ORION Ethernet I/O Overview

ORION supports a variety of popular Ethernet I/O products in motion control applications. Fully integrated software includes elegant setup, configuration and programming tools to greatly simplify using Ethernet I/O.

Utilizing ORMEC’s Ethernet I/O communications MBX, users can select from among:

• WAGO Ethernet I/O
• Opto 22 Snap Ethernet I/O
• Modicon TSX Momentum
• or Sixnet EtherTrak I/O

to meet specific application requirements.

With the Ethernet I/O MBX installed, the Ethernet I/O modules are configurable from the development system using MotionDesk.  All I/O mapping and communications are handled by the MBX, and the programmer can utilize standard MotionBASIC statements (DIO@ and AIO@) to integrate analog and digital Ethernet I/O into their application program.

Ethernet I/O Approaches

Since different I/O vendors have designed their products to address differing customer needs, ORMEC is supporting multiple Ethernet I/O products. The MBX is designed to support a growing number of Ethernet I/O solutions in the future.  Vendors have taken two approaches to meeting the user’s Ethernet I/O needs:

"Modular I/O" combines a rack and controller for each node. The user can mix and match module types (AC In/Out, DC In/Out, sinking/sourcing, Analog current/voltage, etc.) within the rack. Modular I/O provides maximum flexibility when there is a need to mix I/O types and provides a solution for small numbers of distributed I/O.  WAGO Ethernet I/O and Opto22 Snap Ethernet I/O are examples of modular I/O. 

"Brick I/O" are enclosed modules which contain both inputs and outputs, but the "type" is fixed. For example, some options include 16 DC inputs (10-32V) plus 16 DC outputs (10-32V) or 10 DC inputs (24V) and 8 relay outputs. Depending on the mix of I/O required for your application, the "brick I/O" approach may be an attractive and cost-effective solution.  Modicon TSX Momentum and Sixnet EtherTrak are examples of "brick I/O" solutions.

The Ethernet I/O MBX has been optimized for I/O handling --- running as a priority task under MotionBASIC to maximize data throughput.  The performance of Ethernet I/O is very deterministic if it’s on an isolated network or separated from other network traffic by a switching hub. MotionBASIC supports multiple Ethernet adapters in the same controller to ease creating a separate I/O network.

A key advantage of ORMEC’s approach is it allows the system designer to utilize off-the-shelf Ethernet adapters, cabling and network hubs and/or switches.  The ORION controller provides a PC-AT bus with up to seven expansion slots and a PC card slot which can be used for Ethernet connectivity.

Advantages of Using ORION Ethernet I/O

• Tightly integrated with MotionDesk development software and MotionBASIC to simplify application programming.
• Flexibility to utilize either WAGO Ethernet I/O, Opto22 Snap Ethernet I/O, Modicon TSX Momentum or Sixnet EtherTrak hardware.
• Use Ethernet TCP/IP for both I/O and development communications.
• WebTools software provides capability to monitor I/O remotely using web browser.

• Select the "best of breed" Ethernet I/O hardware best suited to your application.
• Utilize cost effective Ethernet adapters, either ISA or PC Card adapters to interface to the ORION controller.
• Standard cabling is cost-effective and provides distances up to 500 ft.
• Cost-effective hubs provide tools to create effective machine control networks and limit network traffic.

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