 self-configuring I/Os for standard signals, are supplemented by the BWU4395 a third variant for a floating contact and an OSSD. Also published with the models BWU4186, BWU4187 and BWU4188 are control cabinet modules with protection rating IP20, which are comparable in their range of functions. And lastly, at the SPS fair in Nuremberg, the company will also be introducing the BWU4411, the first ASi-5 safety solution for muting applications.

In material handling technology, muting refers to the momentary bypassing of contactless protective devices, for example a light barrier or a light curtain, in order to safely move automated material transports into and out of hazardous areas using muting sensors without endangering persons.

The new ASi-5 Safety Muting Module BWU4411in IP67 from Bihl+Wiedemann offers different muting solutions up to SIL3/Ple, which can now be implemented easily, efficiently and significantly more cost-effectively than with comparable Ethernet-based solutions.

Whether cross-muting or sequential muting, all the sensors and safety components required for this can be flexibly connected to the new ASi-5 Safety Muting Module BWU4411. This means all the signals required for muting are available in one module under a single ASi-5 address. Unused inputs and outputs can also be used for other applications, for example to control muting lamps or to integrate pushbutton modules. As an alternative to processing in the ASi safety monitor, all relevant signals can also be passed on using safe fieldbuses – PROFIsafe, CIP Safety, FSoE or openSAFETY.

The Bihl+Wiedemann software suite ASIMON360 includes ready-certified building blocks for convenient parameterization in many applications. No complex programming in the control system is necessary. The ASi-5 muting solution from Bihl+Wiedemann stands out not only from a technical point of view, but also from a cost perspective. The ASi-5 Muting Module BWU4411from Bihl+Wiedemann is a good 60% less expensive than comparable Ethernet-based fieldbus solutions on the market. In addition, the user saves assembly and material costs due to the simple, fast and fail-safe installation thanks to the ASi profile cable and the piercing technology.

Bihl+Wiedemann verfügt bereits heute über ein umfangreiches Sortiment an Motormodulen für vielfältige Antriebslösungen mit ASi-5 und ASi-3. Das gilt sowohl für die Ansteuerung von Motorrollen wie für Gleichstrommotoren und Frequenz-umrichter. Und das Portfolio wächst weiter. Zuwachs bekommen einmal die speziell für die Montage im Kabelkanal entwickelten ASi-5 Module, mit denen sich aktuell bis zu vier 48 V bzw. 24 V Motorrollen von Interroll bzw. zwei 24 V Motorrollen von Itoh Denki ansteuern lassen. Neben den zwei selbstkonfigurierenden ASi-5 E/A Modulen BWU4977 und BWU4979, deren 16 bzw. 8 digitale Signale jeweils bidirektional als Ein- oder Ausgänge genutzt werden können, wodurch viele verschiedene Anwendungen mit ein und demselben Gerät realisiert werden können, ist auch das ASi-5 Kabelkanalmodul BWU4942 neu im Sortiment.  

An das Motormodul lassen sich je zwei 24 V Motorrollen von Interroll, Itoh Denki oder RULMECA anschließen. Dafür ist es mit je zwei Kabelbuchsen in M8 und in M12 ausgestattet und verfügt zusätzlich über vier digitale Eingänge zum Anschluss von Sensoren. Damit reihen sich auch diese Module perfekt ein in die lange Liste an ASi-5 bzw. ASi-3 Antriebslösungen in IP54 und IP67 für Rollenantriebe führender Hersteller wie Interroll, Itoh Denki, Rollex oder RULMECA. Aber auch das Sortiment an Motormodulen für Gleichstrommotoren und Frequenzumrichter wächst weiter. Zu den aktuell bereits verfügbaren Lösungen für SEW MOVIMOT, SEW MOVI-C, NORD NORDAC Frequenzumrichter, ebm-papst K4, Rockwell PF525, Bonfiglioli DGM/DGM-R sowie für Lenze Smart Motoren und Lenze i550 kommt mit dem Motormodul BWU4980 jetzt auch eine Lösung für Danfoss dazu: ein Aktiver Verteiler ASi-5 in IP67, der mit dem Danfoss VLT-Frequenzumrichter über Anschlusslitzen verbunden wird.

Alle genannten Antriebe können damit effizient über ASi-5 angesteuert werden, wodurch im Betrieb auf Performance-Parameter wie Geschwindigkeit, Beschleunigungs- und Bremsverhalten sowie auf erweiterte Diagnosen zugegriffen werden kann. Was für Rollenantriebe gilt, gilt selbstverständlich auch für Gleichstrommotoren und Frequenzumrichter: für alle Applikationen, bei denen weniger komplexe Funktionen kostengünstig realisiert werden sollen, bietet Bihl+Wiedemann neben den ASi-5 Modulen auch hier eine Vielzahl von ASi-3 Motormodulen für viele Antriebe in unterschiedlichen Ausprägungen.

The modern ASi-5/ASi-3 address programming device BW4925 for all ASi generations from Bihl+Wiedemann undergoes constant further development. New functions such as extended setting or diagnostic options are regularly made available to users via free field updates. And together with the ASIMON360 PC software, the advantages of decentralized addressing can be perfectly combined with those of central planning and parameterization when commissioning an ASi system.

An OLED color display, six rugged buttons for easy operation, a high-performance power supply for fast charging while in use, a USB-C port as PC and charging interface, and extensive accessories with addressing cables and power supply – the ASi-5/ASi-3 address programming device from Bihl+Wiedemann is a standout not only due to its features. The clearly organized display menu with plain text error messages in different languages, display of operating and input functions, and the use of easily recognizable icons also ensure a positive user experience.

In addition to addressing ASi-5 and ASi-3 nodes, the address programming device can be used to check and change I/O data and settings of connected ASi nodes, among other things. It is also possible to access the display of the gateway remotely via a module in the ASi circuit.