Presenting a new safety field box

Thanks to its universal device interface with an 8-pole M12 connector, it can be used to connect a wide variety of safety devices: electronic and electro-mechanical safety interlocks, switches, sensors, light curtains and operation panels. Safety devices by other manufacturers can also be easily connected, using an adapter, for example.

The safety signals from connected safety devices are forwarded to a safety controller for evaluation via the secure PROFINET/PROFIsafe field bus interface. PROFIsafe is a functionally safe extension to standard communication via PROFINET. PROFIsafe-based communication is protected against alteration, transmission errors, changes in the telegram sequence and similar.

Parallel transmission of safety signals allows safety devices to be freely linked in the safety controller. Field box device connections can also be configured to link different devices, thus providing maximum flexibility in the conceptual design of safety solutions. What's more, all device connections feature a self-resetting fuse element to protect lines. After eliminating an overcurrent in a connection, the fuse element resets itself after a brief cool-down period.

Udo Weber, safety technology product manager at Schmersal, comments: "The safety field box is a simple, inexpensive installation solution which provides highly flexible, individually configurable safety solutions for complex machines and systems. Moreover, additional transmission of all diagnosis signals from connected devices ensures optimum process transparency." 

As a simple plug and play solution, it is said to ensure rapid fitting and cost-efficient, fail-safe installation with little wiring.