6K Misc - Ethernet Client Capability

Owned by Jack Degrano
Last updated: Jun 24, 2024 by Eric Rojas (Unlicensed)
2 min read

With the release of 6K* operating system 5. 3, the 6K can connect itself to up to 6 other devices over ethernet, with the 6K acting as the client. These devices include:

Allen-Bradley SLC 5/05.  As an ethernet client, a 6K can map binary and integer variables to data files in the PLC. This means that the server PLC can update its data files, and the changes are automatically written to the 6K's mapped variables. Likewise, the 6K can update its variables, with changes then occurring in the PLC's data files.

Opto22 Snap I/O.  Using Modbus/TCP, the 6K ethernet client can utilize discrete and Analog I/O from an Opto22 SNAP ETHERNET I/O rack. After configuring parameters that tell the 6K what I/O modules are on the rack, the 6K can scan and manipulate I/O points, similar to using an EVM32.

DVT vision camera.  As an ethernet client, the 6K can send ASCII strings to the DVT vision sensor. The camera can receive commands in the form of ASCII strings, and can write ASCII strings out of its port. This function of the DVT system is useful for writing variables to the 6K to pass data.

Also as an added feature, the 6K can share variables over a network with up to 7 other 6K units. This peer-to-peer connection allows a 6K to set variables that are then broadcast over the network to the other 6K units, which can take and operate on the data as they would their own variables.
These new capabilities can be used in addition to the ethernet connection previously supported by the 6K, which allows a client such as a PC or an operator panel to connect to the 6K, which in such a case acts as a server. To use any combination of these features requires just one ethernet cable connecting a 6K to an ethernet network; to set up a 6K for ethernet requires an RS-232 or RS-485 connection.

 

  • also refers to Gem6K