If you are prompted to change the solution platform, do so.īefore the TwinCAT project can be downloaded to the PLC, a few boot settings need to be configured. In the window that pops up, expand the browser tree and select the Beckhoff IPC. Then use the target dropdown menu and select 'Choose Target System.' You can exit these windows now.įrom within the TwinCAT XAE engineering software, open your project. If the connection process succeeds, you should see an X or a small lock appear under the Connected column in the Add Route Dialog and the TwinCAT Static Routes window. If you have changed these, use the appropriate credentials.

Select this option, then 'Add Route.' Enter the proper credentials for your IPC in the popup and click 'Okay.' Default credentials for Beckhoff IPCs are: This is because many plant networks don’t have DNS set up in such a way that allows access of factory devices via hostname. The most reliable way to add a route is to set the address info to reference the IP address, not the host name. The most reliable method to find the IPC is to enter the IP address in the field at the top, then click 'Enter Host Name / IP.' If the Beckhoff IPC doesn’t appear, make sure you can ping it (if the firewall pinging rules are enabled) and check your IPC’s or network’s firewall settings. Check the Advanced Settings box at the bottom left to expose the full connections settings. On the TwinCAT Static Routes popup, select 'Add.' The Add Route Dialog will appear. On the programming computer, right-click on the TwinCAT gear icon and select Router > Edit Routes. Next, make sure your programming computer is connected to the Programming Port on the Beckhoff IPC. If you’ve done this before, feel free to skip this step. Connect to the IPC via a Programming Computerįirst, we'll need to check if TwinCAT XAE is able to communicate with the IPC. Programming happens on this device, as well as some of the configuration of the Beckhoff IPC.ġ0. 'Programming Computer' - a computer, such as an engineer's laptop, where the TwinCAT XAE development environment is installed.Device configuration will occur on this device. 'Beckhoff IPC' - the hardware, likely obtained from Beckhoff, that will run the PLC and HMI server.For clarity, those devices are as follows: Throughout this blog series, I refer to two devices repeatedly. Confirm Hardware Configuration and Activate Configuration.Connect to the IPC via a Programming Computer.This is the second installment of a three-part blog series covering all you need to know about getting started with a Beckhoff PLC/HMI. In this blog, we'll be covering how to configure and license the PLC to run your code.

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