Tactile feedback ensures comfortable key operation. The Simatic HMI KP8F is ideal for safety applications, for which it has
two additional safety inputs. In single-channel operation, it achieves SIL 2 safety level; in dual-channel operation, SIL 3. It supports the connection of one or two emergency stop pushbuttons, depending on the safety level. Support for Profinet's Shared Device functionality allows simultaneous access to two controllers.
The new Simatic HMI Keypanel KP8 and KP8F are ideal for complementing Siemens' fully protected (IP65) HMI (Human Machine Interface) units. They fit perfectly into expansion units and provide additional control elements
. The LED backlighting intensity of the new keypanels can be adjusted to ambient conditions, such as bright sunlight. The key background color is configurable—red, yellow, green, white, or blue—to signal
different machine states, for example. Each key can also be configured, for instance, to prompt operator interaction via a flashing pattern. Two insertable strips allow for customization of the key labels to suit the application.
A typical application of keypads is the direct and deterministic transmission of control commands. The new Siemens keypads come pre-assembled, eliminating the lengthy assembly and wiring of components typically found in conventional control panels or pushbuttons. Additional control elements, such as long-travel pushbuttons, can be connected via eight configurable I/O ports located on the back of the unit.
