Pilz introduces compact, standalone safety controller

Pilz has extended its PNOZmulti 2 range of safe, configurable, small safety controllers with the new standalone PNOZ m C0 base unit. Just 22.5 mm wide, it monitors up to four safety functions on machines.

Depending on the application, it can be used to implement safety requirements up to the highest category PL (performance level) e or SIL CL 3. As such, the new base unit enables high productivity on smaller machines. As a result, PNOZ m C0 is a safe, high-performance and highly economical solution for small machines in different industries and application areas, such as packaging, on robot cells or in the food and beverage sector, for instance.

The extremely narrow PNOZ m C0 has the structural properties of a safety relay, but is as powerful as a configurable safety controller. It provides eight safe inputs and four safe semiconductor outputs on a width of just 22.5 mm. So up to four safety functions can be reliably monitored. These include E-STOP, safety gate monitoring, safety light curtains and two-hand control. Function range and space-saving width ensure that costs are minimised.

Digitally supported engineering

Also on this standalone base unit, all safety circuits are created via the intuitive software tool PNOZmulti Configurator, the basic version of which is free of licence costs. From Version 11.1, individual safety requirements can be implemented simply and flexibly: for this purpose, the tool provides a large number of approved software blocks for monitoring safety functions up to PL e/SIL CL 3.

All created safety architectures can be used independently of a PLC controller. So the safety circuit can be downloaded to the device directly via a USB cable and either saved directly or, alternatively, on the chip card.

Digitally supported engineering minimises configuration time and therefore costs for this step in the life cycle. What's more, functions can be expanded or modified at any time. This is particularly beneficial where machines are produced in series, as they can easily be adapted to current requirements.

Simply expand if necessary

If the number of safety functions on small machines increases, the ‘small’ project can simply be migrated via the software tool. Future expansions of the plant or machine are possible at any time: if more safety functions are required, modular and expandable base units are available, with sufficient performance for machines with a greater function range.

Depending on the requirement, the base unit is chosen to match the respective application. Modular, expandable base units also offer high connectivity thanks to connection to all common fieldbus systems, user-friendly diagnostics and web-based visualisation. Users benefit from high flexibility.

In conjunction with, for example, PSENopt II safety light curtains, the PSENmlock modular safety gate system or the PITestop E-STOP pushbuttons from Pilz, users from the widest range of industries and application areas have a safe, complete, one-stop solution.

This provides support in the packaging industry – when palletising or feeding cardboard for example – as well as in the food and beverage industry, on filling machines for instance. And in robotics or special purpose machinery manufacturing, solutions using the new, standalone base unit enable greater productivity and economy on machines.