Hardware requirements

  • MIMXRT1180-EVK RevC

  • RJ45 Network cable

  • Mini/micro USB cable

  • Personal Computer on which the TwinCat3 has been installed(Windows 10 is recommended)

Board settings

For multiple boards cascades, R142 register needs to be removed.

Prepare the Demo

  1. Generate the SSC source code

    • Download Slave Stack Code Tool(SSC Tool) from BECKHOFF official website and install it

    • Open Slave Stack Code Tool

    • Click ‘File’ -> ‘New’ -> ‘Import’ to import the Congfig file Select digital_io.xml under path ‘.\boards\evkmimxrt1180\ecat_examples\digital_io<core>\SSC’.

    • Click ‘Tool’ -> ‘Application’ -> ‘Import’ to import Application information Select digital_io.xlsx under path ‘.\boards\evkmimxrt1180\ecat_examples\digital_io<core>\SSC’.

    • Click ‘Project’ -> ‘Create new Slave Files’ ‘Source Folder’(default): ‘.\boards\evkmimxrt1180\ecat_examples\digital_io<core>\SSC\Src’. Click ‘Start’.

    • Remove digital_io.c under Src folder

  2. Connect EtherCAT Port0 with TwinCAT3 RJ45 interface labeled as J28 is the EtherCAT Port0 and RJ45 interface labeled as J32 is the EtherCAT Port1.

  3. Connect a USB cable between the host PC and the OpenSDA USB port on the target board

  4. Open a serial terminal with the following settings

    • 115200 baud rate

    • 8 data bits

    • No parity

    • One stop bit

    • No flow control

  5. Download the program to the target board

  6. Either press the reset button on your board or launch the debugger in your IDE to begin running the demo

  7. Update ESI file to EEPROM

    • Copy ESI file ‘ECAT-IO.xml’ generated by SSC TOOL to <TwinCAT_installation_folder>//Config/io/EtherCAT/

    • Restart TwinCAT3 IDE

    • Scan device and Update EEPROM

  8. Scan and load this device and create a PLC project in TwinCat3 The PLC Main code is as follows:

     PROGRAM MAIN
 VAR 
 	Delay : TON;
 	LedIn AT %I* : BOOL; 
 	LedOut AT %Q* : BOOL;
 END_VAR
 
 Delay(IN := TRUE, PT := T#1S);
 IF Delay.Q THEN
 	LedOut := NOT LedIn;
 	Delay(IN := FALSE);
 END_IF;

  9. Activate configuration and start PLC Main function

Detailed User Guide