Fieldbus

A fieldbus is an industrial communication network that connects the robot controller to PLCs, machines, drives, and I/O devices over a shared digital bus instead of point-to-point wiring. Common protocols include PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, EtherCAT, PROFIBUS, and DeviceNet.

The fieldbus determines how the robot integrates with the wider line. A robot must support the same protocol as the cell's PLC; mismatches require gateways or controller options that add cost.

When buying a used robot, confirm which fieldbus options are installed on the controller and whether they match your factory standard. Adding a fieldbus option later is possible but not always cheap.