
1.FL-net SPECIFICATIONS DESCRIPTION B-63434EN/02
- 8 -
1.1 What Is the FL-net?
The FL-net is an open FA network standardized by the FA Open
Promotion Council (JOP) in the Manufacture, Science, and
Technology Center (MSTC) Incorporated Foundation, which is an
extra-governmental organization of the Ministry of International
Trade and Industry.
The FL-net can interconnect various types of FA controllers such as
programmable controllers (PLCs) and computer numerical controllers
(CNCs), and personal computers that are manufactured by many
different manufacturers to control and monitor them.
Features of the FL-net
The FL-net has the following features:
Multi-vendor environment using an open network
The FL-net conforms not to the FANUC-specific communication
standard, but to the open FA network standard so that
communication devices manufactured by different vendors
(manufacturers) can communicate with each other.
Sensor actuator
Computers
Controllers
Upper LAN Ethernet (TCP/IP, UDP)
FL-net (Ethernet-based control network)
Company A PLC Company B PLC Company C PLC
Company D
personal
CNC Company E RC
Devices
Field network
Large-scale network
Up to 249 communication devices (nodes) can be connected to
share data among them.
1 2 248 249 250 254
FL-net