PROFINET - ctrlX CORE plus X3 with IndraControl XM21

1. Overview

In this tutorial, it will be shown how to connect a IndraControl XM21 with a ctrlX CORE using PROFINET. To be able to connect to the XM21 through PROFINET, an RT-Ethernet extender will be used.

ctrlX CORE plus X3 IndraControl XM21 Profinet Connection

In this case, the ctrlX CORE will act as PN device, and the XM21 will be the PROFINET controller (Master). The XM21 will contain a PLC program that will digitally simulate the inputs and outputs.

2. Prerequisites

PROFINET Device app
IndraWorks Engineering program

3. ctrlX CORE configuration

1. First, ctrlX CORE will be connected to the Engineering computer and the ctrlX WORKS program will be started.

In ctrlX WORKS, check the recognised devices, and enter the ctrlX CORE web interface by clicking over the IP address

2. Install PROFINET device app. Download the app from this link

To perform this step, it is recommended to follow the instructions shown in the following article.
The app is installed. In the ctrlX CORE web interface the “Settings” menu is clicked -> Access “Apps” -> Change to “Service mode” because otherwise it will not be possible to install the app, and the “Install from file” button is clicked. A new window will be opened where the previously downloaded file is selected.

3. Add PROFINET device:

Access the PROFINET device app
Check that the ctrlX CORE is in “Service” mode (Otherwise it will give an error as shown in the figure)
“Add PROFINET device”

Error that appears in the case the PROFINET device is added in “Operating” mode

Error in case of adding a profinet device in operating mode

4. Add PROFINET device

5. Configure PROFINET device:

Click the pencil button
Select template (this has to be chosen in function of sent data from the connected device to the ctrlX CORE)
Save configuration

6. Start the communication. 1. Change to “Operating” mode -> 2. Run PROFINET device app

Note: Before connecting both devices it is recommended to check that the ctrlX CORE IP address is of the same type as the XM22 device. In connectivity, change the eth1 to an IP address of a similar type.

4. IndraControl XM21 configuration

Note: It will be assumed that the user knows how to install the IndraWorks Engineering program

1. Connect the IndraControl XM21 to the Engineering computer using the Ethernet port located in the IndraControl XM21 (XF5) and plug it to the computer Ethernet port. Make sure to establish correctly the static IP address. Once done this, open the IndraWorks Engineering program and create a new project:

Create a new project
Select "empty project"
Enter a project name
Press "Ok"

2. Add device

Right click over the project name
Press "Add"
Select "Add" again
Choose the type of IndraControl (In this case we will use the IndraControl XM2 series)
Double click over "IndraControl XM2"

Step 1: General Properties -> Introduce a device name and press "Next"

Step 2: Hardware/communication

Select the Device release
Select the communication type
Introduce the XM2 IP address
Select the PLC gateway
Test the connection

Step 3: Extended settings. Keep everything as default

Step 4: Function packages. Only select "Programmable Logic Control"

Step 5: Interfaces

Extensionmodule: In this case only the RT-Ethernet will be used
sercos: Choose SercosIII Master
Press "Finish" and wait until the configuration is performed

3. Set PROFINET device

Right click over "Not_Used"
Select "Set device"
Select "PROFINET IO Controller XM"

Configure the device

Double click over "PROFINET_IO_Controller_XM"
Select the "General" tab
Choose an IP address for the PN-Device
Configure the IP address range

4. Add PN-Device description: To be able to scan and recognise the Profinet device or to add the PN-Device it is required to install the device description. In this case, the ctrlX CORE description is needed.

Press the following link and download the ctrlX CORE device description

Return to IndraWorks Engineering, Select "Tools" -> "Device database"

Press "Add devices"

Select the downloaded ctrlX CORE .xml file. Once finished, close the window.

5. Add PN-Device to the devices tree. There are two options to add the profinet device:

1. Scanning the device

NOTE: To be able to scan the devices, these requirements are necessary:

The ctrlX CORE must be connected to the IndraControl XM21.
The PROFINET Device app must be running. By pressing the "Run" button in the app it is enough to be able to recognize the ctrlX CORE.

Once, these requirements have been checked, it is possible to scan the ctrlX CORE from the IndraControl XM21. If it does not work, follow the steps by adding the device manually

Right click over "PROFINET_IO_Controller_XM"
Select "Scan for devices"

3 Copy the device to the project

As in this "How-To" the ctrlX CORE has been configured with an "in_128_out_128" template, this is the result of the scan.

Reminder: The template can be selected in the configuration menu in the PROFINET Device app in the ctrlX CORE web interface

Troubleshooting:

In the case an error similar to the shown in the following image appears, some additional steps are required to do.

In the case, no Station name appears, it is necessary to write one name
An IP address that is in the same subnet as previously configured is necessary to configure. In this case, the 192.168.10.2 IP address will be written
For the Subnet Mask the 255.255.255.0 address will be configured

Station name and IP Address configuration

Select the device description
Press "Set Name and IP"

Once the button has been pressed, the error should disappear and the device description will appear. As it can be seen, the 128bit output and input that was previously configured in the PROFINET Device app, appears
Press "Copy All Devices to project" to add them to the project
Close the window

2. Adding the device manually

Right click over "PROFINET_IO_Controller_XM"
Select "Add"
Select "Add" again

Select the PLC section
Double click over ctrlX CORE
Close the window

Set up the inputs and outputs

1. Extend the ctrlX CORE tree and start the configuration

Add output: Right click over "producer" -> "Set device" -> Select "module_out"

Add input: Right click over "consumer" -> "Set device" -> Select "module_in"

2. Choose the type of variable

Right click over "module_out" -> "Add" -> "Add"

Double click over "byte_128_out" and close the window

Right click over "module_in" -> "Add" -> "Add"

Double click over "byte_128_in"

Check the ctrlX CORE IP address and define a station name

6. Write a little program to write values

Global variables definition

Double click over "UserVarGlobal"
Define the variables

Local variables definition and PLC program

The PLC program is the following:

// Counter 
byCounter := byCounter + 1;

// Array element 0..3
FOR iIdx:=0 TO 3 BY 1 DO
// Copy the input bytes to the output bytes
UserVarGlobal.byArray_0_q[iIdx] := UserVarGlobal.byArray_0_i[iIdx];
END_FOR

// array element 4..7
FOR iIdx:=4 TO 7 BY 1 DO
// Fill the arrays with data
UserVarGlobal.byArray_0_q[iIdx] := byCounter + iIdx;
END_FOR

7. Map the variables

First, the ouput variable will be mapped

Double click over "byte_128_out"
Select the I/O Mapping tab
Expand the tree
Write the variable desired to map. In this case it will be the "byarray_0_q" in the position 4

Note: To find easier the variable, double click over the black space and select the variable

The same steps are followed for the input variable:

Double click over "byte_128_in"
Select the I/O Mapping tab
Expand the tree
Write the variable desired to map. In this case it will be the "byarray_0_i" in the position 4

5. Testing

1. Login and run the PLC program

Click over the login button

Accept the message and follow the steps

Run the PLC program -> Accept the message

Note: In the case the PROFINET Device app is still not working in the ctrlX CORE, the warnings shown in the next image will appear:

Run the program in the ctrlX CORE, and check the tree again

If the PROFINET communication is working properly, in the PROFINET Device app the "OP" state should be visible

Check received values in the Data Layer

Go to "Settings"
"Data Layer"
Expand the tree as shown
Check the realtime values

Note: If the user wants to read these values from the ctrlX WORKS PLC Engineering program, it is recommended to follow the steps shown in this article.