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This Help covers version 5.4 of the iTrax Operator Interface. The Nordson® iTrax® System is a configurable spray control and monitoring system. It consists of a combination of iTrax hardware modules that communicate over a CAN network (Controller Area Network) with iTrax software running on a Windows PC. The software consists of an OPC server and OPC Local Client (the iTrax Operator Interface). Each hardware module has an embedded processor, so they can operate independently after they are set up on the CAN network.
The CAN network is an industrial standard differential serial bus designed to be robust in electromagnetically noisy environments. The iTrax System uses a Nordson proprietary data protocol, so only Nordson modules can be on the CAN network. External data exchange is provided by the OPC Server. OPC is an industrial standard that specifies the communication of real-time plant data between control devices and computers from different manufacturers. The Nordson iTrax OPC Server is OPC DA 2.0 compliant.
The iTrax modules are:
Spray Monitor modules - one monitor for each lacquer spray gun.
Spray Controller modules - one controller for each lacquer spray gun and CleanSpray® gun combination.
PRx modules - one module for each spray machine or spray gun.
The Spray Monitor modules monitor system operation, provide the operators with warnings and alarms, and can shut down the coating system if operating parameters go out of the setpoint ranges.
The Spray Controller modules provide coil driving voltage, current, and trigger timing for lacquer and CleanSpray gun operation.
The PRx modules provide inputs and outputs to control base pressure and belt speed, and monitor fluid temperature and belt drive speed. The Extended Can-In-Pocket feature monitors can chuck vacuum, gun mount position, can-in-pocket sensor, and belt movement, and turns on the CIP fault output if a fault is detected. The fault output can be used by the Spray Monitor or a customer device to turn on an alarm and to shut down the spray machine.
The iTrax Software Package contains the OPC Server and OPC Local Client (the iTrax OI). The iTrax software runs on a PC equipped with the Windows® XP operating system.
The OPC Server collects data from the modules on the CAN network once a second and organizes it per module inputs and outputs. This raw data can be viewed within the server application. As a diagnostic feature, the server also provides an alive signal so the clients will know if the server is shut down. The OPC server serves data to the OPC Client. The OPC Server and OPC Local Client are usually run on a computer located near the spray machine.
The OPC Local Client (the iTrax OI) runs on the same computer as the OPC Server. The iTrax OI is the graphical user interface for the system modules. It displays near real time data in a dedicated window (called a faceplate) for each module.
Systems can be configured in the following ways:
iTrax OI and Spray Monitors only
iTrax OI and Spray Controllers only
iTrax OI and PRx Modules only
iTrax OI, Spray Monitors, and PRx Modules
iTrax OI, Spray Monitors, and Spray Controllers
iTrax OI, Spray Monitors, Spray Controllers, and PRx Modules
The Spray Monitors, Spray Controllers, and PRx modules are all attached to a single CAN network.
The system can also have the following options:
Local or Remote OPC Data Logger software
electronic pressure controller, Anybus modules, proximity switches, and other sensors for optional system control and monitoring
CAN-to-CAN gateways, for very long networks requiring electrical isolation or systems with a large number of modules
Remote OPC Client
The optional OPC Remote Client (remote iTrax OI) provides operators or managers the ability to run or monitor the iTrax System from remote computers on a factory installed Ethernet network. The computer running the iTrax OPC server and Local Client must be connected to the customer's Ethernet network, and the iTrax security system must be set up to allow remote access to the server.