csmstr - Omega Engineering

ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS
USING EXPANSION CARDS
ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS
This chapter explains how to use some of the more advanced communications features that
are supported by Crimson. Simple applications may not require these features, and you may
thus choose to skip this chapter and return to it later.
USING EXPANSION CARDS
The CSMSTRSX – Enhanced Modular Controller Master is capable of hosting an expansion
card to provide additional communications facilities. Cards that will be made available in
early 2006 will offer additional serial ports, Profibus, DeviceNet, and CANOpen support.
More cards will be made available as the range is expanded. Hardware installation
instructions are provided with each card, so please refer to the supplied data sheet for
information on how to fit the card to the Master. Once the card is installed, configuration is
performed by selecting the MC icon in the left-hand pane of the Communications window,
and clicking on the Edit button next to the Option Card property…
Selecting the appropriate card adds an icon to the tree shown in the left-hand pane of the
window. This icon in turn contains icons for the additional port or ports made available by the
card. The example below shows a Master with a serial expansion card installed…
The additional ports can be configured by following the instructions supplied in the previous
chapter. Note that the drivers available for a port will depend on the connection type it
supports. For example, the CANOpen expansion card shows a port that will only support
drivers designed for the CAN communication standard.
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