Industrial Networking Resource Center

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Controls engineers need a variety of information on industrial networking infrastructure topics such as wire, cable, fiberoptics, connection options, wireless technology, signal transmission and conversion, network configuration and monitoring and device power options.

Industrial Ethernet components to be evaluated include managed and unmanaged switches, routers, gateways, segment repeaters, and monitoring and configuration software.

Industrial Networking includes integrating factory floor industrial networks and process plant floor networks with company enterprise networks.

Wireless networks are attractive in applications where the cost of running signal cable and wiring, power cabling, or both is unattractive.

Timely news, back-to-basics primers, feature articles, technical white papers and descriptions of the latest products provide valuable insights that can be used in designing and building machine controls.

White Papers: In Depth Research

TIA-1005 Industrial Ethernet Cabling Standard
Author: Anixter
Posted: 10/28/2009
The Effect on the 10/100 Industrial Ethernet Switch Performance.

The Anixter Infrastructure Solutions Lab wanted to determine what effect the new TIA-1005 industrial cabling infrastructure standard would have on the data throughput performance of real Ethernet data packets running between SmartBits test cards and various manufacturers' 10/100 Ethernet switches in a real-world simulation. The test included five (5) different IP20-rated switches and three (3) different enterprise rack-mounted switches using various cabling channels made from both Category 5e and Category 6 cabling components and connector pairs that are allowable under the standard. The premise also asserts that the effect of the cabling channel interference will also vary from port to port and switch to switch because of the variable transmitter and receiver functionality.

Cabling Requirements for Harsh, Industrial Applications
Author: Peter McNeil, Product Marketing Manager, L-com Global Connectivity
Posted: 03/24/2009
This white paper explains the difference between traditional commercial controlled environments and harsh industrial environments, as well as the type of cabling and interconnectivity products to specify when designing networks. Additionally this white paper includes information on the two popular standards for measuring and rating harsh environments, IP and NEMA.

OPC Bridging Transfers Data Between Industrial Automation Systems
Author: OPC Training Institute
Posted: 01/26/2009
Integrators frequently use OPC technology to connect one Industrial Automation system (PLC, DCS, SCADA, HVAC, etc) with another so data can be shared between the two systems. Because OPC technology is based on the Client/Server architecture, the challenge is that two OPC Servers cannot communicate with each other directly. A variety of vendors provide an intermediate software solution, generically called an “OPC Bridge,” to facilitate this sort of communication. This whitepaper discusses the concept of the OPC Bridge, the solution architecture, required software components, and various features to help Integrators differentiate between different OPC Bridge products.

An Application of IEEE 1588 to Industrial Automation
Author: Ken Harris, Member, IEEE
Posted: 01/20/2009
This paper describes an application of the IEEE 1588 standard to Industrial Automation. Key application use cases are identified that can benefit from time-based control techniques to improve performance results over traditional control methods. This paper will also briefly discuss how the 1588 standard may be adopted to suit these applications. Application problems specific to industrial automation are enumerated and candidate solutions described.

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Timeless Resources

A Visible Cutting Edge Lumber Machinery Builder Improves Customer Quality and Yields With a Machine Vision Solution Technology Trends Ahead Evolution, Not Revolution. Machine Automation Trends Point to Ever More Use of Faster, Smaller, Smarter Components Perceptions and realities of Ethernet use: Part 2 Part 2 of this survey on the use of wireless and wired Ethernet networking explores current and emerging protocols, connectivity issues, and a host of selection, installation and opertional criteria.

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