IO-Link Modules

1732E-8IOLM12R

1732E-8IOLM12R - 8-Ch IO-Link Master, Dual-Port EtherNet/IP | Allen-Bradley

The Allen-Bradley 1732E-8IOLM12R (Rockwell Automation Bulletin 1732E ArmorBlock) is an 8-channel IO-Link master module with dual-port EtherNet/IP connectivity, housed in a hardened IP67/IP69K ArmorBlock form factor using 5-pin DC Micro (M12) connectors. The module runs from 24 V DC backplane/auxiliary power, integrates seamlessly with Logix controllers over EtherNet/IP, and allows each of its eight channels to be individually configured as a standard digital input, standard digital output, IO-Link, fallback, or disabled port via the Studio 5000 Add-On Profile. An IO-Link master is a type of industrial network gateway that bridges the IO-Link single-drop digital communication protocol with a higher-level fieldbus (in this case EtherNet/IP), allowing a controller to transparently access smart sensors and actuators below the IO-Link master. IO-Link sits below the fieldbus layer in the industrial network hierarchy (IO-Link -> fieldbus/EtherNet/IP -> controller), and the master serves as both a power provider (L+ for sensors, P24 for actuators) and a cyclic/process data router. The 1732E-8IOLM12R is part of Rockwell's on-machine distributed I/O portfolio for harsh-environment applications. Key differentiating features include dual-port D-coded M12 EtherNet/IP connectors for daisy-chained linear topology without external switches, integrated I/O and diagnostics per channel, M12 I/O connectors (5-pin, DC Micro) for IO-Link or digital I/O, dedicated auxiliary power M12 connectors, and absence of CIP Sync (IEEE 1588) - the '8IOLM12R' suffix indicates 8-channel IO-Link master with M12 I/O, no CIP Sync. The ArmorBlock enclosure supports on-machine mounting close to sensors and actuators, reducing cabinet space and cable runs for automotive, material handling, and high-speed packaging lines. On the protocol side, each channel implements the IO-Link v1.0/v1.1 physical layer with 24 V DC L+/P24 supply and COM (C/Q) data line; the module also supports fallback modes so a connected sensor can revert to standard digital I/O if IO-Link communication is lost. Integrated diagnostics include per-channel short-circuit, over-temperature, and lost-communication detection, surfaceable via EtherNet/IP and the AOP. With On-Machine mounting the unit saves cabinet footprint and shortens pneumatic and sensor cable runs - it typically lowers installation cost by 20-30% in high-density automotive cells. Typical applications include automotive body-in-white weld cell I/O, material handling conveyor PLC drop points, high-speed packaging line sensor hubs, food and beverage washdown zones, and tire/rubber manufacturing. The module pairs naturally with Allen-Bradley 1732IL IO-Link hubs downstream and 1756/CompactLogix controllers upstream, and is commonly deployed alongside Stratix switches and POINT I/O for layered architectures. When designing with this module, allocate one M12 EtherNet/IP port to the upstream ring/daisy-chain and the other to the downstream device; provide separate M12 auxiliary power feeds so field-side and logic-side power can be removed independently for hot-swap maintenance. Configure CIP SYNC explicitly as 'not supported' when adding the module to a Studio 5000 project - some revision-control templates flag this as an error if skipped.