Modularized options
Fanless IPC for vision inspection with variable modules
Industrial automation has always been about control. But now and in the near future it will also be about data. Data will be used to populate automated controllers and provide operators with the real-time information they will need to run the process they are working with. Vision systems will produce more and more GB of data that will have to be streamed, converted and sorted in the producers systems.
At the same time sensors are becoming more simple, less costly, and smarter. Many applications do not require heavy, expensive, hazardous area enclosures, as simple housings are effective and more affordable. Nevertheless, still in many places producers need very specific ruggedized equipment to secure stability of the processes – especially now, when data produced by all kinds of devices are rapidly growing. What they are looking for is not only size or cost efficiency, but also effectiveness, ease of management possibilities or low maintenance costs. When compared all together, this combination can create a stable system, which is so important in every visual inspection system.
Automatic optical inspection (AOI), vision inspection, and process automation are ideal applications using compact size and high-performance compact systems. To address the high diversity and flexibility demands of Industry 4.0, the MIC-7500 IPC plattform features Intel’s 6th generation of Core i CPU’s, rich I/O (2xGiga LAN, 8xUSB3.0, 4xCOM ports, 2x RS232/422/485 serial & 4x RS232 expansion by cable) that support diverse communication requirements and devices, including external sensors, controllers and displays. i-Modules provide important value-added options for flexible expansion. Currently five modules have been developed (2×2 expansion slots, 2×4 expansion slots, and 1×2 expansion slots with 2×2.5″ hot-swappable tray) however, these flexible modules can be customized to customer applications and additional I-modules are planed to fulfill customers demands in the future. Besides satisfying diverse I/O requirements, they are easy to assemble and have a simple upgrade path. Additionally, the MIC-7500 IPC platform can be integrated with a wide range of expansion i-Modules to support diverse applications. The system’s fanless ruggedized design supports a wide input power range. The modules are designed to be integrated with the IPC and provide economical and flexible expansion on demand. The ruggedized design and cast aluminium case offer vibration and shock protection, as well as a passive thermnal suolution that ensure silent operations. Designed for the industrial automation market with capabilities to withstand harsh environments and 24/7 operation, all electronic components are rugged and satisfy certification standards for environmental protection, EMI/ESD tolerance, and high-voltage surge requirements (2kV). Finally, the new IPC plattform supports the Microsoft Windows 7/8/10 and Linux operating systems, which is equipped with Advantech’s SusiAccess remote management software utility for convenient management and system protection: Furthermore it supports different embedded software APIs. The MIC-7500 is a powerful, compact, fanless industrial system that supports a wide power input range and operating temperatures of -20 up to 60°C. It is powered by a 6th generation Intel Core i processor that delivers up to 10% additional CPU performance and 30% faster graphics compared to the previous generation. For storage is a 1×2.5″HDD, 1x Cfast slot and 1x internatl mSATA (Mini-PCIe interface). A 4GB memory is inside which can be updated 32GB. With its dimensions of 74x192x230mm and 2.9kg the IPC fits for a variety of applications. It gives a wide range of possibilities for administrative systems and secures stability of the system.
