Safety controller has neat and compact look

The SICK Flexi Compact safety controller, featuring a modular, compact and scalable design, has been conceived with simplicity in mind, says the company, “while enabling exceptionally responsive machine operation and real-time diagnostics, suitable for most common machine safety applications”. With rapid response cycle times of up to 4 ms claimed, the SICK Flexi Compact is focused on helping to ensure space-saving machine designs, with the shortest possible safety distances.

“The Flexi Compact has a pleasing, easy-to-handle streamlined feel that helps save space in the control cabinet,” says Dr Martin Kidman, SICK’s UK machine safety product manager. “The CPU has a 46mm-wide slimline design that takes up much less space than many common controller configurations. It’s also really easy to achieve neat and efficient wiring with the easy push-in front connectors.”

Versatile and expandable 

The SICK Flexi Compact is based on a versatile and expandable concept, with each slim module having a one-click, fit-and-release mechanism for easy handling and exchange. There is a choice of two CPUs, each with a generous bank of 32 I/Os, and one with an additional EtherNet connection. To this can be added 16-connector, 14mm-wide XTDI and XTDO I/O cards and up to further 12 expansion modules, to deliver future-proof scalability for when the demands on the safety controller increase.

The Flexi Compact’s EtherCAT or PROFINET gateways enable wide integration flexibility to higher-level PLCs and Industry 4.0 applications. Each gateway has a thin-film display window and push button controls for quick commissioning and easy-to-use, real-time diagnostics. Rapid troubleshooting is also assured, says SICK, thanks to easy HMI integration via the CPU Ethernet port option, which supports both Modbus and SLMP protocols over TCP/IP.

Safety Designer

Planning and commissioning a machine safety configuration is described as fast and efficient, with the Flexi Compact using SICK’s free-to-use Safety Designer engineering tool, providing access to 256 certified function blocks and safety logic documentation via an intuitive drag and drop graphical user interface. An integrated, removable SmartPlug with USB port enables rapid data transfer and configuration exchange for efficient set up and commissioning.

A safety-certified, high-speed EtherCAT backplane bus enables efficient data communication and rapid response times. As a result, safety distances to the machine can be optimised and shorter cycle times achieved in highly dynamic processes.

The new SICK Flexi Compact is a mid-range safety controller for average to complex safety logic, sitting between SICK’s existing Flexi Classic and Flexi Soft safety controllers. “The ease of handling, responsiveness and diagnostics combine to ensure high machine availability and productivity for many common industrial machinery applications,” says the company.