As an automation engineer, if you take a quick glance around your workplace, you'll see Siemens, Mitsubishi, and Omron PLCs everywhere, right? That's right, for a long time, these three brands have had a very high market share in small and medium-sized PLCs , and their applications are very widespread.
The need for information technology upgrades to equipment is becoming increasingly apparent, but at this point you might be scratching your head: many PLCs, whether for programming or monitoring, mostly use serial communication protocols, but serial communication is a short-range transmission method with a low transmission rate and short transmission distance, which greatly limits the construction of information technology for equipment.
what to do?
As you may have guessed, the solution is to connect these PLCs using the cutting-edge Ethernet technology. Ethernet has advantages such as high transmission speed and long distance, and has now become the main method for industrial network communication and equipment informatization.
However, more questions arise: What do I do with these traditional PLCs that only have clunky serial ports? Will I have to replace a bunch of parts? Do I need to write a lot of new code? Will my existing HMI and configuration software be affected? More importantly, can I afford the cost? How do I calculate the losses from production line downtime?
In fact, many factories face numerous difficulties in building information systems for their equipment because the control systems of many older devices are early PLC products that lack Ethernet communication capabilities. For example, Siemens' S7-200 Ethernet module is out of production, and Mitsubishi's FX1S/1N/2N series and Omron's CP series do not produce Ethernet modules. Some PLCs do have Ethernet communication capabilities, such as Siemens' S7-300, Mitsubishi's FX3S/3G/3U series, Mitsubishi's Q series, and Omron's CJ/CS series PLCs. However, adding Ethernet modules to these older devices is also challenging. This includes hardware reconfiguration, secondary editing of the source code, module expansion and installation issues, the cost of CPU replacement, the cost of adding Ethernet modules, and coordination with production equipment shutdowns and equipment suppliers.
Currently, the most common methods for networking devices are as follows: 1. Replace the CPU with one that has a network port; 2. Expand the Ethernet module; 3. Connect the serial port to the CPU and PC with Ethernet ports for data transfer; 4. Use a serial port server (virtual serial port).
Let's compare them:
The first two methods mainly involve issues of source code, hardware and labor costs, and the convenience of rewiring. The third method is a centralized data system, requiring programming at both the master and slave PLC ends, increasing the system's monitoring and wiring layers and maintenance complexity. The fundamental problem with the fourth method is the protocol. Serial servers use transparent short protocols, which are flexible but unsuitable for long protocols or long data streams, resulting in poor real-time performance and susceptibility to disconnections and packet loss. This method uses a serial port protocol, not a true Ethernet protocol.
Actually, as a responsible editor, I want to tell you that connecting a PLC to Ethernet isn't that complicated; none of the above are problems. Really, it only takes three steps:
With this amazing device: the Beichen BCNet series Ethernet communication processor, simply plug it in, connect the network cable, and with a few simple settings, the world is yours!
Why is it called a "miracle device"? The BCNet series Ethernet communication processor integrates Siemens S7TCP protocol, Mitsubishi MC protocol, Omron FINS/UDP protocol, FINS/TCP protocol, and standard ModbusTCP protocol, making it a standard Ethernet communication product. It is highly suitable for Ethernet programming, upper-level configuration software monitoring, and device networking. It has unique advantages in programming, monitoring, and networking, including but not limited to:
(1) Plug and play, does not occupy the communication port, and does not require an external power supply;
(2) The extended serial port can be connected to a touch screen;
(3) The expanded Ethernet port can connect to multiple host computers and touch screens;
(4) Adaptive or automatic baud rate adjustment;
(5) Built-in Ethernet protocol, supporting Ethernet programming, monitoring, and configuration software monitoring;
(6) Integrate Modbus TCP server;
(7) Supports OPC communication with the host configuration software;
(8) Supports high-level language programming (such as VB, VC, C#);
(9) Parameter settings and diagnostic tests can be performed via a web page or diagnostic tool;
(10) Supports Ethernet firmware upgrades;
(11) Save costs.
Take a look at the connection pictures of this amazing device with some of the most common PLCs around us:
So, are you tempted? You might ask, how do I know if it's any good? Don't worry, here's your chance! This amazing tool is now available for free trial on our China Control Engineering Network Product Experience Center.
If you are a user of PLCs from brands such as Siemens, Mitsubishi, Omron, Delta, or Inovance, a system integrator, a PLC hardware engineer, a PLC software engineer, an equipment debugging personnel, an information technology engineer, or an interested university teacher, act now!
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