SPONSORED BY: TAKEBISHI Corporation
Takebishi: Revolutionizing Manufacturing Communication with User Configurable Driver
In today’s data-driven manufacturing landscape, acquiring data at the source is crucial for effective analysis and monitoring. DeviceXPlorer OPC Server stands out with its built-in connectivity to over 400 series of field devices, offering a comprehensive solution for data conversion and a complete view of factory operations via OPC, MQTT, and HTTP (REST API). This wide range of connectivity, honed over 25 years, sets the standard for many common use cases. However, every site is unique, often employing specific measurement devices or bespoke data protocols developed in-house. Traditionally, manufacturers had to wait for new communication protocols to be added or exclude some operational data from their data systems.
Introducing User Configurable Driver in DeviceXPlorer OPC Server Version 7.4
To address these needs, the upcoming version 7.4 of DeviceXPlorer OPC Server, estimated for release in Spring 2025, will feature a groundbreaking function called User Configurable Driver. This new capability allows users to add their own protocols, enabling the configuration of comprehensive data systems that truly reflect all site operations. By converting proprietary protocols to global standards like OPC and MQTT, field-level data from various equipment, including sensors, scanners, and robots, can be viewed and analyzed to enhance operational efficiency and ensure compliance with security and environmental regulations. This facilitates visualization and predictive maintenance solutions, integrating IT and OT systems seamlessly.
Figure: The User Protocol Builder tool outputs JSON file definition for User Configurable Driver without any coding
Seamless Integration of Previously Unconnected Devices
Implementing data systems in factories can be time-consuming, as each machine may use its own communication protocol. Previously, avoiding data silos required manual workarounds or complex systems developed by specialized engineers, which did not scale well and failed to anticipate future data accumulation trends. The new GUI-based input of commands and responses allows the transmission of packet contents without specialized knowledge. The readability of these user-configured protocols also enhances scalability for various systems and use cases, with JSON files that can be reused at other locations.
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