Setting Up the Industrial Communications

The following steps outline the process of configuring communications between the In-Sight vision system and a compatible networked PLC:

  1. Install and connect the In-Sight vision system.

    Note: If using the In-Sight ViDi PC system, install and connect the PC and GigE camera(s).
  2. From the In-Sight Vision Suite, configure the network settings of the vision system, and ensure that they are compatible with the network of the PLC. The vision system can be connected directly to the PLC or to a network switch.
  3. From the In-Sight Vision Suite, click the Industrial Ethernet button to launch the Industrial Ethernet Configuration utility.

  4. From the Select Protocol drop-down menu, select the appropriate option: None, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET.

  5. On the development PC, install the Cognex supplied configuration files (the ESD file for EtherNet/IP, the GSD file for PROFINET).
  6. Place the vision system (or PC and cameras) online and verify that the vision system appears in your PLC program's software.

  7. Place the vision system offline and configure your job to exchange information between the vision system and the PLC.

Note:
  • See the Network Settings topic in the In-Sight Vision Suite Help File for more information about configuring the network settings.
  • Only one protocol, EtherNet/IP or PROFINET, may be active on the vision system. See the Industrial Ethernet topic in the In-Sight Vision Suite Help File for more information about setting the protocol.
  • See the EtherNet/IP PLC Configuration and PROFINET PLC Configuration topics for more information about installing the configuration files.