Oriental Motor NETC01-M2 – Network Converter for MECHATROLINK‑II multi‑axis motion on RS‑485 drivers

From my experience, the NETC01-M2 is a practical way to bring Oriental Motor AZ Series and BLV Series R drivers into a MECHATROLINK‑II environment without rewriting your control strategy. It acts as a protocol bridge: MECHATROLINK‑II on the controller side, and a multi‑drop RS‑485 link to multiple motor drivers on the device side. You might notice that it simplifies wiring quite a bit—one M‑II trunk in, one RS‑485 line out, and you’re coordinating several axes with consistent diagnostics.

Our Order Process & Guarantees

• Warranty period: 365 days
• Delivery time: 1 week if in stock; no more than one month at the latest
• Payment: 50% advance payment; full payment before delivery
• Express options: FedEx, UPS, DHL

Key Features

• MECHATROLINK‑II integration – Presents connected motors to your M‑II master as addresses/nodes, so multi‑axis coordination stays deterministic.
• Multi‑drop RS‑485 device side – Typically supports multiple AZ Series or BLV Series R drivers on one line, reducing cable runs and panel clutter.
• 24 VDC industrial power – Standard cabinet supply simplifies integration; power filtering is straightforward in most cases.
• DIN‑rail friendly – Compact module that usually snaps onto EN 60715 DIN rail, making retrofits painless.
• Status LEDs and straightforward addressing – Quick visual checks during commissioning; addressing via software or switches (varies by driver lineup).
• Deterministic command forwarding – Converts motion/parameter commands from M‑II to the Oriental Motor serial protocol with consistent timing.
• Good with mixed axis counts – In many cases you can scale from a couple of axes to well into double digits without re‑architecting the network layout.

Technical Specifications

Where it tends to shine

• Retrofitting a MECHATROLINK‑II machine to run AZ Series stepper systems without changing the PLC or motion controller.
• Packaging and electronics assembly lines where several compact axes need synchronized, deterministic updates over a single fieldbus.
• OEMs standardizing on M‑II but wanting the energy‑saving or battery‑less absolute benefits of the AZ Series drivers.

One thing I appreciate is how it keeps commissioning predictable—address the nodes, check the LEDs, jog each axis, and you’re usually ready to tune motion profiles. A small packaging OEM told us they swapped to this converter to drop extra I/O cards and shaved a day off panel wiring on each build.

Related or Supporting Products

• Oriental Motor NETC01-ECT – EtherCAT version; ideal if your controller speaks EtherCAT instead of MECHATROLINK‑II.
• Oriental Motor NETC01-PN – PROFINET version; fits Siemens/PROFINET ecosystems.
• Oriental Motor NETC01-CCV2 – CC‑Link Ver.2 compatible; common in Mitsubishi‑centric lines.
• AZ Series Drivers (e.g., AZD-KD, AZD-KRD) – RS‑485 compatible stepper drivers for closed‑loop control and battery‑less absolute positioning.
• BLV Series R Drivers (BLV-R) – Compact brushless DC drivers frequently paired when higher speed is needed alongside AZ axes.
• RS‑485 Cables / Terminators – Twisted‑pair shielded cable and end‑of‑line resistors to stabilize longer multi‑drop runs.

Installation & Maintenance

• Cabinet & mounting – Install on DIN rail inside a metal cabinet (IP54+ recommended). Allow space for airflow; avoid mounting directly above heat sources.
• Wiring – Use shielded twisted‑pair for RS‑485 and maintain proper termination at the last device. Keep power and signal wiring separated to limit noise.
• Grounding – Bond cabinet ground; connect shields at the control‑side end. From my experience, this prevents intermittent M‑II errors at higher update rates.
• Addressing – Set device addresses before power‑up. If you mix AZ and BLV‑R drivers, document node order to keep commissioning tidy.
• Safety – De‑energize 24 VDC before changing connectors. Verify polarity; a reversed supply typically trips protection but can still cause downtime.
• Routine maintenance – Dust off vents quarterly, check RS‑485 terminations, and review event logs. Firmware updates, when available, should be applied during scheduled stops.

Quality & Certifications

• CE and RoHS compliant; UL recognition is typically available for the series.
• Manufacturer’s standard warranty applies; we support a 365‑day warranty window on supplied units.
• Built for industrial EMC environments; shielded cabling practices are recommended to meet emissions/immunity targets.

If you’re weighing protocol options (MECHATROLINK‑II vs EtherCAT/PROFINET), it usually comes down to your controller and existing plant network—happy to help compare update times, node counts, and cabling for your layout.