MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC Changes for the Better
United Kingdom

Mitsubishi Electric: a safe choice

Both automation and safety are vital in today’s busy, competitive production environments. Mitsubishi Electric can integrate the technologies of automation and safety into a single interactive system and thus improve efficiency and effectiveness. An integrated solution could, for instance, constantly monitor operating conditions and machine functions in order to predict developing problems and initiate pre-emptive action. Alternatively instant responses to events would prevent minor problems from escalating into major incidents.

Control and Visualisation

Control

The QS Safety programmable controller is designed for safety control, compliant to the international safety standards EN954-1 Category 4, ISO13849-1 PLe, and IEC61508 (JIS C 0508) SIL 3. The QS Safety PLC can be connected to an emergency stop switch, a light curtain, etc., to shut off (safety output OFF) the power of hazard sources (robots etc.) according to user programs. Operation of machines (robots, conveyors, etc.) is controlled by standard programmable controllers. A major advantage of the QS Safety programmable controller is that it can be used in distributed systems, rather than needing to be centralised, which reduces wiring and its associated costs and maintenance requirements.

Mitsubishi Electric’s safety relay module is suitable for small-scale safety control or can be incorporated into larger safety systems. A simple safety circuit can be configured by just wiring, without the need for programming or complex parameter settings.

Safety control can be easily added to an existing Q series programmable controller by mounting the safety relay module on to the Q base unit or connecting it via CC-Link. This means the programmable controller can directly monitor the operating/error status of the safety relay module, providing visualisation of safety systems for easy monitoring and checking.

The compact WS safety controller complies with ISO13849-1 PLe and IEC61508 SIL3 safety standards. It is designed for use in stand-alone machines or systems. Its I/O is expandable up to 144 nodes, allowing quite large and sophisticated safety systems to be developed, or for existing systems to be expanded.

Visualisation

Monitoring and visualisation are key to knowing when safety critical areas of a machine have been activated, and this information helps operators and plant managers to synchronise production across the plant. GOT/HMIs and MAPS provide the visualisation and monitoring of safety related processes within applications.

Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs) are the modern way to monitor and control a machine, plant or system and are ideal for use in safety systems. They receive signals from sensors all around the machine, then process and present them as simple schematics or information on a full colour touch screen. They can be integrated with safety systems to present clear, concise safety status reports. Mitsubishi Electric’s GOT HMIs combine the best in performance, graphics and functionality in an ultra compact and robust package. The range covers screens from 3.7” to 15” with both panel mount and pendant style units.

The Mitsubishi Adroit Process Suite (MAPS) is a user-friendly wizard-based tool that automatically generates PLC, SCADA and projects, thus saving time and effort during development and configuration. It can be used to develop systems that can monitor safety critical information across the plant.

Drives and Robotics

Drives

Frequency inverters or Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) are used to control the speed/torque or position of electric motors. The wide range of inverters from Mitsubishi Electric offers solutions for all kind of applications, from low to high end with integrated Safe Torque Off (STO) as standard (EN ISO 13849-1 PLd/Cat.3 or EN 61508, EN61800-5-2 SIL2).

The FR-A800 series even support functionalities such as SS1, SS2, SLS, and SOS at PLe and SIL3, which is required in high end machines. Connection to the VFD via Network is possible using a CC-Link IE Safety Communication Function or PROFIsafe.

The FR-E700-SC series inverters for Safety Stop and FR-E700-NC series for CC-Link communication are compliant with the STO (Safe Torque Off) safety function. They can be directly connected to safety programmable controllers, safety relay modules and hardware-based emergency output shut offs and conform to Safety Standards EN ISO 13849-1 Category 3/PLd, EN 62061/IEC61508 SIL2 and European EC Directives.

Servo systems

Servos offer the ultimate in motor performance and controllability. They provide precision motion at incredible speeds including integrated safety functions like Safe Torque Off (STO) according to IEC/EN 61800-5-2:2007. In combination with the function safety unit, the amplifier can be expanded by the additional EN 61800-5-2 safety functions Safe Stop 1 (SS1), Safe Brake Control (SBC), Safe Limited Speed (SLS) and Safe Speed Monitor (SSM). These safety functions can be activated by safe communication via SSCNETIII/H network.

Robotics

Mitsubishi Electric robots offer class leading technology for both SCARA and articulated arm systems. The robots comply with the latest ISO-10218-1 (2011) standards for robots and robot devices and meet the requirements for PLd of ISO13849-1 Category 3.

Devices and Components

Networks

CC-Link Safety is an open communications network that is suitable for safety applications because it guarantees reliability in data transmission. It complies with IEC61508 SIL3 and EN954-1/ISO13849-1 Category 4 and is compatible with other CC-Link products. CC-Link Safety will detect communication failures such as unexpected delay of communication or erroneous data that may cause malfunction of the emergency stop operation. This fail-safe function will bring machinery into a safe condition quickly if a communication failure is detected.

Sensors

Mitsubishi Electric has a best in class strategy with regard to safety sensors that allows customers to select the products that optimize their application. From selecting e-stops to light curtains, Mitsubishi Electric provides the interfaces that enable connectivity to a broad range of safety sensor technologies.