Everything Fieldbus

Every month, CONTROL’s editors take a specific product area, collect all the latest, significant tools we can find, and present them here to make your job easier. If you know of any tools and resources we didn’t include, send them to [email protected], and we’ll add them to the website.

PROFIBUS POSSIBILITIES
SIEMENS ENERGY & AUTOMATION
800/SIEMENS
Web site is devoted to the possible uses of Profibus in process and factory automation. Different Profibus versions are available for various applications: Profibus DP (for fast, cyclic data exchange with fieldbus devices), Profibus PA (for intrinsic safety applications in process automation) and Profibus FMS (for data communication between programmable controllers and field devices). Direct link is at www.automation.siemens.com/net/html_76/produkte/020_produkte.htm.

GET THE SCOOP
FIELDBUS FOUNDATION
512/794-8890
Series of articles on fieldbus technology; titles include, “HSE—Promoting Openness in Hybrid Control”; “Field Communications”; “North Sea Platform Revived by Fieldbus Technology”; “Integrated Fieldbus Architecture Demonstrated”; and “Technology with a Purpose.”

FIELDBUS TRAINING/TUTORIAL
PAControl.com
The purpose of this website is to describe fieldbus as a digital, two-way, multi-drop communication link among intelligent control devices that replace the 4-20 mA standard. There are free online training courses that make learning fieldbus easy and convenient. Many other learning tools are provided such as ControlLogix training and information about Fieldbus OEM modules.

ALL ABOUT HART
HART Communication Foundation
512/794-0369
Web site is devoted to help better understand the full capabilities of the HART protocol. There are workshops on HART technology and writing Enhanced Device Descriptions. There is also a “Complete HART Guide” CD 5th Edition, “The Power of HART” audio training program and a recorded webcast titled “HART Device & Control System Integration Requirements.” Direct link at www.hartcomm2.org/hart_protocol/training/training.html.

PLANNING TOOL
PEPPERL+FUCHS
330/425-3555
Segment Checker is a free planning tool for Foundation Fieldbus H1 and Profibus PA segments. Users can benefit from the tool’s automatic calculations that show the voltage drop and load current on a fieldbus segment for any given configuration. Users choose the explosion-protection method such as FISCO, Entity, FINCO and High-Power Trunk—or the safe area, and segment design error checking makes clear whether the desired configuration is workable.

FIELDBUS/COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS
Controls Weekly Review
Controls Weekly Review website is packed full of resources for fieldbus and communications protocols. There is a terminology section as well as tools, tables and calculators. Many links to manufacturers who specialize in anything from Profibus to Safetynet P.

FIELDBUS REFERENCE LIST
Rob’s Fieldbus Page
Web site captures the largest set of references for fieldbus systems and industrial networks. You will find reference to almost 120 books, dozens of international standards and scores of user groups, vendor associations and trade groups. There is a comparison of the Profibus, Interbus, AS-Interface and Industrial Ethernet systems.

FIELDBUS TECHNOLOGY
Springer
+49 30/82787 5431
Fieldbus Technology, Industrial Network Standard for Real-Time Distributed Control by N.P. Mahalik incorporates a selection of research and development papers. Topics covered include history and background, contemporary standards, underlying architecture, comparison between different fieldbus systems, applications, latest innovations, new trends as well as issues such as compatibility, interoperability and interchangeability. Direct link: www.springer.com/engineering/book/978-3-540-40183-4.