Dear friends, I am new to EtherCAT communication. I am building a motion control system with 3 EtherCAT drivers (slaves) using Simulink Real Time.
I need help to connect the host-target-(EtherCAT slave stations). As I understand from the Simulink Realtime manual, during the Beckhoff configuration phase:
[Host]==(EtherCAT)==[Slave#1]==(EtherCAT)==[Slave#2]==(EtherCAT)==[Slave#3]
and after obtaining the EtherCAT Network Information File (ENI), change the network to
[Host]--(normalthernet)--[Target]==(EtherCAT)==[Slave#1]==(EtherCAT)==[Slave#2])==[Slave#3]
Both the host and the target computers have two network cards for EtherCAT and normal Ethernet respectively.
During the development of the Simulink Real Time Target (xpctarget), do I need to always connect the host, which running Matlab/Simulink, to the EtherCAT network?
Best regards.
Chen
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