Posted to News on 10th Dec 2008, 14:38
Magelis XBT GT series HMI panels for packaging applications
Schneider Electric is making it easier to integrate a complete packaging machinery control system featuring automation from ELAU, its packaging specialist, and its Magelis human-machine interface (HMI) panels.
Available in two basic models, the Magelis XBT GT series HMI panels are graphic TFT colour displays. Embedded 5.7, 10.4 and 15inch panels run under the VxWorks real-time operating system. They have 16 or 32MB of RAM, respectively. PC panels have 8.4 or 15inch displays and run the Windows XP embedded operating system. Both types are supplied with 256MB of memory that can be upgraded up to 1GB, and they are equipped with Ethernet, RS232C and USB interfaces. Depending on their type, the devices are CE, UL508 and CSA certified, with an additional ATEX zone 2/22 certification for the VxWorks models.
All the Magelis HMI panels use the Vijeo Designer software configuration tool and ARTI (Asynchronous Runtime Interface) protocol driver to link the HMI and controller. ARTI is said to represent an excellent alternative to Modbus TCP or OPC, requiring less engineering effort and less hardware. There is no Windows PC required as in an OPC server installation. It provides direct communication between the runtime system and HMI and gives Vijeo Designer's browser functionality direct access to the variables of the runtime system with no need to redefine variables.
