Bosch Rexroth has combined the Anybus Communicator protocol converter with its Smart Flex Effector to offer a highly versatile compensation module.

To enable robots to perform new tasks, the Smart Flex Effector needs to exchange position measurement data with the robot controllers, including information about the deflection of the tool and control signals for the module’s locked and unlocked states.

To solve these connectivity challenges, Bosch Rexroth turned to HMS Networks who provided the Anybus Communicator Common Ethernet, a ready-made protocol converter capable of connecting serial devices to EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, Modbus TCP or PROFINET controllers.

A key benefit of the Anybus Communicator Common Ethernet was that the same unit can connect to all the major Ethernet protocols. The Anybus protocol converter was a solution because it can be reconfigured with a firmware update and provide connections to the wide range of different protocols.

The Smart Flex Effector and Anybus Communicator have worked so well together that Bosch Rexroth includes the Anybus Communicator as part of its complete solution. “We decided to create an order number for the Anybus convertor, so that customers could buy it directly from us. So, we sell both devices together as a complete solution,” reported David Lehmann, System Architect at Bosch Rexroth.

HMS Networks