Even though SECS/GEM (HSMS) is an Ethernet protocol only one host can be connected to the tool at a time. When you need to collect data but there's already a fab-host performing process automation you need a “Y-Tap” or snooping connection. It's easy to set up with TransSECS. Here we snoop a SECS/GEM connection and send the collected data to an OPC UA server. You could also send it to a database, a factory automation application, the Cloud - almost anywhere.

Open the StandAloneGEMTool and the SECSTester

In the SECSTester, choose “Set Up Communication to Tool” and configure a “PassThroughTool” with a port of 5000.

Save and close, and select the connection in the SECSTester window

Open TranSECS (Servers Version) and load the PassThroughTool project. Build the project as normal, but don't go LIVE.

Navigate to the project deployment folder.

And edit the file “ErgoTechConfiguration.properties”. At the end of the file, add the line “transsecs.passthrough=true”

# Create a passthrough connection
transsecs.passthrough=true

Start the application and connect with your favorite OPC UA Client. Here we use the UAExpert which is a free download from Unified Automation