Weidmüller's 'FreeCon Active Repeater': PROFINET POF Repeater for diagnosing light signals. – Complies with AIDA specifications (Automation Initiative of the German Automotive Industry). – Multifunctional tool HTX-IE POF for terminating SC-RJ connectors.

With its 'FreeCon Active Repeater' Weidmüller offers a POF repeater with an integrated diagnostic function for deployment in PROFINET networks. Today, fibre-optics based on polymer optical fibres (POF) are increasingly being used, not only because they are immune to electromagnetic interference but because they are also able to meet the demands of automated applications for greater data volumes. However, these fibres are subject to a natural aging process, which successively increases fibre attenuation. That in turn increases the need for exact diagnostics of the transmission path. Weidmüller developed the 'FreeCon Active Repeater' in response to this need: to guarantee reliable transmission of the Ethernet data being transmitted the 'FreeCon Active' checks the entire transmission path in real time with regard to its optical budget – for example, from the electrical cabinet to the head of the robot. The device sends an alarm signal to a higher-level controller if a defined tolerance level is exceeded and the user needs to replace the cable set. By continuously checking the attenuation of fibre-optic transmission paths 'FreeCon Active Repeaters' now make it possible for the first time ever to precisely plan when to replace robot cable sets. The PROFINET POF repeater complies with AIDA specifications (Automation Initiative of the German Automotive Industry). In conjunction with the 'HTX-IE POF' multifunctional tool, which is designed to ensure rapid and repeatable preparation and termination procedures for SC-RJ type connectors, Weidmüller offers a complete all-round package of components for transmission solutions based on POF cabling.

Constantly increasing data volumes and greater demands vis-à-vis electromagnetic compatibility are challenges being faced in the field of automation that are progressively leading to the deployment of fibre-optic cables on the basis of polymer optical fibres (POF). Thanks to their robust characteristics, high level of flexibility and insensitivity to electromagnet interferences polymer fibres are used, for example, for the entire cabling needs of robots: from the I/O module on the welding gun to the robot base through to the device in the electrical cabinet and from there to the higher-level systems. Attenuation along their light path is a disadvantage of the flexible polymer fibres; in addition, the ageing process sees the crystalline fibre structures becoming milky and as a result less able to transmit light. Users require a measurement based on the laws of physics that details precisely when the attenuation exceeds a defined tolerance threshold. And, they would also like to save time and costs based on an exact diagnosis. It was precisely in response to these needs that Weidmüller developed the 'FreeCon Active Repeater'. It verifies the light signals in real time, and uniquely, diagnoses precisely fibre attenuation along the transmission path. Specified for PROFINET by the PROFIBUS User Organisation this new technology serves to refresh fibre-optic cable signals.

In order to be able to guarantee reliable transmissions of Ethernet data the 'FreeCon Active' verifies isochronous real-time (IRT) data exchange of the entire transmission path with regard to the optical budget, for instance from the electrical cabinet through to the robot head. The device immediately sends an alarm message via PROFINET to the higher-level controls as soon as the attenuation rate reaches a critical level. Uniquely, the PROFINET-POF repeater now determines precisely when the cable set needs to be replaced. Moreover, when a system is being commissioned the device provides precise information with regard to attenuation and the length of the cable at the press of a button. That saves laborious measurements, documentation and certification. Furthermore, 'FreeCon Active Repeaters' integrate data and power transmissions in a single module, a designed-in capability that increases system availability and proves advantageous during installation procedures.

Weighing in at 780 g the 'FreeCon Active Repeater' is supplied rated to IP65. It is compact by design (WxHxL: 112 mm x 52 mm x 130 mm), a design feature that reduces the interference contour of robots. The housing material is made of extruded aluminium profile, the zinc die-cast lid is power coated. The device is equipped with a PROFINET conform data connector PushPull SC-RJ POF (V14) and a PROFINET conform power connector PushPull Power. Four LEDs signalise communication (FO1: port active, FO2: port active, SF: group errors, BF: bus error) and two LEDs indicate the power supply (US1: power 1 - electronic, US2: power 2).
The 'FreeCon Active Repeater' can be deployed in temperatures ranging from 0-55 °C without any restrictions.

The 'FreeCon Active Repeater' is complemented by a tool of corresponding quality: guaranteeing reliable, constantly low attenuation Weidmüller's 'HTX-IE-POF' multifunctional tool with which it is possible to strip the insulation, crimp and cut millimetre-thick polymer optical fibres in the required quality for PROFINET and EtherNet/IP SC-RJ connectors. A rotating blade cuts the fibres precisely at the ferrule so that a subsequent polishing process is no longer necessary. The tool ensures highly accurate and repeatable results to support reliable, user-independent working results for consistently high quality connections. 'HTX-IE-POF' reduces to a minimum the time required to connect fibre-optic cable connectors.

Weidmüller – electrical connectivity, transmission and conditioning of power, signals and data in industrial environments.

Key word: Weidmüller's 'FreeCon Active Repeater'

For more information: www.weidmueller.com and www.power-signals-data.com

Captions:

Fig. 1: Weidmüller's 'FreeCon Active Repeater': to guarantee reliable transmission of the Ethernet data being transmitted the 'FreeCon Active' checks the entire transmission path in real time with regard to its optical budget – for example, from the electrical cabinet to the head of the robot.
Fig. No.: Sä 20110220

Fig. 2: Weidmüller's 'FreeCon Active Repeater': PROFINET POF Repeater for diagnosing light signals. The device determines precisely when the attenuation has reached a critical point and a cable set needs to be replaced. Detail: LEDs clearly indicate an alarm event when tolerances are exceeded.
Fig. No.: Sä 20110219

Fig. 3: Weidmüller's multi-functional tool HTX-IE POF combines the work steps cutting, stripping and crimping. Detail: The rotating blade cuts the POF fibres precisely at the 'ferrule'. That eliminates the need to subsequently polish the cut surfaces and in turn saves the user an enormous amount of time.
Fig. No.: Sä 20101109 D

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