An industrial PC is a computer intended for industrial purposes (production of goods and services), with a form factor between a nettop and a server rack. Industrial PCs have higher dependability and precision standards, and are generally more expensive than consumer electronics. They often use complex instruction sets, such as x86, where reduced instruction sets such as ARM would otherwise be used.
History
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IBM released the 5531 Industrial Computer in 1984,[1] arguably the first "industrial PC". The IBM 7531, an industrial version of the IBM AT PC was released May 21, 1985.[2] Industrial Computer Source first offered the 6531 Industrial Computer[3] in 1985. This was a proprietary 4U rackmount industrial computer based on a clone IBM PC motherboard.
Applications
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Industrial PCs are primarily used for process control and/or data acquisition. In some cases, an industrial PC is simply used as a front-end to another control computer in a distributed processing environment. Software can be custom written for a particular application or an off-the-shelf package such as TwinCAT, Wonder Ware, Labtech Notebook or LabView can be used to provide a base level of programming. Analog Devices got exclusive sales for OEM European industrial market and provided MACSYM 120 combined IBM 5531 and MACBASIC a multitasking basic running on C/CPM from Digital Research. Analog and digital I/O cards plugged inside PC and/or extension rack made MAC120 as one of the most powerful and easy to use controller for plant applications at this date. An application may simply require the I/O such as the serial port offered by the motherboard. In other cases, expansion cards are installed to provide analog and digital I/O, specific machine interface, expanded communications ports, and so forth, as required by the application.
Industrial PCs offer different features than consumer PCs in terms of reliability, compatibility, expansion options and long-term supply.
Industrial PCs are typically characterized by being manufactured in lower volumes than home or office PCs. A common category of industrial PC is the 19-inch rackmount form factor. Industrial PCs typically cost considerably more than comparable office style computers with similar performance. Single-board computers and back planes are used primarily in industrial PC systems. However, the majority of industrial PCs are manufactured with COTS motherboards.
A subset of industrial PCs is the Panel PC where a display, typically an LCD, is incorporated into the same enclosure as the motherboard and other electronics. These are typically panel mounted and often incorporate touch screens for user interaction. They are offered in low cost versions with no environmental sealing, heavier duty models sealed to IP67 standards to be waterproof at the front panel and including models which are explosion proof for installation into hazardous environments.
Construction and features
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Virtually all industrial PCs share an underlying design philosophy of providing a controlled environment for the installed electronics to survive the rigors of the plant floor. The electronic components themselves may be selected for their ability to withstand higher and lower operating temperatures than typical commercial components.
See also
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References
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There are three main types of industrial PCs, all of which utilize an integrated touch display.
Considered the most robust and durable type of industrial PC, an IPPC is beneficial for use in heavy-duty industrial applications, such as automotive, steel manufacturing, dairy, and meat processing plants. Equipped with capacitive or resistive touch sensors, these PCs can be operated by gloved personnel. Capable of handling the most environmentally challenging applications, IPPCs are the most I/O intensive of all industrial PC types and include the following features:
Designed for a wide variety of light industrial tasks, PPCs provide ample input and output expansion options and are the most affordable type of industrial PC. Screen options include a widescreen with multi-touch features or a standard 4:3 screen with a resistive touchscreen. Sizes range from 6.5 inches to 42 inches.
Designed for standard industrial applications, TPPCs are fanless, SCADA-ready, and have a slim profile with a thin client terminal. Screen sizes range between 6.5 inches and 42 inches. These rugged units have a cast aluminum enclosure and operate on Android or Windows operating systems. TPPCs typically have the least amount of I/O available compared to other types of industrial PCs.
Industrial PCs can feature the following characteristics and mounting options depending on the demands of the specific application: