Map I/O from the Project Explorer

  1. In the Project Explorer, expand the Controller node and the EtherCATClosed***EtherCAT is an open, high-performance Ethernet-based fieldbus system. The development goal of EtherCAT was to apply Ethernet to automation applications which require short data update times (also called cycle times) with low communication jitter (for synchronization purposes) and low hardware costs node(s) to access your devices. 
    2.
    AKT (K-Bus) devices AKT2G (E-Bus) devices
  2. Access the device properties, which will be slightly different depending upon the device.
    • AKD or AKD2G
    • PCMM or AKD PDMM
    • I/O Slice
    • Safety Slices

    For AKD and AKD2G devices, double-click on the drive in the project tree, and select the I/O tab.

    For KAS controllers, double-click Controller Onboard I/O in the project tree.

    For I/O slices, double-click the I/O Slice under EtherCAT (AKT2G) or the Coupler entry (AKT) in the project tree. Then click on the I/O tab.

    For Slice Analog I/O and thermocouples, you also have to define offset and gain parameters.

    For safety devices, double-click the Safety I/O Slice under EtherCAT in the project tree and click on the I/O tab.

    Digital output logic on the safety slices / devices is typically disabled by default from the standard PLCClosed"Programmable Logic Controller" A Programmable Logic Controller, PLC, or Programmable Controller is a digital computer used for automation of industrial processes, such as control of machinery on factory assembly lines. Used to synchronize the flow of inputs from (physical) sensors and events with the flow of outputs to actuators and events. See the Description of Safety Parameters and the AKT2G-SDO-004-000 Safety terminal with 4 digital fail-safe outputs table for details.

  3. There are several ways to map variables:
    • Drag and drop a variable from the Dictionary onto a table entry.
    • Use the PLC Variable Creation Wizard for Kollmorgen devices.
    • Directly map/unmap the Inputs/Outputs to PLC variables using the PLC Variable Selector.

      • Select the channel(s) you want to map. Selection may be done by click-dragging or shift-clicking a range of entries. The entire table may be selected by clicking on its border. After the selection is made, right-click and select Map or press the Enter key. This opens the PLC Variable Selector.


      • The Unmap command in the contextual menu allows you to remove the link between the variable and the associated channel(s). In addition, deleting a variable from the dictionary which is mapped to the channel(s) also removes the link(s).

      Choose the variable to be linked to the channel(s) or PDO object.


      • The list of variables is filtered to display only those with relevant types.

        • PLC Variable Selector displays Read Only variables when mapping the Input channels from the I/O tab.
        • Variables assigned to the Safe Digital Input and Safe Digital Output channels must be Read Only.


  • Please be aware of the following limitations of PLC variable mapping.

    • Each PLC variable can be mapped to an EtherCAT I/O and exclusively to either:
      • a Controller Onboard I/O
      • an external driver
    • Because a variable can only be mapped to one channel or PDO object, when you link a variable to a new channel or PDO object, the previous mapping is removed (even if linked to another slice or device).
    • Individual bits within a variable can be mapped to multiple I/O channels on different devices (AKD, AKD PDMM, PCMM, or Slice).

    For example, the same PLC variable cannot be mapped to both Profinet and a Controller Onboard I/O but it is possible with a regular EtherCAT I/O.

See Also: