This article goes about configuring TwinCAT V3 to make EoE (Ethernet over EtherCAT) and FoE (File access over EtherCAT) options available. When using Anybus CompactCom for EtherCAT, this will in turn enable you to access its file system via FTP and its web pages. Furthermore, FoE makes firmware updates possible over the EtherCAT network.
A step-by-step instruction is given, presuming TwinCAT V3 is installed on a Windows PC and that PC takes the role of the EtherCAT master. It is of course as well possible though to employ the following using a PLC as the EtherCAT master.
APPLICABLE PRODUCTS
AB6607-C, Anybus CompactCom for EtherCAT M40
AB6639-C, Anybus CompactCom for EtherCAT M40 with Transparent Ethernet
AB6645-C, Anybus CompactCom for EtherCAT M40 with M12 connectors
AB6677-C, Anybus CompactCom for EtherCAT B40
AB6707-C, Anybus CompactCom for EtherCAT M40 without housing
AB6739-C, Anybus CompactCom for EtherCAT M40 with Transparent Ethernet without housing
AB6745-C, Anybus CompactCom for EtherCAT M40 with M12 connectors without housing
AB6779-C, Anybus CompactCom for EtherCAT B40 with Transparent Ethernet
PRE-REQUISITES
Windows PC
Beckhoff TwinCAT V3
Anybus CompactCom for EtherCAT with firmware > V2.xx
IN THIS ARTICLE
Ethernet over EtherCAT (EoE) serves to exchange non-EtherCAT packets like IP data with slaves on the EtherCAT network. All EoE data has to go through the EtherCAT master. It acts as a gateway, fragmenting and embedding Ethernet data into the mailbox field of EtherCAT packets.
Therefore, the Ethernet data throughput will be slower than usual and depends directly on the EtherCAT cycle time and mailbox size.
Note that for all features described in this article to work, the host application mustn't disable both EoE and FoE in the EtherCAT Host Object 0xF5. Furthermore, do not disable HICP, web and FTP server options in the Ethernet Host Object 0xF9.
In the subsequent
1. BINDING LOCAL ETHERNET CARD TO THE TWINCAT MASTER
The shorter the freerun cycle, the higher the data throughput for EoE and FoE.
2. ACTIVATE EOE ON THE TWINCAT MASTER
3. ACTIVATE EOE ON THE TWINCAT SLAVE
4. ACTIVATE FOE ON THE TWINCAT SLAVE
5. RESULTS
- Set the IP address with HMS IPconfig tool
- Ping the slave
- Access the Anybus CompactCom file system via FTP
- Download an Anybus CompactCom firmware file
- Make sure to append the ".hiff" extension in this window
- You can check in the 'firmware' folder that a firmware file has been written to the Anybus CompactCom module
Please be aware that downloading files with any other extension than .hiff or .nfo will be forwarded to the Application File System Object 0xEA instead of the /firmware folder. Object 0xEA needs to be explicitly supported by the host application. - Apply the firmware by powering up the module while keeping the reset line high for up to 2 minutes until all LED activity ceases. The Anybus CompactCom may then be reinitialized by the application.
The final seconds of LED blinking during a firmware upgrade are shown in the attached video "ABCC40-ECT_LED_During_Firmware_Upgrade" in the section Additional Information. - Check the new firmware version in HMS IPconfig tool
- Have a look at the module's web pages
You will note that loading web pages over EoE takes longer than expected, since all IP data is fragmented and transported within the EtherCAT frames.