New technology: Emerson brings Industry 4.0 to valve islands

Emerson has expanded the ASCO Numatics 580 Series electronics platform with the introduction of an IO-Link communication option.

Designed for use with the ASCO Numatics 500 Series valve islands, the new IO-Link module has been created to give machine automation designers a convenient, cost effective and reliable solution for solenoid valve control through direct digital data communication with the machine controller. Emerson says that the 580 Series also has the ability to perform event based and I/O mapped diagnostics, important predictive maintenance requirements for Industry 4.0.

The 580 Series is compatible with the full range of 501, 502 and 503 Series valve islands which offer flow rates of 400 to 1400l/min in valve sizes of 11, 18 and 26 mm.

IO-Link offers an internationally standardised I/O technology (IEC 61131-9) for communication at the sensor/actuator level in machine control. The ASCO Numatics 580 Series IO-Link module has an unshielded 3-wire comms connection and 4 or 5-pin industry standard M12 connectors for power and communications.

When used with the 500 Series valve islands and a compatible IO-Link master, a modular distributed I/O topology can be achieved for up to 32 solenoid outputs per master in addition to third-party sensors, relays and other field level components.

IO-Link is independent of upper level fieldbus systems and is available for almost all major fieldbus protocols. This neutrality allows OEM’s to choose their preferred supplier for top-level machine controls - and automation machine upgrade or expansion costs can also be kept to a minimum by using existing PLC controls while increasing field level functionality.

Emerson’s new 580 Series IO-Link is well suited to distributed machine architectures where sensors and pneumatic systems are located close to each other and where high reliability digital data communication between field devices and the machine controller is desirable.