Human Machine Interface, often known as HMI, refers to a dashboard or screen that controls machinery. The industry’s line operators, managers, and supervisors rely on HMIs to translate complex data into useful information.

Design and Construction

The Omron NS Series of Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs) exemplifies design and build quality excellence. Characterized by a sleek and robust construction, these HMIs prioritize durability, making them well-suited for deployment in challenging industrial environments. These are available in different sizes, 4 to 15 inches, including the versatile handheld NSH Series, all equipped with vibrant color TFT screens. This ensures adaptability to various display requirements and operational settings. The emphasis on connectivity shines through with features like RS-232C, RS-422A, USB Slave and Master, Ethernet, and Controller Link, connecting with other Omron devices and industrial components. Safety is ingrained in the design, evident in the incorporation of emergency stop inputs with distinct red and gray switches for immediate and general stop commands, enhancing operator control in critical processes. The user-friendly touchscreen interface, coupled with high-resolution displays, ensures intuitive operation. Selected models featuring a Ladder Monitor further facilitate efficient monitoring and troubleshooting. The Omron NS Series is dependable for those seeking efficient, adaptable, and durable HMIs for their automation setups in a broad spectrum of industrial applications.

Elevating functionality and build quality, Omron’s NT Series Operator Interfaces, exemplified by models like NT20S and NT600S, emerge as cost-effective touchscreen terminals that transcend traditional function key units. These interfaces introduce heightened flexibility and operational efficiency, featuring attributes such as shared I/O comment data compatibility with CX-Programmer, Symbol Manager Previews, and individual editing of grouped parts. The essential function touch screens in NT20S and NT600S deliver fundamental control elements, including touch switches, lamps, numeric and string displays, bar graphs, keypads, and thumb wheels. Notably, the series emphasizes concentrated functionality, supporting up to 3,999 screens. The NT Series excels in programming flexibility, aligning with Omron’s commitment to quality and performance observed in its leading PLCs. The NT Series stands out with field-replaceable backlights to minimize downtime, dynamic labels offering flexibility in customization, and versatile numeric and string display options. Its compact design, characterized by shallow depths and efficient face dimensions, makes it ideal for mounting in confined spaces. The series facilitates the conveyance of complex data through colorful charts and graphs, enhancing the operator’s ability to comprehend information swiftly.

Network Connectivity

The Omron NS Series demonstrates a sophisticated approach to connectivity, offering a versatile range of communication options and network configurations. The series provides serial NT Link communications, supporting both 1:1 and 1:N connections, with enhanced efficiency compared to Host Link, which is particularly beneficial in applications with multiple Programmable Terminals (PTs) connected to the PLC. The NS-series PTs can communicate with multiple PLCs and NS-series PTs through Controller Links and Ethernet connections, allowing for flexible network configurations tailored to diverse application requirements.

The series introduces Ethernet/IP support, offering efficient data structures and tag access. This feature is particularly notable when combining an Omron CJ2/NJ/NX PLC with an NS-series PT. The integration of tag-based access enables simultaneous and parallel engineering, facilitating shorter design times and minimizing the side effects of address changes. Tags, acting as names for addresses, ensure that the PLC’s address changes do not impact the PT and host application.

The NS Series excels in connectivity to external devices, exemplified by its direct connection to OMRON Temperature Controllers. The RS-232C port on the NS-series PT allows direct connectivity to Temperature Controllers, streamlining the integration process. The Face Plate Auto Builder for NS further enhances the connectivity by simplifying the creation of screens for Loop Controllers. This automatic generation reduces the effort required to combine a Loop Controller with an NS-series PT, featuring a comprehensive set of function blocks and automated comments for unit and scale settings.

Omron’s NT Series revolutionizes industrial automation by introducing features that redefine connectivity and expandability. The series excels in integration with Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), supporting versatile communication protocols such as Host Link, NT Link 1:1, NT Link 1:N, and Memory Link. This efficiency extends to Ethernet/IP connections with Omron CJ2, NJ, and NX series PLCs, eliminating the need for additional Option Units for Ethernet-compatible NS-series PTs. Omron’s comprehensive range of communication cables, including D-sub 9-pin and 25-pin connectors, provide flexibility in connecting the PT to PLCs with different port configurations.

Memory Units and support software facilitate efficient screen transfer and management, enabling users to transfer and edit screen data easily. The NT Series also offers a variety of accessories, including protective covers, anti-reflection sheets, and batteries, enhancing the durability and longevity of the operator interfaces. In conclusion, Omron’s NT Series is a testament to the company’s commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions for connectivity and expandability in industrial automation.

Features and Performance Specifications

Omron’s NS Series, including NS5, NS8, NS10, NS12, and NS15, boasts exceptional performance and specifications, making them reliable choices for industrial operator interfaces. The interfaces operate within a rated power supply voltage of 24 V DC, with an allowable range of 20.4 to 27.6 VDC, ensuring stability. The maximum power consumption is 25W. These interfaces are designed to endure challenging environments, with an ambient operating temperature range of 0 to 50°C (55°C for NS5) and a storage temperature range of -20 to 60°C. The ambient operating humidity ranges from 35% to 85% (0 to 40°C) and 35% to 60% (40 to 50°C) with no condensation. They operate in environments free of corrosive gases, providing reliability in various industrial settings.

The NS Series adheres to international standards, including IEC61000-4-4 for noise immunity, IEC 60068-2-6 and JIS C0040 for vibration resistance, and IEC 60068-2-27 and JIS C0041 for shock resistance during operation. The weight varies depending on the model, ranging from 1kg for NS5 to 2.5kg for NS12. The front operating panel is IP65F and NEMA4 compliant, ensuring protection against environmental factors. Battery life is a noteworthy feature, lasting for five years at 25°C. When the battery runs low, indicated by an orange light, replacement is recommended within five days. The NS Series incorporates a supercapacitor to back up SRAM and RTC for 5 minutes after removing the old battery, provided the power is turned on for at least 5 minutes and then turned off.

The NSH5 Hand-held PT series, including NS5-V2, NS8-V2, NS10-V2, NS12-V2, and NS15-V2, is designed for versatility with features such as a matrix resistive membrane-type touch panel and a display with a resolution of 320×240 dots. These hand-held PTs operate with a rated power supply voltage of 24 VDC, offering flexibility and functionality in various applications.

Omron’s NT Series Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) represent a pinnacle in industrial automation, delivering advanced features and top-tier performance. Among these, the NT631C-ST153(B)-EV3, NT31-ST123(B)-EV3/NT31C-ST143(B)-EV3, and NT20-ST121(B)/128(B) models stand out with their unique attributes. The NT631C, characterized by its sophisticated interface, offers advanced compatibility and user-friendly support software, streamlining system construction. Compact and versatile, the NT31 and NT31C models cater to diverse applications, while the cost-effective NT20 series, with a monochrome STN LCD, is ideal for budget-conscious scenarios.

In terms of performance, the NT Series excels in demanding industrial settings. Operating flawlessly in ambient temperatures from 0 to +50ºC, it demonstrates resilience against vibrations, enduring frequencies from 10 to 57 Hz with a 0.075 mm amplitude and 57 to 150 Hz with 1G acceleration for 60 minutes in the X, Y, and Z directions. With a minimum life expectancy of 50,000 hours, the NT631 exemplifies endurance. Contrast adjustment features ensure optimal visibility in varied working conditions. Designed with durability in mind, the NT Series adheres to high environmental standards. Enclosures conform to IP65F (NEMA4), providing robust protection against water and dust ingress. The series showcases resistance to electrostatic discharge, electromagnetic fields, and various noise types, ensuring stability in challenging industrial conditions.

Application

Omron’s NS Series Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) are tailored for industrial automation; these HMIs boast high-resolution displays and advanced compatibility, enabling efficient communication with PLCs and automation devices. Their user-friendly interface makes them specifically adept for machine control, allowing operators to interact with different machinery. In processes requiring continuous monitoring, such as chemical manufacturing, the NS Series provides real-time visualization of critical parameters, ensuring accurate data representation and quick response to variations. These HMIs play a pivotal role in energy management applications, offering operators in power plants the tools to monitor and control power generation and distribution for efficient energy management.

Omron’s NT Series Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) have diverse applications across industries, showcasing their adaptability and efficiency. In the packaging industry, these HMIs are crucial in controlling and monitoring packaging machinery, ensuring precision in filling, sealing, and labeling. The food and beverage sector benefits from the NT Series in maintaining hygiene and process control, allowing operators to oversee production processes in compliance with quality and safety standards. In pharmaceutical manufacturing, these HMIs support stringent control and monitoring, aiding in real-time visualization of critical parameters to uphold product quality and regulatory standards. The NT Series also contributes to building automation, managing HVAC systems, lighting, and security in commercial and industrial buildings. Additionally, their cost-effective solution for machine control, especially in the NT20 series, makes them suitable for applications prioritizing budget considerations without compromising versatility.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the NS Series stands out with its excellence in design and construction, offering a sleek and robust interface with high-resolution displays, making it well-suited for complex industrial environments. Its sophisticated connectivity options, including Ethernet/IP support and direct connection to OMRON Temperature Controllers, showcase its versatility. The NS Series excels in machine control, process monitoring, and energy management applications.

On the other hand, the NT Series introduces cost-effective touchscreen terminals focusing on programming flexibility. With various communication protocols, including Host Link and Ethernet/IP connections, the NT Series ensures smooth integration with PLCs. It finds applications in diverse industries, such as packaging, food and beverage, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and building automation, offering an efficient solution for machine control, particularly in budget-conscious scenarios. Both series demonstrate impressive features and performance specifications, meeting the demands of industrial settings. The CX-Designer Screen Design Software for NS Series and NT-Series Support Tool Graphic Development Software enhance programming flexibility, offering powerful tools for screen creation and ladder programming. The user-friendly interfaces, connectivity options, and application-specific strengths make Omron’s NS and NT Series HMIs reliable choices for various industrial automation needs.