Configuration
EK3100
46
Version: 1.5
5.3.4
Creating a virtual slave
Up to three virtual slaves can be configured for the EK3100 Bus Coupler. Virtual slaves can be used to
increase the transfer rate beyond the standard PROFIBUS rate of 244 bytes. The maximum process data
size is 240 byte inputs and 240 byte outputs per slave.
In order to be able to use virtual slaves, the EtherCAT Terminals must be successive, and all EtherCAT
Terminals must occur in the slaves. In addition, it is important that a slave contains both input and output
terminals.
By default only the first slave is activated. The virtual slaves are enabled in the configuration via the
parameter data. The parameter data and the CtrlStatus DWORD only have the full functionality for the first
slave.
The addressing is fixed and starts with the address, which the first slave uses via an address selection
switch. If the address is set to 11, the following addresses are 12, 13 and 14 if all 4 slaves are active.
Table 6: Example of a hardware configuration with a slave.
EtherCAT device, actual hardware configuration
EK3100
CtrlStatus
EL1008
EL2008
EL3062
EK1110
EK1100
EL2008
EL1008
EL3154
EL9011
Table 7: Distribution of the EtherCAT device in TwinCAT over two slaves.
Slave 1
Slave 2 (virtual slave)
EK3100
CtrlStatus EL1008
EL2008
EL3062
EK1110
EK3100
CtrlStatus EK1100
EL2008
EL1008
EL3154
PROFIBUS address: 11
PROFIBUS address: 12. The non-visible EL9011 is omitted.
Requirements
• The EK3100 Bus Coupler was already added in TwinCAT.
Create virtual slaves as follows:
1. In the tree view on the left, double-click on
Box 1 (GSD box) (EK3100)
.
2. Click on the tab
PrmData (Text)
.
3. Double-click on
Enabled DP Slaves
and select the number of virtual slaves.
4. Add a further EK3100 Bus Coupler under the existing EK3100 Bus Coupler. This Bus Coupler is the
virtual slave.
5. Click on the
Profibus
tab and enter the PROFIBUS address "12" under
Station No
.
