Create a new Device

To create a new device, select ‘Tools’ → ’I/O Devices’ or click the icon in the toolbar. The following picture shows the first step in creating a new device:   

I/O Device Name: Give a device name. This name will be used in the tag database, accompanied by the ‘Station Name’.

Select a device type

After selecting the ‘OK’ button in the previous step, the ‘Ethernet Communication Configuration’ dialog box will appear as shown in the following picture:

In this window, set the ‘Device Type’ to ‘MITSUBISHI MELSEC 3E (ASCII)’ and configure the remaining Ethernet communication parameters.

Note:The ASCII MELSEC driver only uses the TCP/IP protocol. Do not choose the UDP protocol in the above dialog box.

Create a station

Move to the ‘Station’ tab of the ‘Ethernet Communication Configuration’ dialog box.

In this dialog box, connected PLC stations can be configured and registered to the Xpanel. Each field can be configured with the following rules:

Station Name: Give a name to the PLC. This name will be used in the database window, accompanied by the ‘Device Name’.

Station Type: Choose ‘MELSEC’ (This is the only available option).

Network ID: N/A

IP Address: Give the IP address of the PLC in dotted decimal format (e.g. “1.2.3.4“).

Socket Port Number: Give the port number used by the PLC.

16Bit Data Swap: N/A

32Bit Data Swap: N/A

Comm. Error Message Pop Up: When this item is checked, Xpanel displays a communication error message box for every Rx and Tx error. Otherwise (unchecked), Xpanel does not display a message for communication errors. This message box will close automatically after a few seconds.

Fixed ATVXEL Socket Port: When this option is checked, Xpanel will use only one port for connecting with the PLC, as defined in the ‘ATVXEL Socket Port No.” field. Otherwise (unchecked), Xpanel will dynamically change the port number every time a TCP connection error or other communication error occurs.

This option allows Xpanel to deal with various TCP port management options. Some PLC models have a limit on the maximum number of TCP services. In such cases, this option can be helpful.

This option is unchecked by default.

Symbol

Memory Area

I/O Address Range

Notation

Bit/Word

X

Input Relay

X000000-X001FFF

16

Bit

Y

Output Relay

Y000000-Y001FFF

16

Bit

M

Internal Relay

M000000-M008191

10

Bit

M009000-M009255

10

Bit

L

Latch Relay

L000000-L008191

10

Bit

S

Step Relay

S000000-S008191

10

Bit

B

Link Relay

B000000-B001FFF

16

Bit

F

Annunciator

F000000-F002047

10

Bit

TS

Timer Contact

TS00000-TS02047

10

Word

TC

Timer Coil

TC00000-TC02047

10

Word

TN

Timer Current Value

TN00000-TN02047

10

Word

SS

Retentive Timer Contact

SS00000-SS02047

10

Word

SC

Retentive Timer Coil

SC00000-SC02047

10

Word

SN

Retentive Timer Current Value

SN00000-SN02047

10

Word

CS

Counter Contact

CS00000-CS01023

10

Word

CC

Counter Coil

CC00000-CC01023

10

Word

CN

Counter Current Value

CN00000-CN01023

10

Word

D

Data Register

D000000-D08191

10

Word

D

D9000-D9255

10

Word

W

Link Register

W000000-W001FFF

16

Word

R

File Register

R000000-R008191

10

Word

Connect through the Ethernet HUB

Direct connection