Add MELFA

The system configuration when using Mitsubishi Electric FA allows for configuring a MELFA device within the Workbench. The displayed items vary depending on the selected device and communication path.

MELFA devices can only be edited when disabled. When the device is activated, settings cannot be changed until the device is disabled. See Activate and Disable.

This MELFA connection supports not only normal device readout but also readout by CPU buffer memory extension function. To retrieve the data of MELFA devices through the CPU buffer memory extension function, it is necessary to configure the CPU buffer memory expansion function in MELSEC and MELFA. This can be done by changing the robot parameter setting "IQMEM." The parameter "IQMEM" for selecting the CPU buffer memory expansion function is 16-bit data. Set the bit 0 to one to use the extended functions. For more details, please refer to the chapter 2 "Preparation for Using Extended Function" in the CR800-R/CR800-Q series controller iQ Platform Supporting Extended Function Instruction Manual in Mitsubishi Electric FA Web page:

When you have added a MELFA device, predefined tags will be added under the device. If you monitor these tags without the screens generated from Asset Builder, it is necessary for you to do the following steps with the engineering tool for MELSEC or MELFA. Please also refer to the CR800-R/CR800-Q series controller iQ Platform Supporting Extended Function Instruction Manual in Mitsubishi Electric FA Web page:

 

References and Procedures

Reference

Procedure

3.1.1

Select Monitoring Items

Set the following bits in the sequencer output data, Function selection (Sequencer Addr: 512), to Valid(1).

* bit2: Monitor operation control settings

* bit3: Monitor activities

* bit4: Monitor current and aimed positions

* bit5: Monitor position and joint information

* bit6: Monitor maintenance information

3.1.2

Select Target Mecha

Set the sequencer output, Specify a mecha number (Sequencer Addr: 841), to 1.

3.2.4

Monitor Position and Joint Information

Set the sequencer output, Joint data selection-1(Sequencer Addr: 851), to Current feedback(8).

3.2.4

Monitor Position and Joint Information

Set the sequencer output, Joint data selection-2(Sequencer Addr: 852), to Axis load level(12).

 

To Add MELFA

  1. In the Workbench, expand your project in the Project Explorer, and then expand the Data Connectivity node. Right-click the Mitsubishi Electric FA node and click on Add MELFA as shown below.

-OR-

Select the Mitsubishi Electric FA node in the Project Explorer in the Workbench and then click on the Add MELFA button shown below in the Edit section of the Home ribbon.

  1. This opens the MELFA Properties shown below in the central section of the Workbench. Enter a name for the MELFA device in the Name text entry field.

    Common Settings

    • (Click to test the communication) - Click this link to connect to the actual device for test.

    • Description - Enter a description for the MELFA device in the text entry field.

    • Robot Controller/CPU Type - Use the drop-down list to select a robot controller or CPU type. The selectable controllers and robots are as follows: CR800-D, R16RT and Q172DSR.
      To maintain consistency with automatically generated tags, changes cannot be made after pressing the "Apply" button.

    • Connection Channel - Select the connection channel from the drop-down list. Based on the selected robot controller or CPU type, the connection channels are displayed as follows.

      If CR-800-D Selected: Ethernet Access 

      If R16RT Selected: USB Access, Ethernet Access, Ethernet Module Access, CC-Link IE Control Module Access

      If Q172DSR Selected: USB Access, Ethernet Access, Ethernet Module Access, CC-Link IE Control Module Access

      See MELFA System Configuration for additional compatible system-related details.

    • Select Connection Channel Button - Display the "Select Connection Channel Dialog". Please refer to Connection Channel Details for details.

    • Timeout - Enter a timeout in seconds in the text entry field (or use the “up/down” arrow buttons) to cease communication attempts upon error.

    • Retry - Enter a number of communication retries in the text entry field (or use the “up/down” arrow buttons).

    • The system image of the selected Connection Channel - Displays the configuration diagram of the server and device based on the selected CPU series, CPU type, and Connection Channel.

    PC I/F Settings

    • PC I/F – The PC I/F (interface function) related to the connection channel selected in the Connection Channel is displayed.

    • IP Address - Enter the IP address for the PC I/F (interface function) in the text entry field.

    • Source Network Number - Enter a source network number (default 1, upper bound is 239) in the text entry field (or use the "up/down" arrow buttons).

    • Source Station Number - Enter a source station number (default 1, upper bound is 120) in the text entry field (or use the "up/down" arrow buttons).

    • Board Number - Use the drop-down list to select from the 1st Module to the 4th Module for CC-Link IE Control Board.

    MELFA I/F Settings

    • MELFA I/F - The MELFA I/F related to the connection channel selected in the Connection Channel is displayed.

    • Protocol Type - Use the drop-down list to select from either TCP or UDP.

    • IP Address - Enter an IP address for the MELFA I/F in the text entry field.

    • Network Number - Enter a network number in the text entry field (or use the up/down arrow buttons).

      For connection settings where the Source Network Number is configured, the same value is automatically set.

    • Station Number - Enter a station number in the text entry field (or use the up/down arrow buttons).

    Multiple CPU Settings

    • Target System - Based on the selected robot controller or CPU type, it is displayed as follows.

      If CR-800-D Selected: Single CPU

      If R16RT or Q172DSR Selected: Multiple CPU

    • Target PLC - Use the dropdown list to select a PLC. The selectable PLCs are as follows.

      If CR-800-D Selected: Not Specified

      If R16RT or Q172DSR Selected: PLC No.2, PLC No.3, PLC No.4

    • Multiple CPU input offset - Enter the input offset number for the Multiple CPU in the text entry field (or use the "up/down" arrow buttons). The offset value is determined by the unit number and the manually entered offset value (parameter: QMLTCPUS). If the offset is not manually set on the robot CPU side, please refer to the following values.

      If PLC No.2 Selected: 0 

      If PLC No.3 Selected: 1

      If PLC No.4 Selected: 2

      For more details on the QMLTCPUS parameter, please refer to the CR800-R/CR800-Q series controller iQ Platform Supporting Extended Function Instruction Manual:

    • Check Offset Button - Click the Check Offset Button to display the "Check Multiple CPU Input Offset Dialog". Please refer to Check Offset Details for details.

    Other Settings

    • Merge Gap -Enter the value that indicates the number of non-contiuguous registers that can be batch read in a single communication between Mitsubishi Electric FA and MELFA devices. This value should be set larger than the number of I/O address points between the tags. If the value is too small, multiple communications will be required to read the data. This setting is for adjustment purposes, and is usually recommended to leave it at the default value of 64. Please refer to Merge Gap Details for details.

  2. Click Apply to save your changes to the configuration and Close to return to the Workbench. If necessary, configure the Structures in the Device Structures tab. For more details, refer to How to add a Structure to your device.

 

See Also:

MELFA System Configuration

Network Discovery

Add Tag Group

Activate and Disable

Merge Gap Details

Array Configuration Details

GX Works3 Global Labels and Structures Import