I have no personal experience from IFM controller, but the controller should have a valid CodeSys license and you are only useing the programming tool what I understand.
Have you disabled the firewall in your computer?
/Torbjörn
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Amit is correct, but he may have assumed one more missing step. You need to download an OS via the downloader first before downloading an application. The TEST pin is another gotcha that a lot of people miss.
If you first power on an IFM PLC out of the box the light will be flashing fast green about 5Hz. This means the PLC is in bootloader mode and there is no OS on the PLC. The OS needs to match the CoDeSys Target version that you selected. Like if you download a V4.00.01 OS you need to select a CR0505 V4 Target. If you downlaod V5.00.00 OS you need to select a V5 target. Granted you have not received the error that the target doesn't match, but this would be the reason why.
Are you trying to connect via serial or CAN? Default baud rate for IFm PLC is now 57600.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Hi Folks,
Every time I use an IFM controller I always seem to run into a problem connecting to it.
I get the Communications Error (#0).
So I thought I would share some tips and tricks.
Once the CANfox Cable (EC2112) cable driver is installed, you can use the yellow app in the sys tray to blink the lights on the cable.
Confirm the cable works in the IFM maintenance software by connecting to the controller and reading the information on it.
Make sure to download an OS into the controller (the light will go from a fast blink to solid green).
In Codesys V2.3, the communication settings for the CR0401 is 250kBaud by default and Node ID 127.
What got me, was I needed to reboot the computer after the cable driver install.
Also if your application has canbus settings in it which are changed from default, after the controller is power cycled, the new Node ID and Baud will be in effect.
I made a handy guide because too much time has been wasted on this.
Programming IFM CR0401
Serial/Can Programming Cable
• Connect IFM EC2112 CanFox programming cable with connector adapter.
• Make sure cable is linked to VM (if using VM).
• Install drivers for cable if not installed.
o Download from IFM EC2112 site. https://www.ifm.com/ca/en/product/EC2112
• Once Installed, reboot computer.
• In system tray, there should be a yellow icon that you can open and check on programming cable. Select the cable in the list and flash the lights to confirm it is working.
Maintenance Software
• Install IFM Maintenance Tool Software.
o Download from IFM Site. https://www.ifm.com/ca/en/download/eco100_MaintenanceTool
• Open IFM Maintenance software
• Select Basic System
• Select CAN cable
• It will tell you if you don’t have a cable connected.
• Use Wizard if needed.
• Read Channel Parameter on the Settings page, or get Identity in the System Information > Identity.
• Default Node is 127 on a new unit. Baud is 250kBaud (bits/sec)
• Controller information should populate.
• Controller green light should be blinking at 5hz (meaning OK but no OS, just bootloader).
• Click Software > Load.
• Open the OS file. Should match Codesys version selection (for CR0401 this is version 3).
o Download OS file from IFM Website. https://www.ifm.com/ca/en/product/CR0401
o It is located at the top of the download under “software for CR0401”.
o Select the file and load it… this will take a minute.
• Once completed the unit should now have a solid green light
o Solid green means the controller has an OS but no application is running.
Codesys V2.3 Application
• Codesys needs to be downloaded and installed from the IFM website as it has the IFM libraries and license to use the software.
o Download from the IFM CR0401 page.
o https://www.ifm.com/ca/en/product/CR0401
• Create new application with the correct IFM controller or Open Codesys application.
• Keep in mind that the PLC Configuration on the Resources tab can be changed for the CAN communication interface… so changes to node and baud will take effect after the first download and reboot of the controller.
• Go to “Online” in the top menu and change “Communication Parameters”
o The Local dropdown shows the last configuration used. All other interfaces will show below it and need to be updated when changed or used.
o Confirm Node ID is 127 for the first download.
 The NodeID will change to whatever the program has after (in my case 125).
 Node Send Offset should be default at 1536
 Node Recv Offset should be default at 1408
 Can bus Baudrate should be 250 kbaud.
 Yes to Motorola Byte Order
 Block Transfer should be false and note used (60 is default setting).
 Can Card Driver should match the systray item which is Sie_USB.
• If the system populated the other one, just update and relay the communication parameters. The software will usually bring up the available cable and driver.
• Go to “Online” and Login to download.
o Press Yes to Download Application.
I am new to IFM controllers and Codesys software. I recently purchased
an IFM R360 CR0505 controller and wired up the controller for only
Power and Serial Communication (TX, RX, GND).
I tried to communicate "login" with the Codesys V2.9.3 but I get a
"Communication Error (#0) ". I've tried changing the "communication
parameters" but with no luck for the past two days. Also you should
know that I am using an unlicensed "free" version of Codesys. I
thought it should still work from what I read.
Is there anything in the "communication parameters" that I need to be
aware of in order to communicate with the CR0505? Any help would be
greatly appreciated.
I have no personal experience from IFM controller, but the controller should have a valid CodeSys license and you are only useing the programming tool what I understand.
Have you disabled the firewall in your computer?
/Torbjörn
Hallo jcjrock,
1.CoDeSys which is freely available on internet does not contain ifm controllers Targets and its libraries.
2.Please get a licence copy of software from authorised person from ifm.
3.There is another software called "DOWNLOADER" which is most useful software to establisg communication with ifm controller.
4.Please Note PIN No. 24 which is TEST pin, should have + 24 VDC while programming.
Best of Luck.....
Regards,
Amit
Amit is correct, but he may have assumed one more missing step. You need to download an OS via the downloader first before downloading an application. The TEST pin is another gotcha that a lot of people miss.
If you first power on an IFM PLC out of the box the light will be flashing fast green about 5Hz. This means the PLC is in bootloader mode and there is no OS on the PLC. The OS needs to match the CoDeSys Target version that you selected. Like if you download a V4.00.01 OS you need to select a CR0505 V4 Target. If you downlaod V5.00.00 OS you need to select a V5 target. Granted you have not received the error that the target doesn't match, but this would be the reason why.
Are you trying to connect via serial or CAN? Default baud rate for IFm PLC is now 57600.
Hi Folks,
Every time I use an IFM controller I always seem to run into a problem connecting to it.
I get the Communications Error (#0).
So I thought I would share some tips and tricks.
Once the CANfox Cable (EC2112) cable driver is installed, you can use the yellow app in the sys tray to blink the lights on the cable.
Confirm the cable works in the IFM maintenance software by connecting to the controller and reading the information on it.
Make sure to download an OS into the controller (the light will go from a fast blink to solid green).
In Codesys V2.3, the communication settings for the CR0401 is 250kBaud by default and Node ID 127.
What got me, was I needed to reboot the computer after the cable driver install.
Also if your application has canbus settings in it which are changed from default, after the controller is power cycled, the new Node ID and Baud will be in effect.
I made a handy guide because too much time has been wasted on this.
Programming IFM CR0401
Serial/Can Programming Cable
• Connect IFM EC2112 CanFox programming cable with connector adapter.
• Make sure cable is linked to VM (if using VM).
• Install drivers for cable if not installed.
o Download from IFM EC2112 site. https://www.ifm.com/ca/en/product/EC2112
• Once Installed, reboot computer.
• In system tray, there should be a yellow icon that you can open and check on programming cable. Select the cable in the list and flash the lights to confirm it is working.
Maintenance Software
• Install IFM Maintenance Tool Software.
o Download from IFM Site. https://www.ifm.com/ca/en/download/eco100_MaintenanceTool
• Open IFM Maintenance software
• Select Basic System
• Select CAN cable
• It will tell you if you don’t have a cable connected.
• Use Wizard if needed.
• Read Channel Parameter on the Settings page, or get Identity in the System Information > Identity.
• Default Node is 127 on a new unit. Baud is 250kBaud (bits/sec)
• Controller information should populate.
• Controller green light should be blinking at 5hz (meaning OK but no OS, just bootloader).
• Click Software > Load.
• Open the OS file. Should match Codesys version selection (for CR0401 this is version 3).
o Download OS file from IFM Website. https://www.ifm.com/ca/en/product/CR0401
o It is located at the top of the download under “software for CR0401”.
o Select the file and load it… this will take a minute.
• Once completed the unit should now have a solid green light
o Solid green means the controller has an OS but no application is running.
Codesys V2.3 Application
• Codesys needs to be downloaded and installed from the IFM website as it has the IFM libraries and license to use the software.
o Download from the IFM CR0401 page.
o https://www.ifm.com/ca/en/product/CR0401
• Create new application with the correct IFM controller or Open Codesys application.
• Keep in mind that the PLC Configuration on the Resources tab can be changed for the CAN communication interface… so changes to node and baud will take effect after the first download and reboot of the controller.
• Go to “Online” in the top menu and change “Communication Parameters”
o The Local dropdown shows the last configuration used. All other interfaces will show below it and need to be updated when changed or used.
o Confirm Node ID is 127 for the first download.
 The NodeID will change to whatever the program has after (in my case 125).
 Node Send Offset should be default at 1536
 Node Recv Offset should be default at 1408
 Can bus Baudrate should be 250 kbaud.
 Yes to Motorola Byte Order
 Block Transfer should be false and note used (60 is default setting).
 Can Card Driver should match the systray item which is Sie_USB.
• If the system populated the other one, just update and relay the communication parameters. The software will usually bring up the available cable and driver.
• Go to “Online” and Login to download.
o Press Yes to Download Application.
I hope this helps!
Last edit: drbuzz 4 days ago