Use cases¶
Dec 26, 2024 | 702 words | 4 min reading time
Plan machine¶
The BET supports you in the planning of machines and automation systems equipped with IO-Link devices.
Create topology
Either import an existing topology or create an empty topology. Step-by-step instructions:
Plan topology
Add the required IO network modules and IO-Link devices from the device catalog to the topology. If necessary, import device description files or download device description files from the Internet that do not yet exist.
Step-by-step instructions:
Create parts list of the planned topology and order devices from Balluff
Display a list of all devices present in the topology. Filter the level of detail of the parts list if required. You can save the parts list as an Excel file to store the list for documentation purposes. Or you can export the device list compatible with the Balluff shopping cart.
Step-by-step instructions:
Save topology
Save the current topology including the port settings and device parameters as a ZIP file. You can then import the saved topology back into BET .
Step-by-step instructions:
Commissioning a new machine with IO-Link¶
The BET supports you in the commissioning of machines equipped with IO-Link devices:
Physically scan existing topology and import into BET
No configured topology is available for commissioning the machine. Scan the network for IO-Link network modules on PROFINET and EtherNet/IP buses. If desired, you can also scan for TCP/IP devices. Before doing so, you must select the desired network adapter and the IP range to be considered. Then select the IO-Link network modules that are to be included in the new topology. All connected IO-Link devices of the IO-Link network module are always transferred to the topology.
Step-by-step instructions:
Open planned topology or series machine topology and transfer settings to devices
A configured topology is available for commissioning the machine, for example for commissioning a series machine with identical IO-Link topology. You can import this configured topology into BET and write the device parameters directly to the physical devices.
Step-by-step instructions:
Check correct connection of devices compared to topology with IO-Check
As soon as a configured topology is available to you, you can check whether the configured port settings match the port settings of the physical network modules.
Step-by-step instructions:
Switch outputs or simulate input switching point with IO check
For test purposes, you can switch the configured digital outputs on and off in the field.
Step-by-step instructions:
Control process data
For test purposes, they can read and write process data for configured IO-Link devices. In addition, you can control the process data in the IO-Link network module.
Step-by-step instructions:
Configuring IO-Link network modules
Configure the ports of the IO-Link network modules and call up the web interface of the IO-Link network module, for example, to copy the settings, to transfer them to another IO-Link network module and to save the settings as a configuration.
Step-by-step instructions:
Configure IO-Link devices
Configure the parameters of the device description file. Save the parameter set and load it into another IO-Link device.
Step-by-step instructions:
Compare settings of two IO-Link devices to detect deviations.
Compare the parameters of two IO-Link devices with each other if they have device parameter files known to BET .
Step-by-step instructions:
Create bill of material of the current topology and save it for the documentation
Display a list of all devices present in the topology. Filter the level of detail of the parts list if required. You can save the parts list as an Excel file to store the list for documentation purposes. Or you can export the device list compatible with the Balluff shopping cart.
Step-by-step instructions:
Change topology
Add new IO-Link devices to the topology and remove IO-Link devices from the topology.
Step-by-step instructions:
Maintain machine and diagnose malfunctions¶
The BET supports you with the most important measures for the maintenance of your machine:
Compare projected topology with physical topology
Compare the projected topology with the physical topology in the field:
Do the IO-Link network modules match?
Do the IO-Link devices match?
Do the port configurations match?
Step-by-step instructions:
Install firmware updates
To prevent malfunctions on the machines, always keep your devices up to date. Firmware updates prevent incompatibilities and improve or extend the functions provided by the devices. Detailed instructions on how to update your devices can be found at
Update firmware for Balluff IO-Link devices and network modules
Read out and export activity logs (logs) of all IO-Link network modules
Perform troubleshooting by analyzing the activity logs of the IO-Link network modules and the IO-Link devices.
Step-by-step instructions:
Monitor device status
Check the device status of the IO-Link devices and display notifications for IO-Link device and IO-Link network module events.
Step-by-step instructions:
Compare parameters of an IO-Link device in the field with parameters stored in topology
The parameter sets of the configured and physical devices are always compared with each other when you write the parameter set of the configured data from the BET to the IO-Link devices or when you load the parameter sets from the field devices to the BET .
Step-by-step instructions:
Reset IO-Link device and import parameters again
When saving the configured topology, you can decide how to deal with the changed parameter values:
Reset to the values from the physical devices
Writing the changed values to the physical devices
Step-by-step instructions:
Add exchange device to topology and import parameters
After a device replacement, load the configured parameters into the new device.
Step-by-step instructions: