Bridging data between diffrent automation networks (English)

Bridging data between diffrent automation networks (English)

Wednesday, March 31, 2004

IEN Europe publish editorial article about Industrial Networks featuring new Anybus-X

Industrial networking and Fieldbuses are today a fragmented marketplace with many different networks and standards. Only within the Standard IEC-61158 there are nine different, non-compatible networks standardized. In addition to this there are several vendor proprietary networks that are widely used.

To improve flexibility and productivity in manufacturing its essential to allow different cells on the factory floor to access the same data, and be able to bring this data up to enterprise systems (ERP).

A car plant is divided into different manufacturing cells. Often each cell has a network that is selected to optimize the function of that cell, the body shop might use Profibus-DP and the painting cell uses Interbus.

There is a large demand from these applications to be able to transfer data between these networks, and also from these networks to enterprise systems, normally networked by Ethernet. For a factory using several different networks this has been a difficult task, involving hardware and software from different vendors.

HMS Industrial Networks now releases a Gateway, which support almost any combination of two networks. Based on the company?s Anybus Interface cards, supporting 15 different fieldbuses and industrial Ethernet, the free combinations make the Gateway family to over 120 different gateways, with almost every possible combination of two industrial networks.

The AnyBus-X Gateways help System Integrators to easily interconnect between the networks and ensure a transparent information flow throughout the entire plant.

The product family supports Fieldbus systems such as Profibus, DeviceNet, CANopen and CC-Link as well as two Ethernet-TCP/IP versions with Modbus-TCP and Ethernet/IP Protocol. AnyBus-X also supports networks like FIP, Modbus Plus, ControlNet, Interbus and others.

The Gateways are intelligent stand-alone devices. The rugged metal housing is designed for use in harsh industrial environments with standard DIN rail mounting. The concept incorporates both Master and Slave interfaces and is capable of creating over 120 gateways combinations, without having to program anything. You simply choose the gateway version that supports the two networks that you want to bridge. For each of the possible combinations, there is one separate gateway. This gives you a flexible and versatile solution that is based on proven AnyBus technology.

The Gateway concept primarily focuses on the transfer of cyclic I/O data between two networks. During the set-up of the Gateway, the user simply selects the maximal amount of I/O data that he wants to transfer from Network A into Network B. Since all Industrial Networks support a different amount of I/O data, the network with the least amount of I/O data determines how many data can be transferred in each case. For standard I/O applications, the configuration is very easy and no additional set-up is required.

?The AnyBus-X make us increase the value of the installed networks on the factory floor?, says Paolo Sartori of EFA Automazione s.r.l (Italy). ?With AnyBus-X gateways we can exchange data between cells using different networks. We can also bring data up via Ethernet to a supervisory system, either by using the Industrial Ethernet protocols Modbus/TCP or EtherNet/IP, or using the built in web server to make remote diagnostics over the Internet.?

Mr. Sartori concludes ?This allow us to maintain current installations and protect their value, but also increase productivity with a greater data collection from different cells on the factory floor.?

LINK:	http://www.hms.se/readnews.asp?NID=28...
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