Cognex’s suite of communications, Cognex Connect simplifies the configuration and monitoring of a network of Cognex vision systems and ID readers as it backs the open standard industrial Ethernet communications protocols.
Network equipment such as In-Sight and DataMan devices can be activated from any point linked to the network. This feature eliminates the need of a host PC to translate USB or RS-232 communications to a central network or PLC.
The standard industrial Ethernet communications protocols also permit the storage of images and data files directly via FTP support for further analysis and review. DataMan ID readers also provide a .NET based command library for modifying user-specific terminal interfaces and Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) and offers control through an easy command line interface.
Business Unit Manager for Cognex’s ID Products, Carl Gerst, commented that the DataMan 8000 series with the addition of industrial protocols is the first and lone handheld ID reader to enable a direct link to a PLC that is functioning as a node on the factory network. Cognex Connect with DataMan readers makes the integration procedure into the factory network simpler, which in turn decreases expenditure and maintenance time, he further said.
The Cognex Connect suite of communication functionalities is compatible with the DataMan 8000 series of handheld readers, the DataMan 200 series of fixed-mount readers and on all type of Cognex In-Sight vision system models.