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Connecting MachineMetrics: Wired Network

Integration
  • Updated

Introduction:

This article provides detailed instructions for a successful MachineMetrics integration through a wired network, including an overview of the required hardware and the necessary prep work for your network and machines. 

Important! If you intend to connect your machines to MachineMetrics by networking your machines via ethernet cables, please review this article in detail before attempting your integration. If you plan to integrate your machines via a wireless or cellular network, please instead review the articles available for those specific network options. You can find all of our available network articles here.

 

Topics covered in this article:

Preparing Your Network

In order to properly prepare your network, please first ensure you have IT administrative access to your network settings. You will need the ability to change your network settings as well as ping your machines. For security best practices, it is recommended you use a dedicated switch for your machines, and that your wired machine network is separate from your internal corporate network. This can be accomplished with an unmanaged switch.

Someone within your organization who is familiar with your machine controls should provide the following information for each machine you wish to integrate into your network:

  • Static IP Address
  • Subnet Mask
  • Default Gateway
  • (if applicable), DNS Servers.

Make sure that your network's firewall has outbound access to

  • *.machinemetrics.com
  • *.balena-cloud.com
  • *.docker.com
  • *.docker.io,
  • *.resinio.pool.ntp.org.
  • *.amazonaws.com

Outbound access should be over ports 443, 123, and 53.

 

Preparing Your Machines

In order to successfully connect to MachineMetrics through a wired network, you must first make sure that your machines are wired into your network. If your machines already have ethernet cables running from their ports to a dedicated switch, you can skip this section.

If your machines are not already wired, locate the ethernet port on each of the machines you intend to connect to MachineMetrics. Run either a Cat 5 or Cat 6a cable from those ports. Ethernet ports are typically located either within the HMI or the electrical cabinet of a machine. The exact location of ethernet ports can differ greatly between machine tool brand, make, and model.

If you cannot locate an ethernet port on your machine, you may need to source a PCMCIA-to-Ethernet Adapter Card from your machine’s vendor; this adapter will allow you to have an ethernet port for your integration.

Make certain there are static IP Addresses available for each machine that is to be connected.

Once you have ethernet cables running from your machines' ethernet ports, run the cables back towards your network cabinet or IT Room: wherever your network is stored. Plug the opposite ends of the cables into a switch. Again, it is highly recommended that you have a dedicated switch for your machines.

Machines_and_switch.png

 

Your Machine Network Switch

For security best practices, it is recommended that you use a dedicated switch for your machines and that your machine wired network is separate from your internal corporate network. This can be accomplished with an unmanaged switch. 

When connecting your machines to your network, it is important to compare and contrast managed switches against unmanaged switches to determine which is more appropriate for your needs. Managed switches allow for complete control and tightly manage the flow of information across your network, while an unmanaged switch allows for more automated communication.

Managed switches are an excellent choice for users who need to have access to connection statuses, network error statistics, traffic throughput, and port statuses. However, a networking engineer or software administrator is usually needed to implement and take full advantage of a managed switch; in addition, it is far more expensive and takes more time to set up compared to an unmanaged switch.

Unmanaged switches are generally more 'plug-and-play', and are relatively affordable. Many companies will have their primary network switch be a managed one, and have their secondary switches be unmanaged. MachineMetrics recommends you use a secondary, unmanaged switch for your machine networks, which is then run back into your primary network.

Once your machines have an ethernet connection to your network switch, it's time to connect the MachineMetrics Edge device.

 

MachineMetrics Edge Hardware

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A single MachineMetrics IoT Edge Device serves as a gateway between machines and the public internet when the machines are connected via ethernet. A single MachineMetrics Edge can connect to up to 50 machines per network.

Visit this article for a list of our Hardware Kit and Connection Schematics.

 

MachineMetrics Edge Software

This device hosts our proprietary software which allows for machine data collection, buffering, and cloud migration. The MachineMetrics Edge also runs an IoT device management service called Balena. This allows MachineMetrics to remotely keep Edge devices up to date and monitor their status. A VPN is configured from the Edge to balena (outbound only) that MachineMetrics manages in order to troubleshoot issues and send updates automatically. The operating system is a lightweight version of Linux.

Note: Mitsubishi M70(other than M700 that operate Citizen machines) and Heidenhain TNC640 controls require installation on a separate Windows PC that has access to the Machine’s control.

 

Connecting the MachineMetrics Edge

Upon finalizing your contract with MachineMetrics, an Edge Device was shipped to your location. Remove it from the box, and choose a location for the Edge that is close to both your Machine Network Switch as well as your Primary Network Switch; you will need to run ethernet cables to both switches from the Edge device. The Edge should not be left in an unprotected environment, like the shop floor. Instead, the Edge Device should be somewhere that it can have surge protection and battery backup. Once you connect the Edge to a power source, ensure that the power light is on. 

Note:  The WiFi antennas must be installed in order to establish a Bluetooth connection to configure your Edge Device.

Important! On the bottom of the Edge Device, you will find its serial number. It’s important to write down or take a picture of this number; you will need this number once it is time to register and configure your Edge.

Ethernet_Port_1_and_2.png

Connect the Edge into your company’s Primary Network Switch via ethernet using the innermost ethernet port (ETHERNET 1); once this is done, make sure the ethernet port light is on before proceeding.

Once you have connected the Edge successfully to your Primary Network Switch, take your machine's Dedicated Machine Switch and run an ethernet connection to the Edge through the outer ethernet port (ETHERNET 2). 

Untitled_Diagram__6_.png

At this point the MachineMetrics Edge should be acting as a bridge; connecting your Machine Network to your Primary Network. 

Turn on the Edge; the button with the MachineMetrics logo on it is the power button.  

 

Next Steps

Configure your Edge Device

Once you have successfully installed your Edge Device, the next necessary step will be to configure your Edge Device with your Network Credentials and IP address. Please visit the Edge Management Page, and follow the instructions listed in the Edge Management Article before proceeding with the below instructions on enabling your machine Data Collection method. 

 

Enabling Machine Data Collection

If you did provide MachineMetrics with your Network Credential and IP address, your Edge Device will have been pre-configured prior to shipment, and you can proceed to enable the Data Collection Method(s) that were determined to be the optimal approach for your Machine(s).

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