Operating Instructions
Chapter
5
Flexi Soft Gateways
8012664/XB29/2013-06-11
© SICK AG • Industrial Safety Systems • Germany • All rights reserved
61
Subject to change without notice
Ethernet gateways
Transfer methods
The configuration steps in this section specify how the data to the higher-level PLC are
transferred. In general, there are two different transfer
methods
available for both transfer
directions
such as Flexi Soft to Network and Network to Flexi Soft:
Gateway writes to tag/file
and/or
Gateway reads from tag/file
— the FX0-GENT
gateway operates as
master
. It writes the data into and/or reads from the PLC memory.
PLC requests
and/or
PLC writes
— the FX0-GENT gateway operates as
slave
. The PLC
requests the data from the gateway and/or writes the data to the gateway.
Both methods can be mixed. E.g. it is possible to configure the gateway as master for the
Flexi Soft to Network direction (option
Gateway writes to tag/file
activated) while it ope-
rates at the same time as slave for the Network to Flexi Soft direction (option
PLC writes
activated).
Number of possible connections
The number of possible connections to the PLC depends on whether the FX0-GENT is
operated as
master
or
slave
. Depending on the setting, up to 128 PLCs can address the
FX0-GENT at the same time.
Operating mode of the FX0-GENT
Maximum connections
Rx (To PLC) Transfer mode: Gateway writes to Tag/File
Tx (From PLC) Transfer mode: Gateway reads from Tag/File
Rx and Tx: 1
Rx (To PLC) Transfer mode: Gateway writes to Tag/File
Tx (From PLC) Transfer mode: PLC writes
Rx: 1
Tx: 127
Rx (To PLC) Transfer mode: PLC requests
Tx (From PLC) Transfer mode: Gateway reads from Tag/File
Rx: 127
Tx: 1
Rx (To PLC) Transfer mode: PLC requests
Tx (From PLC) Transfer mode: PLC writes
Rx and Tx: 128
Configuration process
The following table outlines the configuration process depending on the transfer method:
Gateway is master (Gateway writes to Tag/File and/or Gateway reads from Tag/File)
To do in the gateway configuration
(via Flexi Soft Designer tool)
To do in the PLC program and/or EtherNet/IP
network configuration tool
Select which data shall be written to/read from
the PLC
–
Define where in the PLC memory the selected data
shall be written to: Enter tag names.
Example: InDataSet1
And/or define where in the PLC memory the selected
data shall be read from: Enter tag names.
Example: OutDataSet1
Define exactly the same tag names in the PLC
program.
Example:
InDataSet1 INT[25]
OutDataSet1 INT[5]
The data type shall be INT.
Select how often this data shall be transmitted.
–
Define where the data shall be read from/written to in
the EtherNet/IP network: Enter the IP address and
controller slot number of the PLC.
–
Gateway is slave (PLC requests and/or PLC writes)
To do in the gateway configuration
(via Flexi Soft Designer tool)
To do in the PLC program and/or EtherNet/IP
network configuration tool
–
Download and install the FX0-GENT EDS file from
–
Integrate the FX0-GENT into the EtherNet/IP network
via network configuration tool (i.e. RSNetworx).
–
Program the explicit message “Get_Attribute_...” or
“Set_Attribute_...” in the PLC program to read/write
data from/to the gateway
–
Program the trigger for sending the explicit messages.
Tab. 38: Number of possible
connections
Tab. 39: Configuration guide-
line — Gateway as master
Tab. 40: Configuration guide-
line — Gateway as slave