How to set Dnet assembly object instance

[bmwjoe]

I have an MKS Dnet MFC (P6AO) that I want to connect to.  I have been able to connect to other MFCs using my Vi as long as the input assembly instance is set to 14 and the output assembly instance is set to 19.  I can explicitly message this MFC.  What class, instance and attribute do I use to set this assembly object?  What is the data type?

I can communicate with other brands of MFCs as long as the I/O assemblies are set to 14&19.  Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Joe

[Justin_E]

Hey Joe,

This information should be provided with the device, or in an EDS file from the manufacturer. It may also be in the DeviceNet Specification. If you don't have these, hopefully there is someone familiar with these devices who can post that information in here for you. 

You might also want to take a look at the NI-DNET user's manual, found here : http://www.ni.com/pdf/manuals/370375b.pdf

[bmwjoe]

I have the EDS file and I have uploaded it using Measurement & Automation Explorer.  Not sure what to do with it from there.  I need to configure the device to have the input assembly object to be instance (0x0E) and the output assembly object to instance (0x13).  What do I have to do to get these to be the instances used during the polled IO?

Thanks,

Joe

[Justin_E]

Joe,

An EDS file is just a text file formatted in a way to provide configuration information. You should be able to open it up with notepad, wordpad, etc. and view the contents. In looking at a sample EDS file I have on my machine, I saw there are lines of "Connection Path             = Class 4, Instance 1, Attribute 3" for each input and output. See if you can open up that file and find that information.

[illiniengineer]

The ODVA has a freeware EDS editor that will go a long way toward preventing typos and incorrect settings, and allows you to try "what if" settings as you learn EDS details.  The specification for an EDS file is part of the ODVA CIP standard and as far as I know, costs $300, but you will be able to do a lot of simple things just by surfing through example EDS files.

www.odva.org then search for "EZ-EDS".  They require a quick email registration first.

Here's a valid link as of this writing:

http://www.odva.org/Home/CIPNETWORKSPECIFICATIONS/Order/Software/tabid/134/Default.aspx