Introductory information¶

Dec 26, 2024 | 1359 words | 7 min reading time

Information on the operating manual¶

Purpose and target group¶

This operating manual describes the software Balluff Engineering Tool BET 1.63.x and is intended for people who use BET to plan a system/machine or who work on a system/machine and set and change IO-Link network modules and IO-Link devices. Read this operating manual in full before installing and operating the software and observe all information and instructions.

Structure and content¶

The operating manual is structured thematically as follows:

Chapter	Content
Introductory information	Information on the user manual, safe operation of the software and the software, e.g. the system requirements. e.g. the system requirements.
Installation	Information on installation.
Use cases	Description of the most important usage scenarios from the user’s point of view with the most important tasks in each case.
Start screen	Overview of the home screen and explanation of the most important areas.
Basic operation	Information on basic functions for using the software, e.g. logging in and out, notification and user management.
Create topology manually	Information on how to create a topology based on a device catalog.
Configure network	Information on the initial baptism of an IO-Link network module.
Scan existing topology (find devices)	Creating a topology based on a physical topology that is scanned.
Edit topology	Information about editing created topologies, e.g. E.g. save, import, compare.
View and edit device details	Information on parameterization and status monitoring of IO-Link network modules and IO-Link devices.
Monitor authentications	Information about authentication on IO-Link network modules.
Troubleshooting with activity log perform (Log)	Information on troubleshooting using log entries.
Check port configuration (I/O check)	Information for checking the port configuration, testing the inputs and outputs and writing process data for test purposes.
Update firmware for Balluff-IO-Link devices	Information about updating the firmware.
Configuring IO-Link devices via USB master	Information on configuring IO-Link devices via USB master.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)	Collection of frequently occurring problems with description of the way to solve them.
Release Notes	Change history of fixed errors.
Known Issues	Bugs and issues that have been reported and that the development team is currently working on.

Applicable documents¶

Other applicable documents with further information are available on the Internet at www.balluff.com. In the BET help menu you will find release notes and information about BET, see Show usage information.

Copyright¶

Please note that all texts, graphics and images contained in this manual are protected by copyright and other protective laws. Commercial duplication, reproduction, modification and distribution in any form require the prior written consent of Balluff GmbH.

Typographic conventions¶

Instructions for action and results of an action are indicated by the following arrows.

Instruction for action

Result plot

Sequences of actions are shown numbered:

Action instruction 1
Instruction for action 2

Buttons or menu items are written in italics and small caps,
e.g. STORE.

Warning

Indicates safety-relevant instructions that must be observed.

Note

Indicates general notes.

List of abbreviations¶

Abbreviation	Meaning
ARP	Address Resolution Protocol
BET	Balluff Engineering Tool
CIP ™	Common Industrial Protocol for Ethernet IP
DCP	Profinet Discovery & Configuration Protocol
FMEA	Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
UDP	User Datagram Protocol
PLC	Programmable logic controller
ICMP	Internet Control Message Protocol
IODD	IO Device Description (device description file)
ISDU	Indexed Service Data Unit

Information for your safety¶

Intended use¶

The BET is a software for commissioning, parameterization and diagnostics of IO-Link devices on PROFINET and EtherNet/IP buses.

The following IO-Link network modules are supported:

IO-Link network modules for Profinet bus networks (BNI PNT series with firmware from 3.2.2 or higher) with IO-Link ports.
IO-Link network modules for Ethernet-IP bus networks (BN EIP series with firmware from 4.0 or higher) with IO-Link ports.
The IO-Link network modules BNI00HL (FW version from 1.0 up to and including 1.1.6) and BNI00HM (FW version from 4.8.4) are only partially supported.
IO-Link devices from IO-Link Standard 1.0 are supported. To operate these devices, they require an IODD file, which you can obtain via the IODD Finder or from the manufacturer.
USB-IO-Link master (BNI USB-901-014-A501)

IO-Link network modules from other manufacturers: The BET implements the “JSON Integration for IO-Link” specification (as of March 2020). IO-Link network modules from other manufacturers that comply with this specification are generally compatible. However, there may be functional restrictions.

Not supported:

Purely digital IO-Link network modules for Profinet and Ethernet IP bus networks without IO-Link ports
IO-Link network modules for EtherCAT
The IO-Link network modules BNI00HL (FW version < 1.0) and BNI00HM (FW version < 1.1)

The continuous operating time is 6 hours. Parallel use of the UDP (User Datagram Protocol) interface by other applications is not permitted.

The software may only be used by qualified personnel. The operator is responsible for ensuring that the locally applicable safety regulations are observed.

If the software is to be used to diagnose IO-Link topologies during ongoing machine operation, the responsible safety officer must give prior approval, e.g. by performing an FMEA.

Any other use will void any warranty claim against the Balluff GmbH.

Reasonably foreseeable misapplication¶

The software is not designed for continuous use. It is not safety software according to the EU Machinery Directive.

The following use of the software is not permitted:

In applications where safety depends on people.
In applications where the safety of machines depends on the function of the software or the function of the devices that are operated with the software.

Required qualification¶

To ensure correct and safe operation, the BET must be operated by qualified personnel. The personnel are qualified if they have sufficient knowledge of the installed software and the installed devices.

The following qualifications are required for the various jobs:

General qualification

Basic practical technical training
Knowledge of common workplace safety guidelines

Electrical installation and equipment replacement.

Knowledge of current electrotechnical safety guidelines
Knowledge of operation and handling of the equipment of the respective field of application (e.g. conveyor line)

Commissioning, operation and configuration

Knowledge of operation and handling of the equipment of the respective field of application
Knowledge of the specifications of the current Machinery Directive
Knowledge of the software and hardware environment of the respective application area
Knowledge of Windows, firewall and network technology.
Basic knowledge of PROFINET and EtherNet/IP

Software information¶

Product description¶

The BET offers the following advantages:

Improved setup of IO-Link devices even without a PLC.
More efficient configuration by saving and reusing the IO-Link device settings.
Reduction of wiring errors and time-consuming troubleshooting during PLC programming by checking the IO-Link wiring beforehand.
Overview of the entire IO-Link topology and its status.
Faster error detection by comparing the planned IO-Link topology with the existing topology in the field.
Higher efficiency through uniform software for Balluff-IO-Link network modules (for PROFINET and EtherNet/IP) and all IO-Link devices and actuators.

System requirements¶

Hardware

CPU: Dual-Core 2 GHz
RAM: 1 GB
Hard disk: at least 5 GB

**Operating system

Windows 10 (32/64 bit)

Network

The BET uses UDP and ICMP communication as well as HTTP REST over TCP and the DCP, CIP and ARP protocols.
UDP uses ports 2000 (inbound) and 1999 (outbound), and 2222 (inbound) for CIP.
CIP uses port 44818 (outgoing).
The BET uses port 80 for HTTP (unencrypted) and port 443 for HTTPS (encrypted).
Check the firewall settings (Windows Defender): For error-free operation of BET , outgoing and incoming traffic to private and public networks must be allowed.
To find IO-Link network modules with the BET , the network adapter used to search for devices must be in the same IP address range as the devices to be operated (IO-Link network module and IO-Link devices).

For more information, see FAQs about firewall and IO-Link network.

Additional software required

If you want to use a USB Ethernet adapter to search for IO-Link network modules, you need USBPcap, see www.desowin.org. Administrator rights are required for the installation.

If you want to use a USB master, install the supplied driver packages during the BET installation.

Network load¶

The BET only communicates with one IO-Link network module at a time. If several IO-Link network modules are present in the topology, the IO-Link network modules are queried one after the other. Multiple UDP requests are not handled simultaneously.

During communication between BET and the IO-Link network module for querying the port status, the status of the connected devices, and during device parameterization, a typical network load of 0.1 MBit/s occurs.

Communication between the BET and web pages (IODDfinder, web server of the IO-Link network modules) results in a typical network load of 0.8 Mbps.

Legal conditions¶

The current version of the Terms and Conditions for Free Software (T&Cs) of the country in which you use BET shall apply. If they are not already available, Balluff GmbH or the branch in your country will be happy to provide you with the current version at any time on request.

You can find the version for Germany here:
www.balluff.com/go/terms-and-conditions-standard-software-for-free

You may only use the BET in accordance with these Terms. If they are not already available, Balluff GmbH or your country’s branch will gladly provide you with the current TOS at any time upon request.

Use of open source software¶

The BET contains software components that are licensed by the rights holders as open source license software. Information on this can be found in the help menu via the menu item ABOUT, see Show usage information.

Under OPEN SOURCE LICENSES the open source libraries used are listed with the corresponding license information. If you have any questions or are unclear, please contact Balluff GmbH at the address below:

Balluff GmbH
Open Source Schurwaldstraße 9 73765 Neuhausen a.d.F.

Specify the following data when doing so:

Product Name
Release number
Delivery date
Software version of the BET

Updates and upgrades¶

The Balluff GmbH is entitled - but not obliged - to provide updates or upgrades of the software via the Balluff GmbH website or in any other form. In such a case, the Balluff GmbH is entitled - but not obliged - to inform about the updates or upgrades. The use of such upgrades or updates implies the acceptance of their validity, the current Terms and Conditions, as well as the additional terms and conditions stated in the BET user manual.

Brands¶

The product, goods, company and technology names used (e.g. Microsoft®, Windows 10®, Internet Explorer®, Google Chrome® and Mozilla Firefox®) are trademarks of the respective companies.

Ethernet/IP® is the property of the ODVA™.

IO-LINK® is property of Profibus Nutzerorganisation e.V., Germany.

PROFINET® is the property of Profibus Nutzerorganisation e.V., Germany.