Hey Everyone,

I am currently working with a wire pull sensor it is a mirco-epsilon digital output and uses PROFINET as the protocol. The issue I am having is that the use is not for industrial or commercial use. We are going to use the output from the sensor to control parts of a stage for a play. With that said we would prefer not to have to invest in the Step 7 software to receive the output from the sensor.

What I am looking for is a different wire pull sensor with digital output, that uses a open source, or a non-proprietary protocol that works with TCP/IP so we can possibly pull the information from the packets and use the information with other software.

If this does not exist, is there another option besides Step 7 for receiving and controlling PROFIBUS sensors?

Sorry if some of this is a bit off, I am not that familiar with automation protocols and am trying to get a better understanding of them.

Thanks!

 

I am working recently with something similar:
http://www.slideminder.com/
What is the distance your wire moves? The movement is very little with the stuff I'm working with.

A few weeks ago I released new open source freeware for serial and socket (TCP/IP) communication:
http://www.ctrlterm.com/
I'd like to add Modbus and other examples so let me know if you find such interfaces on sensors for your application.

You should also check out the Arduino and Processing communities:
http://www.turbocontrol.com/mobileard.htm
http://processing.org/

 

Tell us exactly what you mean by "wire pull sensor" and perhaps I can help.

Regards
cww

 

> Tell us exactly what you mean by "wire pull sensor" and perhaps I can help.

This is the wire pull sensor that I am currently working with: http://www.micro-epsilon.com/displa.../draw-wire-sensor/WDS-P115_digital/index.html

Micro-epsilon calls it a draw-wire sensor. Let me know if you need any other information.

Thanks!

 

Thanks for all the information. I am currently on my phone but will go through all of this when I get home.

To answer you question about distance the current sensor I am working with can measure up to 10,000mm or about 400 inches.

 

Is CANopen considered ModBus? I have found a draw wire sensors that work with the CANopen protocol. Also can CANopen be used over TCP/IP?

Thanks again!

 

No and not very likely.
I never say never.

Regards
cww

 

> A few weeks ago I released new open source freeware for serial and socket (TCP/IP) communication:
> http://www.ctrlterm.com/
> I'd like to add Modbus and other examples so let me know if you find such interfaces on sensors for your application.

I just added a simple Modbus program and a screen shot at the bottom of this page:
http://ctrlterm.com/