the starting point of new machine concepts that enable more flexible manufacturing processes with shorter downtimes, such as retooling. In order for the movers to follow their movement pattern, a computer must constantly calculate the switching and current supply of the respective motor modules. For this purpose, a total of three computer boards can be combined, each of which previously had four RJ45 sockets as ports. To allow more movers to be operated in the latest generation of the XTS system without having to change the dimensions of the system, the RJ45 sockets were replaced by the ix Industrial interface from HARTING. Reliable shielding and high data throughput were the main requirements here. Unlike RJ45, each ix Industrial connector
allows for two 100-Mbit/s Ethernet connections. Thus, eight instead of four ports could be mounted on the same board, and two Ethernet channels could be installed per port instead of one. As a result, 48 instead of twelve ports were implemented on the three computer boards. Accordingly, with the latest XTS generation, 48 instead of twelve XTS lines can now be used per unit, corresponding to a 400-% increase in the performance of the transport system. Two wires – instead of four or eight One distinctive attribute of today's industrial automation technology is its migration from hierarchical to decentralized architectures. These are considered advanced
and particularly productive and, moreover, promise increased network security. This is because intelligent nodes such as smart sensors or edge computers, which are capable of performing certain data processing tasks autonomously, reduce sensitive data traffic between the edge and the cloud. The advantages of decentralization are self-evident, but the number of connected devices in the field is growing enormously, and so are the efforts for cabling and connectivity. Their economic use, both in terms of material and installation effort as well as energy consumption, is becoming a strong criterion for the sustainability of manufacturing facilities. Single-Pair Ethernet (SPE) is considered a decisive breakthrough in efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The communication technology is defined by the IEEE 802.3 standard; the IEC 63171-x series of standards applies to the respective connectors. Essentially, it enables field components to be connected via just one twisted pair, i.e., two wires instead of the previous four or even eight: low-cost, resource- efficient, and therefore extremely sustainable. Originally developed for automotive electronics,
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