Using Input to Event Mode

This mode should be used when the positions to which an axis will be moved are known and can be pre-programmed. It takes advantage of the Input to Event and Event Step tables. Refer to Features Shared by All Modes for details on input and output assignments that are common to all modes.

Basic Operation

When used in this mode, each digital input on the Communication Digital I/O corresponds to a row of the Input to Event table. The row has an entry for each axis. Each entry is used to specify a step the axis will execute in the step when the input is activated. If an axis is not to respond to the input then its entry should be -1. Refer to that topic for further details. One input can trigger as many as eight axes to start executing different sequences of steps at the same time. Each axis can be thought of having its own sequence of steps that may be run independently of other axes’ step sequences. Modifications to the normal Input to Event table behavior are discussed below in the Single-axis inputs and Non-linkable inputs sections.

Each time a transition is made on DI/O 0-15, the Acknowledge bit (CPU output 1) will be toggled. This bit will also toggle when the Run/Stop bit (CPU input 0) rises or falls.

Configuring Input to Event Mode

This is done using the Input to Event Mode Options dialog box. To use this dialog box:

1. On the Tools menu, click Module Configuration.

2. In the Slots list, click the Comm Digital I/O item.

3. Click Slot options.

4. In the DI/O mode list, click Input to Event.

5. Click Mode options.

6. Select the desired options.

7. Click OK.

8. Click Update RMC.

9. The Update Module Configuration dialog box will be displayed to indicate the progress. If the module could not be reset automatically, you may be prompted to reset the module manually.

Single-axis Inputs

As described in the Input to Event table topic, a single input transition normally affects all axes that have an entry for that input transition. However, you may also configure each individual input to affect only a single axis. To make an input affect only a single axis, select the Single-axis input check box. For information on selecting an axis, see the section below titled Axis Select Bits.

An example application where this is useful would be where the same operation can be done on one of several axes using the same button and input. In this application, one might allow the user to set the Axis select bits using a rotary or toggle switch, and then make the input coming from the button a Single-axis input. Then, in the Input to Event table, the input transition row would have Step numbers for each axis, but only one would be executed depending on the Axis select bits at the time of the transition.

Non-linkable Inputs

This area operates similarly to the Single-axis inputs area described above. By selecting the check box next to an input, you are modifying the behavior of the Input to Event table for both transitions of that input. In this case, Non-linkable inputs will result in the command in the Event Step referenced by the Input to Event table to be executed on the axis, but the Event Step sequence will not be started, nor will any current Event Step sequence on that axis be interrupted.

User-defined Outputs

Note: This feature is available only in firmware version 19980414 and later.

As described in Features Shared by All Modes, many of the digital outputs are pre-defined. However, under Input-to-Event mode, it is often useful to reserve one or more of these outputs to be triggered explicitly by the event step table (for example, when a sequence of events finish, an output can be set high). Check the boxes of the output numbers you wish to reserve for this purpose. Depending on the number of axes your RMC model offers, one or more of the outputs may be unavailable but checked. These outputs are not predefined and therefore are always user-defined.

To Set the Input Filter

Note: This feature is available only in firmware version 19980716 and later.

Use this text box to set the number of milliseconds that inputs 0-15 of the Digital I/O must be settled before any events will be triggered. This can be used to filter out electronic noise, however be sure to take all possible measures to reduce electronic noise in the system before resorting to using this filter.

Axis Select Bits

This read-only text displays the bits that are being used for selecting an axis. These bits are used only when an input is marked as a Single-axis Input (see above). The following charts show how to select the different axes:

Axis Select Bits when no Counter is Used:

Axis Select Bits when Edge Counter is Used:

Axis Select Bits when Quadrature Counter is Used:

* When an axis is selected that is not present on the motion module, the single-axis input is ignored.

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