3.6 Special functions
3.6.1 Flexi Link
Overview
F
lexi Link allows you to combine up to four Flexi Soft stations via EFI for safe data
exchange. Only main modules FX3-CPU1 and higher can be used in a Flexi Link system.
FX3-CPU0 main modules cannot be connected.
The process data of each station (inputs and outputs, logic results, etc.) can be made
available to all other stations in the Flexi Link system. The teach function can be
used to deactivate individual stations temporarily without impairing the operation of the
overall system.
Features
•
S
afe connection of up to four Flexi Soft stations via EFI
•
Connection via EFI1 or EFI1+2
•
Transmission/receipt of up to 52 bits of information per station (26 bits per EFI
interface)
•
A tag name that is valid globally can be assigned to each bit.
•
Teaching simulates the presence of stations that have been temporarily sus‐
pended (switched off).
•
Any station can be used for access in order to address and configure the entire
system with the configuration software.
•
The configuration of the entire Flexi Link system is saved in a unique project file.
System requirements and restrictions
The following minimum system requirements must be met for Flexi Link:
Table 12: System requirements for Flexi Link
System component Version
Hardware FX3-CPU1, FX3-CPU2, or FX3-CPU3 with firmware version ≥V2.00.0
Software Flexi Soft Designer version ≥V1.3.0
The Flexi Link system can either by connected via EFI1 only or via EFI1+2. The number
of piece
s of data per station that can be made available to the other stations in the
same Flexi Link system depends on which connection type is used.
Table 13: Available data depending on connection type
Type of connection Data availability per station
EFI1 26 bits
EFI1+2 52 bits
NOTE
•
Y
ou cannot use Flexi Link and EFI communication at the same time, i.e., it is not
possible to connect other EFI-enabled devices to EFI2 if you are using EFI1 for
Flexi Link.
•
The process data sent from any station is received by all other stations at virtually
the same time. However, the data is not necessarily processed (logic) at the same
time, because the stations are not synchronized.
•
The data is consistent within EFI1 and consistent within EFI2. However, the data
from EFI1 and the data from EFI2 may be inconsistent for a short period of time
because it is transmitted separately.
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 3
8012478/1IG6/2023-02-24 | SICK O P E R A T I N G I N S T R U C T I O N S | Flexi Soft Modular Safety Controller
45
Subject to change without notice
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