SIMOTION FAQs and Downloads

Safety

What safety category are the drive safety functions rated to?

SIL2, Cat.3/PL d

In an emergency stop state I disable my line module at the same time as the drives. Is this the best/safest way?

No. The line module should be disabled when all axes have stopped moving. This allows for the line module to regenerate any excess energy that is produced by the motors stopping. A typical example would be to use a delayed safety contact to disable the module after the SS1 delay time has expired.

Faults / Alarms

I have a flashing green COM light on my Control Unit. What does this mean?

Communication from a master device is partially or yet to be fully established. Therefore, cyclic communication is not possible.

How can I review the previous alarms that are not currently active on a drive?

Go to “Drive” -> ”Diagnostics” -> ”Alarms history”

General

How do I enable my line module?

For a non-DRIVE-CLiQ line module (power rating less than 16kw): You must connect Pin 1 of the X21 connector to a digital input on your control unit. You must then set p864 from the expert list of each drive object to read the specified digital input. So p864 = Control_Unit.r722.X.

For DRIVE-CLiQ line modules (power rating of 16kW or above), the unit can be enabled either from a SIMOTION unit, or via PLC:

SIMOTION: Use the system function block _LineModule_Control. For a detailed explanation of this function block, see https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/document/1...

PLC: Use the SINA_INFEED function block from the DriveLib library in TIA Portal V14 onwards. The DriveLib library can be found at https://support.industry.siemens.com/cs/document/1... if not already installed. Documentation on the use of this function block can also be found here.

How do I configure the toolbar in STARTER/SCOUT?

Navigate to the top toolbar:

“View”->” Toolbars”. Removing the tick from the boxes will remove the shortcut buttons from the toolbar.

Is there a quick way to access the help on specific parameters?

Yes. Press Shift + F1 then click on the desired parameter. If the help section of the software has been installed, then contextual help on that parameter will be displayed.

How do I see what component hardware revisions I have installed in my STARTER/SCOUT version?

On the top toolbar navigate to: “Help”->” Installed devices…”.

What is the difference between OFF1, OFF2 and OFF3?

OFF enables are the three main enables that exist in the drive. By individually removing them they are differentiated in the following way:

- OFF1 – Speed setpoint = 0 and the drive brakes the motor along the configured deceleration ramp (p1121).

- OFF2 – Pulses are immediately supressed and motor will coast to a stop. If there is a holding brake, then this will be engaged straight away.

- OFF3 – Speed setpoint = 0 and drive is braked along the OFF3 ramp (p1135).

How do I change the positive motor rotation direction on a drive?

In the drive expert list set the following parameters in the order prescribed:

1. p10 = [3]

2. p1821 = CW or CCW

3. p10 = [0]

Setting p1821 to CW (Clockwise) or CCW (Counter Clockwise) will change the positive direction of rotation. Positive direction is considered when looking at the motor shaft.

How can I release the brake on a braked motor from STARTER/SCOUT?

The brake can be released by one of the following methods:

- In the drive expert list set p1215 = [2] Motor holding brake always open

- Go to “Drive”->” Functions”->” Brake control” and select “[2] Motor holding brake always open".

What are the reference parameters for?

The drive uses parameters p2000-p2007 to reference any relative values that are specified within the expert list. These parameter values represent 100% of their specified units. Values of 4000 hex for an integer or 40000000 hex for a double integer are used to represent 100% when actual values i.e. speed, are passed in a telegram.

Can I export trace files from STARTER/SCOUT to Microsoft Excel?

Yes. In the “Measurement” tab in the trace window right click on one of the recorded traces. Select “Export measurements”, create a filename and choose a storage location. Select the desired traces for export and click “OK”.

Getting Online

Devices and networks in TIA shows a red cross on the drive in online view. Why?

There is an error with the communication setting between the drive and PLC. This could be caused by:

Inconsistencies in IP address and/or Profinet name in drive and PLC configuration.
Telegrams in the PLC and drive are not configured in the same order.

I am struggling to connect to a device. What are the potential issues?

Several issues could be the cause of this. A few typical causes are listed below:

- Communication cable is unplugged/damaged.

- Drive is in a boot up state.

- Flash card is unplugged.

- Installed hardware revisions are not correct.

PG/PC

- Programming device has not been assigned in NetPro.

- Correct communication path, Device/S7ONLINE, has not been selected.

- Incorrect communication protocol has been set.

Profinet

- IP address on the programming device is not set to the range of the drive or is the same address.

- Using an eWON connection. Profibus

- Baud rate is set incorrectly.

- Node address on the programming device is the same as the drive.

- “PG/PC is the only master on the bus” is/is not set. This is specific for direct connection to a drive or via a routing method.

I am online to the SIMOTION, but cannot get online to SINAMICS Intergrated. What could the problem be?

The most common cause of this is attempting to get onlie to the device via an ethernet/profinet port other than that which is specified in the project.

Possiable remedy:

Open NetPro and check which port the PG/PC is connected to. If it differes to the port you are using, unplug your ethernet cable from the SIMOTION and change to use the port specified in NetPro. If it is not possibale to change the port you are plugged into, ammend the configuration in NetPro to reflect this.

Right click on the SIMOTION in the device tree, and goto 'Target device', 'Online access...', Navigate to the 'Addresses: Module' tab and ensure that the IP address of the port you are connected to is selected in the list.

Attempt to re-establish an online connection.

I am unable to see any drives using Accessible nodes. What problems could there be?