An output module comprises two management units each of which calculates the current demand for the module independently from one another. One management unit controls an output current, controller whilst the other unit monitors the current produced by the output current controller against an independently calculated demand. The output module has multiple output modules. In normal operation, each module provides a portion of the required output current, the total output current being equal to the sum of the currents output by each module. in the event of failure on one of the, modules, the other module or modules switch to providing the total current required and the failed module is switched to a fail safe mode by using an isolation circuit to switch off the output current from that module.

A numerical control apparatus which enables a numerical control apparatus for a machine tool suitable for executing a particular machining program to selectively execute the machining program. The numerical control apparatus includes a storage that stores unique information; a receiving part that receives a machining program including incidental information; a determination part that checks the incidental information included in the machining program received by the receiving part with the unique information stored in the storage, and determines whether information matching the unique information is included in the incidental information; and a machine controller that executes the machining program received by the receiving part to control the machine tool only when it is determined that information matching the unique information is included in the incidental information.

A system and method for manufacturing and authenticating an additively manufactured component are provided. The method includes additively manufacturing the component including a first component identifier. A second component identifier is generated using the first component identifier and an encryption key. The second component identifier is additively manufactured onto the component and the first and second component identifiers are stored in a database as an authenticating pair. An end user may determine that a component is authentic if it contains a first component identifier and a second component identifier that match an authenticating pair from the database.

A numerical control apparatus which enables a numerical control apparatus for a machine tool suitable for executing a particular machining program to selectively execute the machining program. The numerical control apparatus includes a storage that stores unique information; a receiving part that receives a machining program including incidental information; a determination part that checks the incidental information included in the machining program received by the receiving part with the unique information stored in the storage, and determines whether information matching the unique information is included in the incidental information; and a machine controller that executes the machining program received by the receiving part to control the machine tool only when it is determined that information matching the unique information is included in the incidental information.

A method for editing a computer-aided design model for developing electronic control units in a design environment, whereby the design model comprises at least one model object with first data. The method begins with the reading of all model objects of the design model and the reading of an allocation list, which assigns a particular globally unique key to each model object. If the first data are available, the reading of the first data from a first memory location follows. Then, assignment of the first data to the model object based on the globally unique key occurs, so that the first data are available during editing of the design model. If the first data are not available, assignment of the globally unique key to the model object occurs, so that the globally unique key is available during tediting of the design model.

A control system for a technical installation, in particular a manufacturing facility or process plant, includes at least one first operator station server and one second operator station server and is configured to initiate the issuance and revocation of certificates for components of the technical installation as part of certificate management, and is configured to publish revocation of a previously issued certificate within the control system as a certificate revocation list, where the control system is configured to store the certificate revocation list on the first operator station server and/or on the second operator station server, where the control system is configured to synchronize the first operator station server and the second operator station server with one another such that a certificate revocation list with identical content is stored on both operator station servers.