Onsite Certified Installer with Troubleshooting and Maintenance

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Spreading the word of the PROFIBUS to a new group of potential Certified PROFIBUS Installers at Rand Water in Vereeniging, South Africa. You can just see their confidence (and competence) in PROFIBUS growing!

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How to License your ProfiTrace Software for your ProfiCore Ultra

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It is recommended that you download the latest version of ProfiTrace from here . You’ll be asked to fill in your contact details, but this so that we can follow up and make sure that everything went smoothly with your installation. Now for the licensing part - t here are a couple of ways that you can go about to license ProfiTrace: 1) The easy way: Make sure that the PC is connected to The Internet. Connect the ProfiCore Ultra and run ProfiTrace  Click on the “Init ProfiCore Ultra” button On the window popup The software will try to initialize the ProfiCore A warning error will appear saying that the license could not be found. Click OK Select download and install license Happy days! 2) You can download the license from here and put it into the “/app” directory under the ProfiTrace installation folder in Program Files (e.g. C:\Program Files (x86)\ProfiTrace_V2_6_1\App)  3) Using the Licensing tool Make sure that ...
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How to connect to a Pepperl & Fuchs Advanced diagnostics module (ADM) using RS485 and Pactware

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Quick guide to get access to the P+F advanced diagnostic module via RS485 and COM converter. In order to do this, you need an RS485 converter which can convert RS485 to either ethernet or USB. I used a device from HMS (Anybus) called the Serial Server ( AB7701 ). This device connects to RS232, 422 or 485 and makes the data available over ethernet to your computer using a virtual com port. Connect the converter to the Diagnostic bus connection on the Pepperl & Fuchs fieldbus power hub 1. Once you have the com port available on your PC, Check the comport number via “manage my computer” Make sure that the FieldConnexd Diagnostic server (FDS) is running. Go to “Windows button”>“All programs” > “Pepperl+Fuchs” and start FDS control center In case the FDS is not running click onto “Start FDS” (in case it is running nothing is left to do here) click onto “Hide”. To avoid that this piece of software will be forgotten in future click onto settings and choose un...
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StarNET HDLC Master Gateway solves legacy migration challenge

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In August 2016, IDX successfully completed the commissioning of its latest StarNET HDLC gateway development implementation which saw the addition of StarNET HDLC Master functionality being added to the gateway. The application involved the legacy migration of a GEM 80 PLC controlling three GEM Micro drives operating in a redundant setup for operating the brakes of a mine winder operating on the deepest single drop shaft in the world, near Klerksdorp in South Africa. As only the PLC was being replaced with a modern software-based PLC, a solution to interface with the existing GEM Micro drives was required. Due to the safety critical nature of the system, the solution needed to be reliable and offer quick data turnaround to prevent safe lock-outs of the brake controller, and thus shutting down the winder and of course the shaft. IDX provided a MODBUS UDP Slave to StarNET HDLC Master interface in the form of an IDX StarNET gateway allowing the new Beckhoff PLC to read and write to t...
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