Rockwell PLC on a Siemens Network

[theColonel26]

We have an RFQ from the UK for 3 of our Machines the catch is they want them integrated with their Siemens PLCs.

Our the integration on our machines works on a "Server" model meaning the clients read and write to it and our machine does not do any communications itself.


Does anyone have an experience connecting Siemens and Rockwell?

 

[JesperMP]

Does your machines have to be a clients to one or more Siemens PLCs ?
Are you sure that it isn't a Siemens SCADA or a MES, ERP or similar ?

Ask what method is used on their side.
If OPC DA or OPC UA, you just need to provide an OPC Server (RSLinx or what it is called nowadays).
If it is Profinet, then you may have to get a Profinet adapter that fits in your Rockwell PLC, or alternatively find a Profinet/Ethernet-IP gateway. (*)
If it is a Siemens-specific protocol, e.g. using S7-connections, then it gets harder.

*: Prosoft have both:
https://www.prosoft-technology.com/Products/Rockwell-Automation-In-chassis
https://www.prosoft-technology.com/...NC-EtherNet-IP-to-PROFINET-Controller-Gateway
https://www.prosoft-technology.com/...erNet-IP-to-PROFINET-Gateway-for-dual-subnets
https://www.prosoft-technology.com/...1/EtherNet-IP-to-PROFINET-R-IO-Device-Gateway

 

[Rob...]

How much data do you need to send/receive?

I do it all the time using Anybus modules. There are other direct ways of comms between them, but these are relatively inexpensive. Easy an fast to set up, an so far I've had 0 issues.

Red lion do a similar module.

 

[theColonel26]

Does your machines have to be a clients to one or more Siemens PLCs ?
Are you sure that it isn't a Siemens SCADA or a MES, ERP or similar ?

Ask what method is used on their side.
If OPC DA or OPC UA, you just need to provide an OPC Server (RSLinx or what it is called nowadays).
If it is Profinet, then you may have to get a Profinet adapter that fits in your Rockwell PLC, or alternatively find a Profinet/Ethernet-IP gateway. (*)
If it is a Siemens-specific protocol, e.g. using S7-connections, then it gets harder.

*: Prosoft have both:
https://www.prosoft-technology.com/Products/Rockwell-Automation-In-chassis
https://www.prosoft-technology.com/...NC-EtherNet-IP-to-PROFINET-Controller-Gateway
https://www.prosoft-technology.com/...erNet-IP-to-PROFINET-Gateway-for-dual-subnets
https://www.prosoft-technology.com/...1/EtherNet-IP-to-PROFINET-R-IO-Device-Gateway

If they get back to us and are serious I will dig deeper.


Side Note:
All of those seem to be for Rockwell PLCs to be Master, and Siemens stuff to be slave. I need the opposite.

I need to let Siemens PLCs Read and Write tags on my Rockwell PLC.

 

[theColonel26]

How much data do you need to send/receive?

Some lets say 500 to 1000 Bytes?

 

[AlfredoQuintero]

Side Note:
All of those seem to be for Rockwell PLCs to be Master, and Siemens stuff to be slave. I need the opposite.

I need to let Siemens PLCs Read and Write tags on my Rockwell PLC.

The Softing echochange does exactly what you need. It is a server from the point of view of Siemens and a client from the point of view of Rockwell.
https://industrial.softing.com/prod...for-access-of-controller-data/echochange.html

I prefer the echocollect though, because this is a client both to the Siemens and the Rockwell PLC, and it lets you define collect tables that read data from one PLC and writes to the other. No need to program logic on the PLC, whereas the echochange requires programming on the Siemens side.
https://industrial.softing.com/prod...-access-of-controller-data/echocollect-e.html

What performance do you need in terms of byte load and refresh interval?