Emerson has introduced a new Class A, IO-Link master with the ability to integrate IIoT. Particularly, the new cost-effective solution provides customers with smart and analog sensor connectivity on the AVENTICS™ Series G3 Fieldbus platform.

The G3 IO-Link Master is suitable for machine architectures with many sensors and pneumatic valves. Furthermore, it is important to have reliable digital data communication between field devices, such as sensors and the machine controller. Application areas include automotive, tire manufacturing, food and beverage, packaging, and metalworking.

Suits Industry 4.0/IIoT Demands

IO-Link is an international standard I/O technology (IEC 61131-9) for communication at the sensor/actuator level in machine control. During replacement, IO-Link devices can identify and configure themselves automatically. Thus, enabling it to save maintenance time.

Moreover, the IO-Link master provides pneumatic valve control through direct digital data communication with the machine controller.

Most importantly, Emerson’s new IO-Link master offers event-based and I/O-mapped diagnostics. These two features are both important predictive maintenance requirements for Industry 4.0 and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications.

By adding the IO-Link capabilities to our valve systems, customers can include multiple IO-Link masters on only one G3 Fieldbus platform. Hence, saving hardware costs and enabling them to future-proof their needs to meet Industry 4.0/IIoT requirements.

Customers can cut costs by reducing the number of communication nodes. This is because G3 IO-Link master has been optimized to suit sensor-rich applications. Moreover, it has

eight Class A ports per module to support multiple IO-Link smart and standard analog sensors.

The IO-Link master can be distributed up to 30m away from G3. Together with the 20-meter IO-Link cable length maximum, the sensors can be located up to 50 meters in total from the G3 Fieldbus platform. As a result, it reduces material cost and more streamlined machines because they require fewer cables.

Improved Performance, Reduced Maintenance

The IO-Link Master offers a complete Emerson solution. Customers can experience the benefits of integrating IIoT into their systems by connecting to the IO-Link-capable Series. These include AV03/AV05 and 500 valve systems, Series EV12 and EV18 electropneumatic pressure regulators, and Series 617 Sentronic LP and Series 614 Sentronic PLUS proportional valves. Also included are the Series ECD-IV and ECD-LV intelligent compact vacuum ejectors, Series SM6-AL distance measuring sensors, Series ST4-2P magnetic proximity sensors, Series PE5 and PE7 pressure sensors, and Series AF2 flow sensors. In addition, Class B IO-Link solutions can be supported with an optional T-adapter.

The G3 is the only fieldbus electronics platform for pneumatic valve systems that contains a graphical display used for configuration, commissioning, and diagnostics. Furthermore, it offers improvements in performance and reduces maintenance for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and end-users alike.

The G3 IO-Link Master can also be configurable with the G3 web server. With easy access to connections, the electronic platform is simple to assemble, install, commission, and maintain. G3’s functionality allows programmable logic controllers to turn valves on and off efficiently. Also, to channel I/O data from sensors, lights, relays, individual valves, or other I/O devices via various industrial networks.