Integrate NI DeviceNet Interface into a PLC-based DeviceNet Network
Primary Software: Driver Software>>NI-DNET
Primary Software Version: 1.5
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: N/A
Hardware: Industrial Communications>>DeviceNet>>PCI-CAN (DNET), Industrial Communications>>DeviceNet>>PCMCIA-CAN (DNET), Industrial Communications>>DeviceNet>>PXI-8461 (DNET)
Problem: I have a DeviceNet network with the Allen-Bradley PLC as the DeviceNet master. I use RSLinx, RSNetworx and RSLogix to configure the DeviceNet devices. How can I integrate a National Instruments PXI system into my existing network?
Solution: You can integrate a National Instruments PXI system into your DeviceNet network in the following steps:
- Make the NI DeviceNet interface work as a DeviceNet slave. The NI interface usually works as a DeviceNet master. You can set the interface to slave mode by setting the DeviceMacId parameter in ncOpenDnetIO (
Open DeviceNet IO.vi) as IntfMacId for ncOpenDnetIntf (Open DeviceNet Interface.vi). You can use the attached Slave Device.vi.
- Import the Electronic Data Sheet (EDS) file for the NI DeviceNet interface The DeviceNet network configuration tool, like RSNetworx, needs to import the attached EDS file to identify a slave device. The steps to import an EDS file in RSNetworx are:
- Click the menu Tools»EDS Wizard... to open Rockwell Software's EDS Wizard.
- Select Register an EDS file and click Next.
- Select Register a single file, click Browse... to specify the EDS file, and then click Next.
- Browse and configure the slave in RSNetworx.
- If RSNetworx is offline, click the menu Network»Online to go online.
- Click the menu Network»Single Pass Browse to browse the network. Then you can see the slave "NI DeviceNet Interface". (Make sure the slave VI or application in step 1 is running).
- Right click the slave device node and click the menu Properties... to configure the slave and map the I/O into the PLC memory.
- Connect the signals to the DeviceNet slave In the slave VI or application, you can use ncReadDnetIO (
Read DeviceNet I/O.vi) to receive the signals from the PLC and use ncWriteDnetIO (Write DeviceNet I/O.vi) to send the signals to the PLC.
A LabVIEW example of a
Slave Device.vi and the EDS file for NI-DNET 1.5 can be found in the Attachments section below. The document is suitable for NI-DNET 1.5 and above.
Related Links: Products & Services: DeviceNet Interfaces
Attachments: 
Report Date: 05/19/2006
Last Updated: 05/08/2008
Document ID: 3XI8G2BV