Berlin, May, 1rst, 2021 –

A Profinet interface is now available for the imc CRONOS measurement system from imc Test & Measurement GmbH. This makes it possible to network devices of the imc CRONOS family of measurement systems with industrial controllers, PLCs or tooling machines. Expansion through the new Profinet interface transforms imc CRONOS into a Profinet IO device. This allows imc devices to be used for demanding applications in process and test stand automation, machine monitoring and condition monitoring.

In the area of automation, field buses provide exchange of machine parameters, control comands, status information, measurement values and alarms. Profinet has established itself in these areas as a communications standard for industrial Ethernet with real-time capabilities. As the successor to Profibus (RS485), Profinet is network-based (100 Mbit/s) and is now available as an interface option for imc CRONOS.

The PROFINET IRT Interface allows an imc CRONOS measurement system to be networked in applications for process and test stand automation or for condition monitoring of machines and industrial installations. The interface allows bidirectional data exchange in real time and has been implemented in accordance with conformance class CC-C. It thus supports real time functionality, particularly through mechanisms of synchronization (PTP) and reserved bandwidth (IRT; isochronous real time). As a result, imc CRONOS becomes a fully fledged IO device physically coupled to the control network through two dedicated RJ45 terminals.

imc CRONOS is a modular, high-end measurement device platform for physical quantities. It has been on the market for over 10 years and since then been continuously evolved and refined.  imc CRONOS devices are designed for measurement tasks that are demanding and require multiple channels. As a highly flexible system for measurement, data acquisition, control and automation solutions, imc CRONOS is used in a wide range of stationary and mobile applications. In stationary industrial applications this can range from single test stands to complete test facilities or condition monitoring of machines.