Creating Variables - Beckhoff CX B110 Series Manual

5.2.3

Creating variables

The EtherCAT slave has a simple structure and consists of inputs, outputs and InfoData. In TwinCAT you
can add process data to the inputs or outputs, which can later be linked to variables from the PLC program.
This section describes how to create such data.
Prerequisites for this step:
• A device with EtherCAT slave interface (B110) must already have been added as target system in
TwinCAT.
Create the process data as follows:
1. In the tree view, right-click on the inputs or outputs.
2. In the context menu click on Insert Variable.
The Insert Variable window appears.
3. Find the required variable type and click OK.
ð You have successfully created process data. The new variable is shown in the tree view on the left. In
this way you can add further process data or variables for the EtherCAT slave.
Process data with structures
In order to save a large number of links it is a good idea to use a data structure to save data that you wish to
exchange. Note that data structures with different variables are processed differently on an x86 system and
an ARM processor. An ARM processor always associates WORD (2 byte) variables with an even address
and DWORD (4 byte) variables with an address that is divisible by 4.
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Parameterization and commissioning
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