MODBUS/TCP is a standard Ethernet-based protocol for interfacing to remote I/O devices. By configuring just a few parameters, a PreciseFlex™ Controller can act as an automatic scanner for 3rd party MODBUS/TCP slave I/O devices, mapping the remote I/O points to GPL signals. The DIO contained on multiple slave devices can be read and write accessed by multiple PreciseFlex™ controllers. For example, the digital input and output signals of off-the-shelf boards from Festo, Wago and Phoenix can be accessed in the same manner as the local DIO provided in a Guidance controller.
Alternately, you can write a GPL program that directly communicates with MODBUS/TCP slaves using the Modbus Class. See the Guidance Programming Language (GPL) documentation for details.
The PreciseFlex™ Controller can also act as a MODBUS slave that can be accessed by remote MODBUS/TCP master devices using the MODBUS/TCP protocol.
For details about the MODBUS protocol and for information about the many third-party I/O devices available, see the MODBUS-IDA website at http://www.modbus.org.