Lighthouse PLCs, Inc. : Automation Forum
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Matt,
I held off answering this hoping that your question might spur some dialog. Just the words "Field Bus" generally create an eruption of heated diatribe. Sorry for the delay in answering.
My answer is based on (my) observation. It seems to me that "fieldbus" is a general term, like "automobile". While there is a "Fieldbus-S", most (it seems) of the "Field Bus" architectures (i.e. Interbus-S, Profibus, DeviceNet, etc.) refer to themselves as (ahem) THE field bus architcture.
It (again) seems to me that for the most unbiased view of the different options one has, you need to look at someone like the ISA (Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation - used to be Instrument Society of America). They have an excellent page of links on their regular site - click here , and a dedicated section on field bus - click here.
In answer to your question regarding hardware requirements however, and as briefly as possible, let me give this a try.
One starts with a devices - like a "scanner" card in a computer (industrial PC perhaps, or even a PLC). Then, and perhaps the most important yet most overlooked part - is the "cable" that connects everything together. Different architectures have different names for the cable. Then, at strategically placed drop off points (generally termed as NODES), the cable extends some distance to what is basically "smart" I/O. "Smart" for example, in like a limit switch that not only reports wheter or not it senses the desire object, but could potentially also report how many times it has operated in reference to its projected life-span, for maintenance/replacement purposes. Or, a photo-proximity that tells you among oother things, if its lens is dirty.
So, no offense intended, but your question is sort of like saying "What does it take to build a car?". What do you want - a Geo or a Porsche?
There is a DeviceNet Technical Overview (Presentation) by Ray Romito, DeviceNet Trainer for Rockwell Automation/Allen-Bradley that may shed some light for you. You can view it here.
Hope this at least heads you in the right direction, Matt!
Good Luck
Timothy Davis 
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Replying to:
I need to know what hardware you need to install a fieldbuss network.
