HMS’ Anybus fieldbus gateways join any two network

AnyBus-X gateways from HMS Industrial Networks include more than 120 different products designed to connect almost every possible combination of two industrial networks.

By Control Engineering Staff April 1, 2004

AnyBus-X gateways from HMS Industrial Networks include more than 120 different products designed to connect almost every possible combination of two industrial networks. This product family supports 15 different fieldbus networks, such as Profibus, DeviceNet, CANopen and CC-Link, as well as an Ethernet version with Modbus/TCP, EtherNet/IP protocol, e-mail client and embedded Web server. These gateways are designed for use in automated industrial plants where many different fieldbus networks are increasingly used. AnyBus-X Gateways can help system integrators easily interconnect between networks, and ensure a transparent information flow throughout the entire plant.

Anybus-X gateways small, rugged metal housing is designed for use in harsh industrial envi-ronments with standard DIN-rail mounting. Equipped with an IP-20 rating and 24 V power supply, these gateways are intelligent, standalone devices that support fanless operation in industrial operating temperatures. Their modular design is based on two embedded AnyBus communication modules and one additional Gateway processor. Ten diagnostic LEDs indicate the actual communication status of the two networks and status of the gateway.

Anybus-X’s concept incorporates master and slave interfaces, and can create more than 120 gateway combinations without programming. Users simply choose the gateway version that supports the two networks they want to bridge. For each of the possible combinations, there is one separate gateway. This gives users a flexible, versatile solution based on proven AnyBus technology.

The gateway concept focuses primarily on transferring cyclic I/O data between two networks. When setting up the gateway, a user simply selects the amount of I/O data to be transferred be-tween Network A and Network B. For standard I/O applications, configuration is easy, and no additional set-up is required. AnyBus-X Gateways supplement other Embedded AnyBus communication modules, and complete HMS’ family of networking products for industrial com-munication.

—Jim Montague, news editor, Control Engineering, jmontague@reedbusiness.com