The compact, modular Simatic S7-1200 controllers from Siemens are used in machines and systems. The range of applications ranges from simple conveyor belt controls, pump control and monitoring, and energy management to decentralized automation tasks in a complex network. With the CPU Simatic S7-1217C, Siemens Industry is expanding the portfolio for the compact, modular Simatic S7-1200 with an advanced S7-1200 controller. Firmware version 4.0 is now available for all available types, which is distinguished by Profinet iDevice functionality.
Siemens Simatic S7-1217C
The working memory of the new CPU Simatic S7-1217C is approximately 25KB larger than the current most advanced type, at 125KB. In addition, the new compact CPU has line-driver inputs and outputs for stepper motors with a frequency of up to 1MHz. The controller has a processing speed of 0.08 micro seconds per instruction and, in addition to the line-driver IO, is equipped as standard with 24VDC inputs and outputs, two Profinet ports and two analog inputs and outputs. The device is basically designed as a DC/DC/DC variant.
New firmware version 4.0
With the new firmware version 4.0, all Simatic S7-1200 CPUs can operate as a Profinet iDevice, in addition to the existing Profinet controller. The new firmware offers a real-time trace functionality for diagnosing the application and for debugging. The trace functionality was previously only available for the most advanced systems. Another new functionality of firmware version 4.0 is the recipe management, which provides the user with recipe data as a CSV file. In addition, protection against unauthorized changes to the configuration has been extended. There are four authorization levels for CPU access.
Version 4.0 only programmable with TIA Portal version 13 or higher
Simatic S7-1200 CPUs equipped with firmware version 4.0 can only be programmed with the Simatic TIA Portal Step7 basic/professional V13 or higher. This is also the reason why CPUs with firmware version 3.0 are still available for some time (until October 2015 at the latest). The type numbers of both CPUs will be different, so that a distinction can be made between the different versions. If you do not yet have the latest TIA Portal version, but you do want to use the S7-1200 CPUs with version 4.0, you must also upgrade your TIA Portal software to version 13.
