What is an HMI?
An HMI, or Human Machine Interface, is any type of user interface or dashboard that allows a person to interact with a machine, system or device. HMIs provide visual data about the system’s status, and allow the operator to control a machine, monitor its inputs and outputs, and make sure that everything is working properly. Having this technology greatly reduces the likelihood of problems occurring due to human error or the lack of information.
HMIs generally consist of a screen and controls; such as buttons, keyboards, voice recognition systems and motion sensors. They may also feature LED indicators, alarms and/or haptic feedback mechanisms to alert the user to an anomaly.
HMIs are widely used in industrial settings, but can be seen in many other applications, such as in automotive/transportation controls, medical devices, audio visual production, banks and information kiosks.
Important Features for a Great HMI
1. Easy to use
First and foremost, a really good HMI should be easy to use, and the information that it communicates should be clear. For this reason, many HMIs feature LED illuminated push button switches. The push button function makes it simple and quick to carry out an action, and the illumination helps the user to identify if/when it has been carried out.
2. Protection against vandalism
Protection from vandalism may not be quite so crucial for Human Machine Interfaces in industrial applications, but for HMIs used by the general public, it is important for them to be hard-wearing and resistant to damage.
Our metal push button switches are designed to be anti-vandal and come in a range of sizes from 8mm to 40mm, with or without LED illumination.
3. Protection against water damage
Many HMIs are in applications where they may be exposed to the elements, or where pressure washers are used to clean the machinery. To ensure that the interface isn’t damaged by water, its components should be IP rated. Many of our switches have a rating of IP65 or higher, and we’ve created this handy guide to explain what the ratings mean!
IP65 | Dust tight, protected against water projected from a nozzle. |
IP66 | Dust tight and protected against powerful water jets. |
IP67 | Dust tight and protected from water immersion for 30 minutes between depths of 150mm – 1000mm. |
IP68 | Dust tight and protected against continuous water immersion. |
4. Safe to use
A key role of an HMI is to alert the user of any faults or issues before they cause an accident. But, in any application where you are interacting with a large and/or potentially hazardous machine, it is important to have a fail-safe in place if something does go wrong. Therefore, you will often see large, red push buttons on an HMI. These are known as emergency stop buttons or ‘e-stops’, and when pressed, they will immediately stop all action of the machine/system and return it to a safe state.
5. Clean and clear design
Any good HMI should have a clean and clear design. In order to be effective, the layout and design of an HMI should be simple to understand and intuitive to use. However, a great HMI also has a visually appealing and cohesive design that improves the overall experience of the user.
Things to consider when creating your HMI include the material and finish of each component (e.g. brushed steel), the colour of caps and LEDs, and the illumination style. We offer a wide range of sleek, high-quality switches that can be customised to perfectly fit your unique application. Many of these switches can support the addition of custom legends to further differentiate your HMI from others on the market.
In Summary
Human Machine Interfaces must operate safely, smoothly and to a high standard, as they are such a crucial tool when controlling machinery. If you are looking to design an HMI for your own application, RJS Electronics has everything you need to make it stand out. From anti-vandals, to LED illuminated push buttons, IP rated switches and e-stops, we’ve got you covered. Contact our experienced Sales Engineers today to get started.
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Call us on +44 (0) 1234 213600 to speak to our Sales Engineers or e-mail us
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