CX-Compolet

What Is CX-Compolet?

CX-Compolet is a .NET communication library from OMRON. It lets you access PLCs from Visual Basic or C# and read/write variables and memory areas.

Configuration

Components provided by CX-Compolet are built into an application written in Visual Basic or C#, which accesses the PLC via FinsGateway or SYSMAC Gateway
The gateway used depends on the component

FinsGateway for accessing physical addresses
SYSMAC Gateway for accessing variables

Preparing the Communication Middleware

Setup

CX-Compolet requires the communication middleware SYSMAC Gateway or FinsGateway
The communication middleware is bundled with CX-Compolet and installed together with it

SYSMAC Gateway

SYSMAC Gateway is required to connect with the CIP protocol (EtherNet/IP)
With the CIP protocol, values are read and written by specifying variables
The PC connects to an EIP unit or the CPU's built-in EIP port
Start SYSMAC Gateway Console and open the network port

NOTE

Communication sometimes failed when IPv6 was checked in the Ethernet adapter properties
If you cannot connect, try unchecking it

FinsGateway

FinsGateway is required to connect with the FINS protocol
With the FINS protocol, values are read and written by specifying physical addresses (such as DM0000)
The PC connects to an ETN unit, an EIP unit or the CPU's built-in EIP port

Start the FinsGateway settings and start ETN_UNIT

Next, open the properties of local network 0 (Ethernet) and, on the Communication Unit tab, select the network card the PLC is connected to

Preparing Visual Studio

Choose items

Open [Tools] - [Choose Toolbox Items] from the menu bar

SYSMAC Compolet

Can read/write PLC memory areas, read the PLC status and more

SYSMAC Gateway Compolet

Accesses SYSMAC Gateway to get information about and operate CIP communication services

Fins Gateway Compolet

Accesses FinsGateway to read/write FinsGateway event memory and more

Help and Samples

Help

The help files are in [Start] - [OMRON] - [CX-Compolet]

• FinsGateway Compolet help
• SYSMAC Compolet help
• SYSMAC Gateway Compolet help

Samples

The CX-Compolet samples are in [Start] - [OMRON] - [CX-Compolet] - [samples]

• DataAccess Compolet
• FinsGateway Compolet
• Port Conpolet
• SysmacC C-CV-CS-CJ Compolet
• SYSMAC CJ2-CIP Compolet
• SysmacGateway Compolet
• Variable Conpolet

Simple samples

The links below explain samples kept as simple as possible, focusing on message communication

CIP Communication

A sample that connects to the PLC and reads/writes variable values, and
a sample that writes the PC time to the PLC

FINS Communication

A sample that connects to the PLC and reads/writes DM values

Event Notification

A sample that notifies the application with an event when a PLC variable changes

Read Communication Time

The communication time for reading memory values depends mainly on the number of packets
For example, in the table below, reading 492 bytes (286 words) with CIP UCMM communication takes one packet and about 5 ms, but reading 494 bytes (287 words), just 2 bytes more, takes two packets and about 10 ms
Adding just 2 bytes can increase the read time like this, so keep it in mind if you want faster reads

CIP communication

Read time when reading variable values with NXCompolet.ReadVarible

FINS communication

FAQ

What is CX-Compolet?

CX-Compolet is a .NET communication library from OMRON that lets you access PLCs from Visual Basic or C# and read/write variables and memory areas.

What is the difference between SYSMAC Gateway and FinsGateway?

SYSMAC Gateway uses CIP communication to access the variables of NJ/NX/NY series controllers. FinsGateway uses FINS communication to access memory areas such as DM and CIO.

What software is required to use CX-Compolet?

CX-Compolet requires SYSMAC Gateway or FinsGateway as communication middleware. These are bundled with CX-Compolet.

Which Compolet should I use to access NJ/NX series variables?

Use the NJCompolet class for the NJ series and the NXCompolet class for the NX series to access variables via CIP communication.

Do CIP and FINS communication access different things?

CIP communication targets PLC variables; FINS communication targets physical addresses such as DM and CIO.