Flexi Line; Flexi Line Overview; Connection Of A Flexi Line System - Mitsubishi MELSEC-WS0-CPU0 User Manual

Table 50:
Update rate for a Flexi Line
system as a function of the
maximum length of cable
and the size of the process
image
ATTENTION
Connecting devices
4.8

Flexi Line

4.8.1

Flexi Line overview

Flexi Line enables you to reliably network up to 32 MELSEC-WS stations. Only
WS0-CPU3 modules can be used in a Flexi Line system. The connection of all the
other CPU modules (WS0-CPU0, WS0-CPU1) is not possible.
A uniform process image is defined for the entire Flexi Line system. Each byte of
this process image is either global, i.e. in the entire system, or local, i.e. only for the
related station and its neighboring stations. Each Flexi Line station communicates
with its neighboring stations via this process image. The topology permits
communication without addressing.
Features
 Reliable connection of up to 32 MELSEC-WS stations via the Flexi Line
interface
 Topology without addressing: In case of a change in the order of the stations, it
is sufficient to confirm the new arrangement using a Teach pushbutton.
 The EFI interface remains available without limitation:
– It is possible to connect EFI-compatible sensors.
– It is possible to connect a Flexi Link system.
A global process image is defined for all stations.

 Within the process image, global or local bytes can be defined.
 The process image can contain up to 12 bytes or 96 bits.
The maximum cable length between 2 stations is 1000 meters. The possible

total length of a system with 32 stations is therefore 31 kilometers.
The overall system has a fixed update rate. This rate is dependent on the

maximum length of cable between two stations and the size of the process
image.
Max. cable length
125 m
250 m
500 m
1000 m
4.8.2

Connection of a Flexi Line system

Do not use buffering elements in a Flexi Line system!
It is not allowed to use buffering elements such as e.g. CAN bridges, CAN repeaters
or CAN optical light barriers in a Flexi Line system. As a general rule, no
components other than Flexi Line stations are allowed. Otherwise the operator of the
machine will be in danger.
The stations in a Flexi Line system are connected together as follows:
 Connect the Next connection of each station with the Prev connection of the
next station
 Connect together the identically labeled terminals, that is A to A and B to B.
32 bits 64 bits
2 ms 2 ms
2 ms 4 ms
4 ms 8 ms
8 ms 12 ms
Chapter 4
96 bits
4 ms
8 ms
12 ms
20 ms
64