Being Firm About Firmware

I had a couple of calls this week about firmware issues. A couple of customers complained that their HMI's displayed a Firmware error window after download.
No surprise, as this was after they installed the new EB8000 V4.33.
The firmware error screen can appear anytime a new EB8000 version is released. This is because the firmware in the HMI is not able to handle some of the new features in the newer software.
The solution to this problem is easy. Just click the Firmware check box in the Download dialog.




You might have noticed the note just below it to remind users to do this. In reality, most of us just click through the download without thinking, because the software is just that easy! Even I have fallen prey to the forgotten firmware update! But I recognize the problem and realize what I forgot to do. A second download with the firmware box checked always solves the problem.
After the firmware is updated the check box can be disabled which speeds the download process.

While I am on this topic, just a note about the Font files check box. If you are downloading the same project after a brief edit, the Font files check box does not need to be enabled. However, if you added a new font type in your project be sure to have it checked for your first download. If you leave it unchecked and the HMI cannot find your font, it uses its own default font. This leads to text that is too large, small, or off-center.
Note: Font files for downloading can be found in the "...\EB8000\font" folder. Be sure this folder is in the EB8000 folder and is not write protected by Windows.

Trying to be trendy

I have had several calls about the lack of help for displaying trends on HMI's.
Admittedly the help needs some help in this area. So I am working on updating that portion of the help file. In the mean time it is useful to know that a Trend Display object needs a Data Sampling object as a data source.

I am also working on trying to get a Facebook fan page up.
What would you like to see on a Facebook fan page?
Do you even use Facebook?
Let me know.

More about rugged unit...

Last post I talked about an HMI built for rugged environments.
I have posted the datasheet on my website. Download me.
Yes this is the same popular 7" wide screen HMI.
But No, it is not the same. Check this out...
Aluminum Housing, not just an aluminum bezel, the whole case is aluminum front and back!
Increased temperature range. I know the datasheet says -10 to 55 DegC but the skinny is that it will run from -20 to 70 Deg C. How cool (hot) is that!
Plus all of the great features that made the 8070H such a hot product.

I received one of these units and it looks spectacular. My HMI mouth was drooling over this one.
Check out the new overlay. Yup, it has the manufacturer's name on it. A known maker of high quality interfaces.

Gotta get it!

Rugged Unit Requirements

I don't know how everyone feels about the plastic cases on the HMI products. Admittedly, the plastic is a heavy enough gauge that it holds up well. Distortion during mounting can be a problem when the mounting clips are really torqued down. But this only an issue when the mounting surface is not flat. The greater problem can be found when the cutout is too small and the HMI is "jammed" into the opening. Clearly the aforementioned scenarios are abusive. But, they often occur when mounting devices into panels, dashboards and the like.

How about plastics ability to withstand shock (read something hard hits the bezel or face)? Plastic's ability to withstand "hammering" without cracking is not one of its strong features.

This brings us to the question about a "ruggedized" unit for applications where abuse can be expected. Well, this is under development. As I get more details I will let you know. So far I know it has an aluminum case.

NOTICE! The MMI8056 will be discontinued 01JAN2012. This should give you plenty of time to change projects to one of the other models. More info on this as I get it.

New EasyBuilder Version Released!

Hi, Just a quick post.
EasyBuilder8000 (EB8000) version 4.33 is released. It can be downloaded from www.kep.com or my website.

Also for EB8000.....
Having trouble finding details about a driver?
Need to know the cable pin-outs?
Go to the new section I just added to my website! The PLC Connection Guide

May also note that the MMI6100 has been released as well! Great unit for a great price!

Until next time...

"Out with the old and in with the new."

I am sure you have heard the title of this post before. It seems that is the mantra around New Years day (or spring cleaning, or fall or ...whenever a milestone is reached).

Unfortunately, in the world of machinery, that news is not always welcome. We would all like to have replacement parts available for our machines for 10 or more years. I have had calls for products that were discontinued 20 years ago. Sadly, parts are not made forever. New technologies make old parts obsolete. The good news is that new technologies are an improvement over the old machines. Still people like to stick with what they know works. I really can't blame them. "So where is all of this going?" you might ask.

Last year the ZOID product line was discontinued because some parts were not manufactured anymore. KEP could not get them anywhere. Some years before that, it was the EB500 Series of HMI that went obsolete for the same reason. All of this caused upheaval with customers. So, no doubt, this next announcement will also cause some heartache.

In December of 2011 the MMI8056 will become obsolete. Yes, it is because parts availability is the issue. We would like to continue selling this product into 2012 but will be unable to do so.

This is a very early announcement so that users of the MMI8056 can convert their projects over to the MMI8070H. The 8070H is a widescreen unit that fits in the same cutout and programs up with the same software as the MMI8056.
Pick up the MMI8070H datasheet here.

On the bright side, there is a new release from KEP coming soon, the MMI6100. This is the popular MMI8100 without an Ethernet port. It programs up through its miniUSB port. If you do not need Ethernet communications this is the perfect 10 inch unit to suit your application.
More great news: The list price is under $1000.00!

The MMI6100 makes a great replacement for the former MMI-1500T, MMI-1500S or MMI1050.
Availability should be 01FEB11. Watch for details coming soon.

So, "in with the new" and Happy New Year!