MILWAUKEE, Nov. 18, 2003 — Networks are the central nervous system of automation. However, the challenge for manufacturers is to find the right networking technology to develop an effective, future-proof backbone for their operations. Flexibility is paramount, along with other metrics like cost, performance and uptime. With more than two million nodes installed by Rockwell Automation, the core networks in its NetLinx Open Network Architecture — ControlNet™, DeviceNet™ and EtherNet/IP™ — have met the challenge.
Built on a single, media-independent platform, the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP™), these networks share a suite of communication services that enhance productivity and efficiency. This allows companies to integrate I/O control, device configuration and data collection across multiple networks, resulting in seamless communication from the plant floor through the enterprise. Rockwell Automation continues to enhance these proven networks with a variety of services, and Allen-Bradley® and Rockwell Software® products. These latest offerings help users more easily design, install, manage and maintain networks, enhance their overall architectures, and add forward-looking capabilities like Internet connectivity that enable them to easily adapt to changing business requirements.
1734-ADNX POINT I/O™ DeviceNet adapter. With a complete DeviceNet subnet link inside, this new adapter offers a cost-efficient option when users are considering: upgrading an existing system from an Allen-Bradley 1734-ADN; increasing the distance between a device or sensor and the controller (from 500 meters of DeviceNet link to as much as 1,500 meters); amplifying the node count connected to a DeviceNet link scanner (up to 63 more nodes per adapter); or bridging multiple DeviceNet links. 1734-AENT POINT I/O EtherNet/IP adapter. Coupled with the Allen-Bradley POINT I/O family of products, this module provides a cost-effective, networked interface for highly distributed architectures where system determinism and repeatability are valued.
The 1734-AENT is compatible with ControlLogix® v.11 controllers and RSLogix™ 5000 v.11 software, and all POINT I/O adapters support remote data access directly via OPC. The 1734-AENT adapter is targeted at general industrial and process control applications.
AutoConfig enhancements. AutoConfig enables a scanner to automatically map a network of slave devices into its scan list without the use of RSNetWorx™ for DeviceNet. This greatly improves the ease of setting up a DeviceNet network, especially a network of simple devices. When this feature is enabled, a DeviceNet scanner will continuously search for devices on the network. Once a qualifying slave device is found, it will be added to the scanlist and its I/O data will be mapped into a predefined location in the scanner’s I/O memory table based on the device’s node address.
IP67 Products for ControlNet. The Allen-Bradley 1786-TCT2BD1 ControlNet tap is rated for installation in IP67 or high vibration (up to 10g) environments. The tap is unique because it is modular in design and features a TNC (threaded) connector. Rockwell Automation also has announced ArmorPoint™ I/O, its first IP67-rated I/O products with connectivity to ControlNet.
1756-EWEB module. The 1756-EWEB module for Allen-Bradley ControlLogix controllers allows users to display canned data on a Web page, display custom data screens in Microsoft® Internet Explorer, send e-mail or page someone based on a configured trigger, and write data into a database and/or connect to third-party applications. The XML-based module allows users to more easily link the shop floor to the top floor. 1761-NET-ENIW module. The 1761-NET-ENIW module provides a group of fixed-format Web pages that allow read/write access to the connected controller, providing the ability to monitor and adjust machine operation from any Internet-connected computer..
The NET-ENIW is designed for easy integration with Allen-Bradley SLC 500™, MicroLogix™ and CompactLogix™ controllers, allowing user customization without the need for HTML programming skills. Linking devices. The EtherNet/IP-to-DeviceNet linking device (1788-EN2DN) seamlessly bridges explicit (i.e., information) messages from EtherNet/IP to DeviceNet for device configuration and data collection from DeviceNet devices for display, trending and monitoring.
For control, the EN2DN will scan DeviceNet I/O and provide access to the I/O data remotely over EtherNet/IP to any controller on the network.Another linking device — the 1757-FFLD — enables the direct connection of Allen Bradley Logix controllers with FOUNDATION™ Fieldbus H1 devices via EtherNet/IP and FOUNDATION Fieldbus High Speed Ethernet (HSE) networks. This allows manufacturers to use EtherNet/IP for discrete applications and/or HSE for process applications on the same network. As a result, companies can marry process, motion, discrete and sequential operations with the remote processing power of FOUNDATION Fieldbus technology.
CIP Safety™. Consisting of an extension to the existing CIP protocol, CIP Safety allows both standard and safety devices to operate on the same network. Developed by Rockwell Automation and other ODVA members, CIP Safety also allows safety devices to seamlessly communicate across other CIP-based standard networks, such as DeviceNet, ControlNet and EtherNet/IP networks, to other safety devices with no additional programming. This unique routing feature is realized without the need for expensive safety specific hardware, such as specialized gateways and bridges. Additional benefits of this new approach include network design flexibility, easier training and maintenance, and a common view of both standard and safety networked devices.
CIP Sync™. Also announced by ODVA, CIP Sync adds time synchronization services based on IEEE-1588 for real-time control applications to CIP. With the addition of these services, OEMs and end users benefit from expanded application coverage of DeviceNet and EtherNet/IP systems. This includes sequence of events recording, distributed motion control and other highly distributed applications requiring increased control coordination. “By working with ODVA to expand CIP to include services such as CIP Sync and CIP Safety, Rockwell Automation is actively protecting the users’ investments and creating networks that are integrated and cost-efficient,” said Doug McEldowney, Rockwell Automation strategic marketing manager.
“These two extensions are valuable because they allow for additional application coverage, minimizing the need for special hardware and increasing network design flexibility.” Industrial Network Services. To help manufacturers optimize the performance of plant floor networks and integrate them with their business counterparts, Rockwell Automation has leveraged its expertise in networking technologies to provide a comprehensive suite of Industrial Network Services. Offered through the Global Manufacturing Solutions group, Industrial Network Services can provide network consulting, assessments, design, installation, validation, troubleshooting, maintenance and training for ControlNet, DeviceNet, and Ethernet/IP — to keep networks up and production data moving across the enterprise.
“Industrial Network Services allows us to supplement the users’ capabilities with the in-depth network knowledge that’s needed to get and keep them up and running,” said Gary Slivka, product manager, Rockwell Automation Industrial Network Services. “As users migrate from older networks to faster, more powerful networks, we can help optimize those networks and ensure a maximum return on investment.” RSMACC Network Health™. Rockwell Software RSMACC Network Health provides centralized monitoring and management of enterprise-wide control network assets, coupled with distributed access to the tools needed to maintain devices on the networks.
By giving users the ability to monitor and manage activity on control networks, RSMACC Network Health can help reduce and even prevent downtime, leading to lower maintenance and support costs, increased system availability and a reduction in the total cost of ownership for DeviceNet, ControlNet and EtherNet/IP networks.Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) is a world-leading provider of industrial automation power, control and information solutions that help customers meet their manufacturing productivity objectives.
The company brings together leading brands in industrial automation for Complete Automation® solutions, including Allen-Bradley® controls and engineered services and Rockwell Software® factory management software, Dodge® mechanical power transmission products, and Reliance Electric® motors and drives. The company also is a leading provider of contact management technologies and applications that help companies more efficiently manage interaction with their own customers.
Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., USA, the company employs about 22,000 people serving customers in more than 80 countries.For more information on any of the networks-related products and services mentioned above, please contact the Rockwell Automation Response Center, 10701 Hampshire Avenue South, Bloomington, Minn., 55438, 800.223.5354, Ext. 1662.
