Automation with INTERBUS

When planning and configuring a bus system for open and flexible control architectures, a uniform and non-proprietary handling concept for the entire lifecycle must be guaranteed.

CMD - One tool, every controller

CMD, the Configuration Monitoring Diagnostic software, was specially developed for this purpose for INTERBUS. The main features of this software are its independence from the control,system used and the flexibility with regard to program expansions, new functions and add-on programs. CMD is a tool that can be used throughout the entire lifecycle of a plant, from planning and configuration, through system startup to operation monitoring, and finally diagnostics evaluation in the event of maintenance. The planning of an INTERBUS system is the first step toward an easy-to-handle system. The starting point for project planning is the number of I/O nodes of a process, the degrees of protection dictated by the environmental conditions, and any necessary special functions, e.g. metering or motor control.

With INTERBUS connection systems, such as Quickon, fast and simple installation of a system is guaranteed. After you have put together the whole system, it automatically puts itself into operation. The CMD software allows the user to determine the configuration of the INTERBUS system during the configuration phase. Programming addresses that the control program uses to later access distributed I/Os can be allocated in CMD. Parameterization and operation of the INTERBUS controller board is carried out in the same way as reading out and evaluating the diagnostics data from the controller board, while the system is running. With the aid of a monitor function, a function test can be carried out on parts of the system. All INTERBUS project data is saved centrally with CMD and can be made available to all groups of persons involved in the operation of the system. Repeated and time-consuming introduction to and familiarization with various software tools is therefore not necessary. When an INTERBUS system is in operation, all the data is permanently available and all areas can be checked to see that they are running smoothly.

Process data preprocessing

The IEC 61131 programming language, following the "Function Block Diagram", can be used to program smaller process data preprocessing steps directly on the controller board. It is thus possible to link input signals in the controller board via logical blocks and to transmit them directly to the output signals. Time-critical signals are processed fast and the load on the controller is reduced.

Making production data available

CMD runs on any standard PC under the corresponding Windows operating system. With just one software tool, you can thus guarantee the operability of different controller boards and controller brands. The CMD data is available everywhere via one serial interface.