I/O Connection Manager in LASAL

In mechanical engineering, there are often several variants of a machine that differ in terms of their range of functions, configuration, and topology of the connected devices. The I/O Connection Manager in the LASAL automation software from SIGMATEK ensures that communication between the control and the connected I/Os is flexible and scalable.

It is part of the hardware editor and makes it easier to vary and expand machine configurations without having to manage and maintain multiple versions of the control software. The I/O Connection Manager provides a view of object relationships that is particularly useful for hardware connections.

It is possible to create so-called I/O objects as an abstraction layer and place them in the network. The use of symbolic names increases clarity in the network view. In addition, all I/O states are centrally visible in the Connection Manager, can be grouped individually, and are therefore clearly visible for commissioning or diagnostics.

Project Connection Files
The big advantage of the I/O Connection Manager from SIGMATEK is that the user only has to create one application and maintain one software version. Variant management is implemented using connection files.

The I/O Connection Manager offers exceptional convenience. Hardware functions can be defined at an abstraction level. Actual wiring is determined dynamically during control startup, depending on the configuration. This is done using connection and parameter files.

For example, connections, I/O assignments, or initialization values can be changed. The relationships between the individual objects can be configured as desired using the connection files. They allow you to create connections without having to change or compile the project. The connections created in this way can be saved in a connection file and transferred to the control. Since each variant is a separate file, it is not necessary to recompile.

By creating multiple connection files for a project, the user can manage various configurations or expansion stages of a machine with a single base project. It is possible to store variants, simulate the entire machine or parts of it, and force individual values for start-up. Variant configurations can be switched within the application.

The flexible assignment of machine functions to individual I/O channels of the modules makes it possible to install only the I/O modules that are actually required for the machine scope in a cost-optimized manner. This is not limited to I/Os, but also applies to other hardware components such as drives.

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