Connecting Customer-Supplied Safety and Power Control Equipment

User E-Stop Indication - Remote Sensing of E-Stop

Two pairs of pins on the XUSR connector (pins 7, 20 and 8, 21) provide voltage-free contacts, one for each channel, to indicate whether the E-Stop chain, as described above, on that channel is closed. Both switches are closed on each of the redundant circuits in normal condition (no E-Stop). The user may use these contacts to generate an E-Stop for other equipment in the workcell. This output does NOT report status of “line E-Stop” input (see the section below for more information). The load on the contacts must not exceed 40VDC or 30VAC at a maximum of 1A.

These voltage-free contacts are provided by a redundant, cyclically checked, positive-drive, safety relay circuit for EN-954-1 Category 3 operation (see Figure 3-5 on page 53 and Table 3-7 on page 49 for the customer E-Stop circuitry).

Line E-Stop Input

The XUSR connector on the SmartController contains a two-channel Line E-Stop input for workcell or other equipment emergency stop inputs. Generally, the customer E-Stop Indication contact outputs are used to cause an emergency stop in such external equipment. Thus, if one were to wire the same equipment’s outputs into the customer E-Stop input (that is, in series with the local robot’s E-Stop push buttons), a lock up situation can occur.

The Line E-Stop input comes into the circuit at a point where it cannot affect the customer E-Stop indication relays and will not cause such a lock up situation. For any situation where two systems should be “cross-coupled”, for example, the customer E-Stop indication of one SmartController is to be connected to the input of another SmartController, the Line E-Stop input is the point to bring in the other SmartController’s output contacts, see Figure 3-5 on page 53 for more information.

Do not use the Line E-Stop for such devices as local E-Stop push buttons since their status should be reported to the outside on the local customer E-Stop indication output contact while the Line E-Stop inputs will not.

Muted Safety Gate E-Stop Circuitry

Two pairs of pins on the XUSR connector (pins 5, 18 and 6, 19) provide connections for a safety gate designed to yield an E-Stop allowing access to the workspace of the robot in Manual mode only, not in Automatic mode. The E-Stop is said to be “muted” in Manual mode (see Figure 3-5 on page 53, Table 3-7 on page 49, Table 3-8 on page 50, and Table 3-9 on page 51 for the customer E-Stop circuitry).

The muted capability is useful for the situation where a shutdown must occur if the cell gate is opened in normal production mode, but you need to open the gate in manual mode. In muted mode, the gate can be left open for personnel to work in the robot cell. However, safety is maintained because of the speed restriction.

CAUTION: If the cell gate must always cause a robot shutdown, do not wire the gate switch into the muted safety gate inputs. Instead, wire the gate switch contacts in series with the user E-Stop inputs.

Adept SmartController User’s Guide, Rev. E

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Nortech Systems XSYS, XUSR, RS-232/TERM, RS-422/485 manual User E-Stop Indication Remote Sensing of E-Stop, Line E-Stop Input
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RS-422/485, XSYS, XUSR, RS-232/TERM specifications

Nortech Systems offers a comprehensive suite of serial communication solutions, including RS-232/TERM, XUSR, XSYS, and RS-422/485 interfaces. These products are designed to facilitate reliable and high-speed data transmission in various industrial applications, making them essential for connecting devices in automation, telecommunications, and data acquisition systems.

The RS-232/TERM interface is a widely adopted standard for serial communication, known for its simplicity and robustness. It supports point-to-point communication over relatively short distances, typically up to 50 feet. Key features include a maximum baud rate of up to 115.2 kbps, error-checking capabilities, and a straightforward connection process, making it ideal for connecting peripheral devices like printers, modems, and barcode scanners.

Building on the RS-232 standard, the XUSR and XSYS devices offer enhanced functionalities and flexibility. XUSR, for instance, supports not just traditional RS-232 connections, but also protocol conversion for various serial interfaces, facilitating seamless integration of legacy systems with modern networking technologies. It is particularly useful in environments where multiple protocols need to be managed simultaneously.

XSYS is designed for more complex applications and supports advanced communication features such as multi-drop configurations, enabling it to connect multiple devices on a single bus. This makes it suitable for extensive industrial networks where space and wiring complexity need to be minimized. Synchronous and asynchronous data transfer modes ensure that the XSYS is adaptable for both real-time data collection and standard command-response applications.

On the other hand, RS-422/485 interfaces excel in long-distance communication, allowing for data transmission over distances up to 4,000 feet. They are designed for multi-point connections, supporting up to 32 devices on a single bus through differential signaling, which enhances noise immunity. These characteristics make RS-422/485 particularly well-suited for environments with electromagnetic interference, such as factories or subways.

Nortech Systems’ serial communication solutions emphasize reliability, ease of use, and versatility. With their commitment to high performance and user satisfaction, these interfaces provide critical connectivity in today’s increasingly automated and interconnected world. Whether in data centers, manufacturing setups, or remote sensor networks, Nortech's offerings stand out for their reliability, efficiency, and adaptability, ensuring effective data communication across diverse applications.
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