Network gateway leads product trio debut

Woodhead Industries Inc.'s Gateway reportedly facilitates EtherNet/IP and DF1 messaging from industrial devices from manufacturers, such as Rockwell Automation. Gateway performs all communication tasks to exchange data among devices by running automatic read/write cyclic functions.

By Staff February 1, 2006

Woodhead Industries Inc.’s Gateway reportedly facilitates EtherNet/IP and DF1 messaging from industrial devices from manufacturers, such as Rockwell Automation. Gateway performs all communication tasks to exchange data among devices by running automatic read/write cyclic functions. By running 20 protocols simultaneously, it allows users to set up over 20,000 combinations in creating industrial architectures, such as a data translator, data concentrator, and an industrial firewall.

A complementary product, webGate provides customizable local or remote access to industrial devices. Client application can be situated anywhere so long as it supports a standard Web browser. An integral flash disk allows development and storage of Web pages for simple and secure HMI-applications.

Direct-Link 3.3V/5V-PCI network-interface card is now EtherNet/IP conformance-tested in compliance with ODVA (Open DeviceNet Vendor Association) specifications. The company says that it is the first “intelligent Ethernet PCI interface card” on the market. Designed to provide high-speed communication, it connects a computer’s PCI bus to an EtherNet/IP industrial network as a scanner or adapter device. The card has been adopted by robotic manufacturers for control applications in sectors including automobiles, packaging, and conveyors.

Typical uses include:

  • Real-time computer control (IO implicit and explicit messaging);

  • Supervisory and HMI interface;

  • Bridging disparate networks, allowing information exchange between networks (EtherNet/IP to Serial, Ethernet TCP and various fieldbuses); and

  • Enabling transmission of plant-floor data to office environments.

Direct-Link is compatible with Microsoft Windows 32-bit and real-time operating systems, such as VxWorks, QNX, and Linux. Its included software tools—configuration, diagnostic, development libraries, and data servers—ease installation. It is also compatible with EtherNet/IP devices using modular EDS, such as Rockwell Point I/O and Flex I/O. The interface card also supports DHCP, BOOTP, and DNS Ethernet Services.

NetMeter reportedly allows untrained personnel to certify, diagnose and troubleshoot DeviceNet quickly and without risk. Completely passive, it analyzes signal and power lines on a DeviceNet network. In seconds, network-wide and device-specific traffic, signal voltage, and power quality information is captured and displayed on a user interface. Its expert mode allows comparison of 677 key parameters against DeviceNet specifications.

For more information visit:

www.woodhead.com/products/networkcommunications/