PROFIBUS-DP

PROFIBUS-DP is an RMC100 communication card that can be purchased and will be installed to the left of the RMC100 CPU. This card allows communication via the PROFIBUS-DP open industrial Fieldbus. This Fieldbus is vendor independent and therefore a large range of Programmable Controllers (P/C) or other PROFIBUS masters can control the RMC100.

The RMC100 performs as a PROFIBUS-DP slave. Therefore, a PROFIBUS-DP master must control it. To the RMC100, the type of the actual master—whether a Programmable Controller or Personal Computer—is unimportant. All will communicate with the RMC100 in the same manner.

RMC100 PROFIBUS-DP Specifications

Operating baud-rates: 9.6Kbaud to 12Mbaud
Manufacturer Identifier Number: 0x1630
Supported: Freeze mode, sync mode, automatic baud-rate detect, set slave address
Modularity: the RMC100 is a modular station that can have one module selected at a time.

PROFIBUS-DP Front Panel

The front panel of the PROFIBUS-DP communication module has both an LED and a 9-pin connector. The LED will be lit green when the module is communicating with the PROFIBUS-DP master. The 9-pin connector is used for connecting the module to the other PROFIBUS-DP devices via a standard PROFIBUS-DP cable.

RMC PROFIBUS-DP Modes

The latest RMC PROFIBUS-DP modules can operate in either of two modes: Compact Mode or Message Mode. Furthermore, Compact Mode can be divided into two sub-modes: Compact Mode with Sync and Compact Mode without Sync.

Compact Mode keeps the number of words sent over the PROFIBUS to a minimum. This is desirable to keep network traffic down and more importantly to keep the number of registers required in the PLC or PC to a minimum. Compact mode requires only two words in and out per axis, plus, optionally, one additional synchronization word in and out.

Note: Compact Mode without Sync requires RMC CPU firmware dated 19990916 or later (or RMC beta firmware dated 19990727B or later) and GSD file (DELT1630.GSD) version 1.3 or newer.

Message Mode is intended for systems that can support a large amount of data being sent over the PROFIBUS and in which the master computer can have 96 input words and 64 output words reserved for every RMC module. If the system can support these requirements, the Message Mode gives constant access to up to 32 words of status information, and can write up to 59 words or read up to 63 words with a single command.

For more information on these two commands, select one of the following topics:

Note: Message Mode requires RMC CPU firmware dated 19990625 or later (or RMC beta firmware dated 19990412B or later) and GSD file (DELT1630.GSD) version 1.2 or newer.

PROFIBUS-DP Configuration

There is very little to be done to configure the RMC to communicate on the PROFIBUS network. In fact, the only thing to do is set the Station Address. However, you must also add the RMC as a device to the master’s configuration. This is more difficult to do and the exact steps vary for each master. Refer to PROFIBUS Configuration for instructions on setting the Station Address and guidelines for adding the RMC as a device to the network configuration.