I'd like to use an AB MicroLogix 1400 PLC to control some devices over RS-232/ASCII. I'm looking at EtherNet/IP in combination with some sort of gateway to achieve this.

I don't have any experience with EtherNet/IP, so any information on this would be greatly appreciated.

The devices that I wish to communicate with are, for all intents and purposes, closed systems that do not support any other industrial protocols. They do however process and send ASCII commands/messages over an RS232 port.

The PLC I have to work with is an AB Micrologix 1400 that supports EtherNet/IP.

Is it possible to connect my ASCII devices to some sort of gateway to enable the PLC to control them and to receive/respond to messages?

Are the MicroLogix's EtherNet/IP capabilities sufficient for this sort of task?

Thanks,
Chris

 

You will need a protocol converter that has at least one RS232 serial port and ASCII coded messages and an Ethernet port that can talk Ethernet/IP. The MARC Omnii-Comm http://www.miille.com/266-P00-Ethernet.pdf has this capability. You can contact me directly at the links posted on our web site.

Jerry Miille

 

http://www.rtaautomation.com/ethernetip/435nba/

Basically, ascii strings just magically appear in the data table from the slave device. works pretty cool. other companies make similar devices, but I have used these with clx family. real good tech support.

 

Hi there,

HMS have a gateway that is easy to use, http://www.anybus.com/support/support.asp?PID=110&ProductType=Anybus Communicator
The serial ASCII message will appear as I/O data on Ethernet/IP. The gateway allso has some nice IT functions, such as e-mail client and built in web-server.

For more information, email me at:
[email protected]