Filter
Top Products
9
Configuring the DeviceNet Network
Connection Types
The Epsilon Ei-DN DeviceNet interface was designed to communicate with a DeviceNet
network in two ways. Polled I/O connections and Explicit Messaging connections can be used
to access all read or read/write data from the Epsilon Ei-DN.
Polled I/O Connections (Implicit Messaging)
The Poll Command is an I/O Message that is transmitted by the Master. A Poll Command is
directed towards a single, specific Slave (point-to-point). A Master must transmit a separate
Poll Command Message for each one of its Slaves that is to be polled. The Poll Response is
an I/O Message that a Slave transmits back to the Master.
A Polled Message contains I/O data that can be read by the PLC on every scan. Polled
messages are used for high priority data and are typically used to transmit parameters, such
as index initiates or position feedback.
Explicit Messaging
Explicit Messages are initiated from a user-created program inside a PLC or PC-based
software program. In a PLC, these messages are sent and received using the PLC-specific
explicit message setup. Using Explicit Messaging, all user parameters can be accessed in the
Ei-DN drive. These messages allow parameters to be sent in messages that may take multiple
scans of the PLC. Explicit Messages are lower priority than Polled I/O messaging connections
and work well for transferring recipes or any 32 bit parameters to the drive.
Software Interface
This section discusses how to configure a DeviceNet Network with PowerTools FM software
and discusses the parameters that appear on the tabs related to DeviceNet configuration. Other
tabs are described in the Epsilon Ei Indexing Drive and FM-2 Indexing Module Reference
Manual (P/N 400507-01).
DeviceNet Tab
The DeviceNet tab allows the user to configure DeviceNet parameters and watch the
DeviceNet Parameters while online with the drive through PowerTools FM. The DeviceNet
tab has two sub-tabs: DN Setup and Online.
The DN Setup tab allows the user to set up MacID, Baud Rate, choice of predefined assembly
blocks, and host-mode enable as well as display the fixed assembly block word mapping.
Epsilon Ei DeviceNet Drive Reference Manual