RFID Reader Hardware
Assembly instructions are to be taken from the manufacturer’s own product manuals. Information on the handling between RFID transponder and readers as well as reading speeds etc. is likewise to be procured from the respective manufacturer.
RFID readers sometimes offer an external trigger or a switching output. This does not have to be used for the functions of the TwinCAT RFID library.
 | Note The TcRFID library does not illustrate the complete scope of the manufacturer’s own RFID communication protocol. More detailed information is also given in the command set for the library block. In addition, recourse can be taken to the integrated possibility of sending and receiving raw data - see the command 'eRFC_Send_RawData' regarding this. |
RFID reader models
The TwinCAT RFID library supports different RFID reader models.
The following table indicates which RFID reader models of which manufacturers are supported.
| The images are symbol photos of RFID reader models. There may be variations to the supported models and likewise not every supported model is shown as a photo. |
RFID reader manufacturer | RFID reader model | Sample photo |
|---|---|---|
Balluff | BIS M-400-007 (RS232) |
Picture credits: BALLUFF |
Baltech | ID-engine SD-M1415-ANT1F (RS232 or USB) |
|
Deister electronic | RDL90 (deBus) (RS232, RS485) UDL 500 (deBus) (RS485) |
|
Leuze electronic | RFM12 (SL200) (RS232) RFM32 (SL200) (RS232) |
|
Pepperl+Fuchs | IDENTControl Compact (2 read heads) [ IC-KP2-2HRX-2V1 ] (RS232) |
|
Outdated firmware versions are sometimes not supported by the readers.
The following RFID reader models are compatible according to the manufacturer’s description and protocol. The compatibility of the listed models as well as other models is, however, not confirmed by Beckhoff.
The devices are not officially supported. We recommend contacting Beckhoff Automation before using them.
RFID reader manufacturer | Reader models |
|---|---|
Balluff | BIS M-6000 |
Baltech | ID-engine series (BRP) |
Deister electronic | RDL30; RDL150; RDL160; UDL 50; UDL 100; UDL 120; UDL 150; UDL 160; PRM5 |
Leuze electronic | RFM62 (SL200) |
Pepperl+Fuchs | IDENTControl Compact (1 read head) |
Further models by the above manufacturers that are not known to us are possibly supported by implication. According to Deister electronic, the same protocol (deBus) is implemented in other models. The use of these models may only be possible with limited functionality of the TcRFID library.
Furthermore, some manufacturers offer their own software to make their devices accessible for Beckhoff TwinCAT systems.
| Note Further RFID readers are supported with the TwinCAT PLC library Serial Communicationremoved link: TwinCAT PLC Library Serial Communication. This library makes it possible to exchange data bytes with any serial device. This alternative to the TwinCAT PLC RFID library can be useful with read-only RFID readers. It may enable unsupported devices to be used with TwinCAT on a Beckhoff controller. If only the serial number of the transponder is required and this is sent autonomously from the RFID device, the effort involved in evaluating the bytes received is manageable. |
Transponder types
A complete list of all supported transponder types can be taken from the manual of the respective RFID reader. The type of transponder that appears to be meaningful for the application is similarly to be clarified with the manufacturer of the RFID reader or transponder if necessary.
The TwinCAT library works with the data procured from the serial interface. The manufacturer’s serial transmission protocol is therefore decisive for support by the PLC library. The radio frequency used, for example, is irrelevant.
The following table indicates by way of example which transponder types are supported for the respective RFID reader models according to the manufacturer. This list is not complete. The respective manufacturer of the RFID reader model has completed and more detailed information.
Note that some RFID readers accepts only transponders with certain manufacturer IDs. Unfortunately, this restriction cannot be influenced.
RFID reader model | RFID transponder types |
|---|---|
Balluff M-401 | [13.56 MHz] Fujitsu MB89R118; I-Code SLI; Infineon My-D SRF55(1024 bytes); Mifare Classic (752 bytes); TI TagIT HFI (256 bytes), ... |
Balluff L-6000 | [125KHz] |
Baltech ID-engine SD ANT1F (M1415, LP) | [13.56 MHz] Infineon My-D, Legic Prime, Mifare Classic, ... |
Deister electronic RDL90 | [13.56 MHz] I-Code SLI; Infineon My-D SRF55(1024 bytes), ... |
Deister electronic UDL 500 | [868 MHz] EPCclass1gen2 (12 bytes), ... |
Deister electronic PRM5 | [13.56 MHz] Mifare Classic (752 bytes), ... |
Leuze electronic RFM12, RFM32, RFM32ex | [13.56 MHz] I-Code SLI; Infineon My-D SRF55(1024 bytes); TI TagIT HFI (256 bytes), ... |
Pepperl+Fuchs IDENTControl Compact | [125 KHz; 250 KHz; 13.56 MHz; 2.45 GHz (depends on read head)] |
These transponder types are additionally available with other memory capacities. Compatibility is hardware-dependent and is not guaranteed. A test is recommended.
Special factory programming of the transponders is sometimes possible. This has no effect on the protocol and must therefore be decided on according to the application in consultation with the manufacturer.
Specific transponder parameters used in the PLC library can be adapted by the user by using a special transponder. See the description of the structure ST_RFID_AccessData regarding this.
Transponders up to a maximum size of 64 kilobytes are supported by the TcRFID library.
Frequency | Transponder Types | HF standards | range | metallic influence | fluid influence | data rate | radio interaction | hardware positioning | temperature influence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
LF 125-135 KHz | ... | ISO 11784/5, | < 2m | + + | + | - | - | + + | ++ |
HF 13.56 MHz | Fujitsu MB89R118, I-Code SLI, Infineon My-D, Legic, Mifare, TI TagIT HFI, ... | ISO 14443, | < 1m | + | + | + | + | + + | + |
UHF 865-868 MHz (EU), 902-928 MHz (USA) | EPCclass1gen2, ... | ISO 18000-6, | < 10m | - | - | + | + | + | + |
MW 2.45 GHz | ... |
| < 12m | - | - | + + | + + | - | - |
[++ very good; + good; - bad]