The ABE042 244-042-100-012 is a high-performance 19-inch industrial rack purpose-built for housing Vibro-Meter's VM600 series machinery protection systems (MPS) and condition monitoring systems. This rack represents the culmination of decades of engineering expertise in rotating machinery protection, offering a robust, modular, and safety-certified platform for critical asset monitoring in demanding industrial environments.
Designed specifically for permanent installation in 19-inch cubicles or panels, the ABE042 244-042-100-012 delivers exceptional mechanical rigidity, electrical integrity, and thermal management capabilities. Its 6U standard height and rugged aluminium construction ensure reliable operation even in harsh industrial settings where vibration, temperature extremes, and electromagnetic interference are prevalent.
The ABE042 244-042-100-012 distinguishes itself from its counterpart, the ABE040, through the strategic positioning of its mounting brackets, offering enhanced flexibility for specific cubicle configurations and installation preferences. This model, with ordering number 204-042-100-012, represents the Siemens standard configuration, ensuring seamless integration into facilities following Siemens installation practices and standards.
At the heart of the ABE042 244-042-100-012 lies a sophisticated backplane architecture that supports VME bus communication alongside dedicated raw signal buses, tacho signal buses, and open collector relay buses. This multi-bus design enables simultaneous high-speed data acquisition, real-time signal processing, and reliable alarm actuation without performance degradation or signal interference.
The rack accommodates up to fifteen single-width VM600 series cards, with the flexibility to mix single-width and multiple-width modules according to specific application requirements. This modular approach allows system designers to tailor protection and monitoring solutions precisely to the needs of each machinery train, whether protecting a single critical turbine or monitoring an entire fleet of rotating equipment.
Factory-configured and tested before delivery, the ABE042 244-042-100-012 arrives as a ready-to-use system, minimising installation time and eliminating configuration errors. Optional on-site programming capabilities via the MPS1 or MPS2 software packages (running on Windows) provide additional flexibility for field adjustments and system optimisation.
Key Features
Industrial-Grade 19" Rack Construction – Robust aluminium chassis engineered for permanent installation in industrial cubicles and panels, providing exceptional mechanical stability and electromagnetic shielding.
Standard 6U Rack Height – Conforms to industry-standard form factors, ensuring compatibility with existing infrastructure and simplifying integration into new or retrofit projects.
Modular Card Architecture – Supports up to fifteen single-width VM600 series cards, enabling customised system configurations that scale from basic protection to comprehensive condition monitoring.
Integrated VME Backplane – Facilitates high-speed electrical interconnection between power supplies, signal processing cards, acquisition cards, CPU cards, I/O cards, and relay cards, ensuring deterministic system performance.
Redundant Power Supply Capability – Accommodates dual RPS 6U power supply units for enhanced system availability, with options for AC or DC input voltages to suit diverse site power infrastructures.
Comprehensive Bus Support – Incorporates VME bus, raw signal bus, tacho bus, and open collector relay bus for versatile signal routing and system integration.
Rear-Accessible I/O Interfaces – Provides convenient access to IOC input/output cards featuring screw terminal strips or connectors for transducer/conditioner connections and external control system interfacing.
Factory Configuration Option – Pre-configured and tested at the factory, delivering a turnkey solution that reduces site commissioning time and ensures system integrity.
Blank Panel Coverage – Unused rack positions can be covered with blank panels, maintaining proper airflow and electromagnetic compatibility while providing expansion capability for future needs.
System Architecture and Integration
The ABE042 244-042-100-012 serves as the foundational infrastructure for VM600 machinery protection systems, providing mechanical support, electrical interconnection, and signal routing for all system modules. The rack's integrated VME backplane ensures deterministic communication between processing elements while maintaining the galvanic separation required for safety-related applications.
The rack architecture supports a comprehensive range of VM600 modules, including:
MPC4 Machinery Protection Cards – Four-channel plus two auxiliary channel protection cards that form the core of the monitoring system, processing transducer signals and generating alarm outputs based on configurable thresholds.
IOC4T Input/Output Cards – Dedicated I/O cards that interface with transducers, conditioners, and external control systems, providing screw terminal or connector-based connectivity for field wiring.
RLC16 Relay Expansion Cards – Optional relay cards that expand alarm output capacity for complex protection schemes requiring multiple independent trip circuits.
RPS6U Power Supply Units – Single or redundant power supplies available in multiple voltage configurations (24VDC, 48VDC, 72VDC, 110VDC, 110/230VAC) to match site power infrastructure.
CPU and Communication Cards – Processing and communication modules that enable system configuration, data acquisition, and integration with plant control systems.
The modular architecture of the ABE042 244-042-100-012 enables system designers to implement protection strategies ranging from simple single-parameter monitoring to comprehensive multi-variable protection schemes incorporating vibration, position, temperature, and speed measurements.
Safety-Certified Operation
The ABE042 244-042-100-012, as an integral component of the VM600 MPS, is certified for use in safety-related applications up to IEC 61508 Safety Integrity Level 1 (SIL 1) and ISO 13849-1 Performance Level c. This certification, issued by TÜV NORD, validates the rack's suitability for protecting critical rotating machinery where failure could result in personnel injury, environmental damage, or significant economic loss.
For safety-related applications, the ABE042 244-042-100-012 must be configured with specific operational parameters:
De-Energised to Trip – Output relays must be configured such that the relay is energised when monitored parameters are within tolerance and de-energised to indicate an alarm condition. This fail-safe configuration ensures that power loss or system faults result in a safe state rather than masking dangerous conditions.
Latching Alarms – Safety-related alarms must be configured as latching, requiring manual reset after a trip event. This prevents automatic re-arming of protection circuits without operator acknowledgment.
Prohibited Functions – The VM functions "danger bypass" and "trip multiply" are not permitted in safety-related configurations, as these could compromise the integrity of the protection system.
Relay Contact Protection – All output relay contacts must be protected with 5A(T) fuses to prevent contact welding due to excessive current, a critical requirement for maintaining the integrity of the safety function.
Proof Testing – The system must undergo offline proof testing every five years or less to detect dangerous faults that may not be identified during normal operation. This testing includes cold start verification, continuity testing of safety relays, and threshold verification using simulated input signals.
The ABE042 244-042-100-012 achieves a response time of less than 100 milliseconds from threshold exceedance to relay actuation, ensuring rapid protection response for machinery with high-speed transients or critical operating margins.
Valid Safety Configurations
The ABE042 244-042-100-012 supports a range of safety-related monitoring configurations when properly configured with appropriate VM600 modules:
Broad-Band Absolute Bearing Vibration – Valid for safety-related systems, providing comprehensive protection against bearing deterioration and imbalance conditions.
Relative Shaft Vibration with Gap Monitoring – Valid for safety-related systems, enabling detection of shaft-to-bearing clearance issues and impending contact events.
Absolute Shaft Vibration – Valid for safety-related systems, offering protection against shaft instability and critical speed excursions.
Shaft Position – Valid for safety-related systems, monitoring axial position to prevent thrust bearing failure and rotor-stator contact.
Tracking – Not valid for safety-related systems, as this monitoring mode does not provide the deterministic protection required for SIL 1 applications.
Installation and Commissioning
The ABE042 244-042-100-012 is designed for straightforward installation in standard 19-inch cubicles or panels. The rack's robust aluminium construction provides the mechanical stability required for industrial environments while maintaining manageable weight for handling and installation.
Mounting – The ABE042 variant features a specific mounting bracket configuration that differentiates it from the ABE040 model, providing flexibility for installations with particular cubicle configurations or access requirements.
Power Supply Installation – The rack accommodates single or redundant RPS 6U power supply units, with AC and DC options available to match site power requirements. Redundant configurations enhance system availability by eliminating single points of failure in the power chain.
Card Installation – VM600 series cards install into the front of the rack, with up to fifteen single-width cards accommodated. Cards are guided into position and engage with the VME backplane automatically, ensuring proper electrical connection without specialised tooling.
I/O Wiring – All field wiring connections are made at the rear of the rack, providing convenient access to IOC cards featuring screw terminal strips or connectors. This rear-access design simplifies installation and maintenance while maintaining a clean front panel appearance.
Configuration – The system configuration is uploaded using MPS1 or MPS2 software packages running on Windows. For safety-related applications, configuration verification is mandatory, requiring comparison of uploaded configuration files with the active system configuration to ensure data integrity.
Commissioning – System commissioning must be performed as an integral part of the overall safety instrumented system commissioning, following site-specific procedures and involving competent, authorised personnel.
Environmental Suitability
The ABE042 244-042-100-012 is engineered for permanent installation in industrial environments where equipment must operate reliably despite challenging conditions. The rack complies with IEC 68.2 environmental testing recommendations, demonstrating robustness against temperature extremes, humidity, vibration, and shock.
Temperature Range – The rack's aluminium construction and ventilation design ensure reliable operation across the full temperature range specified for VM600 series equipment, maintaining thermal stability for all installed cards.
Vibration Resistance – The rigid mechanical construction and secure card retention system ensure reliable operation in environments with moderate vibration, typical of machinery protection applications.
Electromagnetic Compatibility – The metal enclosure and proper grounding practices provide effective shielding against electromagnetic interference, ensuring signal integrity for sensitive measurement channels.
When ordering the ABE042 244-042-100-012, the following details should be specified:
ORDERING CODE | DESCRIPTION |
204-042-100-012 | ABE042 19" rack, height 6U, including backplane, Siemens standard configuration |
204-040-100-111 | ABE040 19" rack, height 6U, including backplane, separate circuits per IEC/CEI 60255-5 |
204-040-100-012 | ABE040 19" rack, height 6U, including backplane (standard) |
204-042-100-111 | ABE042 19" rack, height 6U, including backplane, separate circuits per IEC/CEI 60255-5 |
Optional Accessories:
ORDERING CODE | DESCRIPTION |
200-505-001-011 | Blank panel for rear of rack, 1 slot wide |
200-505-002-011 | Blank panel for rear of rack, 2 slots wide |
200-505-003-011 | Blank panel for rear of rack, 4 slots wide |
200-505-005-011 | Blank panel for front of rack, 1 slot wide |
200-505-006-011 | Blank panel for front of rack, 2 slots wide |
200-505-007-011 | Blank panel for front of rack, 4 slots wide |
Power Supply Units:
RPS 6U 24VDC (200-582-200-013)
RPS 6U 48VDC (200-582-300-013)
RPS 6U 72VDC (200-582-400-011)
RPS 6U 110VDC (200-582-600-013)
RPS 6U 110/230VAC (200-582-500-013)
Support and Documentation
Comprehensive documentation supports the ABE042 244-042-100-012 throughout its lifecycle:
Hardware Manual – The MPS Hardware Manual (Standard Version) MAMPS-HW/E provides detailed installation, configuration, and maintenance instructions.
Software Manual – The MPS1 Software Manual MAMPS1-SW/E documents the configuration software used to program the system.
Functional Safety Manual – The VM600 Functional Safety Manual MAVM600-FS/E provides essential guidance for safety-related applications, including certification details, safety parameters, and proof testing procedures.
Quality and Reliability
The ABE042 244-042-100-012 is manufactured under rigorous quality management systems, with factory configuration and testing ensuring system integrity before delivery. The rack's modular design and robust construction contribute to long service life with minimal maintenance requirements.
For safety-related applications, the system's performance is validated through comprehensive failure modes, effects, and diagnostic analysis (FMEDA), with safety parameters documented for use in overall safety integrity level calculations. The probability of failure on demand (PFDavg) values are provided for proof test intervals of 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 years, enabling system designers to optimise maintenance schedules while maintaining required safety integrity levels.
Disposal and Environmental Responsibility
At the end of its useful life, the ABE042 244-042-100-012 must be disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. In European Community countries, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive 2002/96/EC applies, requiring separate collection and treatment of electronic waste. The rack contains valuable raw materials that can be recovered through appropriate recycling processes, contributing to resource conservation and environmental protection.
