Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1197000
32 SMT007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2020 "OPC-UA and/or MTConnect can be used instead of CFX." Answer: False OPC-UA is a machine-to-machine communica- tion protocol for industrial automation. Because OPC-UA focuses on the communication only and not on the data architecture or machine-to- machine messaging that IPC CFX provides, it is not a replacement for IPC CFX, nor is it a plug- and-play Industry 4.0 standard for the electron- ics industry like CFX. Additionally, OPC-UA will require middleware for any level of electronics manufacture shop floor communication. MTConnect is a protocol designed for the exchange of data between shop floor equip- ment and systems used for monitoring and data analysis. MTConnect is a read-only stan- dard. It defines the extraction of data from con- trol devices but does not write data to a con- trol device. CFX differs from MTConnect because it pro- vides a constant flow of data between pieces of equipment as well as between equipment and ERP systems to enable a fully automated shop floor. MTConnect is not a plug-and-play Industry 4.0 standard for electronics manufac- ture and will require middleware to implement it on a shop floor. ______________________ "I don't need to invest in additional systems to use CFX in my shop." Answer: True CFX enables manufacturing facilities of any size to be able to easily implement CFX with minimal hardware requirements. If your facility has one or two servers operating on a standard 100 Mbps Ethernet network, you are CFX-ready. ______________________ How did you score? Even if you didn't score 100% on this first try, I hope you learned a lot and can challenge your colleagues to your own game. Between now and then, there are some other upcoming CFX activities that will be of interest to you. IPC-2591, Version 1.1 The Subcommittee has set a goal to publish version updates to the standard twice per year. The first version upgrade is expected to pass ballot at the time of writing this article and should be available by IPC APEX EXPO 2020. This version and all subsequent ones will include a summary of updates, so it will be easy for new and existing CFX users to identify the changes for implementation in their equip- ment. IPC/Hermes Digital Factory and CFX Virtual Demonstrations at IPC APEX EXPO 2020 IPC will once again host the IPC/Hermes Digital Factory—a live factory line that dem- onstrates the power and simplicity of CFX and Hermes working together. Now that indus- try has seen how easy CFX is to implement in a mixed-vendor line, and in a short period of time, the planning committee is focusing its efforts on demonstrating the true power of CFX as it pertains to Industry 4.0. Be sure to visit the digital factory on the show floor and talk with the vendors about why they have chosen CFX. Drop by at the top of the hour each day for a guided tour of the line. And in addition to the digital factory, dozens of exhibitors will once again push CFX messages from equipment at their booths to the cloud server. You will be able to monitor all the messaging from the digital factory and virtual demonstrations live and on-demand from your laptop or mobile device at connect- edfactoryexchange.com. Rolling Out Industry Support Solutions Beginning in early 2020, IPC will begin roll- ing out educational, validation and self-quali- fication solutions to support the industry in its successful implementation of CFX, which will include: • On-demand education webinars and train- ing videos that enable any manufacturing facility, IT team, and equipment supplier to quickly, easily and successfully under- stand, implement, and utilize CFX