Industrial Ethernet

Industrial Ethernet is the generic term for all efforts to make the Ethernet standard for the networking of devices that are used in industrial production, can be used. In this connection, one also talks of a real-time Ethernet.

As companies usually already have an Ethernet LAN for networking the employees' computers, it is possible with Industrial Ethernet in the existing LAN devices with included that are needed for the management and control of production processes.

General

As part of Industrial Ethernet switches, hubs and media converters are created which are adapted to industrial environments. These include in particular onto a 35 mm DIN rail ( DIN rail), DC power supply (typically 24 V DC), an increased noise immunity, an extended operating temperature range, an increased degree of protection ( protection against dust, water, etc.), resistance to various media such as oils, lubricants and acids, vibration resistance and in many cases special precautions to reliability.

For the high real-time requirements with isochronous cycle times of less than 1 ms (eg for motion control applications), specific protocols are defined, which are supported by hardware and special topologies. Systems such as SERCOS III, SafetyNET p, VARAN, Profinet, EtherNet / IP, Ethernet Powerlink or EtherCAT bus cycles already reached around 100 microseconds.

Since the network connection is frequently done from machine to machine in series in an industrial environment, industrial Ethernet networks are often implemented in a ring. This allows a fault to a maximum of a switch be limited. If one line, the network can continue working completely. The network separation in the ring, either by Rapid Spanning Tree, or through a non-standard protocol that enables a faster response time.

Potential-free alarm contacts allow rapid fault detection. The management can also be the network to be monitored and, if necessary, be made a notification of the operator.

Despite many efforts we have not been able to define a uniform standard that allows devices from different systems to operate together. The higher data rates fieldbus systems according to EIA- 485 are replaced despite significantly higher costs in individual applications by Industrial Ethernet.

Special features of the infrastructure

Was that usual Ethernet as a standard for data cabling previously only in office environments, it is now used increasingly for industrial applications. Here you can meet the network but on confounding factors that may have a significant impact on the transmission quality. Especially at the connection points the risk of disruption due to vibration, dirt, moisture and harmful substances is high. Depending on the requirements, a distinction between different types of protection. Supplier of connectors have developed special techniques for connecting Industrial Ethernet. They can cope with the sometimes adverse conditions in the light and heavy industry, in railway tunnels, on ships ( cruise ships ) or other environments, such as high hygienic operating theaters.