The new controller generation Simatic S7-1500 expands the range of the Siemens Industry Automation Division with two new CPUs. CPU 1515-2 PN is designed for mid-level applications in machine and plant automation. CPU 1518-4PN/DP is now the most powerful device in the controller range and is intended for high-end applications.
In addition, the new firmware V1.5 is available for the existing CPUs. This firmware considerably extends the functionality of all S7-1500 controllers, for example with option handling in a central configuration or the first steps for team engineering.
Simatic S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP for high-end applications features a user memory of 13 MB (megabyte) and has four communication interfaces: a Profinet interface with 2-port switch for communication to the field level, two Profinet interfaces and a Profibus interface. The high performance and large memory allow the connection of up to 128 drive axes and their isochronous operation in the range of 250 microseconds. The CPU 1518 has a bit performance of 1 nanosecond.
Simatic S7-1500 CPU 1515-2 PN is a controller for mid-level applications. It features a user memory of 3.5 MB (500 kilobytes for program memory and 3 MB for data) and is equipped with two Profinet interfaces: a Profinet IO interface for communication to the field level and an interface which can also be used for integration in the company network, for example. The CPU 1515 has a bit performance of 30 nanoseconds.
With the new firmware version 1.5, S7-1500 controllers support option handling in the central configuration. This offers potential for saving in creation, commissioning and documentation for modular machine concepts, for example in series machine manufacturing. Machine manufacturers configure the maximum configuration for their machines once. The target configuration for the individual machine is defined with the user program. Initial team engineering functions, such as joint online commissioning of a controller, have also been implemented for complex projects. Users can automatically synchronize their local project copies with the controller. Maintenance of CPUs has also been improved: The hardware and program, including symbols and module parameters, can be detected quickly and without errors.
The Simatic S7-1500 controller range for medium to large applications in machine and plant automation comprises five CPUs with graded performance features. These differ, for example, with respect to the number of interfaces, bit performance and the size of the work memory. According to the individual automation task, the CPUs in the central configuration can be supplemented with as many as 31 expansion modules, for example with communication and technology modules or I/O modules which have the same format as the Simatic ET 200MP I/O system from Siemens.
[info] www.siemens.com/s7-1500 [/info]