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Six Profinet Highlights
Read: Six Profinet HighlightsProfinet provides one network for all applications: factory automation, process automation, and motion control. Although, there are many benefits to using Profinet, let’s focus on six of them: Diagnostics During commissioning, maintenance, or when an error occurs, it is necessary to obtain an overview of the plant or machine status in minimum time. The integrated…
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Diagnostics and PROFINET Webinar- Q&A
Read: Diagnostics and PROFINET Webinar- Q&AA few weeks ago we hosted a webinar together with the PIC (PROFI-Interface Center) about PROFINET Diagnostics. We had many attendees and several of them had very interesting questions during the webinar. As a recap and a way to sum up most of the questions, we have answered them below. Q&A 1.-Is there a generic…
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PROFINET Proxies and Gateways
Read: PROFINET Proxies and GatewaysMigrating from a Fieldbus or other industrial Ethernet to PROFINET is a common challenge. Every automation system is specialized in some way, and specialized components may not “speak” PROFINET. To move data from the specialized systems up to the PROFINET network, you have to add an interpreter to the network: A Proxy or a Gateway.…
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Ethernet Switches Features
Read: Ethernet Switches FeaturesSome Ethernet switches provide specific features to assist you with your application. Learn more about the eight Ethernet switch features on our list. There are many more switch features available on the market, but these are very popular within the industry. Store and Forward Switches: Store and forward switches read and buffer the complete data packet…
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PROFIBUS to PROFINET: Migration strategies
Read: PROFIBUS to PROFINET: Migration strategiesMigration Approaches PROFINET leverages PROFIBUS technologies to ensure a smooth and cost-effective migration between them. Depending on the factory state and current network technology there are two migration approaches: Greenfield and Brownfield installation Greenfield Installation: Nonexistent network in the first place, i.e. new branch in the factory. New factories won’t require migration, but new branches…
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PROFINET Cables: Fiber Optics
Read: PROFINET Cables: Fiber OpticsFiber optic cables offer specific benefits over copper. They are usually implemented in areas with electromagnetic interference or significant ground potential differences. Fiber optic connections can completely remove problems caused by electromagnetic interference and ground equalization currents flowing in copper cable shields/screens. Some benefits of optical fibers over copper cables are: Optical fiber cables usually…
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PROFINET Cables: Copper
Read: PROFINET Cables: CopperA PROFINET network is built on standard IEEE 802.3 Ethernet. Due to challenging environments on the factory floor, most users opt for rugged industrial Ethernet cables when building an industrial network. Even though wireless access points are becoming more popular, most of today’s network connections are wired and require cabling. Depending on the application, industrial cables…
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2017 New PROFIBUS / PROFINET Products
Read: 2017 New PROFIBUS / PROFINET ProductsSince the beginning of 2017 there have been 80+ new products announced with either a PROFIBUS, PROFINET, or IO-Link interface at profinews.com. That’s the result of a quick count I did by counting all of New Product announcements this year: http://profinews.com/category/product-news/ 80+ New Products This Year at PROFINEWS How many others? And that’s just the…
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The Next Chapter
Read: The Next ChapterIt’s time for Carl to retire; he hit 70 a couple months ago and as much fun as PI North America has been, it’s time to reluctantly move on. It’s been fun. So, it’s time for Carl to focus on the next chapter, but it’s a time to look at past chapters just a little:…
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Where’s My GSD File?
Read: Where’s My GSD File?GSD files have been needed for a long time, first for PROFIBUS, and now for PROFINET. Our usual comparison is to printer drivers. A GSD file tells the software system what features, I/O, alarms, and diagnostic capabilities a device has. It resides in the engineering tool, not in the device itself. A printer driver is…
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We’re Number One
Read: We’re Number OnePI does not get to say that PROFINET is the best Industrial Ethernet; the market gets to say that. Which is why I was amused to see a technology that’s in fifth place in the market tout why they’re better than all the other Industrial Ethernets. The market has assigned them their place and it’s…
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Roll PROFINET Tape
Read: Roll PROFINET TapeOK, no one rolls tape anymore; everything is digital. But video is still highly valued. Are you someone who prefers watching to reading? Then this post is for you. Here are some short videos to watch about PROFINET and PROFIBUS: Let’s start with the shortest video; it clarifies the relationship among PROFINET, Industrial Internet of…
