XMC EtherCAT Remote I/O with XEL-BSSCT

The XMC supports I/O expansion with Modbus TCP or EtherCAT bus couplers.

  • Automation Direct offers the XEL-BSSRT as a Modbus TCP bus coupler.

  • Automation Direct offers the XEL-BSSCT as an EtherCAT bus coupler.

This topic will cover adding remote I/O to the XMC using the XEL-BSSCT.

The XEL-BSSCT is an EtherCAT bus coupler that uses XGB I/O modules. An XG5000 program is used to configure the XEL-BSSCT and which I/O modules are connected to it. XG5000 automatically contains the ESI file for the XEL-BSSCT.

For other software systems the ESI file may be downloaded here.

XEL-BSSCT Status LEDs

Name Color Status Normal/
Error		 Operation by Status
PWR Red Off - Power OFF
On - Power ON
RUN Green Off - INIT status
Blinking - PRE-OP status
Single Flash - SAFE-OP status
Flickering - Initialization or BOOTSTRAP status
On - OP status
MS Red/Green Green On - RUN mode
Off - Error has caused STOP mode or operation is not available
Red On Error Unrecoverable error has occurred
1s Flickering Warning Recoverable error has occurred
500ms Flickering Light error Error that has no effect on operation has occurred
100ms Flickering Critical error Critical error that is halting operation has occurred
ERR Red Off - No error
Blinking Error General setting error such as register or object setting, or invalid H/W setting
Single Flash Error The EtherCAT state cannot be changed to OP due to a local error
Double Flash Error Occurrence of sync manager watchdog timeout
Flickering Error Booting error
On Error Hardware failure has occurred
L/A IN Green Off - No connection to the Master
On - Connection to the Master has been established but there is no communication
Flickering - Connection to the Master has been established and there is communication
L/A OUT Green Off - No connection to the Master
On - Connection to the Master has been established but there is no communication
Flickering - Connection to the Master has been established and there is communication

Set a unique node number to the XEL-BSSCT with the rotary switches. Connect the EtherCAT network from the XMC port to the IN port of the XEL-BSSCT.

Step Action
1 Connect to the XMC with an XG5000 project.
2

Select Online menu è EtherCAT Slave è Auto Connect.
3

Select the SDO parameter read included option to read the SDO object from the devices.
4

XG5000 will show the read status. Press OK on the status screen when reading is done.
5

Press OK to set axis number to slave drive node number if that option was selected. Skip if that option was not selected.
6

Press OK on Writing completed screen.
7

Double-click on the XEL-BSSCT in the Slave section to open the configuration screen.
8

Click Slot Setup to setup the I/O modules on the XEL-BSSCT.
9

Add your modules by selecting the module slot under Slot setup then selecting the module in the Module List and pressing the left arrow with label Select.
10 Write your program to the XMC.

The direct variable addresses for the configured I/O can be found in the Master section of the EtherCAT Parameter section.

  • The PDO Variable section will contain the device addresses and variable names to access the data.

  • This screen can also be used to force I/O to certain values while in monitor mode.

  • The variable names will start with _ECxxx where xxx is the slave node number.

Open the Master section of the EtherCAT Parameter.

Click PDO Variable to see the I/O address list.

The EtherCAT network must be connected with LS_Connect function block or use Online menu è EtherCAT Slave è Connect. With the PDO Variable screen open, start monitoring from the Monitor menu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LM408