Use Beckhoff TwinCAT System Manager to configure EtherCAT® masters for control of ABB MicroFlex e190 and MotiFlex e180 servo drives.
TwinCAT software is used to configure Beckhoff PLCs and can also allow for configuration of a PC as a real time control unit.
The ABB MicroFlex e190 and MotiFlex e180 motion control servo drives provide integrated EtherCAT functionality for real-time Ethernet control. A Beckhoff PLC or a PC with a suitable EtherCAT network adapter (“a soft PLC”) can be used as an EtherCAT master to control one or more ABB motion drives.
This application note will cover how to use TwinCAT System Manager to define the hardware setup suitable for an ABB motion
drive connected either to a PLC or a soft PLC over EtherCAT.
It will also show how the TwinCAT System Manager can be used to perform moves on the drive. For the purposes of creating this document a MicroFlex e190 was used, but the principles and actions required are identical for MotiFlex e180.