Gateway adds Ethernet to legacy control systems

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 15, 2005

Telemecanique has unveiled a new gateway within its FactoryCast range of web enabled products.

The benefits of using web technology for control systems include open networking and easy, familiar, interfacing via Ethernet and standard web browser software.

However, it is only the latest equipment that is equipped with such web facilities and this means legacy systems have been unable to take advantage of the technology.

In response to this, Telemecanique, a brand of Schneider Electric, has unveiled a new gateway within its FactoryCast range of web enabled products.

Called the TSXETG1000 module, it allows users to upgrade legacy systems to use web technology for communications.

The customisable stand-alone web server hardware device allows for remote web access and connectivity to any Modbus RTU field device.

Telemecanique FactoryCast gateways are DIN rail mountable web servers with an onboard customisable website, upstream Ethernet TCP/IP network connection, with a downstream Modbus connection.

Users can take advantage of latest web technologies to obtain remote diagnostics and data retrieval from their on site legacy equipment, without necessarily disturbing their preferred control network strategy.

Although, web connectivity is now permeating entry level control solutions, it may not always be practical or cost effective to connect all devices via Ethernet in entry level or stand-alone machines.

However, for an OEM of such machines, the FactoryCast web enabled gateway offers a compromise between an optimised control solution, yet also providing benefit from open web connectivity.

Moreover, such an approach adds to perceived value in the machines since they offer the end customers remote added value services.

OEMs, for example, can deliver remote access for fault diagnostics or programming assistance - improving customer relations and significantly reducing time on site and travel costs.

The FactoryCast gateway several significant user benefits including access via a standard web browser - no specific software, or training, is required.

Its configuration is done entirely on predefined web pages.

If required, customised web pages can also be added, allowing for a more straight forward presentation of the diagnostics, control and monitoring of the application.

Maintenance and trouble shooting is hastened by embedding technical documents, drawings, manuals online at the heart of the machine.

Using FactoryCast gateway enables field devices to keep you informed, via e-mail alerts, of their status for preventative maintenance purposes.

These e-mails may contain live process data, as well as hyperlinks to other specific sources of other additional relevant information.

Being a DIN rail mountable module with no moving parts and no hard disks, the gateway is significantly more reliable than more expensive PC based alternatives.

Because it is an intelligent stand-alone module, a PLC's response time is not affected by the inclusion of a FactoryCast Gateway, so system performance is not degraded.