Need for Speed: Fuji’s New SPH Series PLCs Promise Faster Control Speeds

Fuji Electric is a global supplier of drive systems, sensors, power transmission, industrial power supply, and control systems. They focus on the energy, industry, food and beverage, and semiconductor sectors. Recently, Fuji Electric announced the release of their latest addition to the MICREX-SX product line, the SPH3300 and SPH2200, both of which promise to be over six times faster than the SPH3000.

The SPH3000MM has a 9ns scan time. Image used courtesy of Fuji

Faster PLC = Faster Control

It takes time for the PLC to complete one scan of the code, typically around four to ten milliseconds. The faster the PLC can scan the inputs, outputs, and all the code in between, the quicker it can control the outputs and monitor the inputs. The SPH3000 is reported to have a basic instruction execution speed of nine nanoseconds, and the SPH3300/2200 is expected to be 6.5 times faster than that. This faster scan time allows designers and programmers to use the SPH3300/2200 in applications that require high-speed control, such as printing press or packaging machines. It also results in better control of servo motors and other motion systems.

The MICREX SPH3300 High-Speed PLC. Image used courtesy of Fuji

Logging

Logging in a control system is typically an event-driven recording of information. The logger will save parameters, settings, messages, or live values to a file system when specific events occur within the control system. In some control systems, a logger application will bog down the control system, resulting in a slower execution time while the logger works. Logging is an important debugging tool when controlling high-speed systems because conditions change rapidly. The SPH3300 uses Fuji Electric proprietary software that allows data collection and logging to occur without sacrificing the high-speed scan time of the PLC.

ControlLogix PLC installed in a panel. Image used courtesy of Wikimedia

Code Migration

Switching PLC manufacturers is always a risk as the years of standard code development could be difficult to transfer into the new manufacturer programming interface; also, changing the PLC of existing equipment runs the risk of a long downtime when the program is converted to the new system. Fuji Electric has reduced this risk with specific software that will convert existing applications to match the SPH3300/2200 programming requirements.

SPH3300 VS SPH2200

The two new models that have been released offer the same high-speed scan time, as well as code migration software and logging features. The two models differ in program memory and ethernet support. The 3300 offers program memory from 48K steps to 256K steps, and the 2200 only offers memory in 48K steps. All of the 3300 models support Ethernet connectivity, and only one model of the 2200 does not support Ethernet.

High-Speed Motion Control

Motion control requires constant monitoring of position and inputs; if the position is missed or input statuses are not captured, the result could differ from what the programmer expects. Fuji Electric’s latest PLC allows programmers to debug and control motion in high-speed applications.