CimQuest INGEAR recently introduced the newest version of its factory-floor device communications software. NET.ABLINK 4.0 is designed to deliver fast communications without the need for open process control (OPC) servers.
The software allows users to develop their own Windows programs, system services, class libraries and asp.net solutions for automation and control applications without OPC constraints. It provides direct communication to Allen-Bradley programmable logic controllers using Ethernet, DH+, DH-485 or Serial DF1.
The software’s managed code was written specifically to address the demands of writing HMI or data acquisition and control applications for Microsoft’s .net Framework. It also offers runtime free deployments without additional license fees. No third-party components, drivers, APIs or tools are required.
“Unlike OPC, which is a middleware application that presents complex programming and challenging application compatibility, NET.ABLINK 4.0 is an embedded class that features a direct communications pipeline to the controller, making it easy to talk to your PLC — fast and without the overhead and recurring costs of OPC servers,” said Chuck Karwoski, president of CimQuest INGEAR.
NET.ABLINK 4.0 is a runtime free class library that simplifies building, developing and deploying connected systems for manufacturing applications using Visual Basic .NET or Visual Studio C#. It uses only three primary classes of .NET code, which are used to manage the PLC, the data that are read from or written to the PLC and groupings of methods, properties and events to optimize read/write operations on a collection.
Applications developed with NET.ABLINK 4.0 can run on 64- and 32-bit Windows and Windows Server, Windows Compact Framework, Windows Mobile and Linux with Mono Framework. The software is offered in multiple editions, including single machine edition, developer edition, team edition and compact framework edition. An optional USB license key is also available to easily float development capabilities to runtime computers for field testing and debugging.
INGEAR NET.ABLINK 4.0 is available for immediate download and free trial. For more information, visit www.ingeardrivers.com/ablink.
