Penton's American Machinist, July 2001

Go wireless on the shop floor

Manufacturers can now simplify installation, eliminate cabling, and make machine tools mobile with wireless networking. Macdac Engineering, Ellington, Conn., is teaming up with Enterasys Networks, Comtrol Corp., and Internet Business Systems (IBS) to deliver wireless LAN communications to the manufacturing market. The system works using three components. User serial-enabled devices are connected via RS-232 cable to a Comtrol RocketPort serial-to-ethernet adapter, which, in turn, is mated via RJ-45 cable to an Enterasys RoamAbout wireless ethernet adapter. This adapter then communicates with an Enterasys RoamAbout wireless access point placed anywhere on the user's wired DNC server network. Once installed and implemented, the wireless LAN can communicate with up to 250 serial-enabled machines placed anywhere within a manufacturing facility. These cable-free machines can be moved at will anywhere within that facility. Changing cable numbers and reconfiguring software or hardware is no longer necessary. The system conforms to the 802.11 high rate specification, which means it goes beyond machine tool automation to provide mobile network access for laptops, mobile desktops, printers, barcode scanners, PDA devices, and web cams with the use of wireless PC cards. Adding high-gain antennas on its access points makes building-to-building communication possible and allows connection at up to 10 miles from the access point. According to Macdac president Dave Stanley, "We are partnering with Enterasys, Comtrol, and IBS because the overall combination provides our customers with an excellent and well-polished wireless LAN solution. Using wireless on the shop floor gives them flexibility that saves time and drives down costs while providing secure, mobile access to their networks."

Excerpt taken from Technology Trends, pages 24, 26