Description

The 5136-RE-VME SST is a highly specialized and robust industrial protocol gateway module manufactured by ProSoft Technology, a subsidiary of ABB and a global authority in industrial communication solutions. This module is engineered to provide a powerful and reliable bridge between a ControlLogix® backplane and a VMEbus backplane, enabling seamless data exchange between modern Allen-Bradley ControlLogix processors and legacy VMEbus-based systems. Its core function is to map blocks of VMEbus memory directly into the tag database of a ControlLogix controller, allowing the Logix processor to read from and write to the VME system as if it were local I/O. This effectively allows for the integration of specialized, powerful, or existing VME computing resources into a contemporary automation architecture without a complete and costly system overhaul.

As a critical component in modernization and hybrid system strategies, the 5136-RE-VME SST delivers immense value by protecting investments in existing VME-based capital equipment. It is designed for applications where the computational power or specialized I/O of a VME system is still required, but where central control and visualization are being migrated to a modern platform like ControlLogix. The module handles the complex protocol translation and data transfer between the two disparate backplanes autonomously, offloading this burden from the main controllers and ensuring high-performance, deterministic data exchange. The ProSoft Technology 5136-RE-VME SST is the definitive solution for extending the lifecycle of critical VME assets while advancing overall system capabilities.

5136-RE-VME SST

Technical Specifications

Parameter Name	Parameter Value
Product Model	5136-RE-VME SST
Manufacturer	ProSoft Technology (An ABB Company)
Product Type	In-Chassis VMEbus Bridge Module
Compatible Backplane (Side A)	Allen-Bradley ControlLogix® (1756)
Compatible Backplane (Side B)	VMEbus (VersaModule Eurocard)
VMEbus Interface	VME64x (A32/A24/A16, D32/D16/D08) addressing
Data Transfer Method	Block transfers between VME memory and ControlLogix tags
Isolation	500V optical isolation between ControlLogix and VME backplanes
VMEbus Connector	P1/P2 160-pin connectors (5-row DIN) and SST screw terminals for I/O
Power Consumption	1.5A @ 5V DC (from ControlLogix backplane)
Operating Temperature	0 to 60 °C (32 to 140 °F)
Certifications	cULus Listed, CE, C-Tick

Main Features and Advantages

The 5136-RE-VME SST offers a unique set of features for a niche but critical integration challenge. Its primary advantage is the ability to perform high-speed, bidirectional data transfers between the two backplanes. The module can be configured as a VMEbus Master, initiating cycles to read from or write to VME memory, or as a VMEbus Slave, allowing the VME system to access a dedicated window of its ControlLogix memory. This flexibility allows it to adapt to virtually any VME system architecture. Configuration is simplified through ProSoft’s proprietary configuration software, which provides an intuitive interface for mapping VME address spaces to pre-defined tags in the Logix controller, eliminating the need for complex low-level programming.

The module’s robust design includes full optical isolation between the ControlLogix and VME backplanes. This is a critical feature that protects the modern, sensitive ControlLogix system from electrical noise, ground loops, and potential faults originating from the older VME hardware, ensuring system stability and reliability. The inclusion of Screw Terminal (SST) connections provides a secure and vibration-resistant interface for critical I/O signals that may need to be routed directly to the gateway. The 5136-RE-VME SST is engineered for mission-critical environments, providing a failsafe communication link that ensures continuous operation of hybrid control systems.

Application Field

The ProSoft Technology 5136-RE-VME SST is deployed in specialized industrial and defense sectors where long-lifecycle, high-performance computing based on VME architecture must be integrated with modern control and data acquisition systems. A quintessential application is in large-scale test stands within the aerospace and automotive industries, where a VME system may be responsible for executing high-speed, real-time simulation models or data acquisition, while a ControlLogix system handles the overall test sequencing, interlocking, and operator interface. The module serves as the crucial data highway between these two domains.

In the energy sector, particularly in power generation and distribution, the 5136-RE-VME SST is used to integrate legacy VME-based turbine control systems, excitation systems, or fault recorder analysis units into a modern DCS or plant-wide SCADA system based on ControlLogix. This allows utilities to extend the service life of their highly reliable and certified protection and control equipment while gaining the network connectivity and data accessibility features of a contemporary platform. It is also found in complex manufacturing processes, such as semiconductor production, where existing VME-based equipment controllers can be preserved and given a new interface to modern supervisory systems.

5136-RE-VME SST

Related Products

5136-RE-VME: The standard version of this module, potentially using different connector types than the SST variant.

5136-PMV-VME: A related module for integrating PLC-5VME systems with ControlLogix.

5150-VMC: A standalone VMEbus to Modbus TCP gateway for network-based integration.

1756-L7x: Series of Allen-Bradley ControlLogix® controllers that act as the host for the 5136-RE-VME SST module.

Various VME CPUs: Processors from manufacturers like Motorola, Emerson, and GE that reside on the VME side of the connection.

CVME-6845: An example of a legacy VME serial communication module that could be accessed through the bridge.