Configuring EtherCAT cable redundancy.
The Embedded PC has two independent Ethernet interfaces, which can be used for EtherCAT cable redundancy. Cable redundancy offers resilience for the cabling. Interruptions of the EtherCAT communication due to broken wires or unplugged LAN cables are avoided.
Interference at the individual terminals is not intercepted by the cable redundancy.
Type | Description |
|---|---|
CX51x0 Embedded PC | Is the EtherCAT master in the example. |
Bus Coupler EK1110 | EtherCAT extension can be used to extend an EtherCAT segment by up to 100 m. |
EK1100 Bus Coupler | The Bus Coupler relays the EtherCAT signal to connected EtherCAT Terminals. |
EtherCAT Terminals | Any number of EtherCAT Terminals can be connected to the CX51x0 Embedded PC and the Bus Coupler. |
Requirements:
- For TwinCAT 2 you have to install and license the supplement TS622x | TwinCAT EtherCAT Redundancy on the Embedded PC:
https://www.beckhoff.com/TS622x - In TwinCAT 3 the supplement is already included and only has to be licensed.
- Hardware wired as EtherCAT ring (see Fig.: Smallest possible configuration for EtherCAT cable redundancy) and added in TwinCAT.
Configure EtherCAT cable redundancy as follows:
- 1. In the tree view click on the EtherCAT master.
- 2. Click on the EtherCAT tab, then Advanced Settings.
- 3. Click on Redundancy in the tree structure on the left.
- 4. Click on the option Second adapter, followed by the Search button.
- 5. Select the appropriate LAN connection according to your cabling at the Embedded PC.
- 6. Confirm the settings with OK.
- You have successfully configured cable redundancy. Under the Online tab the EtherCAT slaves are displayed, for which cable redundancy was configured.
Under State the state of the individual EtherCAT slaves is displayed. If, for example, the cable connection between the EK1100 and EK1110 Bus Couplers is interrupted, the status of the Bus Coupler changes. The message "LINK_MIS B" and "LINK_MIS A" appears under status.
Although the connection between the Bus Couplers is interrupted, the EtherCAT Terminals connected to the EK1100 Bus Coupler show no fault.
If the cable connection is interrupted without cable redundancy at the same location, the terminals show a fault under status.