URB Remote I/O Configurator

This utility enables you to set up data exchange between Unitronics' URB UniStream Remote I/O and compatible Vision and Samba controllers, by creating .urli files that map between the I/Os and operand vectors within the controller. Then, in your VisiLogic application, you set up data exchange via MODBUS TCP/IP.

Use this utility to:

You can then import these files into VisiLogic. In your application, you:

 The animated .gif below shows the process. Full instructions are given in the following sections.

 

 

 

Note that before you can implement Remote I/Os, you should set the IP of the URB adapter.

Configuration

  1. Open the URB Remote I/O Configurator, located on the VisiLogic toolbar, select your adapter model.

  1. Click Finish; the Configuration window opens displaying the Toolbox and Properties Window.

  2. In the Properties Window, edit the adapter's default properties if required.

  1. Select I/O modules from the Toolbox, either via double-click or drag & drop modules next to the adapter.

  2. In the Properties window, configure the modules according to your application.

NOTE: High-speed modules

In order to configure properties of these modules, you must write the values to the adapter using the following values:

        Encoder4X = 0x0,

        Encoder2X = 0x1,

        Up = 0x2,

        Down = 0x3,

        UpClockAndInhibit = 0x4,

        UpClockAndReset = 0x5,

        DownClockAndInhibit = 0x6,

        DownClockAndReset = 0x7,

        UpClockAnDownClock = 0x8,

        ClockAndDirection = 0x9,

        FrequencyMeasurement1s = 0xC,

        FrequencyMeasurement100ms = 0xD,

        PulseWidthMeasurement = 0xE,

        PulseWidthAndPeriodMeasurement = 0xF

 

URB Loadcell/Strain-gauge I/O Module

These I/O modules enable you to integrate a loadcell or strain-gauge in your control application.

A sample Loadcell application may be found in the VisiLogic Example applications.

To calculate the weight in user units you can use this formula ((A * 15.0 * C )/(D * B))*E.

Parameters A and B relate to the Unitronics I/O module's inputs.

Parameters C and D relate to the specifications of the Loadcell /Strain-gauge device you connect to the Unitronics' I/O module.

Parameter E, Scale Factor, can be used to fine tune measured results if required by using known weight, and according to calculated result, calculating the required offset percentage.

Refer to the Unitronics module's data sheet for details regarding calibration, zeroing, etc.

 

URB Remote I/O Addressing

After you have configured the modules, you set up addressing.

  1. Click the Addressing tab, then open the Address Configurator.

  2. Set the start operand address for each vector type.
    The Address Configurator will automatically create vectors of the correct length to contain your I/O data.

 

  1. Click OK; the I/O Addressing is displayed. Note that you can edit the addresses - if you do so, take care to avoid overwriting the vectors.

 

 

 

Verify and Download

After you have configured the modules, and set up addressing, you verify the project, and then download the parameters to the adapter.

  1. Click the Verify tab; any errors will be displayed in the bottom window.

 

  1. If the project is successfully verified, click Download to write the parameters to the adapter.

 

 

Generate a .urli file

  1. Create .urli files by selecting Export Structs VisiLogic on the ribbon; select the desired folder.

  1. Create .urli files by selecting Export Structs VisiLogic on the ribbon; select the desired folder.
    VisiLogic automatically creates .2 urli files, one for inputs and one for outputs, in separate sub-folders.

    These are the files that you will import into VisiLogic via Struct functions - note their locations.

 

 

Importing .urli files into VisiLogic via Struct functions

Note that you do not fill in any of the Struct parameters manually - all parameters are imported together with the .urli file.

Input files:

  1. In VisiLogic, via the Ladder toolbar, select Struct from the Vector menu and place it in your application.
    Do not enter any parameters.

  2. Click Import, navigate to the Inputs.urli file, and click open; VisiLogic imports the file and automatically fills in the parameters.
    Note that the Copy Data Direction for inputs is set to 'From Vector to Mixed Data Locations'. This is set automatically by importing Inputs.urli.

  3. Click Compile. If the addresses compile correctly, the OK button will be enabled.

 

Output files:

  1. Place a Struct function in your application.
    Do not enter any parameters.

  2. Import the Outputs.urli file.
    Note that the Copy Data Direction for outputs is set to 'From Mixed Data Locations to Vector '. This is set automatically by importing Outputs.urli.

  3. Click Compile. If the addresses compile correctly, the OK button will be enabled.

 

The next image shows how the addresses you previously set in the Configurator are automatically matched with the imported files.

 

In your Application

Communication with URB Remote I/O is via MODBUS TCP/IP, and requires you to:

For guidelines on building your application, please refer to the Sample Applications for URB Remote I/O. These may be found in the VisiLogic Examples folder, located at:
\Program Files (x86)\Unitronics\Unitronics VisiLogic_C\Examples\Version 900\Project examples\Communications\URB Remote IO\

 

URB Adapter Properties

Property

Purpose

IP Address

Enter the IP of the Adapter

Watchdog

Check to enable the watchdog timer. If the adapter does not receive an answer from an I/O module within the defined Communication Timeout period, the watchdog activates.

Timeout units: 1 unit=100msec

Maximum units: 65535  

Watchdog Recovery

Select this enables the adapter to continue running after watchdog timeout and reset.

Communications Timeout

Units of milliseconds 2-250.
This defines the time that the PLC will wait to receive a message from the adapter.

The  PLC sends a message 32 consecutive times, and waits for an answer.  At each Send, the PLC places a value in the least significant bit of the struct tag URB Remote I/O Adapter Communication Global > Timeout Shift Register: 0 = Message Arrived  /1 - Message did not arrive before the timeout.
This means that if no reply was received before timeout, the struct URB Remote I/O Adapter Communication tags:

  • Timeout Shift Register will read  0xFFFFFFFF (all bits are on)

  • Timeouts Counter will increment by 1

  • Retries Counter increments by 1.

General Specification

These are set during addressing and are read-only.

Notes

Vision and Samba controllers are compatible with Unitronics' URB UniStream Remote I/O system, comprising Ethernet-based Remote I/O adapters and I/O Remote modules that communicate via Ethernet, using MODBUS TCP/IP.

Since URB communication is via Ethernet; ensure that your controller comprises either a built-in or add-on Ethernet port.

The number of adapters that a controller can support depends on the number of available Ethernet sockets; sockets must be initialized to TCP.

The number of modules that can you can physically connect to a single adapter depend on the adapter model:

However, note that the exact number of I/Os that can be included per adapter is dependent on the specific I/O connected to that specific adapter.

For more information,including the process data requirements of the I/Os, refer to the Remote I/O user manual in the Unitronics Technical Library.

Setting the Adapter’s IP

The URB adapter IP defaults are:

Default IP: 192.168.100.100

Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

Note that on the adapter, there is a sticker showing its MAC address.

Editing the IP defaults

There are two methods of changing the IP address:

·       Via the URB Remote I/O Configurator's option, BOOTP Server.

·        Via DIP switch
These are physical switches on the adapter

Selecting the IP Configuration Method

To enable the selected method, you must raise the appropriate DIP switch on the adapter. By factory default, the adapter is supplied with all switches down.

·          Raise #9 to set IP via BOOTP Server:
-Enables the adapter BOOTP/DHCP
-The adapter sends 20 consecutive BOOTP/DHCP request messages every 2 seconds.
-If the BOOTP/DHCP server does not respond, the Adapter applies the latest saved IP address

·          Raise #10 to set IP via DIP switch:
You can then set the IP according to the description in the next table.

URB Adapter DIP Switches

 

#

Role

Description

1

IP bit#0

Lowest IP Address octet when

Switch #10=ON (raised)

Example: XXX.XXX.XXX.IP

2

IP bit#1

3

IP bit#2

4

IP bit#3

5

IP bit#4

6

IP bit#5

7

IP bit#6

8

IP bit#7

9

DHCP / BOOTP

Enable DHCP / BOOTP

10

Use DIP IP Value

Enable  IP Address set by DIP Switches

 

Configuring IP using Unitronics BOOTP Server

Before you can set the IP address of the Remote IO adaptor via Unitronics BOOTP Server, you must raise DIP #9 (check that #10 is down)

1.     Power OFF the URB adapter.

2.     Raise DIP switch #9 to enable DHCP / BOOTP.

3.     On the ribbon, click on Run BOOTP Server to open the utility.

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5.      Click Start BootP in the Unitronics BOOTP Server; the upper section displays Ethernet devices that are in the network.

 

  

6.     Power ON the URB adapter.

7.     Locate the adapter’s MAC address and double-click on the row.

8.     Enter the required IP address and select your PC Network card.

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9.     Click Ok. Now you should see the device in the bottom window including the IP address.

 

 

10.  Power cycle the adapter; turn it off and on.

11.  Use Ping from command line to check that the IP address is replying.

 

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12.  If the adapter replies successfully, then power off the adapter (URB-TCP) and lower DIP switch #9 (set to OFF).

13.  Configure the adapter and IO modules and test.