Description
Key Technical Specifications
- Product Model: 5136-RE-VME
- Manufacturer: Molex Woodhead (formerly SST)
- Product Type: PROFIBUS DP Interface Card for VMEbus
- Host Bus: VMEbus (6U Form Factor)
- Processor: Intel i960 Industrial-Grade
- Max Baud Rate: 12 Mbps (Auto-baud adaptation)
- Memory: 512KB Local RAM, 512KB Flash for Config
- Supported Protocols: PROFIBUS DP V1/V2, FDL Layer 2
- Physical Interface: DB9 Female Connector
- Operating Temp: 0°C to +60°C (Typical)
- Address Window: Configurable via Address Modifier Codes
- Configuration Tool: COMPROFIBUS / PFBPROFI Software
Product Introduction
Legacy VMEbus PLCs still control millions of dollars of heavy machinery, but getting them to talk to modern field devices is a protocol translation nightmare. The SST 5136-RE-VME is the exact bridge for this job. Sitting in the VME rack, it acts as a PROFIBUS DP Master (or Slave), handling all the cyclic polling and error checking independently via its onboard i960 processor. This keeps the host PLC’s scan time clean and deterministic.
Why hunt for an old 5136-RE-VME instead of replacing the whole controller? Because ripping out a VME system is a multi-year capital project. This module provides a direct mechanical and electrical drop-in replacement, restoring fieldbus communication in minutes once the GSD file is loaded into the COMPROFIBUS software. With support for up to 12Mbps baud rates, it easily handles dozens of smart valves and variable frequency drives. It’s legacy tech, but it’s the exact tech keeping your plant running.
Troubleshooting Quick Reference
- PROFIBUS Comm Fault / No Data (40% chance): Termination or wiring error. Verify the 110-ohm termination resistors are active at both ends of the bus. Check the A/B wire polarity at the DB9 connector.
- Host Cannot Access Shared RAM (30% chance): DIP switch misconfiguration. Inspect the onboard DIP switches. Position 7 dictates whether the card accepts supervisor or non-privileged VME access. Verify the address modifier codes match the host PLC’s memory map.
- Module Fails to Initialize (20% chance): Missing firmware or config. The 5136-RE-VME requires the PFBPROFI software module to be downloaded to its flash memory via the serial port or shared RAM before it will pass PROFIBUS traffic.
- Intermittent Bus Drops (10% chance): EMI or grounding issue. Ensure the PROFIBUS shield is grounded at the panel. Route the DB9 cable away from high-voltage VME power supplies and motor drives.
SST 5136-RE-VME
Application Scenarios & Pain Points
- Steel Mill Hot Rolling Lines: Massive GE 90-70 VME PLCs controlling heating furnaces and roller tables. The 5136-RE-VME acts as the PROFIBUS master, linking the aging VME controller to modern Siemens or ABB variable frequency drives without rewriting the base PLC logic.
- Automotive Assembly Plants: High-speed transfer lines requiring sub-millisecond deterministic response. The independent i960 processor guarantees that PROFIBUS network congestion never delays the host PLC’s safety interlock scan.
- Chemical Process Control: Aging DCS systems needing to integrate smart field instrumentation. The 5136-RE-VME maps analog and digital data directly into the VME shared RAM, allowing the host to treat remote field devices exactly like local I/O.
