New ProductsSeptember 13, 2020

Multi-protocol drives

High performance Unidrive M700 and M702 drives are now available with enhanced multi-protocol Ethernet ports that support PROFINET RT as well as EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP and Control Techniques RTMoE (Real Time Motion over Ethernet).

The new ports have the words “Multi-Protocol” printed next to the Ethernet sockets, the prior versions that do not support PROFINET RT do not have this marking.

This new hardware is being incorporated in standard drives manufactured on or after August 3rd, 2020. The date code can be viewed on the product label and will be 2032 for the new multi-protocol version. The model number for the drives is unchanged from prior versions.

While Control Techniques’ drives have always been multi-protocol in their nature, being able to support Real-Time Motion over Ethernet (RTMoE) simultaneously with Ethernet/IP and Modbus/TCP IP communications, this new variant adds Profinet RT capability to the list of protocols supported by the Unidrive M700 and M702. The changes also bring about performance improvements to the Modbus and EtherNet protocols.