CANopen Lift demonstrator in action

by Holger Zeltwanger www.can-cia.org

The CANopen-Lift demonstrator was jointly built by CiA members. The lift control prototype with real-life devices demonstrates the interoperability of CiA-417 compliant devices. Last year, the demonstrator was shown on the CiA booth at the Interlift exhibition in Augsburg (Germany). In addition, the demonstrator was exhibited at several German conferences as well as some company-specific events in the Netherlands and Sweden. The modular system has been designed and manufactured by the Swiss company Masora.

Three independent lift control systems are in action. They prove the interoperability of CANopen Lift (CiA-417) devices. Controllers (Boehnke + Partner, Weber), drives (Control Techniques, Liftequip, Ziehl-Abegg), position sensors (Baumer, Elgo, Pepperl + Fuchs), load measuring unit (Henning), and panels (Kronenberg, Masora, Safeline/Hisselektronik, Schaefer) communicate via CANopen networks. For some of them the suppliers provide plug-ins for the CANwizard configuration and diagnostic tool from Böhnke + Partner. The CANopen Lift demonstrator was one of the attractions at the Interlift 2009. In particular, consultants from different countries showed great interest in the open network system. Some companies announced to support the CiA-417 application profile for lift control systems in future products (e.g. DMG, Loher/Siemens).

Kübler and Wachendorff exhibited CiA-417 compatible encoders on their own stands. Schmersal also has implemented the very same interface in its USP positioning sensors. The CiA-417 positioning sensor interface is technology independent, meaning the sensors may use rotating encoders, magnetic wires or measure ultrasonic waves in the rope. The same is true for load measuring units: The CANopen sensor by Henning is even able to measure each single rope string. The car display panel, the drive unit, and the drive controller may consume this information and process it. Other devices compliant to CiA-417 shown in Augsburg included tableaus (bs tableau and Janzhoff), encoder (Lika), and displays (MKT).