The most recent machines are now all equipped with Ethernet network cards for interconnection in line with Industry 4.0 logic. However, it is not uncommon to find companies where older machines are still in use (e.g., for low-precision operations), which likely do not have Ethernet cards.
However, this does not mean that machines without an Ethernet card cannot be interconnected to an information system.
Often, these machines are equipped with serial ports, for example, using Modbus RTU: a network protocol alternative to Modbus Ethernet, which allows reading and writing on the memory registers of the machine tool.
Therefore, through alternative network protocols, it is still possible to create connectors for older generation machines, which will allow for the execution of the same functionalities realized in "Industry 4.0 – ready" plants:
- Reading data on the progress of the machining process (times and quantities)
- Reading sensor data (position, movement, current, ...)
- Reading alarms and notifications
HyperGWAY® is the Real Comm solution for creating interconnections to machines through native protocols.
It is therefore possible to obtain data - in a totally analogous way to Industry 4.0 machines – also from older generation plants: this way, a complete and uniform interconnection of the company's machine park will be achieved.
If you would like more information, or to carry out a technical analysis, do not hesitate to contact us!