HMS Industrial Networks is introducing a new intelligent EtherNet/IP-to-Profibus X-gateway that is configurable and will allow plant-floor devices on a Profibus network to communicate with devices on the EtherNet/IP network, and vice versa. Typical applications are installations with mixed usage of Siemens and Rockwell PLCs, such as automobile manufacturing plants where Profibus-based segments are integrated into industrial Ethernet-based control applications using EtherNet/IP real-time protocol.
This new X-gateway is compact and has a standard DIN rail mounting and 24V industrial power supply. It functions as an adapter (slave) on the EtherNet/IP network and as a master on the Profibus side. The Profibus master functionality is configured using the Anybus NetTool for Profibus from HMS, a Windows-based Profibus configuration tool.
After the X-gateway has downloaded its initial configuration, up to 512 bytes of input and 512 bytes of output data can be passed transparently between the two networks.
Up to 124 Profibus slaves can be connected to the X-gateway and, in addition to its data transfer capabilities, it incorporates an embedded web server that supports web-based remote diagnostics and visualisation. The X-gateway contains Profibus and EtherNet/IP communication interfaces that have both been certified for full compliance to protocol standards.
The EtherNet/IP to Profibus gateway is a new member of HMS´ Anybus X-gateway family of more than 170 individual gateways providing internetwork communications between almost any fieldbus or industrial Ethernet network. All versions work in the same way and provide a flexible way of connecting two industrial networks.
