Data Area

In general, TcCOM objects can contain data areas that can be used by the environment (e.g., by a PLC instance or by the TwinCAT I/O area). For TwinCAT MC3 TcCOM objects, you have a choice of data structures to use via the Data Area tab.

Inputs

Enable (default)

Name

Type

Description

Data Area 1:

Timestamp 32bit

UDINT

A timestamp whose value changes are evaluated by the touch probe algorithm.

Data Area 2:

Timestamp 64bit

ULINT

A timestamp whose value changes are evaluated by the touch probe algorithm.

Data Area 3:

WcState

BIT

Working counter

Notice

Warning in the error log window due to multiple selection of input elements

If both the 32-bit and 64-bit timestamp inputs are enabled and linked, this will result in a warning in the error log window.

  • Select a timestamp element based on the hardware you are using or the timestamp you want to link to (especially based on its data type).

ToPlc

Enable (default)

Name

Type

Description

Data Area 4:

Oid

OTCID

Object ID for linking to a touch probe object in the PLC

Notice

Warning in the error log window caused by selected entries that are not linked to an I/O device

Entries in the data areas of drive and encoder objects that are enabled (Enable = True) but are not linked to the I/O drive object result in a warning in the error log window. If the link for a function used at runtime is missing, this results in a runtime error. For example, an axis cannot be started if the status word from the I/O drive object is not linked.

  • Link the required entries for the interface between the axis and the I/O device
  • Deselect the entry that is not required to avoid generating a warning.