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December 2006
After extensive evaluation and intense development, the VARAN bus was presented successfully at the HMI last spring. Since then, the prototypes that were introduced have now been further developed for serial production. Furthermore, a professional VARAN system environment has been created. |
At SIGMATEK, the VARAN bus is fully integrated in the LASAL2 software programming environment. The specially designed VARAN service tool contains a highly effective result-controlled bus analysis tool. Filtering functions can be freely defined, providing highest flexibility for parameterization as well as for display and analysis of results. A hex editor is provided for simple editing of memory areas and can be opened in several windows. An additional part of the service tool is the SPI Flash programming. It is used for start up and maintenance as well as in production and includes password-protected programming of the FPGA and module data, editing of the VARAN module type label. The setting up of module specific parameters is also possible. Electronic data sheets can also be stored in a VARAN module. For production, a serial programming function is provided.
The backbone of the service tool is the VARAN tree: the existing VARAN bus structure whether tree, linear or mixed is recorded and displayed automatically. The analysis tool, hex editor and SPI Flash programming tool can be started with selection-dependent presets such as the module address range from the VARAN tree tool. The safety management expansion module is integrated in the VARAN service tool.
For customer-specific solutions, drivers (ANSI-C) that can be easily ported with various operating systems are available. A model-implementation for Microsoft Windows 2000 and XP is also provided.
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November 2006
The Salzburg Chamber of Business honors prominent companies whose innovations stand out in the Austrian and international markets. First there was suspense and then gleaming faces at the Innovation gala in Salzburg’s old residence “Alte Residenz”, where the most innovative companies in Salzburg were honored. SIGMATEK can celebrate placing first in the category for small and mid-sized companies.
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The project, VARAN Real-time Ethernet bus, was awarded the annual prize for innovation given by Salzburg state as well as the Salzburg Chamber of Commerce. The following criteria were evaluated for the presentation: degree of innovation, development risk as well as research and development expenditure. The innovation should be useful for both the company and the customers as well as improve quality and provide cost savings. Companies could receive additional points with market success already achieved, setting new trends and increasing competitiveness. In relation to economic effects, the creation of new jobs and increased exportation were included. |
(From left to right: president of the chamber of commerce Julius Schmalz and the management board of SIGMATEK:
Theodor and Marianne Kusejko and Andreas Melkus)
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October 2006
The new mountable control panels from the ETV line use the extremely fast VARAN bus. Because control and visualization are combined in a single module, the space and cost savings potential are convincing. The integrated processor combines high processing speed, dependability and cost effectiveness. With a wide range of sizes, the panel can be used in various applications. The high resolution TFT color display with touch screen offers the highest operating comfort and optimal visualization for any automation task. |
Compact intelligence and versatility
A short time after the Austrian automation specialists SIGMATEK stirred up excitement with the introduction of VARAN bus technology, another step toward the future followed. The intelligent ETV control panels are equipped with the VARAN bus manager and thus are prepared for demanding control applications. Over the extremely fast Ethernet-based VARAN bus, the panels are expandable with additional control components. With the integrated GEODE SC1200 processor, extreme dependability and a high processing speed are provided at an economic price. An optional GEODE LX 800 is also available. The ETV line makes an impression through its compact construction: Graphic applications can be visualized even within limited space conditions. The size variations from the handy 8.4-inch to 19 inch touch screen enable an optimal fit in any space. Thanks to the splash-proof aluminum front (IP65), the ETVs are always in best form over the long term.
Numerous contacts to the outside world
The numerous interface connections serve the transmission of process data or the configuration of the control panel. In addition to standards such as CAN and Ethernet, two VARAN bus interfaces provide optimal communication with the machine. One of the two USB connections is placed directly on the front: input devices such as a keyboard or mouse as well as an external memory device can be connected to the control without disassembling the panel. An internal compact Flash and an SRAM serve as storage media for the operating system, application and application data.
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Guaranteed SIGMATEK Quality
With the ETV control panel family, the spectrum of human – machine interfaces from SIGMATEK is further expanded. The offer in this area ranges from simple text terminals with 2 X 20 characters to intelligent graphic HMIs with touch operation and 19-inch color displays; thus providing the optimal and most economic solution. Exchangeable insert strips enable an individual configuration of the terminals, which can be expanded with customer-specific front lamination. This optical flexibility provides the customer with even more advantages in addition to the convincing technical properties. |
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July 2006
SIGMATEK, the Salzburg automation specialist has continued on its way to a complete automation system and now has its own dynamic, high performance servo system. The compact design of DIAS drives in the 300 series captivates: Three Drives fit into a single housing. Together with the powerful servomotors and the revolutionary VARAN bus as the system communication, SIGMATEK offers a servo system “for every case”. |
A Complete Compact Solution
„Small but powerful!“ That describes the DIAS servo system. The newest servo technology from SIGMATEK expands the control system to motion. The drive regulator and servomotors were designed precisely for the special requirements of motion control applications. For communication, the extremely fast, hard-real time capable and practically jitter-free VARAN bus provides the ideal system connection. A perfect combination of PLC system and drive technology is thus guaranteed. In conjunction with the LASAL Motion software package, SIGMATEK offers an optimal servo solution with one shot.
The advantages and synergies of this complete solution for modern machine concepts speak for themselves: Compact design with minimum space requirement, simple connection to the system, flexible, highly dynamic and dependable servo applications.
The DIAS servo system is a drive system “for every case”.
This means that it is applicable in all areas of automation technology for machines and plant construction.
Three Drives in one Housing
The most striking characteristic of the DIAS drive 300: three drives fit into a single housing thus saving space in the control cabinet. With this design, SIGMATEK places emphasis on an intelligent “reduce to the maximum” concept. Thanks to the concentration on the essentials, there’s no unnecessary ballast and with the minimal costs for maximum output, the results are convincing: compact size, excellent servo performance without unnecessary overhead, high precision and dependability as well as integrated line filters and safety functions. The DIAS drive 300 offers an individual, adjustable and scaleable final stage concept for servomotors. The servo performance glitters with high dynamic and good rotational properties. Various feedback systems and the reduction of power loss through a new pulse width modulation process are additional plus points.
Technical Data – DIAS-Drive
 3 x 10 A (15 A) Continuous current and 20 A (30 A) surge current
Scaleable to 2,5 and 5 A using the software
Power range lies at 14 kVA
Supply voltage V ac 3 x 210 V to 520 Veff
Supply voltage V dc 24 V
Dimensions: 378 x 158 x 240 mm
Compact Power Packs
The DIAS servomotors are “compact power packs” that make a big impression with a very high power spectrum, optimal overload capability and rotation speed dynamics in a compact design. Both models, the synchronous and segmented pole motors, have rare earth magnets (Nd-Fe-Bo) and a 3-phase (10 or. 6-pin windings). Standard features include: A smooth wave, 2-pin Resolver, Motor- and sensor connectors, Protection standard IP 64. The DIAS servomotors are available in various sizes and rotation speed ranges. With a nominal torque of 0.18 to 30 Nm and a surge torque up to 120 Nm, the DIAS motors perform their drive tasks with flying colors.
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The new VARAN bus is born to the world with genes that make it a predestined winner: Its open, fast, cost effective and simple to implement.
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Based on Internet technology, VARAN unites various current solutions in a single system and offers an escape from the Babylonian confusion of today’s real-time Ethernet world. Because VARAN draws on the experience of it’s forefathers, with more the 2 million nodes installed in hard real-time operation, it is optimized from birth for real application environments. VARAN is supported by machine builders, controls manufacturers, drive-, sensor- and actuator-manufacturers, and by valuable automation partners that until now, have gone separate ways. Because VARAN also meets Ethernet and TCP/IP requirements, the IT world can communicate with the automation world over the same bus system.
Vision becomes reality
At the start of VARAN’s development several questions existed:
What customer benefits does the current real-time Ethernet solutions really offer?
Are these solutions really already available?
Is implementation without raising the existing cost structure possible?
How does the system behave in a harsh industrial environment?
Are any of these systems open for every one?
The current situation:
Several incompatible Ethernet solutions, various protocols and proprietary portioning as well as opposing hard and software. The automation world is divided into separate camps, which guard the advantages of their software for themselves. That distracts from the existing tasks. The reality is that instead of reducing the number of existing bus systems with these Ethernet solutions, several additional incompatible systems are put on the market without the chance to dissolve the “old systems”.
New with VARAN:
The requirements of hard real-time control were combined with those of automation and implemented with Ethernet technology; TCP/IP traffic is also integrated. So that this technology can really be used by anyone, it is made completely open.
The participant-activation unites all bus functions in on chip through which enables integration of the periphery modules without software expense. This makes it possible to develop a wide market for bus-capable actuators/sensors more quickly. Since the bus manager also integrates a high quantity of functions in one chip, operation requires minimal software and CPU resources. The development costs for controls manufacturers are also minimized. This offers the machine manufacturers the advantage of being able to access automation and component suppliers over a wider market. Everyone can concentrate on the unique properties of their own products.
VARAN is fast– with the data transfer rate as well as the conversion to reality. A maximum of one year was set by the developers as a time frame from the first vision to appreciable market breakthrough.
Performance properties that convince
VARAN’s basic procedure is simple. The network appears as a large storage area in which each address can be read or written by the bus manager in any sequence. In addition, all connected stations are hard synchronized to one another. The protocol is triggered completely in the hardware. The extremely reasonable price along with the ease of implementation also opens the wide application field of actuators and sensors. The 100BaseTX data transfer rate from the Ethernet world offers the advantage of worldwide distribution in addition to galvanic separation. All reports are confirmed by the recipient. The extreme short transfer rate enables the immediate repetition of disrupted data with the same bus pulse. At the end of a bus cycle all data is valid. VARAN is realtime capable. A 16-bit measurement value, respective 16 I/O, requires less than 2µs. The address switch can be excluded, avoiding difficult to find error sources. The bus system can manage more than 30,000 participants. The structure can be configured in any mixture of star, tree and linear forms. The implementation is done over FPGAs. This means that the use of conventional components from (Altera, Xilinx), competitors and guarantees future security. ASICs are not required for application, however, ASIC manufacturers can use VARAN if they desire. This provides independence with the highest possible flexibility from a few component parts to the millions range. The completely open procedure can, and should be used by everyone.
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VARAN – Wide range of application profiles
The new data network is the designated successor for current systems such as CAN bus, Profibus, Sercos and diverse historical interfaces (Euromap 17) and will give users and suppliers marked technical and economic advantages. In principal, no application is excluded for VARAN, which has either already been implemented, in development or defined in the following application areas: |
Injection molding machines
Robotics
High performance measurement systems
Woodworking
Textile machines
Heat channel regulators
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Tempering units
Dosing systems
Scales
Labeling systems
Control CPUs
Drives |
I/O modules (protection type IP20 to IP67)
Ventilation
Servo vents
Hydraulic pumps
Distance measuring systems
Control terminals |
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Corporate Data
SIGMATEK is counted among the leading manufacturers of automation systems for machine and plant construction. In the 20-year company history, the direction of technologies for automation was developed in close coordination with the customer requirements. With a product spectrum that meets all requirements from best asset cost to high-end applications, practically every problem today can be solved with serial products. In keeping with the company’s philosophy, these are available long-term. The scope of supply reaches from innovative controls, visualization and motion components to various product lines in the I/O field.New technologies are regularly tested for their application in the automation field and implemented in innovative products in the shortest “time-to-market”. This guaranties a highly modern product range with hard and software from one source. |
Internal research, development and production ensure the Salzburg Company, with its 220 employees, a place at the top of automation technology. Daughter companies in the USA and Germany as well as business partners in significant international industry centers support the goal-oriented course of expansion. Quality without compromise and the progressive dialog and customer orientation in the highest niveau are the building blocks of the SIGMATEK’s path to success.
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