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PROSOFT TECHNOLOGY EMEA
ILX56MM, with its new Message Manager, ProSoft Technology revolutionize data transfer from protocol to protocol
Interfacing systems using multiple protocols has never been so easy and quick. The new Message Manager module (ILX56-MM) from ProSoft Technology bridges automation controllers from different sources as it has never been done before. Traditionally, communication between PLCs requires (small) modifications to be done in each PLC program, often in several locations on the plant floor (repeatedly, new machines come with new PLCs), and often with multiple programming packages (because each PLC vendor has his own programming environment). With the new Message Manager from ProSoft Technology, the automation engineer has no PLC programming to do and above all no special software to buy, learn and maintain. Configuring the data transfers only requires… a few clicks!
In every large industrial automation architecture, it is necessary to interface systems from different vendors, and multiple protocols have to get along with each others. As a result, PLC-to-PLC protocol interfacing for data transfers is inevitable.
Traditionally, PLC programming is required in several locations on the factory floor for these interfacing purposes. And these various programming sessions are done with multiple programming packages (at least one per PLC vendor). And very often, the machine builders do not give access to their PLC source codes.
The Message Manager pulls all data transfer processes into one single location, and it requires no special (PLC-specific) software to support and maintain. For configuration, all the interfacing job is done from one single location and the module uses a built-in graphical web-based configuration tool with easy-to-use and intuitive user prompts.
The Message Manager acts as a single aggregator of data transfers between multiple PLCs. Physically, the ILX56-MM is a modules that takes place in Rockwell Automation’s ControlLogix chassis. Data transfers can be set up to 16 controllers from the leading PLC manufacturers: Rockwell Automation (SLCTM 500, PLC-5®, MicroLogixTM, CompactLogixTM, and ControlLogix® controllers via any network supported in the Rockwell Automation 1756 ControlLogix platform), Siemens (S7 PLCs and other controllers using Industrial Ethernet protocol), and Schneider Electric (Quantum, Premium, M340 and other controllers using Modbus TCP/IP protocol).
