NEW Brochure Released on the Basics of FOUNDATION Fieldbus

What is FOUNDATION fieldbus? How does it differ from 4-20mA? What are the advantages of our all-digital FOUNDATION fieldbus network? These are just a few great questions users find themselves looking to understand before retrofitting their existing plants. The Fieldbus Foundation has put together a new brochure addressing just these types of questions. The new literature is a 'back-to-basics' style brochure focusing on the core of what FOUNDATION fieldbus is at its roots. This guide provides a simple explanation to new users, potential users, marketing professionals etc looking to understand what value FOUNDATION delivers.

Get back to the basics with the new FOUNDATION fieldbus brochure

Click on the link above to download the brochure and understand how this real-time digital communication network designed specifically for process control can help you gain the competitive edge through reduced hardware footprint, reduced device count, faster commissioning, tighter control, better signal quality and advanced diagnostics.

The Fieldbus Foundation also has many alternative resources available to help understand the value of FOUNDATION technology on an ongoing daily basis. Below are a few;

Social Media/Forums

• YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/user/FieldbusFoundation
• LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Fieldbus-Foundation
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/FOUNDATIONField
• Slideshare - http://www.slideshare.net/Fieldbus-Foundation
• Fieldbus Forums - http://forums.fieldbus.org

Official FOUNDATION Fieldbus News Outlets

• Fieldbus Flash (enewsletter)
• Fieldbus Reports
• Press Releases
• ControlGlobal FOUNDATION Knowledge Center

White Papers/Technical Guides/Design Tools

• Technical References

Emerson Updates Segment Design Tool

Jim Cahill's Emerson Process Experts blog has been overflowing with fieldbus related posts recently.  First of these is the update of Emerson's segment design tool.  The segment is the basic building block of FOUNDATION fieldbus.  All devices are dropped off a segment, and that segment can have different design parameters depending on the length, number of devices dropped of the segment, and so on.  Segment design tools can greatly reduce the amount of time required to design a segment and they make sure that you avoid some common physical layer mistakes.

From the blog post:

"This release, version 5.3.0, has added support for the Windows 7 operating system, support for both simplex and redundant H1 cards of S series with Integrated Power Supply, and numerous field devices from a variety of manufacturers. The Segment Design Tool is compatible with the Windows 2000 / XP / Windows 7 operating systems, but none of the Windows Server platforms."

Read more here:

Emerson Updates FOUNDATION Fieldbus Segment Design Tool

Also, here is a blatant plug for our own free segment design tool at the Fieldbus Foundation, called DesignMate!

      DesignMATE

Plant Engineering Article: Making Fieldbus Projects As Painless As Possible

I recently contributed an article to Plant Engineering magazine on some of the critical steps toward making your fieldbus project as trouble free as possible.  Regardless of the size and scope of your project, there are some universal rules of thumb and best practices.   Many people don't know that the Fieldbus Foundation offers free resources like the recently revised AG 181 System Engineering Guide, our YouTube videos,and our DesignMate segment design tool.

Plant Engineering: Making Fieldbus Projects As Painless As Possible

New Video for DesignMATE Segment Design Tool

Check out this new YouTube video done by Fieldbus Foundation marketing specialist Talon Petty -- it's a short "How-To" video for our DesignMATE segment verification tool, which allows plant automation professionals to audit segment layouts in a user-friendly environment. The tool helps assure end users that their fieldbus infrastructure will work with desired parameters such as cable length, number and type of installed devices, and selected power supplies. DesignMATE allows users to perform rapid calculations, eliminate human error, improve efficiency, and minimize the amount of paperwork required during the segment design phase. This tool is maintained by the Fieldbus Foundation and you can visit our website here to download a free copy http://bit.ly/DesignMATE.