SIEMENS
5/5
Siemens D 21.4 · 2017
Communication
PROFINET
5
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Overview
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Efficiency
Greater global competition means that companies must use
their resources economically and efficiently. This applies in par-
ticular to production. This is where PROFINET ensures greater
efficiency. Simple engineering guarantees fast commissioning,
while reliable devices ensure a high level of plant availability.
Comprehensive diagnostic and maintenance concepts help to
reduce plant downtimes and keep maintenance costs to a
minimum.
One cable for everything
PROFINET permits simultaneous fieldbus communication with
isochronous mode and standard IT communication (TCP/IP) on
one cable. This real-time communication for the transmission of
the user/process data and diagnostic data takes place on a
single cable. Specific profile communication (PROFIsafe,
PROFIdrive and PROFIenergy) can be integrated without any
additional cabling. This solution offers a wide scope of functions
at a low level of complexity.
Device and network diagnostics
By retaining the tried and tested PROFIBUS device model, the
same diagnostics information is available with PROFINET. In
addition, module- and channel-specific data can also be read
out from the devices during device diagnosis, enabling faults to
be located quickly and easily. Apart from the availability of de-
vice information, the reliability of the network operation has top
priority in the network management.
In existing networks the Simple Network Management Protocol
(SNMP) has established itself as the de facto standard for the
maintenance and monitoring of the network components and
their functions. PROFINET uses this standard and gives users
the opportunity to maintain their networks with tools that are
familiar to them, such as the SINEMA Server network manage-
ment software.
For easier maintenance of PROFINET devices, both on-site and
remotely via a secure VPN connection, application-specific web-
sites can be set up on the integrated Web server of the field
devices using the familiar HTML standard.
Energy efficiency
En route to the green factory: PROFIenergy is a profile that
provides functions and mechanisms for PROFINET field devices
that support energy-efficient production.
The profile, which is defined by the PNO and is independent of
any manufacturers or devices, enables the energy demand and
costs to be significantly reduced: Using PROFIenergy, any
specific loads that are not currently being used can be switched
off. This achieves a noticeable reduction in energy costs during
breaks in production. PROFIenergy permits the simple, auto-
mated activation and deactivation of technologically related
plant components. It is coordinated centrally by means of a
higher-level controller and is networked via PROFINET. This
ensures that as much energy as possible is saved during longer
breaks. Temporarily switching off plant components contributes
to the even distribution and most efficient use of energy.
The use of PROFIenergy is made easy for the machine builder
by its integration into familiar series of products. In addition,
PROFIenergy is defined in such a way that the necessary
function blocks can easily be integrated into existing automation
systems at a later stage.
Simple wiring
Particularly stringent demands are made on the installation of
cabling in the industrial environment. In addition, there is a re-
quirement to set up industry-standard networks in the shortest
possible time without any special knowledge.
With FastConnect, Siemens is offering a high-speed installation
system that meets all of these requirements. FastConnect is the
standard-compliant, industrial cabling system consisting of
cables, connectors and assembly tools for PROFINET networks.
The time required for connecting terminals is minimized by the
simple installation method using just a single tool, while installa-
tion errors are prevented by the practical color-coding. Both
copper cables and glass fiber optic cables can be easily assem-
bled on site.
Fast device replacement
PROFINET devices are identified by means of a name assigned
during configuration. On replacing a defective device, a new de-
vice can be recognized from its topology information by the IO
controller and a new name can be assigned to it automatically.
This means that no engineering tool is necessary for the replace-
ment of equipment.
This mechanism can even be used for the initial commissioning
of a complete system. This speeds up commissioning, particu-
larly in the case of series machines.
Ruggedness
An automation network must be robustly protected against
external sources of interference. The use of Switched Ethernet
prevents faults in one part of the network from affecting the entire
plant network. For areas that are particularly prone to radio
frequency interference (RFI), PROFINET allows the use of fiber
optic cables.
Performance
Productivity and product quality determine the level of success
in the market. Precise motion control, dynamic drives, high-
speed controllers and the deterministic synchronization of de-
vices are therefore key factors in achieving superior production.
They facilitate high production rates and optimum product
quality at the same time.
Speed and precision
Fast motion control applications demand precise and determin-
istic exchange of data. This is implemented by means of drive
controllers using isochronous real time (IRT).
With IRT and isochronous mode, PROFINET permits fast and de-
terministic communication. This synchronizes the various cycles
of a system (input, network, CPU processing and output), even
in the case of parallel TCP/IP traffic. The short cycle times of
PROFINET make it possible to raise the productivity of machines
and plants and to guarantee the product quality and high level
of precision.
The standardized PROFIdrive profile permits vendor-independent
communication between CPUs and drives.
© Siemens AG 2017