Maple Systems Smart HMIs
- Description
- Specification
cMT Product Architecture
Moving beyond the traditional HMI interface view, cMT series products offer additional IIoT features that make it much easier to extract data from the automation plant:
Solution 1: Local Machine Control
New technologies bring new ways of interacting and controlling systems, but the need for a static HMI that is always ready and always resides in the same location remains. While enabling new exciting features, Maple's cMT series does not compromise on fulfilling this vital role.
The cMT series uses the same intuitive easy to use software that Maple Systems customers use with our HMI line: EZwarePlus. This software platform allows interface designers to select from over 200 protocol drivers and connect to nearly every PLC available in the automation market place today. With data from these devices, automation engineers can quickly construct state-of-the-art interface screens that present data to the operator in intuitive ways, so they'll know exactly what's going on within their machine. All of the standard display and data entry objects are available: buttons, meters, trends, alarms, and much more.
To display the HMI screens, the cMT5151 offers a built-in, large, high-resolution 15" touchscreen display. The unit can be mounted in a control panel like any traditional HMI. The cMT-SVR, which does not have a built-in display, can be paired with the cMT-D090, a 1024 x 768 pixel resolution, 9.7" touchscreen display. The cMT-D090 can be a mounted in a traditional control panel, or on a VESA display mount. These screens provide a permanent fixed terminal that operators expect to find in any system.
Solution 2: Adding Remote and Mobile System Displays
A static, panel-mounted display is great for many applications but can be limiting in others.
For example, a machine may be quite large and the operators want to be able to stand directly in front of the section of the machine they are working on. Previously, the only way to accommodate this need would be to install a separate control panel at every point of interest along the assembly line. Or, a plant manager may want the ability to quickly log into any plant floor machine in order to respond to issues and monitor production rates. The cMT series allows you have it either or both ways.
The cMT Viewer application enables operators to use wireless Android or iPad tablets as their HMI. They are untethered from the control panel. The operator can move freely to any part of the assembly line or processing plant, taking their HMI with them. This eliminates the need for running back and forth to the panel while troubleshooting, or tying up two operators; one at the control panel pushing buttons, and the other at the machine trouble-shooting equipment.
Wireless Access to Remote Displays
The cMT Viewer application can also be run on any PC. This means that any computer on the network with a cMT device can easily view and control the system. A plant manager can connect to any cMT in their plant to get a real-time view of exactly what is occurring with that machine. Connection to the cMT is password protected so only authorized users can have access. Another cMT feature, Monitor Mode, allows plant managers to view live data from up to 50 connected cMT devices simultaneously.
An alarm condition from any device would immediately alert the operator, enabling quicker response rates and resolution to the issue. The cMT Viewer application can run on a traditional Windows desktop or on panel PC to provide a supervisory control station with access to many subordinate machines. Explore cMT Viewer.
Support for Multiple Simultaneous Display Platforms
Solution 3: Data Management
The HMI view of an operator interface terminal, whether on a local display, mobile tablet, supervisory panel PC, or remote workstation, is only one view of the important data in an automation system. There are also; alarm and data logging, database integration, recipe management, protocol translation and more. Maple's cMT series proves to be a flexible tool in these areas as well. Let's tour a few features available to manage your data on the cMT products:
Modbus Gateway
In an ideal world, every machine vendor and systems integrator would use the same protocol and all equipment would seamlessly communicate with everything else on a plant floor. More often than not this is far from the case. As a plant grows over time and different systems are added, little thought is given to the process as a whole. You'll often find different systems, from different manufacturers, speaking different protocols, on different serial busses. Fortunately, Maple's cMT products speak many languages. Our cMT products can use over 200 protocols on any of the available com ports, and translate them to the default industrial standard protocol: Modbus TCP/IP. The cMT becomes a transparent protocol translator, allowing upstream SCADA systems to connect to PLCs as if they were all using the same protocol on the same bus.
Modbus Communication Gateway
Recipe Server
Recipes are data that machines need to perform their everyday operations. Different parts may require different amounts of material, different cook times and temperatures, or different processing steps. This data often needs to be shared across multiple machines that may be at different steps in the process, or may be redundant production lines working on producing the same or similar products.
The cMT series can act as a storage tank for all machines sharing a particular recipe database. The recipe resides on the cMT. When a change is made to this central database the change is automatically downloaded to any HMI client using that recipe.
This feature saves time in systems that have many machines sharing many recipes. The changes, additions and deletions to the database only need to be made in one place and are then automatically updated throughout the system. This ensures production uniformity throughout the system. A single machine will not get stuck using an outdated recipe simply because someone forgot to update it.
Database Object
Increasingly, data that machines produce needs to be recorded and preserved. The data may be useful in process improvement or may be required by regulatory agencies. Maple's cMT products have a new object which allows them to log a data sampling object or an alarm log directly to an SQL database server over an Ethernet LAN.
This eliminates the need for manually retrieving and entering log files from each machine independently. Data from many different sources can be aggregated and stored in one central safe and secure location, automatically.
Solution 4: IIoT Gateway
So far we have seen how Maple's cMT series of products work as a local display, a mobile HMI server, and a data manager within the factory. But the cMT series packs even more features that enable yet another level of access and control. The IIoT, or Industry 4.0, is a growing area of interest in the automation market. Maple's cMT series provides a capable, ready, and secure solution for the IIoT.
OPC UA (cMT5151 and cMT-SVR-OPCUA only)
Open Platform Communications (OPC) Unified Architecture (UA) is a tried and tested communication protocol supported by many SCADA, MES, and ERP software providers. The protocol has built-in security with signed and encrypted data transfer using state-of-the-art encryption algorithms. Data is organized into objects making it easy to both access data and quickly understand what the data represents and how to use it.
Any data accessible to the cMT can be added to the OPC UA server and accessed by an upstream device. The configuration interface required to add data to the OPC UA server is very simple and straightforward to use. The user can organize data into multi-level objects with descriptive names. An OPC UA client device connecting to the cMT will see data organized in the same intuitive way.
MQTT
MQTT is a powerful and efficient IoT protocol that is lightweight, highly scalable, and has excellent support on many client devices and programs.
MQTT architecture consists of three main components:
Maple's cMT series HMIs are enabled to fill any or all of these roles. An easy to use configuration interface allows the user to select data from any of the supported PLC drivers, add it to an MQTT topic, and publish it periodically or whenever values change. The cMT series can also subscribe to MQTT topics and write the received data to internal HMI memory or to PLC memory addresses. Finally, the cMT series can host an MQTT broker internally, coordinating connections from other Maple Systems HMIs or any other MQTT enabled device.
The MQTT protocol is data agnostic, meaning that any data can be sent through the protocol, including plain text messages. This raises security concerns since anyone with access to the network can view the data in transit. However, the MQTT feature on Maple Systems products includes the ability to encrypt messages from publisher to subscriber. This ensures that messages are only read by the people and programs authorized to receive the messages.
For more about MQTT refer to http://www.maplesystems.com/IIoT/Edge-Gateway/
EasyAccess 2.0
OEMs and large organizations need a way to connect to, monitor, and control devices that may be scattered across the globe. EasyAccess 2.0 is an out-of-the-box solution that requires little to no network set up at the site of installation, yet can be used to monitor and control your cMT solutions without ever leaving the office.
EasyAccess 2.0 works by allowing the cMT device to reach out and register itself on a known, fixed, cloud-based web server. Access to the cMTs (or HMIs) can be managed through a simple web interface. This allows companies to assign a particular set of HMIs to groups of EasyAccess 2.0 users. Users can then utilize one of several EasyAccess 2.0 client applications to connect to the cMT device through a secure VPN connection, allowing them to view and control the HMI project as if they were standing in front of the machine. EasyAccess 2.0 client applications are available for Windows PCs, Android devices, and Apple iPads/iPhones.
Remote Access with EasyAccess 2.0
This easy to use solution brings the power of the IIoT to your product line without needing to integrate different software packages, or program a custom solution from scratch. OEMs can remotely manage their products post-sale after they're installed, with minimal need for network set up at the customer's site. This can save the enormous expense of onsite service calls. Large organizations with many devices in the field can have an instant window into any machine with an internet connection.
Learn more about EasyAccess 2.0
Maintaining the Control Network's Integrity and Security
Automation networks have special requirements for real-time data delivery and security. The features discussed above and others put demands on the control network that should not interfere with the primary task of the network, which is keeping the machine operating efficiently and safely. Maple's cMT series products all have dual-Ethernet ports and other security features built in. Dual-Ethernet means that one port can be used for an internet connection while the other is dedicated to the real-time task of PLC communication. For OEMs this means they can have an internal EtherNet/IP, Profinet, or Modbus TCP/IP network dedicated solely to machine operation that's never connected to their customer's network, yet still provide the remote connectivity features their customers demand.
Moving beyond the traditional HMI interface view, cMT series products offer additional IIoT features that make it much easier to extract data from the automation plant:
- An MQTT server: Publish, subscribe, or host a broker on board
- OPC UA server (cMT5151 only)
- Remote Secure Access via EasyAccess 2.0
- MySQL database connection
- Email alarms and data logs
- Modbus TCP gateway
- And more
New technologies bring new ways of interacting and controlling systems, but the need for a static HMI that is always ready and always resides in the same location remains. While enabling new exciting features, Maple's cMT series does not compromise on fulfilling this vital role.
The cMT series uses the same intuitive easy to use software that Maple Systems customers use with our HMI line: EZwarePlus. This software platform allows interface designers to select from over 200 protocol drivers and connect to nearly every PLC available in the automation market place today. With data from these devices, automation engineers can quickly construct state-of-the-art interface screens that present data to the operator in intuitive ways, so they'll know exactly what's going on within their machine. All of the standard display and data entry objects are available: buttons, meters, trends, alarms, and much more.
To display the HMI screens, the cMT5151 offers a built-in, large, high-resolution 15" touchscreen display. The unit can be mounted in a control panel like any traditional HMI. The cMT-SVR, which does not have a built-in display, can be paired with the cMT-D090, a 1024 x 768 pixel resolution, 9.7" touchscreen display. The cMT-D090 can be a mounted in a traditional control panel, or on a VESA display mount. These screens provide a permanent fixed terminal that operators expect to find in any system.
A static, panel-mounted display is great for many applications but can be limiting in others.
For example, a machine may be quite large and the operators want to be able to stand directly in front of the section of the machine they are working on. Previously, the only way to accommodate this need would be to install a separate control panel at every point of interest along the assembly line. Or, a plant manager may want the ability to quickly log into any plant floor machine in order to respond to issues and monitor production rates. The cMT series allows you have it either or both ways.
The cMT Viewer application enables operators to use wireless Android or iPad tablets as their HMI. They are untethered from the control panel. The operator can move freely to any part of the assembly line or processing plant, taking their HMI with them. This eliminates the need for running back and forth to the panel while troubleshooting, or tying up two operators; one at the control panel pushing buttons, and the other at the machine trouble-shooting equipment.
Wireless Access to Remote Displays
The cMT Viewer application can also be run on any PC. This means that any computer on the network with a cMT device can easily view and control the system. A plant manager can connect to any cMT in their plant to get a real-time view of exactly what is occurring with that machine. Connection to the cMT is password protected so only authorized users can have access. Another cMT feature, Monitor Mode, allows plant managers to view live data from up to 50 connected cMT devices simultaneously.
An alarm condition from any device would immediately alert the operator, enabling quicker response rates and resolution to the issue. The cMT Viewer application can run on a traditional Windows desktop or on panel PC to provide a supervisory control station with access to many subordinate machines. Explore cMT Viewer.
Support for Multiple Simultaneous Display Platforms
The HMI view of an operator interface terminal, whether on a local display, mobile tablet, supervisory panel PC, or remote workstation, is only one view of the important data in an automation system. There are also; alarm and data logging, database integration, recipe management, protocol translation and more. Maple's cMT series proves to be a flexible tool in these areas as well. Let's tour a few features available to manage your data on the cMT products:
Modbus Gateway
In an ideal world, every machine vendor and systems integrator would use the same protocol and all equipment would seamlessly communicate with everything else on a plant floor. More often than not this is far from the case. As a plant grows over time and different systems are added, little thought is given to the process as a whole. You'll often find different systems, from different manufacturers, speaking different protocols, on different serial busses. Fortunately, Maple's cMT products speak many languages. Our cMT products can use over 200 protocols on any of the available com ports, and translate them to the default industrial standard protocol: Modbus TCP/IP. The cMT becomes a transparent protocol translator, allowing upstream SCADA systems to connect to PLCs as if they were all using the same protocol on the same bus.
Modbus Communication Gateway
Recipe Server
Recipes are data that machines need to perform their everyday operations. Different parts may require different amounts of material, different cook times and temperatures, or different processing steps. This data often needs to be shared across multiple machines that may be at different steps in the process, or may be redundant production lines working on producing the same or similar products.
The cMT series can act as a storage tank for all machines sharing a particular recipe database. The recipe resides on the cMT. When a change is made to this central database the change is automatically downloaded to any HMI client using that recipe.
This feature saves time in systems that have many machines sharing many recipes. The changes, additions and deletions to the database only need to be made in one place and are then automatically updated throughout the system. This ensures production uniformity throughout the system. A single machine will not get stuck using an outdated recipe simply because someone forgot to update it.
Database Object
Increasingly, data that machines produce needs to be recorded and preserved. The data may be useful in process improvement or may be required by regulatory agencies. Maple's cMT products have a new object which allows them to log a data sampling object or an alarm log directly to an SQL database server over an Ethernet LAN.
This eliminates the need for manually retrieving and entering log files from each machine independently. Data from many different sources can be aggregated and stored in one central safe and secure location, automatically.
So far we have seen how Maple's cMT series of products work as a local display, a mobile HMI server, and a data manager within the factory. But the cMT series packs even more features that enable yet another level of access and control. The IIoT, or Industry 4.0, is a growing area of interest in the automation market. Maple's cMT series provides a capable, ready, and secure solution for the IIoT.
OPC UA (cMT5151 and cMT-SVR-OPCUA only)
Open Platform Communications (OPC) Unified Architecture (UA) is a tried and tested communication protocol supported by many SCADA, MES, and ERP software providers. The protocol has built-in security with signed and encrypted data transfer using state-of-the-art encryption algorithms. Data is organized into objects making it easy to both access data and quickly understand what the data represents and how to use it.
Any data accessible to the cMT can be added to the OPC UA server and accessed by an upstream device. The configuration interface required to add data to the OPC UA server is very simple and straightforward to use. The user can organize data into multi-level objects with descriptive names. An OPC UA client device connecting to the cMT will see data organized in the same intuitive way.
MQTT
MQTT is a powerful and efficient IoT protocol that is lightweight, highly scalable, and has excellent support on many client devices and programs.
MQTT architecture consists of three main components:
- Subscriber - a device that listens for data sent on a particular MQTT topic
- Publisher - a device that produces data for a particular topic and sends it to a central broker
- Broker - a central component that manages connections and exchanges data between publishers and subscribers
Maple's cMT series HMIs are enabled to fill any or all of these roles. An easy to use configuration interface allows the user to select data from any of the supported PLC drivers, add it to an MQTT topic, and publish it periodically or whenever values change. The cMT series can also subscribe to MQTT topics and write the received data to internal HMI memory or to PLC memory addresses. Finally, the cMT series can host an MQTT broker internally, coordinating connections from other Maple Systems HMIs or any other MQTT enabled device.
The MQTT protocol is data agnostic, meaning that any data can be sent through the protocol, including plain text messages. This raises security concerns since anyone with access to the network can view the data in transit. However, the MQTT feature on Maple Systems products includes the ability to encrypt messages from publisher to subscriber. This ensures that messages are only read by the people and programs authorized to receive the messages.
For more about MQTT refer to http://www.maplesystems.com/IIoT/Edge-Gateway/
OEMs and large organizations need a way to connect to, monitor, and control devices that may be scattered across the globe. EasyAccess 2.0 is an out-of-the-box solution that requires little to no network set up at the site of installation, yet can be used to monitor and control your cMT solutions without ever leaving the office.
EasyAccess 2.0 works by allowing the cMT device to reach out and register itself on a known, fixed, cloud-based web server. Access to the cMTs (or HMIs) can be managed through a simple web interface. This allows companies to assign a particular set of HMIs to groups of EasyAccess 2.0 users. Users can then utilize one of several EasyAccess 2.0 client applications to connect to the cMT device through a secure VPN connection, allowing them to view and control the HMI project as if they were standing in front of the machine. EasyAccess 2.0 client applications are available for Windows PCs, Android devices, and Apple iPads/iPhones.
Remote Access with EasyAccess 2.0
This easy to use solution brings the power of the IIoT to your product line without needing to integrate different software packages, or program a custom solution from scratch. OEMs can remotely manage their products post-sale after they're installed, with minimal need for network set up at the customer's site. This can save the enormous expense of onsite service calls. Large organizations with many devices in the field can have an instant window into any machine with an internet connection.
Learn more about EasyAccess 2.0
Maintaining the Control Network's Integrity and Security
Automation networks have special requirements for real-time data delivery and security. The features discussed above and others put demands on the control network that should not interfere with the primary task of the network, which is keeping the machine operating efficiently and safely. Maple's cMT series products all have dual-Ethernet ports and other security features built in. Dual-Ethernet means that one port can be used for an internet connection while the other is dedicated to the real-time task of PLC communication. For OEMs this means they can have an internal EtherNet/IP, Profinet, or Modbus TCP/IP network dedicated solely to machine operation that's never connected to their customer's network, yet still provide the remote connectivity features their customers demand.
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The cMT Series support connecting a barcode scanner to the HMI and displaying the scanned barcode data on the HMI screen.
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The cMT Viewer provides a way to monitor the cMT Series from a PC, Industrial Panel PC, iPad, and Android tablet or smartphone.
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EZwarePlus uses CUPS (Common Unix Printing System) to print to a variety of printers using their PPD (Postscript Printer Description) files.
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MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) is a lightweight, low bandwidth protocol that works between clients and a broker (server) to publish and subscribe data (topics) among devices.
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The cMT Series can connect to a MySQL database server on a PC. MySQL is a popular open source database that was originally developed by Oracle Corporation. It is used to add, access, and manage content in a relational database management system.
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OPC UA (Open Process Control – Unified Architecture) is a communication technology often used in industrial automation fields, featuring cross-platform interoperability and standardized communication.
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The Operation Log provides a method for recording operator actions on the HMI, displays them in real-time on the HMI screen, and records them to a SQLite database file in the HMI.
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The Server (cMT-SVR / cMT5151) stores the recipes used by all on-site machines in a recipe database.
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Configure the VNC Viewer to connect to another HMI and display it on the HMI screen.
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Synchronize the cMT Series real-time clock with an NTP server.
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Video from a USB camera connected to the cMT-SVR can be streamed and viewed in a web browser on a PC or mobile device.
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