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Cara Bereck Levy

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Blog Entries posted by Cara Bereck Levy

  1. Cara Bereck Levy
    I am proud to report that our new Samba controller was reviewed in the CAN Newsletter!!!!
    Here is the article:
    http://www.can-newsletter.org/hardware/host-interfaces/140617_palm-sized-all-in-one-device_unitronics/
    Palm-sized all-in-one device
    Published 2014-06-17
    The Samba 3,5-inch touchscreen with an integrated programmable logic controller (PLC) by Unitronics (Israel) supports CANopen and J1939. It measures 109 mm x 114,1 mm x 59,6 mm and weighs 205 g.
    The all-in-one device supports up to 24 user-designed screens and up to 40 images per application.
    The integrated PLC offers two auto-tuned PID loops, time-based RTC control, data-logging, pre-programmed recipes, etc. The internal memory provides 512 KiB for application programs and additional 512 KiB for fonts as well as 512 KiB for images. The all-in-one device features also local analog and digital I/O ports. This includes 10 digital inputs and eight transistor outputs as well as two analog ports.
    The housing is IP65/66-rated. According to the manufacturer, the panel-mountable device is suitable for food and pharmaceutical applications, especially wherever spray/wipe down requirements apply. Besides the CAN connectivity, the PLC/HMI can be equipped optionally with an EIA-232, an EIA-485 and an Ethernet port. Additionally, it supports GRPS/GSM.
    The 24-VDC powered device comes with Visilogic software supporting the configuration of communication interfaces, allowing ladder logic programming and HMI designs. This also includes a library of images and utility software for remote PC access and data support.


  2. Cara Bereck Levy
    Hi guys!
    We know that people sometimes use the forum to find Unitronics programmers, and that programmers have on occasion contacted members who they believe may require automation project services.
    This is why we have added a new section to the forum: the Job Board. We hope this will make it easier for people within the Unitronics Community to locate each other.
    The Job Board is located here:
    http://forum.unitronics.com/index.php?/forum/71-job-board/
    Please note:
    **Disclaimer: Unitronics bears no responsibility. This is just a place for people to find each other**
    Let me take this opportunity to wish all of you Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, general Happy Holidays and good cheer to all!


  3. Cara Bereck Levy
    All-in-One HMI + PLC programming software, UniLogic™ version 1.12.20, introduces features and enhancements that extend the application reach of UniStream™, Unitronics’ award-winning All-in-One HMI + PLC controller.
    Machine builders can now display streaming video via an Ethernet networked camera using the RTSP Real Time Streaming Protocol, enabling users to easily integrate a network camera and display its video stream output on the elegant UniStream HMI panel.


    SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) now enhances UniStream’s broad communication capabilities. UniStream can function as an SNMP Agent and communicate with an SNMP server. In addition, the Ladder Toolbox function SNMP Trap Send, enables UniStream to send SNMP Trap messages to an SNMP server. UniStream supports SNMP Versions 1, 2, and 3.
    UniLogic’s Webserver’s Drag & Drop editor has added beautifully polished Linear and Circular Gauge widgets, to display running application values for remote users via Internet browser.


    An enhancement of HMI action elements enables programmers to raise popup message boxes when these elements are touched; the message can ask the user a question, give instructions and warnings, and drive actions via buttons.


    This version also supports new hardware: a new Uni-I/O™ analog module comprising 8 13-bit analog input channels; with input ranges of 0-10v, 0-20mA and 4-20mA, and a new 3G modem, the Cinterion EHS6T.
    A novel feature launched with this version, Hardware Configuration profiles, can save considerable programming. These enable a controller to run an application if it has a physical I/O configuration that is different from the full I/O Configuration in the project. The application will run according to the selected profile without error--even if the application uses data tags of I/Os that belong to the full I/O configuration, but that are not part of the selected profile. This feature can save time for programmers who may need to run the same application in systems containing different I/O and COM module configuration.
    UniLogic 1.12.20 contains a number of additional features and enhancements. The software and complete feature list is available for free download at http://www.unitronics.com/support/downloads
  4. Cara Bereck Levy
    Last month, I blogged about recent Application Stories. One was a retrofit application - a rice-filling machine - done by Imapsa Automation of Guatemala and Honduras.
    The story was picked up by IEN. You can find it featured on page 22.
    Hat-tip to Ober Yela (HighTech on the forum) for collaborating on the application story with us! Remember, guys - if you have an interesting application, we'd love to hear about it
    http://digital.ien.eu/digitalMagazine?issue_id=573
    Imapsa also posted
    showing the application itself:
  5. Cara Bereck Levy
    Hi people! This is a great application story, because it combines two of my favorite things--the Vision1040 HMI + PLC controller and BEER!

    Twisted Vine Brewery Achieves Consistent Control with Unitronics Vision1040


    Twisted Vine Brewery creates unique, hand-crafted beers in the picturesque hills of St. Charles, Iowa. Beer is a labor of love at this three-man operation, where they are dedicated to both the art and science of brewing. The team at Twisted Vine needed a control system that would enable them to brew with meticulous attention to detail for a consistent, delicious end result.

    In order to produce their great craft beer, the team at Twisted Vine was searching for a robust and reliable controller. They needed to be able to monitor and control the fermentation temperature, to implement tools like the timers for tracking hop additions, and to monitors trends and outputs remotely. They also wanted a control system that would expand easily as their business grows.
    Of course, there were some limiting concerns. Everybody at Twisted Vine was a first time PLC user, so they needed a controller that was easy to learn and to configure. They also wanted a feature-rich PLC and HMI that would provide a lot of functionality on a tight budget, while looking great when customers toured the facility.
    Most importantly, as space in the brewery is very limited, the PLC would have to be mounted next to the mash tun. This mash tun is kept at 150 degrees Fahrenheit during the brewing process; at times the mash is rinsed in water as hot as 170 degrees Fahrenheit. These conditions would require a PLC robust enough to be exposed to high temperatures and large amounts of steam and condensation without failing.
    The Unitronics Vision1040™, paired with a V200-18-E3XB snap-in I/O module, was able to accommodate all these requirements with ease. The Vision1040 controls a rotary phase converter, which powers a three-phase chiller, glycol pump and the glycol valves on the jacketed fermentation and conditioning tanks. Using this system, the Twisted Vine team can also check temperature trends remotely, turning temperature loops on and off as needed from anywhere with internet access. Additionally, with a NEMA4X/IP65 environment rating, the Vision1040™ was able to withstand the hot steamy conditions.
    Not only did Unitronics provide a powerful PLC, according to co-owner Steven Becker, the all-in-one design and complimentary, single-environment software made the Vision1040 an intuitive and cost-effective choice for their operations. “The free software and many online tutorials made it easy to learn and it was a low cost and powerful solution,” explains Becker.
    In fact, Twisted Vine Brewery is already planning to expand their control system. They are introducing water-use monitoring and valve control to control the amount of water in their mash, which will improve the consistency of the product and free up their attention from watching the water meter to more productive tasks.
    Becker says, “my experience with Unitronics products has enabled me to produce systems that are more productive and user friendly … This system has kept our products at the optimum temperature while keeping our development and operating cost at their lowest.”
    For more information on Twisted Vine Brewery, visit:
    http://www.twistedvinebrewery.com/
    http://madisoncountywinery.com/
    For more Unitronics case studies, visit:
    http://www.unitronics.com/plc-hmi/application-stories-videos
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