An OPC UA Server may contain many Nodes, organized in vendor-specific ways. The OPC UA specification already defines entry points to start browsing instances or types. However, finding specific Nodes might be challenging since they may be managed somewhere inside the hierarchies of Nodes of the OPC UA Server.

This building block provides the capability to easily find all Machines managed in a Server. Figure 9 gives an overview. There is a well-defined Object in the AddressSpace as entry point to browse to Objects representing a Machine.

Figure 9 – Building Block for Finding all Machines in Server

In many cases, Servers will only manage one Machine. For example, if the Server runs on the PLC of a particular Machine. However, Servers can also manage several Machines, for example, in a cell or production line, or a robot system consisting of a controller and a robot, or when aggregating Machines of a factory floor, a factory, or company-wide.