When it comes to integrating sensors into industrial fieldbuses, every industry has its own individual requirements. This is why there are more than two dozen industrial communication systems available today across a diverse range of machines and systems, and this is something that intelligent sensor manufacturers cannot ignore. With its omni fieldbus concept for encoders SICK is well-equipped for all integration options. 
At present, the portfolio of singleturn and multiturn encoders as well as motor feedback systems supports more than a dozen interface standards that play a key role in industrial communication. The bandwidth spans from incremental interfaces through to technologies such as SSI, HIPERFACE®, or the HIPERFACE DSL® one-cable technology. The range is then rounded off with fieldbus systems for production automation - e.g., DeviceNet, Profibus, and CANopen - through to Ethernet-based fieldbuses such as EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, and EtherCAT®. As an international company with expertise in virtually every key industrial sector, SICK is well aware of the specific requirements associated with fieldbuses.
HIPERFACE DSL ® - the digital evolution
With the HIPERFACE DSL® digital interface, technology leader SICK presents a purely digital protocol that uses a minimum of connection cables between the frequency converter and motor feedback system. This digital servo link interface enables an entirely new architecture for the servo drive with completely new options, as it is now purely digital instead of hybrid (analog/digital).
Make use of interface expertise and make decisions for a secure future
SICKs portfolio of available transmission and fieldbus interfaces optimally satisfy the requirements of the industrial communication market and its dynamic rate of growth. The decision to focus on encoders and motor feedback systems will provide a high level of security for the future and investments, as - thanks to the omni fieldbus concept - the technology can be integrated in an extremely wide variety of industrial networks.
Increased system throughput: AFS60/AFM60 with three fieldbus interfaces
According to Quest Trend Magazine, PROFINET, EtherCAT®, and EtherNet/IP currently account for almost 70% of the real-time Ethernet protocols used by machine builders. SICKs AFS60 absolute encoder (singleturn) and AFM60 absolute encoder (multiturn), for instance, offer these three fieldbus interfaces. Consequently, they are the ideal solution for manufacturers and integrators of production processes, handling systems, production machinery, printing systems, and measurement and test equipment - firstly, because they are extremely reliable and precise, and can be freely programmed, and secondly, because they give a significant boost to system performance. This results from the fact that all three versions of this type offer an unparalleled range of diagnostics options, which they use to optimize reliability and increase system throughput.
A wide range of diagnostic functions: AHS36/AHM36: CANopen makes it possible
The new, compact AHS36 (singleturn) and AHM36 (multiturn) absolute encoders offer reliable, fully magnetic sensor technology and are optimized for an extremely wide range of installation situations. AHS/AHM36 encoders with CANopen interface facilitate simple network integration with various configuration options. They also have an impressive range of diagnostic functions. The two separate diagnosis memories (total/individual) offer extra convenience. Thanks to the CANopen interface, the data from the two diagnostics memories can be issued via this communication protocol directly to the controller, where it is used to optimize the maintenance intervals of a machine or system.
- Product information: AFM/AFS60 EtherNet/IP absolute encoder, AFM/AFS60 EtherCAT absolute encoder, AFM/AFS60 PROFINET absolute encoder, AHS/AHM36 absolute encoder
- Product portfolio: Fieldbus and network solutions, Absolute encoder
