Machine Interface스
The equipment interface is the method or connecting device through which production equipment (machines) such as factories and manufacturing lines and upper systems (e.g. MES, ERP, SCADA, PLC, IoT gateway, etc.) are connected to exchange data.
Key Features
Data collection
- Transmit real-time data from the equipment (temperature, pressure, speed, operating status, defect data, etc.) to the upper system.
- Equipment status can be monitored through MES, SCADA, and ERP.
Equipment control
- The upper system issues work instructions (production items, quantity, work conditions, etc.) to the equipment.
- The equipment parameters can be set remotely.
History and quality control
- Data generated from the equipment (alarms, quality measurements, etc.) can be stored and tracked.
- Realizing traceability
Alarm and Event Management
- An alarm is triggered when an abnormality occurs in the equipment → the operator can respond immediately.
PLC(Programmable Logic Controller)
A PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) is the most commonly used controller for automatic control of production facilities in production sites. It is a control device that processes information acquired through signal input functions such as digital, analog, and communication in a manner requested by the user and outputs it through digital, analog, and communication methods.
Easy communication with computers
PLCs operate by writing programs using computer software or a dedicated loader, then transmitting them via various communication methods.
Therefore, when a PLC is used as a device controller, it can easily interface with a computer through communication, as it can utilize general-purpose communication methods readily available on computers, depending on the module configuration.
Personalized interface
Since PLC processes input information through a user-written program, the PLC program must be interpreted when MES wants to obtain information, and since communication protocols may differ by manufacturer and product, the interface method between the computer and the equipment must be selected by dividing it into several cases.
