PROFINET is the default communication protocol on every Siemens S7-1200 and S7-1500 PLC. The PROFINET interface is built into the CPU — no extra modules needed. But setting up a PROFINET network in TIA Portal involves several steps that must happen in the right order. You need to install the GSD file, add the IO-Device to the network,… Read More »
Allen-Bradley CompactLogix and ControlLogix PLCs do not support Modbus TCP natively. Their primary protocol is EtherNet/IP. But in many industrial systems, you need to communicate with Modbus TCP devices — energy meters, VFDs, third-party sensors, or legacy equipment. Rockwell Automation provides a free solution: Modbus TCP Add-On Instructions (AOIs). These are pre-built function blocks you import into Studio… Read More »
The Siemens S7-1200 has built-in Modbus TCP support. No additional communication modules are needed. The CPU handles Modbus TCP natively through its PROFINET Ethernet port. You configure it using two instruction blocks in TIA Portal: A single S7-1200 can run both roles at the same time — serving data to SCADA while polling field devices. Despite the simplicity,… Read More »
You’ve got a PLC on the factory floor. You need its data in your SCADA, MES, historian, or cloud platform. OPC UA is the way to get it there — securely and without vendor lock-in. But the steps depend on what PLC you have. Some PLCs have OPC UA servers built right in. Others need external software or… Read More »