How new IO-Link masters can balance the benefits of cloud connectivity and local control in industry 4.0 factories
with OPC UA and MultiLink can be used for other use cases like: Retrofits – This conventional IO- Link master can be replaced by one with OPC UA and MultiLink connectivity to add the benefits of parallel communication into an existing network. Applications without a traditional PLC – Some applications, like an enterprise resource planning (ERP) or manufacturing execution system (MES), gather data from sensors on the factory floor and don’t need a PLC. An IO-Link master with OPC UA can send the data directly to the cloud, which can be aggregated, analyzed, and acted on to maximize productivity. Applications with multiple PLCs – Complex welding cells are an example of an application with multiple PLCs and multiple protocols that can benefit from the addition of OPC UA. For example, a primary PLC can control the overall process using PROFINET communication, an industrial PC can control optical quality monitoring with EtherNet/IP communication, and various robots and other equipment may use proprietary control protocols. OPC UA with Pepperl+Fuchs’ MultiLink technology enables communication and data exchange between the systems despite the different field bus protocols, and it can link the entire welding cell to the Cloud.
Figure 1: Traditional network application of IO-Link connected to a field bus. (Image source: Pepperl+Fuchs)
a special Ethernet physical connection (PHY) in Layer 1 of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model (Figure 3).
Built on the foundation of Ethernet APL MultiLink technology is built on the foundation of the Ethernet advanced physical layer, or Ethernet-APL, that allows Ethernet to be used for communication and power with process instrumentation over long distances. It's based on the 10BASE- T1L Ethernet physical layer standard. With a speed of 10 Mbps and a 1,000-meter range, Ethernet- APL was designed for real-time process monitoring and control, enabling parallel access. It supports EtherNet/IP, HART- IP, OPC UA, PROFINET, and other higher-level protocols. It eliminates the need for gateways or other protocol conversions. It implements 10BASE-T1L using
The new industrial networking tools
For industrial network designers who want to take advantage of the new possibilities enabled by IO-Link masters with OPC UA MultiLink parallel connectivity, Pepperl+Fuchs offers the ICE2 (with EtherNet/ IP) and ICE3 (with PROFINET) IO- Link master series. Both types of IO-Link masters have eight inputs and outputs and come with a web-based configuration capability for setting all module parameters and all connected IO-Link devices (web IODD operation). They include
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