# Ignition/beckhoff High Speed Communications

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-beckhoff-high-speed-communications/32729>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Created:** [March 2, 2020, 1:33pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-beckhoff-high-speed-communications/32729 "2020-03-02T13:33:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gregsachs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58f4c7/32.png) [@gregsachs](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/gregsachs)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 1:33pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-beckhoff-high-speed-communications/32729/1 "2020-03-02T13:33:14Z")

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I’m trying to design an Ignition solution for connecting to Beckhoff PLCS.  
Co-workers of mine have written custom code for the Beckhoff that implements the Siemens RFC1006 FC5/FC6 message protocol, claiming to be able to do 50 ms total time for PLC-(custom application)-DB-application-PLC. This is used for part tracking. I cannot find an OPC server that implements this Siemens protocol, so I need a different means of talking to the Beckhoff from Ignition. Does anyone have suggestions? I know beckhoff has OPC-UA comms, I’m just worried about speed.  
Thanks!

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**Author:** ![chi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/0ea827/32.png) [@chi](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/chi)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 2:58pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-beckhoff-high-speed-communications/32729/2 "2020-03-02T14:58:42Z")

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The Siemens FC5/FC6 blocks are used for sending and receiving custom TCP messages. They don't use a special Siemens protocol. If your co-workers have documented the protocol, you may use socket communication in scripting. There are some forum threads ([e.g. this one](http://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ignition-receive-tcp-msg-from-device/7902)) about this.

> [@gregsachs](#):
>
> I’m just worried about speed.

Yes, i would also be worried. But that is a general problem with your concept. With operating system timing and enthernet connections involved, it is a bad idea to rely on communication times. Make your system stable by design, e.g. by putting the tracking logic in the plc or by some kind of handshaking.