Communication methods for XPR cutting systems
There are multiple communication methods to fully operate the plasma cutting system.
Choose the communication method that is best for your cutting system:
- EtherCAT®
- Use this method with an EtherCAT-compatible controller. Refer to Connect to the plasma power supply with EtherCAT.
- If you use EtherCAT, remote on-off must be wired discretely by the cutting system manufacturer.
- Serial RS-422 and discrete
- Use this method with a serial RS-422 and discrete-compatible controller.
- If you use serial RS-422, you must also use discrete to fully operate the cutting system.
- Refer to Connect to the plasma power supply with serial RS-422.
- Refer to Connect to the plasma power supply with discrete.
- Wireless (XPR® web interface through
Wi-Fi®) and discrete
- Use this method with a wireless-enabled device and discrete-compatible controller.
- If you use wireless, you must also use discrete to fully operate the cutting system.
- Refer to Requirements for the XPR web interface.
- Refer to Connect to the plasma power supply with discrete.
- Ethernet
LAN
(XPR web interface through
Ethernet) and discrete
- Use this method with a wired, Ethernet-enabled device and discrete-compatible controller.
- If you use Ethernet, you must also use discrete to fully operate the cutting system.
- Refer to Connect to the plasma power supply with Ethernet LAN (wired).
- Manual-set mode
- Use this method with a discrete-compatible controller or an EtherCAT-compatible controller to store or select a process that can be used again and again over time, or for simple applications when integration with a CNC is not necessary.
- If you use manual-set mode to select a process, the cutting system automatically sets that process every time you supply power to the cutting system.
- When manual-set mode is enabled, the same process ID, operator ID, process offsets, ramp-down error protection, and torch-protection settings for the selected process can be used again and again over time, until you select a different process.
- Refer to Use wireless or Ethernet LAN to enable or disable manual-set mode.
- Refer to Process selection.
- Refer to Use EtherCAT or serial RS-422 to enable or disable manual-set mode.
For information about signals and protocols, refer to the CNC Communication Protocol for the XPR Cutting System (10085793).
| Set process with... 1 | To fully operate the cutting system... | Monitor with... | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discrete | EtherCAT | Wireless (XPR web interface through Wi-Fi) | RS-422 | Ethernet LAN (XPR web interface through Ethernet LAN) | |
| EtherCAT | Required for remote on-off 2 | Preferred | Alternative | Alternative | Alternative |
| Wireless (XPR web interface through Wi-Fi) | Required | Alternative | Preferred | Alternative | Alternative |
| RS-422 | Required | Alternative | Alternative | Preferred | Alternative |
| Ethernet LAN (XPR web interface through Ethernet), including manual-set mode | Required | Alternative | Alternative | Alternative | Preferred |
1
The device that first sets a process controls the plasma power
supply. If the manual-set mode is active, the cutting
system automatically uses the settings for the last-selected
process. For information about how to change the device that has
control of the plasma power supply, refer to Change the device that has control. 2 Discrete inputs are ignored when a process ID is
set over EtherCAT to a cutting
system that uses the factory-default configuration. Speak to your cutting machine supplier or
regional Hypertherm® Technical Service team. | |||||
If you use EtherCAT to set the process, the preferred method to monitor is EtherCAT. However, you can use serial RS-422 or the XPR web interface through Wi-Fi or Ethernet LAN to monitor.