Ethernet Powerlink for real-time applications

Enter Ethernet Powerlink, a high-speed, digital motion-bus solution, and a new protocol that is deterministic for real-time industrial applications, connecting a motion controller to multiple drives

Ethernet Powerlink a new protocol that is deterministic for real-time industrial applications.

Micromech, the largest UK distributor for the Parker Electromechanical Automation products, is pleased to announce that a selection of their motion control products are now enabled with Ethernet Powerlink to increase system performance while decreasing system cost and installation time.

Users of motion control technology have long relied on Ethernet for I/O control, data networking and HMI communications.

Technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, however, and automation users want Ethernet to keep up with the higher-performance motion control systems now available, a desire that is sometimes at odds with the abilities of standard Ethernet.

Using multiple devices on the same network for example may cause data collisions resulting in timing delays.

In other words, there is no guarantee when a standard Ethernet data packet will arrive at its intended destination, and so it is not a viable option for real-time control.

Enter Ethernet Powerlink, a high-speed, digital motion-bus solution connecting a motion controller to multiple drives and I/O points using standard Ethernet networking hardware.

This centralised, real-time communication system for automation and motion control has helped make Ethernet deterministic for real-time industrial applications.

By extending IEEE 802.3 Ethernet with a mixed polling and time-slicing mechanism, Ethernet Powerlink gives motion control users real-time data transfer packaged in short cycles with microsecond precision.

Determinism (guaranteed timing of information) is achieved with standard Ethernet hardware by the use of network time slot management.

Each Powerlink controlled node has a dedicated time slot with which to send and receive information to and from the Managed Node.

Ethernet Powerlink is an open standard maintained by a Standardisation Group and uses standard, off-the-shelf Ethernet networking hardware and chipsets.

Multiple vendors, OEMs and users drive the standard so that it addresses the needs of the industry.

Consumer volumes keep hardware costs down to ensure Powerlink is future-proof.

As the industry migrates toward Gigabit Ethernet, manufacturers can simply incorporate the new standard Gigabit chips into their products with relatively little effort.

The other benefits include, combining the high performance of a centralised system with the lower costs of distributed machine architectures, simplified system wiring reduces system design and installation time, and standard Ethernet cabling and hubs support multiple topologies.

Furthermore both the front office and the manufacturing floor can use the same Ethernet network, there are open standards for greater flexibility and an all-digital system reduces EMI issues.

Recently launched products from Parker already contain Powerlink and are all available from Micromech with more drives and controls to follow later in the year.

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