DeviceNet Europe to use Cutler-Hammer PanelMate for first demonstration of peer to peer technology on DeviceNet

Citation

(1999), "DeviceNet Europe to use Cutler-Hammer PanelMate for first demonstration of peer to peer technology on DeviceNet", Assembly Automation, Vol. 19 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.1999.03319dab.011

DeviceNet Europe to use Cutler-Hammer PanelMate for first demonstration of peer to peer technology on DeviceNet

Keywords Fieldbus, DeviceNet

DeviceNet Europe, the European centre for DeviceNet conformance testing and training, is to use the Cutler-Hammer PanelMate 1799 operator interface for the first demonstration of peer to peer technology on DeviceNet. PanelMate is the only peer to peer operator interface which can acquire monitoring information directly from DeviceNet network devices rather than via a master programmable logic controller (PLC). By reducing network traffic it provides manufacturers with improved throughput and faster network messaging.

Although DeviceNet was designed as a peer to peer fieldbus, most existing PLCs treat the controller as a master and the nodes as slave devices, so the PLC owns the network and slaves have to communicate via the master. PanelMate is the only operator interface to support full producer/consumer messaging, which leaves the controller free to deal with critical data more effectively. It provides less work for the integrator, a reduced load on the network, and a greater possibility for expansion.

"Approximately 70 percent of the information acquired from network devices is monitoring information only, which could be sent directly to an operator interface", explained Richard Piggin, research engineer at DeviceNet Europe. "With the producer/consumer paradigm, the individual message from the drives is utilised simultaneously by the PLC and the operator interface so there is no additional network messaging. As a result, a negligible increase in network bandwidth using the peer to peer device means that the operator can more effectively and rapidly collect and display process and quality data."

"This application demonstrates what can be achieved with producer/consumer technology, where older source/destination protocols may not be appropriate due to the less efficient network model causing a high increase in network messaging for the same application. The PanelMate operator interface provides straightforward, intuitive operation combined with improved control performance, to maximise the benefits of peer to peer technology", Richard Piggin added.

Other major benefits of producer/consumer messaging include:

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  Simplified programming, as no controller data management is required for noncontrol functions - for example, the operator interface during fault diagnosis.

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  More timely responses, as data are only communicated as needed.

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  Control and programming and diagnostics are all available over the same network, so no additional charges are required.

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  Improved productivity with regard to engineering, installing and maintaining.

About Cutler-Hammer's PanelMate 1700 series of operator interfaces

Cutler-Hammer's PanelMate 1700 series of operator interfaces provide system designers and operators with the capabilities and information needed to operate, monitor and troubleshoot PLC-based machines, easily and cost-effectively. Combining dynamic graphics, Boolean logic and pushbutton functionality with an exceptional range of hardware choices, PanelMate units are a flexible, expandable, cost-effective alternative to traditional operator control panels. Drivers for almost every make of PLC are available as standard, including Allen-Bradley, Siemens, Modicon, Mitsubishi and Toshiba.

For more information contact Richard McLaughlin, DeviceNet Europe. Tel: + 44 (0) 1203 524711; r.mclaughlin@warwick.ac.uk