Because very few companies standardize with one hardware or software supplier throughout their business, the ability to
connect hardware and software packages from different suppliers is essential.
However, that didn't stop many hardware and software suppliers from trying to
own their niche of the playing field. But the realities of marketplace demand
have been leading a shift toward more open and easily integrated products for
years now. It happened with enterprise software nearly a decade ago, and now
the spirit of openness is starting to be felt more widely at the device and device
communication level.
At Hannover Fair 2011, Sercos International
announced that it is making the Sercos/IP protocol driver library for the Sercos
automation bus available as open source software. The driver software is
available for download in C# source code via http://sourceforge.net. There are no license fees
or usage limitations associated with the Sercos open source code.
The protocol is designed to allow direct communication and data exchange
between devices without requiring a Sercos master or the use of existing Sercos
communication.
One of the primary uses of the Sercos protocol has
been for real-time control applications. Sercos International maintains that the
open source Sercos/IP protocol can still be used in cyclic real time operation.
The association notes that, despite having the Sercos/IP telegrams transferred
into the Sercos NRT (Non Real-Time) channel in real-time applications, there is
reportedly no negative influence on the real time behavior of the network.
The open source Sercos/IP also maintains that set-up, remote maintenance and
diagnosis of Sercos device capabilities can be carried out over an intranet or
the Internet.
In related open communication news, Sercos
International also announced at Hannover Fair that it is strengthening its cooperation
with ODVA by becoming an active partner organization within the new ODVA
machine initiative. A principal objective of this connection between the groups
is the expansion of CIP Safety, which is currently used as a bus-independent
safety protocol for DeviceNet, EtherNet/IP and Sercos.
"CIP Safety on Sercos is an excellent example of how technologies from
different organizations can successfully complement each other -- to benefit
manufacturers as well as users," said Peter Lutz, managing director of Sercos International.
By experimenting with the photovoltaic reaction in solar cells, researchers at MIT have made a breakthrough in energy efficiency that significantly pushes the boundaries of current commercial cells on the market.
In a world that's going green, industrial operations have a problem: Their processes involve materials that are potentially toxic, flammable, corrosive, or reactive. If improperly managed, this can precipitate dangerous health and environmental consequences.
With LEDs dropping in price virtually every year, automakers have begun employing them, not only on luxury vehicles, but on entry-level models, as well.
From Dell / Intel® New Paradigms in Design Work Scott Hamilton, vertical market strategist for Dell Precision workstations, 5/2/2013 5
Early in my career, I worked as a draftsman and remember the days of drawing on vellum with numbered pencils and Mylar with plastic lead. This was a fun experience in the sense that I ...
I've been using workstations for more than 10 years and love finding ways to get more performance from my system. With demanding professional applications that require more power each ...
A lasting memory from my first job as an engineer in an auto assembly plant is standing on hard concrete at six in the morning, vending-machine coffee clutched in hand, listening to ...
A quick look into the merger of two powerhouse 3D printing OEMs and the new leader in rapid prototyping solutions, Stratasys. The industrial revolution is now led by 3D printing and engineers are given the opportunity to fully maximize their design capabilities, reduce their time-to-market and functionally test prototypes cheaper, faster and easier. Bruce Bradshaw, Director of Marketing in North America, will explore the large product offering and variety of materials that will help CAD designers articulate their product design with actual, physical prototypes. This broadcast will dive deep into technical information including application specific stories from real world customers and their experiences with 3D printing. 3D Printing is
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
3 
