This is a new series, in which various verifications are carried out using the Easy PLC from Inovance. The first episode will start with the introduction of the tool AutoShop and the connection process.
Come on, let’s enjoy FA!
Foreword
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for visiting my technical blog and YouTube channel.
We are currently running the “Takahashi Chris” radio show with Full-san (full＠桜 八重 (@fulhause) / X) which I deliver every Wednesday night.
Sharing, not hoarding, technical knowledge
We publish technical information related to factory production technology and control systems for free, through blogs and videos.
With the belief that “knowledge should be accessible to everyone,” we share practical know-how and real-world troubleshooting cases from our own field experience.
The reason we keep it all free is simple: to help reduce the number of people who struggle because they simply didn’t know.
If you’ve ever thought:
- “Will this PLC and device combination actually work?”
- “I’m having trouble with EtherCAT communication—can someone test it?”
- “I want to try this remote I/O, but we don’t have the testing environment in-house…”
Feel free to reach out!If lending equipment or sharing your configuration is possible, we’re happy to verify it and share the results through articles and videos.
(We can keep company/product names anonymous if requested.)
How can you support us?
Currently, our activities are nearly all unpaid, but creating articles and videos takes time and a proper testing environment.If you’d like to support us in continuing and expanding this content, your kind help would mean a lot.
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Thank you for being with us.
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Technical knowledge shouldn’t be kept to ourselves.
Inovance Easy Series PLC?
The Easy Series PLC is a high-performance, compact, EtherCAT-compliant PLC with the following features
- Compact footprint
- Wide product range from simple to complex motion-controlled PLCs
- PLCopen-compliant axis control
- Simulation mode for offline debugging
- Real-time fieldbus
- Axis groups for linear and circular interpolation, CAM table functionality
- Support of function blocks and functions for encapsulation, code reusability and extensibility
- Support of ST, LD and SFC languages
- Multiple communication protocols
- Modbus RTU/TCP
- CANopen (optional)
- Ethernet/IP (scanner)
Model Configuration
| Model | communication | axis of motion | EtherCAT-compatible | Features |
| Easy301 | RS232/RS485 | 4-axis (pulse) | × | Cost-oriented model |
| Easy302 | RS232/RS485/CAN | 5-axis (pulse) | × | CAN communication possible |
| Easy320 | Ethernet×2/RS485 | 5-axis (pulse) | × | Equipped with Ethernet |
| Easy502 | EtherCAT/RS485 | Up to 16 axes (EtherCAT) | ○ | Full-scale motion support |
| Easy523 | EtherCAT/Ethernet×2/RS485 | Up to 32 axes (EtherCAT) | ○ | high-end configuration |
Configuration examples
Powerful motion control architecture using real-time EtherCAT communication
and Ethernet/IP to control the drive, and Modbus TCP on the HMI touch panel.
Autoshop（PC configuration software）
The Easy Series PLC uses software called Autoshop.
- With trace/axis debugging tools
- Offline simulation possible
- Easy motion control with PLCopen FB support
Tool installation
Get the AutoShop tool set-up FILE from Inovance and start it up.
Proceed with Next>.
Set the Directory for the installation and proceed with Next>.
Proceed with Next>.
Go further with Next>.
Click the Install button to start.
Please wait a moment…
Install USB drivers for PC and PLC communication.
Done!
This is the Easy PLC tool AutoShop screen.
USB Communication Setup
Connect the USB-C connector on the body of the Easy PLC 502 to the PC.
Configure the communication settings between the PC and the Easy PLC500 and click Tools>Communication Settings.
This is the Communication Settings screen.
Click on the Test button to test the USB communication between the PC and the PLC.
Done!
If you want to communicate with the PLC via Ethernet, set the appropriate Ethernet Adapter from the Communication Type drop-list.
Done!
Upload Project
Now Upload the PLC project, PLC>Upload.
The Upload Project screen appears.
Select Series and Models as Easy500-Easy502.
Done!The project inside the PLC could be Uploaded.
SAVE
Finally, to save the Uploaded project, go to File>Save The Project As.
