Software module for connecting SINUMERIK 840D controllers to industrial IoT applications

edgeConnector 840D connects to the Siemens SINUMERIK 840D Solution Line and Power Line controllers without any intervention in the machine configuration and provides the data as an OPC UA server. In addition, the data can also be transmitted to MQTT brokers using MQTT. All process parameters from the NC part (axis, tool, program data), as well as the PLC part (status, program sections, alarms) and the drive data can be read out. As a Docker container, the product offers flexible deployment options, e.g. on standard IPCs or devices running Azure IoT Edge or AWS IoT Greengrass.

The application can be easily configured locally via an integrated web interface. It can also be managed remotely using the REST API. The configuration is flexible and includes precisely coordinated security settings (e.g. role-based access rights for OPC UA client applications).

The new product, which is also based on virtualization and container technology, benefits from Softing's deep experience with brownfield connectivity through MQTT and OPC UA technology and provides the data for new and highly efficient IoT solution architectures.

Accessing Tooling Machine Data from OPC UA Applications

• Provision of SINUMERIK 840D Solution Line and Power Line data
• Pre-defined namespace, customizable for special machine data sets
• Automatic tool recognition and listing of all available magazines and tools
• Standardized OPC UA communication for data integration into management systems like ERP, MES, or SCADA or for data exchange with other docker containers like Microsoft OPC Publisher or Amazon AWS IoT SiteWise
• Connection of up to 20 SINUMERIK 840D controllers with one Container Runtime
• Reading of NC/PLC alarms, as well as GUD variables and R parameters
• Dedicated for retrofit upgrades of existing SINUMERIK controllers

Easy Cloud-driven or Local Deployment

• Container images stored in different online repositories like Docker Hub, Azure Container Registry (ACR) or Amazon Elastic Con-tainer Registry (ECR)
• Simple data transmission to an MQTT broker using the MQTT publisher functionality for local or cloud-based solutions
• Recipe manager functionality for writing process data from the cloud to controllers (MQTT Subscriber)
• Licensing via Softing Floating License Server

Lightweight Flexible Container Solution

• Less resources plus increased scalability and flexibility
• Support of security standards as SSL/TLS, X.509 certificates, authentication, and data encryption
• Highly flexible state-of-the-art application to be deployed, adjusted, or started and stopped immediately, if needed
• Deployment and configuration also via management systems such as Kubernetes, Azure IoT Edge or AWS IoT Greengrass