New features in the EC-Engineer tool like crossed line analyzer, modifications on the network topology and when using the EoE protocol

A common mistake is to swap the in/out ports over and over even clearly marked. The information where exactly a swap took place provides the well-proven EtherCAT Master EC-Master. Accidentally incorrectly connected slaves are marked with the corresponding symbol in the network topology and can thereby be recognized immediately.

To update or synchronize an existing configuration, the new dialog „Edit Topology“ offers comfortable options. When it comes to a common use case, e.g., connect existing slaves to another port or to add new scanned slaves, both works intuitively and with just a few mouse clicks. Especially the scan function (local or remote) can save a lot of time and help to prevent mistakes. Not necessarily all scanned slaves have to be always added to the configuration. Every single slave can be selected and connected to a free port. By the way, by the programmed logic it will be prevented that the dialog can be closed when the configuration is still incorrect.

At the moment not connected slaves will appear in the „Not connected Slave” area. This „parking area“ is always used when two or more slaves should be swapped but all ports are already occupied.

The new EC-Engineer version enables the simple use of vendor-specific tools to configure e.g. drives comfortable via Ethernet. For this purpose the tool can be operated on a Windows computer, which communicates via the RAS-protocol with the drive. The standard application can be operated continuously without any restrictions on the drive, while the tool analyses data online, respectively modifying parameters. An additional cable connection between tool and drive isn´t necessary. This is a major advantage particularly in large systems.

This is made possible by the mailbox protocol „Ethernet over EtherCAT” which allows the transfer of Ethernet frames between the Master and any number of slaves. From the Master the frames will be transferred directly to a network driver on the drive or the frames will be transferred via RAS to the Windows computer and be processed in a Windows network driver.
Once all components have been configured and started only the IP address of the slave has to be known to establish communication in the tool. Nothing else is required.