| COMbricks™ - Networking, Monitoring and Control |
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 COMbricks™ - Modular PROFIBUS kit for long term network health checks and reporting in ProfiTrace format!
COMbricks is a modular system that allows a mix of automation components on a backplane. Repeater modules can be inserted next to a PROFIBUS slave and at the same time, the condition of the installation can be remotely inspected with ProfiTrace OE (Over Ethernet) using only a web browser.
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Long term preventative maintenance checks on network performance |
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Remote access maintenance station (ProfiTrace OE) |
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Modular repeater backbone with hot swap |
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Transparent datahub (repeaters, fibre optic, RS 485-IS, DP slave, etc.) |
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Remote I/O for PROFIBUS and PROFINET |
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Gateway between PROFIBUS and PROFINET (DP/PN couplers) |
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Drives 32 modules (10 high-speed modules) |
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Wide range of modules available |
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Powerful web server |
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Automatic 24/7 healthcheck monitoring of 4 networks |
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Logging of significant PROFIBUS messages to local SD memory
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Automatic e-mailing of alarm messages |
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hot swap and extendible |
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DIN-rail mounting |
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IP 20 |
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| Modular PROFIBUS repeaters |
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The current trend with PROFIBUS projects is to use segmentation with repeaters, fibre optic and ProfiHubs to solve common end-user network layout and cabling difficulties. COMbricks adds another important component, with new capabilities; modular repeater hubs that provide permanent network status monitoring, with automatic alarm condition alerts and associated data inspection from remote locations in familiar ProfiTrace format.
COMbricks is based on a backplane into which 10 hot swap repeater modules with 2 channels each can be inserted (20 galvanic isolated transparent segments). Every channel can handle 31 devices and maximum 1200 m cable length (depending on the baudrate).
The bus redundancy technology of the repeater modules is very advanced, allowing systems with up to 10 parallel network cables. This architecture provides extremely high availability. Most suppliers only allow 2 cables.
Typical applications
| • Repeaters with permanent ProfiTrace |
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• Removable drives and motors |
| • Star, tree and bus structured networks |
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• Motor control centers (drawers) |
| • Redundancy for high availability |
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• EMC vulnerable applications |
| • Spur lines |
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• Isolator for sensitive devices |
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| ProfiTrace OE - Remote monitoring in a web browser |
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Permanent and simultaneous monitoring of 4 PROFIBUS networks is a powerful feature of COMbricks. Global projects and a shortage of (qualified) technical staff members are causing significant capacity problems. COMbricks offers a solution by remotely monitoring PROFIBUS installations over the Internet and alerting the user by email.
 A web server with a ProfiTrace shell visualises the information in an understandable format (ProfiTrace OE). Because of the web browser, additional software is NOT required and a constant connection with a PC to the COMbricks is NOT necessary.
The monitoring and logging is performed by the repeater modules which are inserted in the backplane. COMbricks is the first system that has integrated the busmonitor in the network components. Deploying COMbricks repeaters for regular automation means an automatic availability of ProfiTrace OE.
E-mail messages provide real-time alerts should malfunctions be detected in any of connected PROFIBUS installations. These can be easily set up through a web server.
ProfiTrace OE includes a new device location detection function. This gives a detailed overview of the particular repeater segment on which each device is installed.
Typical applications
| • Cross border installations |
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• Traffic control installations |
| • Inaccessible installations |
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• Water treatment |
| • Long commissioning and test cycles |
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• Offshore installations |
| • High availability networks |
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• 24-7 service contracts |
| • Robot cells |
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Getting Started with COMbricks
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For further information about getting started with COMbricks and related software, click on the following link, checking our PROFIBUS News web page for latest updates :-
Quickstart you first COMbricks Project
And for live streaming of COMbricks information into ProfiTrace, see following link about the new ProfiTrace v2.6.0 software, including associated screen images of what will be seen :-
ProfiTrace v2.6.0 Software for COMbricks data streaming
And to get better idea of what can be seen from the COMbricks Head Station, click on the following link which will connect you to the live Procentec COMbricks web server demo. To understand the hardware arrangements for this demo, click on the left hand Channel List link - this currently shows a Head Station connected to a 2 Channel Repeater, plus four Scope Repeaters linking sections of two different PROFIBUS networks. Refer then to the Live List page, viewing the separately tabbed displays for each of the two networks.
Check the Slot 3 oscilloscope image, noting that the cable to Slave with Address 34 has a terminator missing, resulting in significant waveform oscillations. Click on either of the small waveform images for enlargement and access to the associated timebase control.
Live COMbricks web server demonstration
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