Easy system configuration or modification makes a safety controller more cost-effective that a traditional safety PLC for medium-complexity machines.

For medium-complexity machines, the Pilz PNOZmulti modular safety controller is far more cost-effective than using multiple safety relays or a traditional safety PLC. This is partly as a result of the reduced purchasing cost, but also due to the ease with which the configuration can be created or modified. Another advantage of the PNOZmulti, however, is its built-in diagnostics.

Version 5 of the PNOZmulti firmware and Configurator gained additional functionality for creating safety circuits utilising safety mats, safety gates with interlocks, pushbuttons, limit switches, key switches, foot switches and light curtains with muting functions.

Additional fault messages and remedies have also been added into the firmware to aid fault diagnosis and thereby reduce downtime.

For customers using versions 2, 3 or 4 of the PNOZmulti Configurator software with the version 5 firmware, Pilz is now offering free downloads of the additional message sets so that the diagnostic information can be interpreted.

Customers purchasing the PNOZmulti appreciate the way in which only one software licence has to be purchased and used to configure any number of PNOZmulti safety controllers.

However, the pace of development at Pilz has been so great that numerous customers purchased a version 2, 3 or 4 Configurator licence when they started using version 2, 3 or 4 PNOZmulti firmware, yet those customers are now using the same Configurator on version 5 PNOZmulti units they have recently purchased for new machines.

By downloading the new message sets from the Pilz website, these users will be able to connect a laptop PC to the PNOZmulti to interrogate the error stacks and, with the new message sets installed on the PC with the version 2, 3 or 4 Configurator, they can interpret the diagnostic information.

This will save time during both commissioning and troubleshooting.

The new message sets can be downloaded free of charge from the PNOZmulti Downloads page on the Pilz website.