Hi Everyone.
New to the site, but have spent a lot of time reading the posts and believe this is a great site with great people.
I have a few questions that I would like to ask about the KRC4 Compact Controller Ethernet IP connection to a AB ML 1100.
First and for most I am new to the KUKA but have some knowledge of ABB and Motoman Robots.
(1). Do I use the same X66 Ethernet Connection on the KRC4 Compact Controller that I use when linked up with WorkVisual to connect the AB ML 1100 Ethernet Cable? Or is there another location that I use on the KRC4 Compact Controller?
(2) If I use the X66 Ethernet Connection on the KRC4 Compact Controller for my Ethernet Connection from the AB ML 1100, is there anyway to have WorkVisual connected from my laptop at the same time?
Thank You In advance Guys.
Doug Coffman
Connecting AB ML 1100 to KUKA KRC4 Compact
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DougCoffman -
December 29, 2015 at 4:13 PM -
Thread is marked as Resolved.
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yes, you use KLI port for pretty much all networking (WorkVisual, EthernetIP, ProfiNet,,,).
since you only get one port, you must use ethernet switch if you wish to connect multiple devices (laptop, ethernetIP or ProfiNet devices etc).
to communicate with ML1100 (or other AB PLC) you will need ethernetIP driver installed on your KRC (this is a paid option). You also need to make appropriate configuration in both PLC and KRC (using WorkVisual). -
Thank You Sir
I have the KRC4 Ethernet IP V2.01 installed.
I have been talking to Troy at KUKA and he was thinking that X65 (EtherCAT) could be used for this.
Im not 100% sure about the EtherCAT setup or if its even the same thing as Ethernet IP, is it the same thing? or is it something different?
Again Thank You for you time and from what I have read very extensive knowledge of the KUKA's
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No....,
KEB and KLI are user networks.
EtherCat is used internally on controller (KCB, KSB, KEB) and it is free (you don't have to pay extra) as long as you use KEB (Kuka Extension Bus).
This is offered as a port to add external I/O (normally Beckhoff devices) but this is not going to help you with AB (i am not aware of AB device capable of EtherCat, certainly ML1100 does not have it).When using add-on ethernet drivers (EthernetIP or ProfiNet), you must use KLI (Kuka Line Interface).
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Yes that was I was thinking from what I read in the documentation, I am going to have to get a new Ethernet Hub. IT Dept had one but it will connect and then disconnect and then connect again and disconnect the entire time it is hooked up. Its a Linksys but im sure its been abused greatly.
Thank You very much for your help in answering these questions, it is greatly appreciated.
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In the end EtherCAT is just a protocol on top of EthernetIP. So, in theory you could be able to use the X65 interface, if you can disable the protocol on it. But why would you if there's another interface you could use, and I don't know if that could also mess up the controller's EtherCAT bus.
Also, depending on what type of messaging you are considering between the PLC and the controller, it could be a better option to use Beckhoff's PLC so that you can read/write data from/to the bus, instead of using EthernetKRL.