Printer manufacturer uses the ED-20 to gain remote access to print presses for remote diagnostics and to upgrade software

Gaining remote access to industrial equipment to aid faultfinding, fault analysis, and software updates, is not new. However, when these devices are a made up of a mixture of equipment manufacturers, running different protocols, providing connection to these units can be difficult. Inca Digital Printers is a Cambridge based company who manufacture industrial flatbed inkjet printers. The printing equipment can produce an 8ft x 5ft image straight from CD in less than 5 minutes, with inkjet quality. The machines are exported worldwide. One of Inca’s prime concern was the speed in which their Customer Service department could respond to a Customers Call; whether this is a customer query on using the PC based control equipment, software upgrade on the Rockwell PLC, or a call from one of Inca Digitals own Service Engineers or distributors.

The Industrial PC, Rockwell SLC505, Rockwell Panel View and print processor are all networked together via Ethernet. Westermo provided Inca Digital with an Industrial PPP (Point to Point Protocol) Router. The ED-20 allows remote connection to the network via a telephone line. The major benefit of using Ethernet is that it allows transparent connection to any of the items of equipment regardless of the protocol. ‘It changed the way we look at supporting our customers’ explains Gavin Dodge, Inca Digitals Controls Engineer. ‘The ease at which we can connect to any of these devices, without the need to contact an Engineer at the customers facility to connect a modem to either the PLC, PC or Panel View is beneficial’ he continues. ‘In addition, once we have logged onto the network we can monitor all of the equipment and even use a Web-Camera to aid in fault finding’. Gavin also wanted to work with customers to enhance equipment availability. ‘We can simply download the fault log from the PC and advise each customer of any preventative maintenance work that may be required’. Before implementing Ethernet, a support call may have required an expensive international flight and overnight accommodation. Using Ethernet and an ED-20 Inca have managed to help reduce costs and decrease customer downtime. The ED-20 is used in conjunction with the TD-33 PSTN Modem. This allows connection speeds of up to 33,600 bps. The ED-20 can also be used with a GSM Modem if there is no telephone line available. Westermo also have an ISDN modem that enables speeds of up to 64 Kbps.