8/27/2020 10:16 PM | |
Joined: 9/27/2006 Last visit: 10/13/2024 Posts: 12287 Rating: (2685) |
Hello; Could you please explain what you mean by "more modern" alternatives for a DP/PA coupler? Do you mean from other manufacturers than Siemens? In that case, you could look up Procentec's ComBricks PA couplers, or the Pepperl Fuchs SK3, or some other manufacturers (I believe Phoenix Contacts offers something similar to the ComBricks). note that often these gateways will not work easily with Simatic PDM, but will need FDT-enbled software, such as PactWare. You are familiar with the basic difference between a PA coupler and a DP/PA Link, right? Allow me to present the main differences, they have their importance. A Siemens PA coupler (FDC157-0) allows the connection of a PA instrument directly to a Profibus-DP bus, using the instrument's GSDML file for Profibus-PA directly in the Profibus configurator (much as you described in your original question). The FDC 157-0 does not appear in the configuration (it is completely transparent to the DP network) and acts as a protocol and medium gateway between the DP network and PA instrument. The cost of this ease of use is that the whole DP line must be operated at a speed of 45,45 kbit/s, to accommodate the requirements of the PA FISCO standards. This is sometimes not acceptable in a process that includes drives or remote I/O, for example; Profibus-DP was designed for high-speed exchanges, originally.. The alternative is a DP/PA link, a combination of a IM 153-2 and various FDC 157-0. The IM 153-2 decouples the DP and PA networks, so the DP side can maintain it normal speed (up to 12 MB) while the PA side exchanges data at its own slow normal speed. But: now the DP master sees only one DP slave (the IM 153-2), the PA side instruments are hidden from its configuration, since the IM 153-2 decouples the 2 networks.. One slave, one GSD file only is needed. Which is why you must generate a single GSD file combining the IM 153-2 with all the PA instruments' GSDML files, for the DP/PA link so the data exchange reaches the data on the instruments. So no, Siemens does not provide a "more modern" alternative for a DP/PA link for TIA Portal. it uses the same approach as it did when the DP/PA Link was first introduced with Simatic Manager, using the GSD-tool to generate the required GSD file for the IM 153-2. If anything, they have made the use of the GSD-tool simpler than I remember from my first memories of the DP/PA link configuration: How do you configure the DP/PA link in the external master or in STEP 7 (TIA Portal)? https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/ww/en/view/79159361 Hope this helps, Daniel Chartier |
Last edited by: dchartier at: 08/27/2020 22:18:10 |
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8/28/2020 10:41 AM | |
Joined: 10/7/2005 Last visit: 10/14/2024 Posts: 3024 Rating: (1054)
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I think what AutoGen_3610935 referring too is the fact that classic Step7 (V5.x) catered for metadata based configuration of the DP/PA link whereas "the future of Automation" TIA Portal Step 7 does NOT anymore and forces you go down the "create your own GSD" file path. I have no idea why TIA Portal omits the ET200M based DP/PA link from its inbuilt HW catalogue. Perhaps it is because ET200M's will soon be history and ET200MP take over and there is no ET200MP based DP/PA link available yet, but I'm speculating here. One thing is for sure, the metadata based classic Step 7 way is far easier and visually more appealing for a DP/PA link and underlying PA Network configuration where you simply drag and drop PA devices onto it (see attached pic). Daniel has already given yo alternatives to the Siemens DP/PA link and there are no "more modern alternatives to this type of network" from Siemens as far as I know. Saying that, the development of Ethernet-APL seems to be the latest rage (https://www.profibus.com/technology/ethernet-apl) and perhaps Siemens is just waiting for it as PROFIBUS is in general somewhat on its way out anyhow. |
Cheers |
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5/13/2024 8:25 AM | |
Joined: 6/19/2017 Last visit: 9/6/2024 Posts: 8175 Rating: (172) |
New question published by AutoGen_4631241 is split to a separate thread with the subject Build a gsd for a DP/PA link. Best regards |
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