JB2020 (Customer) asked a question.
Werma IO Link Stack Light Communications
In conjunction with my IO Link Durability post... I have decided to go with remote IO bases for all of my field IO. However, I want to use one of Wermas 15 Tier StackLights for my main panel. I don't want to buy an 8 port IO Link master for 1 IO Link device. Are there 1 port or 2 port masters for such a situation that work with Productivity? Or is there another option altogether?
Your options are fairly limited, there are no single port masters available. I don't know of any modbus/ethernet/etc stack lights that come close to the 15 tiers. You can program the Wermas to 64 pre-configured patterns, and use 6 digital outputs from your PLC to select those 64 patterns.
Here is the Werma stack light I'm talking about when I say 15 tiers.
https://www.automationdirect.com/adc/shopping/catalog/stacklights/signal_towers/65761055
I found some IO Link master from IFM or Bihl-Wiedenmann that have 1 port. But not sure if they'll work with productivity.
Do you have a P/N on those 1 port IO-Link masters? The 64 pre-configured patterns would be on this unit. https://www.automationdirect.com/adc/shopping/catalog/stacklights/signal_towers/65751055
This one has 2 ports https://www.ifm.com/us/en/product/AC6002
You will need either Ethernet/IP or Modbus TCP for communications. When I look at IFM website for those communication protocols the lowest is 4 ports. The 8 port isn't that much more expensive than the 4 port so I generally go with the 8 port giving me room for future use.
There's nothing inherently special about working with Productivity, find one that speaks Modbus TCP or EIP and it will work. The IFM 1 port master is for USB config only and the 2 port is AS-i.
As mentioned, depending on how many unique patterns you need, you can also just program the discrete version of the light via USB and output whatever pattern you want over 1-6 discrete outputs.