As the Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) continues to expand, it brings more electronic equipment to factories. These devices are often exposed to harsh environments, including dust, oil, liquids, and extreme temperatures. At the same time, especially as collaborative robots are assembled on factory production lines, the number and types of industrial robots are also increasing.
For example, FANUC launched a new type of collaborative arc welding robot in the second half of 2019, which can provide a higher payload and a complete six motion axes with greater flexibility. This combination allows them to handle a wider range of components, and their operating range is more effective and saves a lot of space without the need for safety equipment.
FANUC's new ARC Matt welding collaborative robot
FANUC's new ARC Matt welding collaborative robot has six axes of motion, providing maximum flexibility. CR-15iA welding robot can provide a payload of 15 kg and an operating distance of 1441 mm. This combination can process more parts and can also be used for newer processing, such as wire arc bonding manufacturing.
Other collaborative robots such as the ABB small YuMi series. The single-arm YuMi is a compact, lightweight collaborative robot that can be quickly, flexibly, and installed in a production environment in any direction. Its seven axes imitate human-like movements and have greater flexibility to meet the production needs of small parts assembly processes, as encountered in the manufacture of consumer products and consumer electronics.
ABB one-arm YuMiCobot robot
ABB's single-arm YuMiCobot is compact in design, light in weight, and can be operated in any direction. Its seven axes imitate human-like movements and are more flexible. This allows it to meet the production needs of small parts assembly processes, such as in consumer goods and consumer electronics manufacturing.
Industrial robots and manipulators are being widely used in IIOT networks. This means that the demand for communication between all these devices is also increasing, highlighting the critical role of connectors and cables in maintaining the connection and operation of the entire industrial network.
Therefore, communication capabilities are becoming as important as power and signal interfaces, which is why Ethernet technology has become very important. Ethernet is used at different levels in industrial communications, such as communication between robots and their control cabinets. Or communication between cabinets and factory automation.
TE's industrial and automation equipment products involve robots and industrial machinery, as well as motors, servo drives and industrial communications, including the interconnection between robots and other machines, as well as external interfaces and all connections between these devices. The sensor also plays a big role. Guenter Feldmeier, a global leader in standardization and alliances for TE industrial business units, said: "On the one hand, this involves power, signals, and communications, and on the other, related interconnections, including hybrid types of interconnections."
TE industrial robot remote control cabinet
The remote control cabinet for industrial robots is more complicated than the robot itself in terms of connection requirements. In order to ensure the fast and safe operation of the robot, it requires a lot of communication between it and its control unit.
Comparison of protected and unprotected connectors
Belden's industrial data and connection communication connectors are designed for industrial factory automation communications (such as industrial Ethernet and fieldbus). The company's industrial data and connection product line manager Sylvia Feng said: "With the emergence of IIOT, the more More and more devices are using Ethernet to communicate with each other on industrial networks. "
The Ethernet cable connects different terminal devices on the machine, such as a programmable logic controller (PLC) and sensors, cameras, actuators, or any other data-using devices. Since the connectors are contained in a housing and have been protected from injury, they do not need to be sealed, so their protection level is IP20.
The connectors used in industrial robots and machinery are either used for connectors with low sealing level in the box, which only need IP20 protection, or connectors with high sealing level, which are used for boxes and harsh factory conditions, and need IP67 protection . In both cases, they can be used as power or communication connectors.
MICE parameters (defined by Siemon)
The mechanical, inlet, climate / chemical and electromagnetic (MICE) classification system is the de facto industry standard for describing the different levels of protection required in an industrial environment. Clean, protected, carpeted offices are MICE1 environments, MICE2 environments require IP20 protection, and MICE3 environments need IP67 protection.
"In MICE1, you can use the cheapest, unshielded plastic connector because it does not move and does not require reinforcement," Feng said. In MICE3, there may be oil and other fluid splashes, temperature cycling, electromagnetic interference (EMI) or radio frequency interference (RFI), etc., so you may need multiple types of protection.
TE's Feldmeier illustrates six overall system-level requirements for industrial robots and machinery that affect interconnection requirements: miniaturization, reliability, ruggedness, flexibility, ease of use, and ease of installation. Miniaturization is mainly applicable to smaller size and increased packaging density interconnection systems, and reliability mainly involves vibration and physical impact.
Ruggedness covers a wide range of industrial operating temperatures, from -40 ° C to 85 ° C. Feldmeier said: "Interconnected data is particularly sensitive to EMI, so TE provides a 360 ° solid metal shield on the connector for robots and other rugged applications."
Connectors and more flexible cables
Flexibility means that the cable must be very flexible and support field installation, and field operators must be properly interconnected, so the connector must be easy and quick to install. "10Gb / s Ethernet is very sensitive, so it must be shielded to maintain electrical performance," Feldmeier. Said. "But workers can also easily install connectors.
Belden's Feng said that the weakest link that causes network failure is the end of each Ethernet cable, such as an RJ45 connector. The quality of the connection depends on the quality of the connector and the effect of the installation.
In order to make different installations easy and consistent, Belden has developed a new DataTuff Industrial REVConnect RJ45 connector. This new product line provides connectors, wires, and accessories for Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a, UTP, and STP applications, and solves the problem of mounting large industrial-grade connectors to limited industrial space.
Belden developed the REVConnect RJ45 connector for the data industry
Belden developed the REVConnect RJ45 connector for the data industry, which is simple and quick to install. The patented REVConnect design was originally used in the IT field.
The company also provides single-pair Ethernet cable solutions and is researching and developing solutions for the entire system. The Ethernet cable contains four twisted pairs and can be up to 100 meters in length. But Belden's customers require simpler and smaller cables that can communicate at 100Mb / s or even up to 1GB / s, while reducing cable cost and weight and making robots easier to move. "Single-to-Ethernet's small and simple design allows more devices to connect to industrial networks." Feng said.
Belden cable
Belden has developed bond-pair cable technology to improve the performance of Ethernet cables in highly available environments. No matter how it is installed, the twisted pairs of the cable are kept together, so the impedance is always the same. The mechanical strength is increased by 60%, and the noise immunity is significantly reduced.
Fischer has recently added more connector sizes and material types to its rugged and durable LP360 connection system, including system applications such as connectors, cable assemblies, and mobile devices for industrial applications.
Fischer connector series
HARTING's RJ industrial Ethernet data interface includes RJIM FRJ45Cat6A plug, which is an angle connector with IDC terminal and provides IP20 protection. It is designed for wiring data networks in industrial applications, with data rates up to 10GB / s. The key factors are IP protection, plug-in reliability, robustness, vibration resistance, and EMC security.
HARTING RJI MF RJ45 plug Cat6A
Feldmeier said that TE is also developing single-pair Ethernet products, which it believes reflect future technology trends. This technology has been integrated into a new generation of cars and other bus systems, replacing CAN. He said: "In the industrial space, it provides the infrastructure for the Industrial Internet of Things." According to IEC63171-6, our single-pair Ethernet M8 connector has an additional power pin, which is a new type developed for this purpose. product.
TE's M12X coded connector
TE's M12X coded connector enables reliable communication in industrial equipment, is easy to install, supports higher bandwidth requirements up to 10Gbps, and provides IP67 / 68 level environmental protection.
Two TE products specially designed for industrial robots and machines. They are very small and high-strength connectors, miniaturizing robots and other machines. TE's M12 X-code and MiniI / O connector system, including connectors, cable assemblies and I / O modules, supports reliable communication up to 10GB / s and can be used in field installations. Mini I / O has been adopted by IEC as an international standard.
TE's Mini I / O connector
TE's Mini I / O connector has been adopted as the international standard IEC61076-3-122, which provides the minimum requirements for miniaturized connectors in industrial applications.
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) continues to expand, the demand for robots and automation equipment is increasing, and the corresponding demand for connectors and cables is also increasing. Connector companies continue to innovate to meet market requirements and obtain considerable results.
