StarNET HDLC Master Gateway solves legacy migration challenge
In August 2016, IDX successfully completed the commissioning
of its latest StarNET HDLC gateway development implementation which saw the
addition of StarNET HDLC Master functionality being added to the gateway.
The application involved the legacy migration of a GEM 80
PLC controlling three GEM Micro drives operating in a redundant setup for
operating the brakes of a mine winder operating on the deepest single drop
shaft in the world, near Klerksdorp in South Africa. As only the PLC was being
replaced with a modern software-based PLC, a solution to interface with the
existing GEM Micro drives was required. Due to the safety critical nature of
the system, the solution needed to be reliable and offer quick data turnaround
to prevent safe lock-outs of the brake controller, and thus shutting down the
winder and of course the shaft.
IDX provided a MODBUS UDP Slave to StarNET HDLC Master
interface in the form of an IDX StarNET gateway allowing the new Beckhoff PLC
to read and write to the GEM micro drives via MODBUS UDP. We are pleased to
report the gateway has worked flawlessly since commissioning despite this being
a rather challenging project. This was primarily due to the unexpected GEM
micro HDLC communication handling and multi-drop behaviour – let’s just say it
is somewhat ‘special’ and a little mysterious but not enough to stop us from
making it work!