HMS Releases Anybus X-Gateway for Profinet IRT

HMS is releasing three new versions of the Anybus X-gateway family with Profinet-IRT functionality and with integrated 2-port switch technology, to enable integration of existing Profibus, Interbus or CANopen fieldbus networks into new Profinet based network segments.

The gateways provide a transparent link for up to 240 bytes of I/O signals between the two networks. Typical applications include automobile manufacturing sites where existing fieldbus based machinery is more and more re-used and integrated ”as is” into new Profinet based areas of the plant.

In the automobile industry, current fieldbus networks, like Profibus and Interbus, are slowly being migrated to Profinet. By utilizing the integrated 2-port switch technology, the X-gateway can directly be integrated into line topology based installations which reduces infrastructure costs by eliminating the need for external switches.

The X-gateways include a Profinet IO device interface with IRT (Isynchronous Real-Time) functionality, an integrated two port real-time switch, and Profinet network management and redundancy functionality that conforms to Profinet conformance class C. The Profinet interface functions as an IO device (Slave) and is based on the proven ERTEC-200 technology from Siemens.

The Anybus X-gateway family consists of 180 different versions that can interconnect all popular fieldbusses such as Profibus, DeviceNet and CANopen, or connect these fieldbuses with the new industrial Ethernet standards, Profinet, EtherNet/IP, Modbus-TCP and EtherCAT.