Siemens Simatic S7-1200 controller combines powerful technology with a communications interface for fast commissioning, precise control and ease of use in automation tasks
RS Components has announced that as of October 2014, Siemens' popular Simatic S7-200 programmable logic controller (PLC) will be discontinued and replaced by the new generation Micro-SPS Simatic S7-1200, which offers significant advantages. price and performance compared to the previous model. The compact Simatic S7-1200 controller has been designed to respond to the increasing importance of flexibility, modularity and scalability in hardware design, as well as providing powerful built-in functions that are easy to use.
It offers five types of CPUs with different degrees of operation, and a modular design that can be expanded with additional inputs and outputs.
The system is scalable by installing signal boards directly into a CPU interface to add some digital or analog channels, reducing control panel space requirements.
The CPU inputs and outputs are also designed for motion control applications, so flexibility is already built into the basic module.
Integrated technology functions include PID closed-loop control, motion, and axis control.
The Simatic S7-1200 controller is configured with the engineering software STEP 7 Basic in the TIA Portal (Totally Integrated Automation). This means that users have access to a comprehensive and standardized engineering tool for their logic, HMI and network operations with a single shared editor. All navigation, all symbols and menus are standardized across all views, making the software easy to learn and use.
The S7-1200 features an integrated Profinet interface, standard on all CPUs and designed as a 2-port switching interface on larger models, and supports distribution architectures with its inputs and outputs, HMI, drivers, and other Profinet field devices. This feature is particularly useful if the controller is running on a networked system or if more than one HMI device is to be connected.
Expansion modules for Profibus communication are available separately. Additionally, a GPRS module supports remote access from almost anywhere in the facility. This is useful while the operation is running as it allows remote fault clearing and maintenance personnel can obtain information from transmitted diagnostics in advance, or order necessary hardware components in advance.
Siemens' Simatic S7-1200 PLC is available globally via RS Online.
