Large CANopen networks with several devices and a multiplicity of inputs and outputs can have a complexity, that is hard to manage without powerful tools. The CANopen Configuration Manager is such a tool that simplifies the configuration of CANopen networks.

Using the CANopen Configuration Manager connections between devices and their configuration settings can be configured conveniently. So the PDO linking is simplified enormously.

Description

Each network is managed as a project within the CANopen Con- figuration Manager. Within a project the devices can be combined to different groups. Groups can be assigned arbitrarily according to device properties e.g. I/O devices, drives, according to node-ID ranges or with regard to their physical arrangement. Devices can be added to a group via their EDS files or a network scan (PC-CAN-Interface required). CANopen Configuration Manager project files can be reused by the CANopen Device Monitor.

Object links

Configuration of the object links is done by simply marking the objects shown in the table view. Internals of the CAN- open protocol are hidden from the user and the presentation is application-specific. CANopen notations like node 3, object 0×6040, subindex 0×00 are replaced by the more descriptive parameter name from the EDS file, e.g. statusword. The selection of invalid combinations of application variables due to incompatible datatypes is not possible and so errors are eliminated in the preliminary stages of the configuration. Further attributes like priorities or SYNC intervals can be assigned to the links. These attributes are evaluated by the linking algorithm.

PDO linking

Based on the object links the CANopen Configuration Manager computes the PDO mapping entries and sets the COB-IDs for the PDOs of each device. Thereby attributes and special cases like static mapping, constant COB-IDs or a restricted COB-ID range are considered. A direct configuration of the PDO parameter is also possible. The program ensures consistency of project settings and device settings.

 direct PDO configuration

Timing Configuration

Further features of the CANopen Configuration Manager are its ability to configure and to coordinate timing parameters like e.g. SYNC or Heartbeat.

Object Configuration

All manufacturer or device profile objects of each device can be parametrized without restrictions.

CANopen-PLC support

Devices according to CiA 405 (CANopen-PLC) with dynamic network variables are supported by the CANopen Configuration Manager. When connecting an object of another device to the PLC, the network variable is created automatically. Thereby appropriate data types and attributes are assigned to the network variable.

Program outputs

The following files are generated after completion of the configuration:

 
• DCF files
• Concise DCF files
• IEC61131 Variable declarations for PLCs,
• a detailed project documentation

Parameter download

When the computer is connected via a CAN interface to the network the complete configuration or only changes of a single node can be sent directly to the devices on the network. Similarly it is possible to read the configuration of a node or even a complete network. Additionally the CAN- open Configuration Manager is able to control devices with NMT commands.

Ordering Information

CMbasic is the basic version that only works off-line

CMplus allows CAN acess. The customer has to order a CAN interface of their choice.  This tool is able to download generated DCF file s for example or has on-line acces to the CANopen nodes.

CMpro is like CMplus with additional a fully licensed CANopen Device Monitor CDM for even more flexibility in configuring CANopen nodes. Also included is scripting support that CDM provides.