The Siemens SIMATIC RF220R (6GT2821-2BC32) is an M30 cylindrical HF RFID reader with an IO-Link V1.1 interface, designed for flush mounting in drilled holes on machine frames, fixtures, and conveyor side rails. Its cylindrical form factor (M30 x 83 mm) with nickel-plated brass housing and IP67 protection makes it ideal for tool identification, workpiece carrier detection, and material handling in harsh industrial environments. The integrated antenna provides up to 35 mm read range — nearly double that of the smaller RF210R — and the IO-Link interface enables simple connection to IO-Link masters with full TIA Portal integration.

What Are the Key Physical Characteristics of the RF220R?

The RF220R features an M30 x 83 mm cylindrical housing made of nickel-plated brass with PBT end caps in silver and pastel turquoise. It weighs approximately 140 g and is secured using two M30 x 1.5 nuts (included) with a maximum tightening torque of 40 N·m. The reader can be flush-mounted on metal surfaces with no minimum clearance required. A 3-color LED provides visual status indication. The M12 4-pin connector provides both IO-Link communication and 24 V DC power.

How Does the IO-Link Interface Work on the RF220R?

IO-Link V1.1 provides point-to-point communication at 230 kbit/s (COM3) with 32 bytes of input and 32 bytes of output process data. Maximum cable length between the reader and IO-Link master is 20 m. Power is supplied at 24 V DC (20.4-28.8 V) with typical current consumption of 50 mA. The IO-Link master provides upstream PROFINET or PROFIBUS connectivity, with all engineering, commissioning, and diagnostics performed within TIA Portal.

What RFID Standards and Transponders Does the RF220R Support?

The RF220R operates at 13.56 MHz using ISO 15693 and ISO 18000-3 standards. It is compatible with Siemens SIMATIC RF200 transponders including MDS D100, D124, D126, D139, D160, D165, D200, D324, D339, D421, D424, D425, D426, D428, D460, D524, and D528 series. Maximum RF data transfer rate is 26.5 kbit/s, with approximately 2.4 ms read access time and 3.3 ms write access time per byte. The RF220R reads one transponder at a time and is not multi-tag capable.

What Are the Environmental Specifications?

The RF220R is rated IP67 for complete dust-tight operation and resistance to temporary water immersion. Operating temperature range is -20 °C to +70 °C, with storage and transport tolerance of -25 °C to +80 °C. Shock resistance is 500 m/s² (EN 60721-3-7 Class 7 M2) and vibration resistance is 200 m/s². MTBF is 501 years. Certifications include CE, FCC, cULus, R&TTE (EN 300 330, EN 301 489), EAC, and KC.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the RF220R compare to the RF210R?

The RF220R (M30, 35 mm range, 140 g) is the larger cylindrical variant with nearly double the read range of the RF210R (M18, 20 mm range, 65 g). Choose the RF220R when the application allows a 30 mm mounting hole and needs longer detection distance; choose the RF210R for tighter space constraints where an 18 mm hole is the maximum available.

Can the RF220R IO-Link be used with third-party IO-Link masters?

Yes, the RF220R conforms to the IO-Link V1.1 standard and operates with any certified IO-Link master. Full TIA Portal integration for engineering and diagnostics requires a Siemens IO-Link master such as SIMATIC ET 200SP or ET 200pro.