Setting up PLC Link Parameter

Owned by CIMON (Unlicensed)
Mar 25, 2024
5 min read

To run PLC Link and to exchange data between communication modules, the parameter is to be set up in the CICON.

 

Creating a Project in the CICON

Select the menu to run the CICON and to open a corresponding project.

Picture . Select the "PLC Link"

 

image-20240325-015959.png

 

 

Setting up PLC Link Parameter

Selecting PLC Link Parameter :
If you select the PLC Link on the window as [Picture. Select the "PLC Link"], a PLC Link dialog box will appear. In the dialog box, up to 4 communication modules can be set up for one CPU. To set up PLC Link to a mounted communication module, select Link(0), Link(1), Link(2) and Link(3) on the top of the dialog box and enter the values for each communication module.

 

Setting up PLC Link Type :
PLC Link Type is used to set up basic items such as network type, base, slot number, station number and so on.

Picture. PLC Link Setup

 

image-20240325-020016.png

 

Network
This is used to set up the type of the communication module for PLC Link. If you do not use PLC Link, select the Not Use. Here, select the Ethernet(Exclusive).

Base
This is used to select the base where the communication module for PLC Link is mounted. For example, if there is no base expansion (The base where a expansion card is mounted), select the Local. If there is base expansion (The base where a expansion card is mounted), select the Expansion Base where the communication module is mounted.

Slot
This is used to select the slot number of the base where the communication module is mounted.

 

Setting up the communication block for PLC Link :
Communication Block is used to register the information about sending/receiving real data. If you select the Ethernet(Exclusive) as the Network and the Add button in "Picure. PLC Link Setup", a Communication Block dialog box will appear like follows.

Picture. Communication Block Setup

 

 

Sending
When communication modules communicate each other, this is used to send a selected block.

Receiving
When communication modules communicate each other, this is used to receive a selected block.

 

 

Station No.
When communication modules communicate each other, in case of sending data, it is not necessary to set up station number. But, in case of receiving data, the station number of a receiving communication module is to be selected. The station number can be set up in the range from 0 to 63.

Block No.
The communication modules for a sending party communicate with each peculiar block number. In the same way, the communication modules for a receiving party have each peculiar block number to receive the data. The receiving block number is used to detect the data that a receiving party wants together with station number when a party communicates with a sending party. But, the block number can be set up in the range from 0 to 31. To receive the data of a sending party, the same number is to be set up as the block number for the sending party and the block number for a receiving party.

Sending Interval
Sending interval, a parameter to decide the interval at which data are sent, can be set up in the range from 50 ms to 3 sec according to users’ need. For example, if 50 ms is set up as sending interval, data will be sent every 50ms.

Device To Pick Up Data Sent & Device To Store The Received Data (Address)

When sending : This is used to set up the device where the data sent are read.
When receiving : This is used to set up the device where the received data are stored.

Device To Pick Up Data Sent & Device To Store The Received Data (Size)

This, the size of the data sent or received, can be set up by the word. But, the size is from one word to 64 words. If the data size of a sending device is greater than the size of the data set up to a receiving device, the necessary data as much as the size of the one set up to the receiving device can be received selectively and used.

[Ex.] The communication module of Station 1 sends Block 0, 1, 2 and 3, and receives Block 4, 5, 6 and 7. And the communication module of Station 2 sends Block 4, 5, 6, and 7, receives 0, 1, 2 and 3.
An Ethernet card is mounted on Slot 4. Each data size is one word and the interval is 50 ms each.
Such case is taken as an example and the PLC link parameter for it is configured as follows.

Station 1

 

 

Station 1 sends the data of the sending devices from D0000 to D0003 by the word at each interval.
The data received to corresponding addresses will be written in the receiving devices from Y0000 to Y0030, if the corresponding station and blocks are in accord.

Station 2

 

 

Enter 2 as the sending station number and 4, 5, 6, 7 as the block number to send at each interval. If so, the Ethernet module of Station 1 receives, comparing the receiving station and the blocks.
In the same way, Station 2 compares the numbers of the blocks in the received frames with Block 0, 1, 2, and 3 of Station 1. And if they are same, Station 2 receives them and writes the data to the devices from Y0000 to Y0030.