Epsilon EP-P Driver / Exlar GSX30

[d.gelman]

Hello,

I am fairly new to LabVIEW but I have experience with instrument control in the environment.  This portion of my project contains an Epsilon EP-P Driver with an Exlar GSX30 series linear acuator.  I understood the system with its software, PowerTools Pro v5.1, and now its time to run it in LabVIEW.  This system commucates via Ethernet.

I am COMPLETELY oblivious of how to get started to communicate with this system. If someone may guide me in the right direction and explain to me the steps require to build this connection.  Currently I am trying to understand the TCP communication that labview provides.  If someone knows where to find LabVIEW drivers for these devices, let me know!

Thanks, Danny

PS: Running LabVIEW 2011.

[JaymeW]

Hi Danny,

This tutorial on Ethernet Instrument Control is probably a good place to start.  There are also example programs in the NI Example Finder (in LabVIEW click Help » Find Examples) showing the basic structure of TCP communication in LabVIEW.

[d.gelman]

Hey Jayme

Thanks for replying,

I have tried the described steps, that you posted.  I did a search and was forced to use manual searching, assuming that my system is not VXI-11 Lan.  I put in the IP address of the system and got the following error when I tried to validate it.

=================================================================

Could not open a VIA session to "TCPIP0::192.168.1.42::inst0::INSTR".

VISA error code 0xBFFF0011.

Insufficient location information of the device or researce is not present in the system. 

=================================================================

I can communicate to the system with its given software inturn I am able to ping the device.

I tried looking up some example VIs such as TCP Communicator Passive/Active.vis.  I ran both at the same time and got an error such as:

==========================================================================

Error 56 occured at TCP Wait On Listener in TCP Listen.vi:1 -> TCP Communicator - Passive.vis

Possible reason(s):

LabVIEW: The network operation exceeded the user-specified or system time limit.

==========================================================================

My problem is, is that I don't understand all this communication, and exactly what the said VIs are supposed to do.  With my lack of TCP/IP knowledge and LabVIEW experience, this is going to be difficult.

Any guidance would be lovely.

Thanks,

Danny

[d.gelman]

Hello,

I connected to my device using sockets (Manual Entry of Raw Sockets) where I had to input my IP address and port number.  I validated it, and it said:

============================================================

Successfully opened a VISA session to TCPIP0::192.168.1.42::502::SOCKET"

============================================================

Now when I am trying to communicate to the instrument, do I use VISA VIs or TCP VIs? To open/close/read/write?

Thanks,

Danny

[JaymeW]

Hi Danny,

Since you have opened this connection as a VISA resource, you should use the VISA VIs to communicate with your instrument.

[d.gelman]

Hello Jayme,

I have realized that this system talks Modbus TCP.  I have been reading up on this topic and I still cannot seem to understand how to communicate  (message) to the system.  I have set up a simple Open>Write>Read>Close VI using TCP in LabVIEW (2011) and I still cannot get any response.  If anyone has example that I can follow, that would be swell.

I have an idea though and someone please let me know if this makes sense:

Using the given software (PowerTools Pro 5.1) I can create words that correspond to bits that perform read/write actions.  I believe I can intialize these in PowerTools into the servo drive and then start them via LabVIEW.  Does this make sense?

Thanks,

Danny

[Michael-B]

Hi Danny,

I'm sure exactly how your PowerTools software works, but I do have some suggestions for you.  I think it would be helpful to read over some of these articles:

https://www.ni.com/en/shop/labview/introduction-to-modbus-using-labview.html

https://www.ni.com/en/shop/labview/how-labview-uses-i-o-servers.html

https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA03q000000x0QgCAI&l=en-US

The first article first discusses the the general theory of modbus, but then talks about modbus specifically in the context of LabVIEW.

I hope this is helpful!

[Kmesa]

Hi Danny,

Were you able to connect your Epsilon EP-P driver with labview? if so what type of interface did you use? was it via ethernet cable, RS232 to USB B?

Thank you