Lenze-AC Tech Announces EtherNet/IP for SMVector

Lenze-AC Tech announces the release of EtherNet/IP as an optional communication protocolfor the SMVector Drive. According to Mike Bailey, Product Sales Manager at Lenze-AC Tech, the SMVector AC Drive can seamlessly operate on an EtherNet/IP network with the addition of a simple plug-in communication module. Othernetwork protocolsare also available as option modules including CANopen, DeviceNet, Profibus and Modbus RS-485, states Bailey.

EtherNet/IP is a member of the DeviceNet and ControlNet family of Common Industrial Protocols (CIP) developed byAllen-Bradley(Rockwell Automation ROK). As a member of the CIP family, EtherNet/IP can utilize the same set of pre-defined common objects, thus making communication between devices from different manufacturers much easier.

According to Lenze-AC Tech company officials, Lenze-AC Tech worked together with Allen-Bradley engineers to ensure complete product compatibility. We first added EtherNet/IP to our PositionServo Drive and since then, our customers have been looking for EtherNet/IP for their AC Drive Solutions, says Bailey, and he adds, Allen-Bradley remains the largest implementer of EtherNet/IP, with most applications in the packaging and automotive markets; providing Allen-Bradley compatibility and multiple communication options for all of our products allows our customers to choose the fieldbus that best fits their automation application as well as their physical network. Bailey explains that EtherNet/IP is a popular industrial network solution because it can support a nearly unlimited amount of nodes, can be used on a single point connection for configuration and control and permits devices to send and receive messages simultaneously.