EtherCAT® Network Configuration, Diagnosis, and Monitoring
EC-Engineer is a powerful software tool used for configuration, diagnosis, and monitoring of EtherCAT® networks. Using this single tool one can handle all required engineering and diagnosis tasks in a quick and comfortable way. The modern, clear and very intuitive user interface, which is also rarely using popup dialogs, is crucial for a smooth experience in configuring, diagnosing, and monitoring of EtherCAT® systems.
Standard and Expert View
The neatly arranged Standard View enables customers to create an EtherCAT® configuration within a view simple steps. It hides more rarely used parameters and options - these can be enabled using the Expert View.
Restriction to the Essentials
The available options and dialogs of EC-Engineer can be restricted to those topics which the MainDevice controller actually supports. This is one of the significant advantages of EC-Engineer, it helps in quickly creating configuration files with no need for multiple attempts via trial and error. The so-called EMI (EtherCAT MainDevice Information) file will define all the properties and the scope of performance of the MainDevice system. Among others, the available cycle times, support of mailbox protocols, DC synchronization or Hot Connect can be set. EC-Engineer is shipped with predefined EMI files which cover the functionality of an EtherCAT Class A and Class B MainDevice. Those will serve as templates to enhance or restrict the function according to the customer needs.
Online or Offline Configuration
When using EC-Engineer the EtherCAT configuration can be done "offline" in the lab/office or "online" when connected with the real EtherCAT network on the machine. It doesn't matter whether the EtherCAT SubDevices are connected with the local Windows PC where EC-Engineer is running, or with the MainDevice controller where the control application's EC-Master stack is running. In either case the SubDevices and the network topology can easily be determined using the "Network Scan" feature. In the case where the SubDevices are connected with the Windows PC, EC-Engineer has an integrated Windows EtherCAT MainDevice that is able to run and verify the system. If the SubDevices are connected with the control system, then the MainDevice stack running on the controller will take over communication and provide all services and information which are needed for diagnosis and monitoring over to EC-Engineer remotely (for example via TCP/IP).
Fixed Process Data Memory Layout for the SubDevices
A unique feature of EC-Engineer is the ability to set an arbitrary fixed data memory layout for a single SubDevice or a group of SubDevices. It is possible to set the address of a SubDevice to the desired fixed location in the process data area. This address then will not be changed in case any other SubDevices are added or removed. The desired memory location can be set to different values for input and output data.
Modular Device Profile (MDP) SubDevices
Complex SubDevices that are based on the Modular Device Profile (MDP) specification can be configured in a simple and clear way. The available modules (on the right side) then will be assigned to the slots (on the left side).
Powerful Diagnosis and Monitoring
EC-Engineer is a sophisticated tool for diagnosis and monitoring as well. Using a TCP/IP connection with EC-Master, both EC-Master and SubDevices can be viewed and analyzed. Display of the system status and the process data content as well as more complex functions like reading the object dictionary or downloading new SubDevice firmware are available then. A special view is provided for analyzing erroneous or incomplete EtherCAT network startup.
EC-Engineer Software Development Kit (SDK)
Using the available SDK all (or just a subset) of the EC-Engineer features can be integrated into another engineering application. Brand labeling and other customer specific enhancements can be achieved as well. All EC-Engineer core software components and modules are available for Windows and Linux. The user interface layers are based on the Microsoft® WPF Technology.
Features
General Features
- Configuration of multiple MainDevice systems within one project
- EtherCAT SubDevices connected to the Windows PC
- EtherCAT SubDevices connected to the control system
- Tree View and Topology View
- ESI and EMI Manager
- Multiple Languages
- Modern User Interface based on Microsoft WPF technology
Configuration Features
- Import ESI (EtherCAT SubDevice Information) files according to ETG.2000
- Export ENI-(EtherCAT Network Information) files according to ETG.2100
- Automatic determination of the connected SubDevices (bus scan)
- SubDevice device copy and paste including all parameters
- PDO selection and configuration
- Adjustment and appending of EtherCAT SubDevice init commands
- Transparent integration of MDP (Modular Device Profile) SubDevices
- Fixed memory layout of SubDevices or
- Distributed Clocks (DC) Settings
- Definition of "Hot Connect" groups
- Programming Station Alias Address
- Other MainDevice and SubDevices parameters
Diagnosis and Monitoring Features
- Master and SubDevice State (display and control)
- Process (I/O) data (display and control)
- ESC Register (read and write)
- EEPROM (read and write)
- Master And SubDevice Object Dictionaries
- Mailbox transfers (Service Data Objects upload and download)
- Firmware upload and download
- Comparison of configuration and real network
A complete feature overview of all versions can be found here.
System requirements
- Microsoft Windows 7 and above
- Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Client Profile
- Screen resolution at least 1024x768 pixels
- Memory as recommended for operating system
- Disk space approximately 80 MB (depend on number of ESI files)
- NDIS driver must be installed
New Features
More information about EC-Engineer
Please request additional information in our download area.