In the field of industrial automation, PLC plays a crucial role. With the continuous advancement of technology, the compatibility of PLC communication protocols has become increasingly important. This article will provide a detailed introduction to how to connect and configure the EtherNet/IP interface of Rockwell PLC with the Profinet interface of Siemens S7-1200 PLC through Wuxi NetEason Profinet and Ethernet/IP gateway, in order to achieve interoperability between the two communication protocols.

Firstly, we need to prepare Rockwell PLC and Siemens PLC, corresponding DC24V power module, a computer for configuration, Profinet/IP gateway equipment, and network communication cables. Start the Rockwell PLC configuration software and enter the hardware configuration interface. In this interface, we can import the required Profinet and Ethernet/IP gateway device description files, which are key to achieving communication between Profinet and Ethernet/IP. After completing the installation program, we can perform modular expansion operations. The specific steps include: selecting “New Module” to add a new module, then searching and selecting the gateway module for Profinet to Ethernet/IP conversion. Enter the parameter settings interface for Profinet and Ethernet/IP gateway modules, and double-click the module name to achieve this. In this interface, it is necessary to configure the device names and IP addresses of Profinet and Ethernet/IP gateway modules. Click “Change” to set the length of data input and output. In this example, it is set to 8 bytes, which is a key parameter to ensure stable data communication. Finally, download the configuration information to the PLC.

Siemens PLC configuration steps: Ensure that the GSD file has been successfully installed in the system. The GSD file is a description file of a PROFINET device, which contains configuration information and parameters of the device, and is the foundation for achieving communication between PLC and PROFINET network. Import the configuration file for EtherNet/IP conversion to PROFINET gateway for configuration. This step will enable Siemens PLC to recognize and correctly process data from the gateway.

Set the IP addresses and device names for Profinet and Ethernet/IP gateways. It will ensure that the PLC can accurately send data to the correct destination address. In the process of executing data communication configuration, the first step is to set the input and output lengths for data transmission. This is a key parameter to ensure data integrity and accuracy. After completing the setup, download the configuration information to the PLC. Open the configuration software for Profinet to Ethernet/IP gateway, create a new project, and select PN EIP as the project type. This step will enable the gateway to process data for both Profinet and Ethernet/IP protocols simultaneously. Further configure the communication parameters with Siemens PLC to ensure that the EtherNet/IP to PROFINET gateway can correctly identify its IP address and device name in the PROFINET network. The length of data exchange needs to be set to 8 bytes to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the data. The IP address of the EtherNet/IP to PROFINET gateway in the Rockwell PLC should be consistent with the value set in the system configuration to ensure that the PLC can correctly send data to the gateway, thereby achieving communication with the PROFINET network.

After completing all configurations, select the default IP port for EtherNet/IP to PROFINET gateway to download the configuration information. Special attention should be paid to operating through the bottom network ports of Profinet and Ethernet/IP gateway devices during downloading to avoid possible configuration errors. It is recommended to perform the download without inserting the front network port. After completing the download operation and ensuring that the EtherNet/IP to PROFINET gateway module successfully receives the installation files, the power supply of the Profinet and Ethernet/IP gateway module should be reactivated. This step will enable Profinet and Ethernet/IP gateway to be officially put into operation, enabling communication between EtherNet/IP and PROFINET.

Through the above steps, we can successfully connect and configure the EtherNet/IP interface of Rockwell PLC with the PROFINET interface of Siemens PLC. The implementation of this technology not only improves the flexibility and compatibility of PLC communication, but also brings more possibilities for the development of industrial automation. In practical applications, we can choose appropriate combinations of PLC and communication protocols based on specific needs and scenarios to meet different control needs. With the continuous progress of technology and the expansion of application scenarios, we believe that PLC communication technology will become more mature and diversified in the future, injecting more possibilities into the development of industrial automation.