Communication Configuration and Example Program Usage (PLC with External QJ71E71 Ethernet Module)

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This topic provides instructions on setting up the Standard Interface communication based on the MC protocol between a Mitsubishi MELSEC-Q Series PLC (with External QJ71E71 Ethernet Module) and Mech-Mind Software Suite.

Hardware and Software Requirements

Hardware

  • Mitsubishi PLC: with external QJ71E71 Ethernet interface module

    The Ethernet Module used in this example is QJ71E71-100. The CPU is MELSEC-Q Series Q03UDVCPU. The QPower supply is Mitsubishi Q61P. The base unit is Mitsubishi Q33B.

  • IPC (Industrial Personal Computer)

  • USB Type A male to USB Mini-B male cable

  • Network switch and Ethernet cables

The connection of the hardware system is shown as below.

hardware connection

Software

Software Description Installed Location

GX Works2

Mitsubishi PLC programming software

Computer that is used for PLC programming

Mech-Mind Software Suite 1.7.2 or above

Mech-Mind vision system software

IPC

In addition to the above software, please copy the example program file MC Protocol_Q_Simple_Label_E71.GXW (used to implement the functions of various interface commands) to a PC with GX Works2 installed. The example program files are stored in the folder where Mech-Mind Software Suite is installed: Mech-CenterMech-Center/Robot_Interface/MITSUBISHI Melsec.

The firewall on the IPC must be turned off.

Create and Configure the PLC Project

Create a PLC Project

  1. Open GX Works2, and click the New icon in the toolbar. In the New Project window, select QCPU (Q mode) as the Series, Q03UDV as the Type, Simple Project as the Project Type. Select Use Label, and select Ladder as the Language. After setting, click OK to save changes.

    create plc 1

  2. Go to Navigation  Connection Destination  Current Connection, and double-click Connection1.

    create plc 2

  3. A Transfer Setup Connection1 window will pop up. Please follow the steps below.

    1. Select Serial USB, select QCPU (Q mode) as the PLC Mode, and then click PLC Direct Coupled Setting.

    2. Select USB in the pop-up window and click Yes.

    3. Go back to the Transfer Setup Connection1 window, and click Connection Test. If GX Works2 is connected with the PLC successfully, a message saying Successfully connected with the Q03UDVCPU will pop up.

    4. Click OK in the Transfer Setup Connection1 window and return to the main interface of GX Works2.

      create plc 3

Configure Communication Parameters of MC Protocol

  1. Go to Navigation  Project  Parameter  Network Parameter, and double-click Ethernet/CC IE/MELSECNET.

    external configure plc 1

  2. In the pop-up Network Parameter window, configure the network according to the specific Ethernet hardware. The figure below shows the configuration of the example in this instruction. Then, click Operation Setting.

    external configure plc 2

  3. In the pop-up Ethernet Operation Setting window, please follow the steps below.

    1. In the Communication Data Code area, select Binary Code.

    2. In the IP Address Setting area, set the IP Address of the Ethernet Module QJ71E71-100, for example, as 192.168.1.22 (which should be in the same subnet as the IP address of the IPC).

    3. Select Enable Online Change.

    4. In the Initial Timing area, select Always wait for OPEN (Communication possible at STOP time).

    5. In Send Frame Setting and TCP Existence Confirmation Setting areas, keep the default setting.

    6. Click End.

      external configure plc 3

  4. Go back to the Network Parameter window, click Open Setting. In the pop-up window, set the parameters of the first and second lines as shown in the figure below. Click End and return to the Network Parameter window. Then click End and return to the main interface of GX Works2.

    external configure plc 4

Import Example Programs

Before you add the example program to a project already in use, it is recommended to import it to a new project and test it first.

  1. In the menu bar of GX Works2, go to Project  Library  Install.

    import file 1

  2. In the pop-up Import Library to Project window, select Select Library (Project) from the Library List and click Browse to locate the local file MC Protocol_Q_Simple_Label_E71.gxw (which should be copied from the IPC in advance), and click Open.

    external import file 2

  3. In the Import Library to Project window, click Refresh FB List. Then select all items in FB List, and then click OK.

    external import file 3

  4. A message saying “Are you sure to overwrite?” will pop up. Select Yes in the window and go back to the main interface of GX Works2.

    import file 4

  5. In the menu bar of GX Works2, go to Tool  Device/Label Automatic-Assign Setting.

    import file 5

  6. In the pop-up Device/Label Automatic-Assign Setting window, modify the Assignment Range of Word Device D, and then click OK.

    import file 6

  7. Select Yes in the pop-up window as shown below and return to the main interface of GX Works2.

    import file 7

Download Communication Configuration and Example Programs to PLC

  1. In GX Works2, expand the Program Setting in the Navigation, drag the MAIN under No Execution Type to Scan Program. Then double-click Program.

    download configuration 1

  2. Click Rebuild All icon in the toolbar.

    download configuration 4

  3. Select Yes for “Are you sure you want to Rebuild All?” in the caution window.

    download configuration 5

  4. Click the Write to PLC icon in the toolbar.

    download configuration 6

  5. In the pop-up Online Data Operation window, select Write, click Parameter + Program, and click Execute.

    download configuration 7

  6. Click Yes in the pop-up window as shown below.

    download configuration 8

  7. Select Yes to all for “Are you sure you want to overwrite the existing file?”.

    download configuration 9

  8. Click Close if the text box below reads “Write to PLC: Completed”.

    download configuration 10

  9. A message will pop up as show below. If the system security can be ensured, select Yes to return to the Online Data Operation window, and click Close. Lastly, turn off the PLC CPU power and restart it.

    download configuration 11

Set up “Robot and Interface Configuration” in Mech-Vision

  1. Click Robot and Interface Configuration in the toolbar of Mech-Vision.

  2. Select Listed robot from the Select robot drop-down menu, and then click Select robot model. Select the robot model that you use, and then click Next.

  3. In the Communication Option panel, follow the steps below to proceed:

    • Interface Type: Standard Interface

    • Protocol: Mitsubishi MC Client

    • PLC IP Address: Enter the IP address and port number of the specific PLC in use.

    • Frame: 3E

    • Register (D) Base Address: according to your needs. A total of 728 D registers are occupied. The example in this instruction is 10000.

    • Click Apply.

  4. Make sure the Interface Service in the toolbar of Mech-Vision is started.

Check Communication

  1. In GX Works2, click the Start Monitoring (All Windows) icon in the toolbar.

    establish communication 1

  2. Click Yes in the pop-up window as shown below.

    establish communication 2

  3. In the Watch1 window, add and expand the Device MM_Camera. If the connection is established successfully, the monitor value of HEARTBEAT will keep changing.

    establish communication 3

  4. The PLC is successfully connected if the following message is displayed in the Console tab of Mech-Vision Log panel: Connect to Melsec PLC successfully. If you don’t see this log message, please check if:

    1. The hardware is properly connected;

    2. If the Interface Service has been started successfully in Mech-Vision;

    3. If the PLC program has been successfully downloaded to the PLC.

Test with Mech-Vision/Mech-Viz Project

This section introduces how to use the example program function block (FB) to trigger the Mech-Vision project to obtain vision points and trigger the Mech-Viz project to obtain the planned path.

Prerequisites

  1. Create a Mech-Vision solution. In the project list, right-click the solution and select Autoload Solution. Projects in the solution are also autoloaded and the specific project number will appear in front of the project name.

  2. Create a Mech-Viz project. Right-click the project name in Resources and select Autoload Project. The Mech-Viz project used for testing contains a “Branch by Msg” Step that has been renamed to 1 as shown below.

    preparation 4

Run Mech-Vision Project and Obtain Vision Points

Open Monitor (Write Mode)

  1. In GX Works2, under the Navigation/Project, click Monitor (Write Mode) icon in the toolbar.

    test vision 1

  2. Click OK in the pop-up window as shown below.

    test vision 2

Add and Set the MM_Start_Vis FB

  1. Expand POU/FB_Pool and drag MM_Start_Vis to line 0 of MAIN. An Input FB Instance Name window will pop up. Keep the default settings and click OK.

    test vision 3

  2. Click Horizontal Line icon in the toolbar. Click OK in the pop-up window to connect the left bus line with the EN1 input port of the FB.

    test vision 4

  3. Set Mech-Vision project ID, namely, the number before the project name in the project list in Mech-Vision. set the port value of Vision_Proj_Num to 1, and project No. 1 in Mech-Vision will run.

  4. Set the number of poses to be sent by Mech-Vision project. Set the port value of Req_Pose_Num to 0, and all poses in the vision result will be returned from Mech-Vision.

  5. Set the type of pose to be sent by the robot. Setting the port value of Robot_Pose_Type to 0 indicates that the project is in the Eye-to-Hand mode, and the image-capturing pose is not needed.

  6. Double-click the blue frame area on the left of Start_Vision port of MM_Start_Vis FB. Select Open Contact in the pop-up window, and enter the global label Camera_User.Start_Vis. Then click OK to connect the Start_Vision port with the bus line on the left.

    test vision 5
    test vision 6

Add and Set the MM_Get_VisData FB

  1. Drag MM_Get_VisData to line 0 of MAIN. An Input FB Instance Name window will pop up. Keep the default settings and click OK. Click Horizontal Line icon in the toolbar, and click OK in the pop-up window to connect the left bus line with the EN1 input port of the FB.

    test vision 7

  2. Set Mech-Vision project ID, namely, the number before the project name in the project list in Mech-Vision. Set the port value of Vision_Proj_Num to 1, and the vision recognition result of Project No.1 in Mech-Vision will be obtained.

  3. Double-click the blue frame area on the left of Get_VisData port of MM_Get_VisData FB. Select Open Contact in the pop-up window, and enter the global label Camera_User.Get_VisData. Then click OK to connect the Get_VisData port with the bus line.

    test vision 8

Write/Convert/Compile Programs to PLC

  1. Click the Online Program Change icon in the toolbar.

    test vision 9

  2. Click OK in the pop-up Confirm Build Method for Online Program Change window.

    test vision 10

  3. Click Yes in the pop-up window as shown below.

    test vision 11

  4. Lastly, click OK to complete downloading the program to PLC.

    test vision 12

Trigger Mech-Vision Project to Run

  1. In the interface of MAIN, right-click the input variable Camera_User.Start_Vis of MM_Start_Vis FB, and select Debug  Modify Value.

    test vision 13

  2. In the pop-up Modify Value window, click ON to trigger Mech-Vision project to run. Then click OFF to reset the value.

    test vision 14

  3. Right-click the blank space, select Register to Watch, and enter the global label MM_Camera.Status_Code. If the project is started successfully, the status code 1102 will be returned.

    test vision 15
    If the status code 10XX is returned, please refer to Status Codes and Troubleshooting for troubleshooting.

Obtain Vision Points

  1. Select the input variable Camera_User.Get_VisData of MM_Get_VisData FB, and click ON in the pop-up window to obtain vision points. Then click OFF to reset the value.

    test vision 16

  2. In the Watch1 window, enter the global label MM_Camera.Status_Code. If the vision points are obtained successfully, the status code 1100 will be returned. Then, enter the global label MM_Camera.Target_Pose, and the pose data of vision points will be returned.

    test vision 17
    If the status code 10XX is returned, please refer to Status Codes and Troubleshooting for troubleshooting.

Run Mech-Viz Project and Obtain Planned Path

Add and Set the MM_Start_Empty FB

  1. Drag MM_Start_Empty to line 54 of MAIN. An Input FB Instance Name window will pop up. Keep the default settings and click OK. Click Horizontal Line icon in the toolbar to connect the left bus line with the EN1 input port of the FB.

    test viz 1

  2. Double-click the blue frame area on the left of Start_Empty port of MM_Start_Empty FB. Select Open Contact in the pop-up window, and enter the global label Camera_User.Start_Empty. Then click OK to connect the Start_Empty port with the bus line.

    test viz 2

Add and Set MM_Start_Viz, MM_Set_Branch, and MM_Get_VizData FB

  1. Drag MM_Start_Viz, MM_Set_Branch, and MM_Get_VizData to MAIN respectively. An Input FB Instance Name window will pop up. Keep the default settings and click OK. Click Horizontal Line icon in the toolbar to connect the left bus line with the EN1 input port of the FB.

    test viz 3
    test viz 4
    test viz 5

  2. Set the type of pose to be sent by the robot: Setting the port value of Robot_Pose_Type to 0 indicates that the project is in Eye-to-Hand mode, and the image-capturing pose is not needed.

    Double-click the blue frame area on the left of EN1 port of MM_Start_Viz FB. Select Close Contact in the pop-up window, and enter the global label Camera_User.Get_VizData. Then, click OK to connect the EN1 port with the left bus line.

    Double-click the blue frame area on the left of Start_Viz port of MM_Start_Viz FB. Select Open Contact in the pop-up window, and enter the global label Camera_User.Start_Viz. Then, click OK to connect the Start_Viz port with the left bus line.

    test viz 6

  3. Set the branch parameters in Mech-Viz project: Set the port value of Branch_Name and Branch_Exit_Port to 1 respectively, and the Mech-Viz project will take the exit port 1 for the “Branch by Msg” Step named 1. Select Open Contact in the pop-up window, and enter the global label Camera_User.Set_Branch. Then, click OK to connect the Set_Branch port with the bus line.

    test viz 7

  4. Set the pose type of the obtained waypoints: Set the port value of Request_Pose_Type to 1, and Mech-Viz will return waypoints in JPs.

    The Request_Pose_Type here and Robot_Pose_Type of the MM_Start_Vis and MM_Start_Viz FB all correspond to the Pose_Type variable of the global label MM_Camera. Therefore, if these parameters are set to different values, the programming should ensure that the two values do not take effect at the same time.

  5. Double-click the blue frame area on the left of EN1 port of MM_Get_VizData FB. Select Close Contact in the pop-up window, and enter the global label Camera_User.Start_Viz. Then click OK to connect the EN1 port with the left bus line.

  6. Double-click the blue frame area on the left of Get_VizData port of MM_Get_VizData FB. Select Open Contact in the pop-up window, and enter the global label Camera_User.Get_VizData. Then click OK to connect the Get_VizData port with the left bus line.

    test viz 8

Write/Convert/Compile Programs to PLC

  1. Click the Online Program Change icon in the toolbar.

    test viz 9

  2. Click OK in the pop-up Confirm Build Method for Online Program Change window.

    test viz 10

  3. Click Yes in the pop-up window as shown below.

    test viz 11

  4. Lastly, click OK to complete downloading the program to PLC.

    test viz 12

Trigger Mech-Viz Project to Run

  1. In the interface of MAIN, right-click the input variable Camera_User.Start_Empty of MM_Start_Empty FB, and select Debug  Modify Value in the context menu. In the pop-up Modify Value window, click ON to clear the previously obtained vision result. Then click OFF to reset the value.

    test viz 13

    In the Watch1 window, enter the global label MM_Camera.Status_Code. The status code 3103 should be returned, and the variable values of Camera_User.Target Pose, Camera_User.Target Label, and Camera_User.Speed Percentage should be cleared.

    test viz 14

  2. In the interface of MAIN, right-click the input variable Camera_User.Start_Viz of MM_Start_Viz FB. In the pop-up Modify Value window, click ON to trigger the Mech-Viz project to run. Then click OFF to reset the value.

    test viz 15

  3. In the Watch1 window, enter the global label MM_Camera.Status_Code. If the project is started successfully, the status code 2103 will be returned.

    test viz 16
    If the status code 20XX is returned, please refer to Status Codes and Troubleshooting for troubleshooting.

Set Branch Exit Port

  1. In the interface of MAIN, right-click the input variable Camera_User.Set_Branch of MM_Set_Branch FB. In the pop-up Modify Value window, click ON to choose the Mech-Viz branch. Then click OFF to reset the value.

    test viz 17

  2. In the Watch1 window, enter the global label MM_Camera.Status_Code. If the branch is set successfully, the status code 2105 will be returned.

    test viz 18
    If the status code 20XX is returned, please refer to Status Codes and Troubleshooting for troubleshooting.

Obtain Planned Path

  1. In the interface of MAIN, right-click the input variable Camera_User.Get_VizData of MM_Get_VizData FB. In the pop-up Modify Value window, click ON to obtain the planned path from Mech-Viz. Then click OFF to reset the value.

    test viz 19

  2. In the Watch1 window, enter the global label MM_Camera.Status_Code. If the planned path is obtained successfully, the status code 2100 will be returned. Then enter the global label MM_Camera.Target_Pose, and the JPs of the waypoints in the path will be returned.

    test viz 20
    If the status code 20XX is returned, please refer to Status Codes and Troubleshooting for troubleshooting.

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