Exercise: Connecting to a CIMON PLC through Ethernet

(1) I/O Device Configuration

a) Select [Tools] - [I/O Device Editor] and press the icon, then select [Add Ethernet Device]. Enter the device’s name and select the [CIMON CI-net] protocol.

b) Once the correct device type has been selected, an additional configuration menu will be displayed. Match the settings in this window to the below configuration.

(2) Page Configuration

To ensure that the target PLC is communicating properly, a [Text Box] that displays the value of a real tag can be placed on the main screen. If the PLC is communicating properly, updating the tag’s value in CICON will yield a change in tag value on the XPanel. Create a tag using the [Tag Browser], configure the tag as shown below.

Next, place a [Text Box] on the main page of the project. Then in the [Property Editor] window, link the tag created above to the [Text] option.

(3) Checking Operation

a) In CICON, create the program shown below. The program sets D50 to a random number on each new scan as long as M00 remains pressed.

b) In the CICON project tree, go to [Parameter] - [PLC Parameter] and double-click it. In the ethernet tab, match the [IP Address] to the one used in the [I/O Device Editor] configuration menu. If the PLC and Xpanel are on the same local network, then the subnet mask and gateway should match. When you are finished, press [OK].

c) Download the program to the PLC and run it. You can edit the value of M00 in CICON while connected to the PLC. When the M00 contact turns ON, you will find that the value stored in D0 changes on the Xpanel screen.