PLC communication in MAT
MAT Edge devices interface with PLCs using a suite of standard automation protocols. These protocols, including Modbus, OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA), and EtherNet/IP, are designed to ensure seamless data exchange across diverse hardware and software platforms. By leveraging these protocols, MAT Edge can efficiently read data from PLCs, facilitating real-time monitoring and analysis of production processes.
The foundation of MAT Edge and PLC communication is predominantly unidirectional. This approach primarily focuses on reading data from PLCs to MAT Edge devices. The significance of read-only communication lies in its ability to minimize the risks of unintended disruptions to the PLCs' operations. MAT Edge devices, thus, become powerful tools for monitoring system status, performance metrics, and alerting on anomalies without interfering with the PLCs' control logic.
Bidirectional Communication
While unidirectional communication is essential for monitoring and analysis, certain scenarios require MAT Edge to engage in bidirectional communication with PLCs. A critical application of bidirectional communication is the management of production orders. This kind of bidirectional communication is performend only if the module job executor is configured in the MAT configuration.
The list of supported protocols is the following:
S7 (Absolute Mode Only)
Siemens
TCP/IP over Ethernet
102
Used primarily for monitoring and data acquisition from Siemens PLCs.
Ethernet/IP (Rockwell)
Rockwell Automation and others supporting Ethernet/IP
TCP/IP over Ethernet
44818
Utilizes CIP (Common Industrial Protocol)
Ethernet/IP (Omron)
Omron and others supporting Ethernet/IP
TCP/IP over Ethernet
44818
Similar to Rockwell but with specific integrations for Omron devices
OPC-UA
Wide cross-vendor compatibility
TCP/IP over Ethernet
4840
Open protocol ensuring secure data exchange with advanced security features such as the usage of certificates; supports complex data types and structures.
Modbus TCP
Broad industry adoption
TCP/IP over Ethernet
502
Known for its simplicity and ease of implementation