Configuring the ControllerE DeviceNet Gateway (AC1314) with RSNetworx

The first step in setup of any DeviceNet node is to download the EDS file to the appropriate location in the RSNetworx software. The EDS file for the ControllerE DeviceNet Gateway can be found at

  1. Set the node address and baud rate from the front panel of the ifm efector ControllerE
  1. From the screen labeled “ifm electronic ControllerE” press the “Menu” option.
  2. Press the downarrow key until the menu “FieldbusSetup” is lit. Press “OK.”
  3. Press the up or down arrow keys to adjust the ControllerE to the desired nodeaddress. Press “OK.”
  4. Press the up or down arrow key to adjust the ControllerE to the desired baudrate. Press “OK.”
  5. Press the “ESC” key until the screen displays “ifm electronic ControllerE.”
  1. Configure the ControllerE in RSNetworx for DeviceNet.
  1. Press the “Online” button on the Task Bar (Fig. 1). This will allow RSNetworx to browse the DeviceNet system and recognize all attached nodes.

Fig. 1

  1. Double click on the node address to be configured. This will enable the node configuration screen.
  2. Select the “Parameters” tab on the top of the configuration screen. The parameter screen (Fig. 2) allows the user to enter the exact amount of information to be transmitted between the SDN and the ControllerE.

Fig. 2

  1. Select the parameters necessary for the application and enter the amount of data to be transmitted by clicking on the “0Bytes” next to the parameter and scrolling down the appropriate number. The following example will enable communication for 31 nodes (A and standard addresses) for both Masters 1 & 2 and diagnostics (4 bytes) via the command channel.

Line NumberDescriptionNumber of Bytes

11 New Digital Inputs Master 1A 16

13New Digital Outputs Master 1A 16

15New Digital Inputs Master 2A 16

17New Digital Outputs Master 2A 16

31Disable Command ChannelEnable Command Channel

Click “Apply” after all changes have been made.

  1. Double click on the “SDN/DNB Scanner Module” (usually addressed at 0). This will enable the scanner configuration screen.
  2. Select the “Scanlist” tab on the top of the configuration screen. The scanner may ask to have the scanlist uploaded or downloaded. Upload the current scanlist from the scanner.
  3. Add the current node, found under “Available Devices” to the scanlist by selecting the node and pressing the single arrow that points towards the scanlist box. An error will appear that states the node does not contain any I/O data. Click “OK” to clear this message.
  4. Double click on the node address in the scanlist box to enable the “Edit I/O Parameters” screen. The entries in step D determine the amount of bytes to be entered under “Polled.” The “Poll Rate” should remain at “Every Scan.” In the example given under letter D, 36 bytes would be entered in both the “Input Size” and “Output Size” boxes (16 bytes for both Master 1A and 2A inputs + 4 bytes for the command channel. Repeat for outputs). The final setup for this example is shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3

Click “OK” to accept the entries. An error box will be enabled. Click “OK” to clear this message.

  1. Click on the “ADR” tab found on the top of the configuration screen. If ADR tab is not supported by the Devicenet Scanner skip to step 3.
  2. Check the box labeled “Enable Auto-Address Recovery” click “OK” to clear the warning.
  3. Click on the node address to be configured (it will turn blue) and press the “Load Device Config” button.
  4. Check the box labeled “Configuration Recovery.”
  5. Check the box labeled “Auto-Address Recovery.” The final setup is shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 4

Note: The “ADR Space” may differ depending on the amount of devices on the network.

  1. Click on the “Download to Scanner” button to download the changes to the scanner.
  2. Press “OK” to enable a final download to the scanner.
  1. The following step is only necessary if ADR feature is not supported by the DeviceNet Scanner. The ASI controller needs to be set up manually to match the settings in deviceNet scanner. If already configured using the ADR feature skip to step 4.
  1. From the screen labeled “ifm electronic ControllerE” press the “Menu” option.
  2. Press the downarrow key until the menu “FieldbusSetup” is lit. Press “OK.”
  3. Confirm the settings of the Devicenet address and baud rate. (see step 1). Press “OK”
  4. Press the “OK” key on the ControllerE until digital inputs 1A is displayed.

Set the number of bytes to 16 by using the down arrow. Press “OK”

  1. Repeat the above procedure for Digital outputs 1A set the number of bytes to 16.
  2. Repeat the above procedure for Digital inputs 2A and digital outputs 2A. Set number of bytes to 16.
  3. Press the “OK” key until Command Channel appears in the menu Use the arrows to select a “1” to activate this feature.
  4. Press Esc until “ifm electronic ControllerE” is displayed in the menu.

4. Download the configuration into the AB scanner using RSNetworx software..

  1. Click on the “Download to Scanner” button to download the changes to the scanner.
  2. Press “OK” to enable a final download to the scanner.