HMS introduces new Profinet communication module

HMS Industrial Networks (www.hms.se) has unveiled its all-new embedded Anybus-CompactCom PROFIenergy communication module, a Profinet communication module featuring integrated PROFIenergy profile server. With this release, the company supports the AIDA group of automakers – Audi, BMW, Daimler, Porsche and Volkswagen – to minimize the energy consumption of their plants. The new device provides automation device manufacturers with fast and easy-to-integrate energy control functionality into their devices, according to the PROFIenergy standard. With the help of the PROFIenergy commands, a central controller switches complex automation systems comprising of automation devices from different manufacturers safely and easily into standby mode during standstill times and production breaks. It saves almost 40% of the electrical energy needed for the manufacturing process and reduces the CO2 emission.

The PROFIenergy server is implemented into the Anybus-CompactCom Profinet I/O communication module’s firmware. The module serves as a Profinet I/O device based on the conformance class B in the Profinet network and comes equipped with a fast two-port switch, allowing Profinet installations in line topology without using costly external switches. The embedded profile server handles the PROFIenergy parameters and commands according to use cases 1 to 3 and provides a standardized software and hardware interface towards the automation device’s electronics. It minimizes the development efforts that are needed in the automation device to comply fully with the PROFIenergy standard.

By selecting to integrate support for the all-new PROFIenergy CompactCom module, operators will automatically access any major industrial networks. It is part of the Anybus-CompactCom series of interchangeable plug-in communication modules – the most cost-efficient and flexible solution in the world for connecting devices to all major fieldbus as well as Industrial Ethernet networks such as DeviceNet, Profibus, CANopen, CC-Link, EtherCAT, Profinet, Sercos III and Modbus-TCP.

HMS unveils new CANopen X-gateway Family

HMS Industrial Networks, Inc. (www.hms.se) has announced that it will release an all-new Anybus X-gateway series that connects CANopen networks with 10 other industrial Ethernet and fieldbus networks.

At the SPS/IPC/Drives fair in Nuremberg, Germany, HMS will launch a major enhancement to the X-gateway family, unveiling 10 completely updated design of CANopen master (manager) gateways in small slim-line housing. Any CANopen enabled device with slave functionality can communicate with any other industrial Ethernet or fieldbus network through the new and powerful CANopen X-gateways. The CANopen gateway family includes versions for all well-known fieldbusses such as DeviceNet, Profibus, ControlNet, Modbus and for industrial Ethernet with EtherNet/IP, Profinet, Modbus-TCP and EtherCAT protocol. CANopen-based networks are typical applications that need to be incorporated into higher functional industrial Ethernet or fieldbus networks. Target markets include transportation, machine building, medical, infrastructure and other types of energy distribution, as well as control applications such as renewable energies.

The CANopen X-gateways, which are embedded into a small plastic housing, are slim-lined devices for 24 Volt power supply and standard DIN rail mounting. These are based on the Anybus communication modules and act as intelligent link between two industrial networks. They always function as a master (manager) on the CANopen side and work as slaves (servers) on the uplink network side. Based on HMS NP30 microprocessor, the implementation is certified by CIA (CAN in Automation) for conformance to the CANopen DS 301 v4.0.2 standard.

For the CANopen master interface’s configuration, any standard CANopen configuration tool can be utilized. The Ethernet slave or uplink fieldbus interface is configured with the standard engineering tool of the programmable logic controller (PLC) and a standard device description file (GSD/EDS). The Anybus X-gateway series transmits I/O data completely transparent into the two networks – I/O data from the uplink fieldbus/Ethernet network is mapped into the CANopen PDOs and vice versa.

New two-port EtherNet/IP Plug-in-module fosters industrial automation from HMS

HMS Industrial Networks (www.hms.se) is proud to announce its extended Anybus-CC family with the new two-port EtherNet/IP communication module with integrated switch. This is the latest addition to the Anybus-CC family of plug-in communication modules from HMS, giving interchangeable connectivity solutions for all Industrial Ethernet and major fieldbus networks such as Modbus-TCP, EtherCAT, Profinet, CANopen, CC-Link, DeviceNet and Profibus. Anybus-CC modules are utilized as communication interfaces for intelligent automation devices including scales, instruments, inverters, robots, HMIs and drives.

The New EtherNet/IP module with integrated switch eliminates the need for external switches and reduces infrastructure cost.

The new two-port version permits EtherNet/IP real-time communication with ring or bus topologies. The new module provides a simple way for a variety of automation device with integrated Anybus-CC slot to be connected to any programmable logic controller (“PLC”) with EtherNet/IP support and removes the need for costly external switches. Moreover, the module provides a TCP/UDP-IP socket interface, which can be utilized to apply specific application protocols like Modbus-TCP.

This new module has another key feature, the added support for DLR (“Device Level Ring”) network protocol. The DLR technology adds a device-level network resilience optimizing machine operation. DLR can detect a break in the ring to provide alternate data routing to recover the network. Also, the module includes industrial IT functions such as an E-mail client, an embedded web server and an FTP server.

The new Anybus-CC module has a handy housing with the same size to a compact flash card. The module’s core is NP30 microprocessor from HMS with its integrated quick Ethernet controller and Flash and RAM memories for the EtherNet/IP device software stack. Its onboard two-port switch gives two 100 Mbit per second full duplex Ethernet interfaces with RJ45 connectors.

Each Anybus-CC is interchangeable and offers device manufacturers an efficient and simple way to connect intelligent automation devices to all industrial Ethernet and major fieldbus networks with just one development.

Bridging Modbus-TCP and Profibus using Anybus X-gateway™ from HMS Industrial Networks

HMS Industrial Networks (www.anybus.com) is proud to announce the new Anybus X-gateway, which enables system integrators to transfer I/O data between two different programmable logic controller (“PLC”) networks and systems. The new X-gateway is a stand-alone gateway which can be configured to allow plant-floor devices on a Profibus network communicate with other devices on a Modbus-TCP network and vice versa. It has typical applications with mixed usage of Schneider Electric and Siemens, ABB or GE PLCs. Automobile manufacturing plants, for example, are integrated with Profibus based segments into industrial Ethernet-based control applications, the popular Modbus-TCP protocol.

The compact X-gateway is a device for 24 V industrial power supply and standard DIN rail mounting. It operates as a master on the Profibus network and as a server (“slave”) on the Modbus-TCP side. The Profibus master functionality is configured using HMS Anybus NetTool for Profibus, a powerful, easy to use Windows-based configuration tool which comes free with the X-gateway. When the initial configuration is downloaded into the X-gateway, it transfers up to 512 byte of output and 512 byte of input data transparently between Profibus and Modbus-TCP. Up to 124 Profibus slaves can also be connected to the gateway. The X-gateway incorporates a powerful integrated web server on the Modbus-TCP network that supports web-based visualization and remote diagnostics. An OPC server is also included in X-gateway’s scope of delivery. The X-gateway’s Modbus-TCP and Profibus communication interfaces have a certification for full compliance to respective protocol standards.

The new Anybus X-gateway family consists of more than 200 proven, ready-to-use and robust gateways targeted to connect almost all of the possible combinations of two industrial networks. The product family can support 17 different industrial Ethernet and fieldbus networks, including Profinet, EtherNet/IP, CC-Link, CANopen, DeviceNet, Profibus and many more. All versions operate the same way and they give a flexible standard solution to connect two industrial networks.