M100 Safety

Bachmann electronic is presenting its new safety extension for the M100 controller series.

Bachmann electronic is presenting its new safety extension for the M100 controller series. The safety functionality runs purely in a software runtime on the standard M100 CPU and is available in four license tiers: Basic, Standard, Advanced, and Extended. Thanks to the tiered licensing, users get exactly the safety functionality their application requires, without paying for unused reserve capacity. Moving up to a higher license tier requires no hardware changes. The licensing model is also slated to carry over to future CPU generations, with no need to redesign the application.

The software-based safety CPU is integrated into every M100 CPU and meets SIL 3 per IEC 61508 and PL e per ISO 13849-1. Safety logic can be programmed either graphically or in Structured Text (ST). In addition to certified function blocks, users can integrate their own libraries and build on their existing expertise. Type-based machine profiles allow a single safety application to cover multiple machine variants. When a machine is commissioned, the matching validated configuration of parameters and safety I/O modules is selected.

Two new safety I/O modules are also being launched alongside the software runtime. The SDI108 safety digital input module features 16 inputs at SIL 3/PL d and eight inputs at SIL 3/PL e, including test pulses. The SDO104 safety digital output module provides eight outputs at SIL 3/PL e, likewise with test pulses. Later, the SIC103 analog safety input module for 4–20 mA signals will be introduced, providing six channels at SIL 2/PL d or three channels at SIL 3/PL e. In addition, it will offer a user-selectable cut-off frequency and a power-line frequency filter.

Safety communication is based on Safety over EtherCAT (FSoE), with PROFIsafe support in development.