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DeviceNet: Success stories wanted!

Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 2:25 am
by ian_krase
The following seem to be true:

1. There are a fair amount of inexpensive used DeviceNet-based sensors, actuators, MFCs, etc out there.

2. There are not many inexpensive DeviceNet master/scanner units -- these are mostly an expensive add-on, with expensive software, for expensive Allen-Bradley PLCs.


I know that DeviceNet is based on CANbus.


Some people have alluded to using DeviceNet; has anybody successfully built a system, without any highly expensive equipment (readily available used stuff that would be expensive new is OK), that can read Devicenet sensors?

Re: DeviceNet: Success stories wanted!

Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 11:42 pm
by Jerry Biehler
There really has not been any home-brew devicenet interfaces that let you talk to these devices. I looked into it a while back. If you wanted to do an arduino it technically would be possible but you would have to write the entire communications protocol stack and that is what has stopped everyone that has talked about it.

Re: DeviceNet: Success stories wanted!

Posted: Thu Sep 21, 2017 2:41 am
by ian_krase
Apparently Devicenet has become deeply unpopular among industrial users as well.


Has anybody managed to find the spec? Some of my research suggests that it is an awfully thin layer on top of CAN but I do not know.

Re: DeviceNet: Success stories wanted!

Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2017 8:19 pm
by Jerry Biehler
I dont know about unpopular but it is used everywhere in industrial automation if you are using AB PLCs.

Re: DeviceNet: Success stories wanted!

Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2017 1:29 am
by ian_krase
I asked about it on /r/PLCs and several people said that while it used to be popular they currently tried to avoid it if possible, using Ethernet-based protocols or modbus if they could. And complained about it.


Apparently it is part of the SEMI specifications which does something to explain the glut of Devicenet-enabled vacuum gear.

Even the connectors are hard to find and expensive.

Re: DeviceNet: Success stories wanted!

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2018 5:47 pm
by Kevin_Keyes
Jerry Biehler wrote: Fri Sep 22, 2017 8:19 pmI dont know about unpopular but it is used everywhere in industrial automation if you are using AB PLCs.
This does seem to be the trend. I haven't seen a NEW robotic system get ordered with DeviceNet in about 3 years. The exception there being replacement controllers that are being installed as replacements in older systems. Easier to put an old I/O unit on a new controller than update all your other I/O.
ian_krase wrote: Sat Sep 23, 2017 1:29 amI asked about it on /r/PLCs and several people said that while it used to be popular they currently tried to avoid it if possible, using Ethernet-based protocols or modbus if they could. And complained about it.
Ethernet is the major trend these days. The affordability and availability of connectors and adapters is hard to beat. I've actually never seen anyone running Modbus though. I mostly see Ethernet/IP, EtherCAT, and occasionally ProfiNet on newer systems. Still a TON of legacy DeviceNet and Profibus running the factories of the world though.

Disclaimer: my experience is centered around 6-axis robotic arms. There are a lot of independent servo machines that might utilize different protocols!

EDIT: Additional note... CAN Bus is also still extremely popular in the automation world. And that may actually be an interesting possibility for the OP. You could utilize a reprogrammed vehicle ECU to run a CAN Bus network to control voltage, flow, vacuum, and detectors. Not saying it would be quick and easy. But you absolutely could!

Re: DeviceNet: Success stories wanted!

Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2022 6:05 pm
by Jerry Biehler
yeah, I have seen canbus showing up on a lot of things, I have some ELMO servo drives that come with it and a few other things here and there. I have not messed with it myself.

You mess around with robots? My friend picked up a decent sized FANUC that we plan on getting running sometime. Probably put a milling spindle on it.

Re: DeviceNet: Success stories wanted!

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2022 11:26 am
by Anze A Ursic
I have an MKS T3B devicenet version and use the ICPDAS I-7565 usb - devicenet converter. I also just use their free software to communicate with it. It was a pain to figure out to be honest, but now it's relatively easy to use. The I-7565 I believe was around $400, so not sure if that constitutes expensive or not, but I'm willing to answer any questions about it.

Re: DeviceNet: Success stories wanted!

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2022 8:32 am
by Dennis P Brown
As always, please avoid block quotes - thanks.