Distributed Clocks settings

Reference Clock:

• Reference Clock Device: Displays the name of the EtherCAT slave device, that is used as reference clock. If the checkbox on the left is checked, this slave device is used as reference clock device. If another slave device is already set as reference clock, the checkbox is disabled. To be able to set this device as reference clock, one would have to select the current reference clock device and uncheck the "Reference Clock Device" checkbox in the dialog above.
• Cycle Time (µs): The cycle time of the reference clock in microsecond. This is a read only value. To change the cycle time of the reference clock, select the current reference clock device in the tree view of the System Manager and open the "Distributed Clocks/Settings" dialog ( see above) for this device. Then change the settings for SYNC 0 accordingly.

Cyclic Mode:

• Enable: Enables/Disable the cyclic mode. If the check box "Enable" is checked the settings for SYNC 0 and SYNC 1 are enabled.
• SYNC 0:
  Here one can set the cycle time and shift time of the SYNC 0 signal. If the current device is the reference clock device ( checkbox "Reference Clock Device" checked), the cycle time of the reference clock is set to the same value as the cycle time of SYNC 0.
• Task Cycle (if reference clock device) : If this checkbox is enabled, the cycle time of SYNC 0 is set to a multiple of the task cycle time. The multiplier can be set in the combo box next to the checkbox.
• or Ref. Clock Cycle (if not reference clock device): If this checkbox is enabled, the cycle time of SYNC 0 is set to a multiple of the cycle time of the reference clock. The multiplier can be set in the combo box next to the checkbox.
• User defined: If this checkbox is enabled, the cycle time can be defined by the user in the "Cycle Time (µs)" edit box.
• Cycle Time (µs): Cycle time of the SYNC 0 signal in microseconds. If the "User defined" checkbox is not checked, this is a read only value.
• Shift Time (µs): Shift time in microseconds between the task cycle(if reference clock device) or reference clock cycle and the SYNC 0 signal.
• Enable SYNC 0: Enables/Disables the SYNC 0 signal. If this checkbox is set the SYNC 0 signal is enabled.
• SYNC 1:
  Here one can set the cycle time and shift time of the SYNC 1 signal. The cycle time is always a multiple of the cycle time of the SYNC 0 signal.
• Task Cycle (if reference clock device) : If this checkbox is enabled, the cycle time of SYNC 1 is set to a multiple of SYNC 0 cycle time. The multiplier can be set in the combo box next to the checkbox.
• Cycle Time (µs): Cycle time of the SYNC 1 signal in microseconds.
• Shift Time (µs): Shift time between the SYNC 1 and the SYNC 0 signal in microseconds.
• Enable SYNC 1: Enables/Disables the SYNC 1 signal. If this checkbox is set the SYNC 1 signal is enabled.

Set Reference Clock Device

1. Select the first EtherCAT slave device connected to the master in the tree view of the System Manager. .
2. Next select the tab "EtherCAT" of this device:
   
3. press the "Advanced Settings..." button to open the "Advanced Settings" dialog.
4. Select the tree view item "Distributed Clocks/Settings" (see Distributed Clock Settings) in the "Advanced Settings".
5. Check the "Reference Clock Device." check box to set this device as reference clock:
   

As default the cycle time of the reference clock is set to the task cycle time. To change this cycle time one has to change the cycle time of the SYNC 0 signal (see Distributed Clock Settings).

Configuring SYNC 0 and SYNC 1Signals

Now we can set the SYNC 0 and SYNC 1 signals of the other EtherCAT slave devices:

1. select the EtherCAT slave device you want to enable the SYNC 0 and SYNC 1 signals for
2. go to the "EtherCAT" page of this device
3. open the "Advanced Settings" dialog
4. select the entry "Distributed Clock/Settings" in the "Advanced Settings" dialog.
5. Enable Cyclic Mode by checking the "Enable" button.
6. Enable the SYNC 0 signal by checking the "Enable SYNC 0" button :
   
7. Set the desired cycle time and shift time of the SYNC 0 signal (see Distributed Clock Settings). As default the cycle time is equal to the cycle time of the reference clock. To set a different cycle time one can change the multiplier in the "Ref. Clock Cycle" Combo Box.
   
   If SYNC 1 is required as well:
8. check the "Enable SYNC 1" button.
9. Set the desired cycle time and shift time of the SYNC 1 signal (see Distributed Clock Settings). The cycle time of SYNC 1 is always a multiple of the cycle time of the SYNC 0 signal. Additionally, you can set a shift time between the SYNC 0 and SYNC 1 signal.